Round 14 2017 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Melbourne Storm, Thursday 8 June @ 7:50pm, SCG Group Stadium

[slide rule]

My gripe is always the ruck, particularly when it comes to the Storm. They are allowed to carry on forever. Climbing over, spinning round, etc etc etc.

I really wish the refs would blow the whistle for these transgressions. I think most of the time they only have a limited of number of penalties in them and once they reach their upper limit there are no more. Same goes for the pressure to have a fairly even penalty count. It's stupid. If one team is infringing more than the other I'd be happy to see a 20-0 penalty count.

But as Chad said above though, we had heaps of penalties and did nothing with them- so yeah. Can't blame it but it for the loss but it's **** to watch.

 

[Sparkles]

what was the gripe with the refs? that was one of the best officiated games we have been a part of?

I'm with you... I had no problem with the refereeing, it was just that Melbourne controlled the ruck speed a lot better than we did. Their dummy half running caught us out and tired guys (stole that trick from us the buggers!), and they only gave away penalties when they wanted to reset their goal line defense. They played us perfectly.

 

[Born&bred]

That 40/20 from Smith at the start is what killed us.

 

[squiddy]

That 40/20 from Smith at the start is what killed us.

And the short kick off - we are crap at diffusing short kick offs have been for years

 

[squiddy]

what was the gripe with the refs? that was one of the best officiated games we have been a part of?

100% agree , and refs did a good job on themost part policing the ruck and we won the count - whats the complaint ?

 

[slide rule]

100% agree , and refs did a good job on themost part policing the ruck and we won the count - whats the complaint ?

See, this is an issue for me. Who cares about a penalty count? It says nothing without context. It gets taken as this stat that means that you "won" if you come out on top.

Away from this game as an example, but say Team A infringes 30 times and is penalised 10. Team B infringes 13 times and is penalised 8. Team B "wins" the penalty count but it doesn't mean the game was fairly officiated.

This was Stickwit's point the other week. And I go along with it despite the fact that I constantly poke fun at Sticky.

 

[slide rule]

Now, the composure and the way that we lost that game was totally unacceptable. It was a flashback to the bad old days of a couple of years ago. Not representative of the team that won the grand final.

 

[sharks2010]

Now, the composure and the way that we lost that game was totally unacceptable. It was a flashback to the bad old days of a couple of years ago. Not representative of the team that won the grand final.

But coming back from 12 nil down early on against the storm shouldn't be forgotten. That's no easy feat and not to many teams could do it. Takes a very good team to do that

In saying all that. What pissed me off the most about last night's game was the fact how hard we worked to claw our way back into the game and to get in front only to lose it like we did

 

[HITMAN]

Penalty counts don't mean ****. It's where they are given in regards to field position and tackle count that makes such a difference.

I dont blame the refs for the loss but got to say I almost choked reading it was one if the better officiated games we've been apart of. Some blatant flops and ruck wrestlemania to me from both sides.

 

[evertonshark]

It was an awful game to watch, the 2 best teams in the comp made it as tedious as a game of union

 

[vicsharkfan]

It was an awful game to watch, the 2 best teams in the comp made it as tedious as a game of union

I must be the only one.. I really enjoy the arm wrestle holding down spiteful low scoring games we have against the storm. One should never under estimate we really do get under their skin, not too many teams can lay claim to that. That being said couldn't watch it every week.

 

[ragin]

But coming back from 12 nil down early on against the storm shouldn't be forgotten. That's no easy feat and not to many teams could do it. Takes a very good team to do that

In saying all that. What pissed me off the most about last night's game was the fact how hard we worked to claw our way back into the game and to get in front only to lose it like we did

It was a big effort to come back. The storm scored 12 points off 2 plays. We scored 13 points off 4 plays. Basically after we regained some possession and despite their dominate wrestling we still were able to shift momentum, possession and field position to get down their end for the 4 scoring plays.

They brought their best game and we still should of won.

 

[Opeth]

What annoys me is they have a new grapple tackle. Sam Burgess was blowing up a few weeks ago and Heighington this week no way in hell it's an accident.

 

[Sparkles]

Now, the composure and the way that we lost that game was totally unacceptable. It was a flashback to the bad old days of a couple of years ago. Not representative of the team that won the grand final.

The one that made me cringe was the hitup from Gallen right on the line off Brailey. I think it was the last tackle, and in an echo from the bad old days, Gallen called it and got it. End result? Turnover.

 

[HaroldBishop]

The one that made me cringe was the hitup from Gallen right on the line off Brailey. I think it was the last tackle, and in an echo from the bad old days, Gallen called it and got it. End result? Turnover.

I don't remember that.

 

[snowman]

I dont remember it either

 

[sharks2010]

The one that made me cringe was the hitup from Gallen right on the line off Brailey. I think it was the last tackle, and in an echo from the bad old days, Gallen called it and got it. End result? Turnover.

there was nothing wrong with that play at all

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

All in all, we did well to get the lead after being 2 tries down. We did allow them some soft tries though.

Out attack has been pretty average in that opposition 20 all year. But credit where its due, melbourne arent a team you go and put a cricket score on either.

Jimmys kick on fulltime.....yeah it was a dud, but **** happens. He wouldnt often shank 1 like that. And as i said, feki probsbly woulda spilled it anyway