Round 24 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys, Sat 19th August @ 1300Smiles Stadium 7:30pm

[Sharkyle]

Then we are "missing" Ben Barba, since he became unavailable around a similar time and it didn't give us any opportunity to spend that money elsewhere. I get that Matt Scott is a gun player and it counts towards their overall injury tally, but if a bloke is scratched from the lineup for an entire year you can't say that it contributes to any change in form between round 1 and round 23 or disadvantages them in round 24 because a bunch of other guys are missing.

Lol.... he is still part of their cap and the top 25 so yes he is counted.... barba is not. HUGE difference. We could spend Barba's money before the June 30 deadline if we wanted

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

You could probably say that about all our losses for the past 2 years.

How many games have we played well in but lost because the other team was just better?

Cowboys Round 1 2016, maybe the Melbourne game at Shark Park this year?

Plenty. But i think our most recent manly, titans, raiders, broncos, they were scoring so many points off the back of our errors and penalties. They werent made to work for points. The games where we make teams earn their points we usually come up trumps. Hence our (until recently) amazing defensive record.

 

[BurgoShark]

Lol.... he is still part of their cap and the top 25 so yes he is counted.... barba is not. HUGE difference. We could spend Barba's money before the June 30 deadline if we wanted

Not on an adequate replacement we couldn't, so while from a cap PoV it is different from a football PoV it is the same.

My point is that saying in round 24 that injuries are derailing your season shouldn't include two guys who haven't played a game. Sure - you can look back at the end of the year and say that you would have been better off with those guys there, but if your team is going ok all season without a prop and a hooker, and then cops an injury to its halfback, a centre and a winger, you can't then lump them together and say that their form slump is a result of five injuries.

Either way ... they are still without a bunch of good players this week so we should beat them even without Brailey and Bird.

 

[Gards]

Just on that until recent 'amazing defensive record' we had also conceded the least line breaks of any team prior to the bronco's game.

Our goal line defense use to be the rock we could rely upon now it's gone soft and we are also getting exposed further up the field with agile halves and quick outside backs bamboozling our structures and highlighting our poor communication.
The 1 on 1 tackling is one of our biggest issues, plenty of blokes are missing ones they would usually make.

The Manly game was a real start to the rot in this regard

 

[CHOGM]

Defensive penalties seem to be our biggest problem. The errors in attack come off the back of that later in the game.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

I personally think we are really missing Braileys defense and service. i am hoping we pick him this weekend if he is ready

 

[Gards]

Defensive penalties seem to be our biggest problem. The errors in attack come off the back of that later in the game.

Wade & Lewy are the up field specialists at this and it's so ****ing unnecessary, ****s me to tears

It's one thing if you can rely on your defense the next set but we can't at the moment

 

[HaroldBishop]

Wade & Lewy are the up field specialists at this and it's so ****ing unnecessary, ****s me to tears

It's one thing if you can rely on your defense the next set but we can't at the moment

And Maloney.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I know our defence has been poor recently but I just had a look at our attack. We're 10th for points scored and only 4 points ahead of Souths. That ain't so crash hot.

 

[Tatus]

If we lose this game I might just become a non-believer. Surely something has to click for us! I honesty session didn't work, how about putting in some ****ing effort and winning a game. That could be a good start

 

[Gards]

And Maloney.

Nah mate, that's just how he tackles

 

[CHOGM]

I personally think we are really missing Braileys defense and service. i am hoping we pick him this weekend if he is ready

Ditto. His injury may turn out to be the pebble in the pond.

 

[Sharkyle]

Is Brailey going to get a bench spot this week do we think? If so who would you start? Nu or Seggy?

 

[deano the p]

I don't think we will see Brailey until they are convinced he's ready to start.

 

[Blackwhitenblue]

Any of you fella's going to be at the game? I've got 3 choices.
1. Buy a ticket in the away supporters bay and make the 4hr drive down to Townsville.
2. Head down on a bus with primary and high school students as a teacher and drive back up in a bus sober.
3. Head to the local for the game.

 

[Bundy Shark]

Is Brailey going to get a bench spot this week do we think? If so who would you start? Nu or Seggy?

on form you'd go with Nu, i think Flano will go with Seggy.

Re Brailey, good young player but i am far from convinced he will solve our woes, i know he was going well before he got injured but its worth remembering he did have some issues as well, being spotted by the attacking team when going at our try line etc.

Its almost like people have created this new & improved Brailey or Brailey has gotten better since he's been out on the injured list, I'm not knocking him nor being critical of him, who knows, maybe the injury break has done him the world of good, i think the week to week grind was starting to wear on him but to think we are going to be better with him, jury still out for me.

 

[Sharkyle]

on form you'd go with Nu, i think Flano will go with Seggy.

Re Brailey, good young player but i am far from convinced he will solve our woes, i know he was going well before he got injured but its worth remembering he did have some issues as well, being spotted by the attacking team when going at our try line etc.

Its almost like people have created this new & improved Brailey or Brailey has gotten better since he's been out on the injured list, I'm not knocking him nor being critical of him, who knows, maybe the injury break has done him the world of good, i think the week to week grind was starting to wear on him but to think we are going to be better with him, jury still out for me.

I think you're right Nu on form but seggy cause flano ..

Re Brailey - I think we miss his stability around the ruck. He's a solid defender and both Nu and Seggy are getting caught out on our line. Seggy/Nu are also causing a fair bit of this sideline to sideline play when we need to go hard and straight. Brailey lacks a bit of flare but brings a real solid delivery for our forwards and a huge workload in defence. I think we would see an immediate improvement with him back in the side tbh. Then we can bring on seggy when the defence is tired and we need some flare around the 60min mark

 

[Mr Ryan]

Brailey is no superstar yet, but he's definitely in our top 17 imo.

The Brailey/Segy combo is what was the plan to replace Ennis.

They haven't played together since like Round 6 or 8?

Its time to bring that combo back leading into the finals.

 

[BurgoShark]

Brailey is no superstar yet, but he's definitely in our top 17 imo.

The Brailey/Segy combo is what was the plan to replace Ennis.

They haven't played together since like Round 6 or 8?

Its time to bring that combo back leading into the finals.

Only 3 times have they been in the 17 together. Rounds 4, 5 and 6.

This is definitely the combo we will see. I wasn't before the season and still am not a huge fan of Segyaro playing more than about 25-30 minutes. He creates a lot of half chances but he takes a lot of risks too. I think I'd like Segyaro a lot more if Flano was able to pick his moments with him rather than just splitting he and Nu 50/50.

 

[hitman124]

Seeing today's ladder was a harsh reminder just how vital this win is.

Then again, if we do lose then I dare say the writing is on the wall that we don't have what it takes to go back to back and maybe we're spared from the death of a thousand cuts.