Round 3 2015 Cronulla Sharks vs. Melbourne Storm Sat 21 Mar 2015, 7:30pm @ AAMI Park
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hamsy44
Great White
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You sure that wasn't Nu?
Mr Wright
Jaws
Vanivalu is an absolute weapon. Not sure of his contract situation, but id definitely be looking to poach him if possible.
evertonshark
Jaws
Even though they lost to manly they still made plenty of breaks down the right side, slater, chambers and tonumapaea will have a field day if we continue to retreat in defence
ABshark's longwinded early preview
Right. So this week is a big challenge for Flano. One of the toughest he's faced in terms of pure footy coaching.
Positives from last week were the improved showing in defence and the better application with the ball. Brisbane's points came through one bad read down a short side and a forgiveable error.
The other positive was the solid start. All was well and we were on top physically until Feefs was done for offside chasing Robbo's kick in their quarter.
The negatives were obvious. One of the worst attacking perfomances in memory given the quality of the individual players and the fact it was at home. Kicking game is still a weakness.
The challenge this week is to fix that attacking cohesion against one of the traditionally better defensive sides who'll be on their own dung heap and stinging from the loss to Manly. They've got a monster pack this year and always control the ruck well. They wrestled St George into submission in round 1 and made Benji B and Widdop completely ineffectual.
Cronk's long kicking game usually has us completely pinned deep in our end. Obviously Gordon and the wingers need to be at their best and really aggressive on their kick returns.
They'll throw a lot of right side shifts at us designed to get the ball to Chambers. Not much we can do but hope our left edge read it well and the cover work hard to get to the corner. It seems like they're mostly playing split halves so their left edge will be Green et all and probably less dangerous. Barbs will no doubt get sick of Tohu Harris but he's been defending well so far.
The temptation for us fans is to demand changes to the team but realistically note changes will probably just prolong the confusion and make cohesion even less likely. Its also hardly the place to hand out debuts.
So my approach would be to simplify the game plan a bit, define roles a little better and then flog em on the track. Part of that would be to shift Gal to prop and start Heighno. I'm not someone who thinks Gal should play there exclusively but I do think we play a bit more direct when he does.
I'd also place a pretty big emphasis on winning the physical battle early. We've been absolutely pantsed down there a couple of times and its been down to losing the ruck early and dropping ball. Play them straight up the middle at high tempo and try and work over McLean and Bromwich. When Tupou comes on look to followhis runs and attack off the back of a double play (run-offload-run). Just keep pouring through the middle, even to the point of bringing Holmes in off his wing as another trailing fullback.
Kick early and wide and keep the ball away from Slater - easier said than done. The wingers do have errors in them though. More kicking from Ennis and Graham, particularly if it can be done down short sides with the winger up in the line.
Attack wise just straighten things up. That starts with the tight forwards running their decoys nice and close. Fifita is always a chance of a try close to the posts if he commits to his run. Melbourne play a rush defence as well as anyone though depth is required. I like what Flano had to say about getting Barba more ball but it needs to be early ball with some room to move. Mann is a talent but BB could hurt him with his speed if he gets space. If things aren't working out wide dont he afraid to put the second man sweep back in the bag and just hit our back rowers relentlessly. Its boring and betrays a lack of confidence in our attack but it at least demands a good tackle.
On the left, it'd be great to see Graham playing slick Rick into some holes off his hip. Again, early ball and playing direct down short sides is the way to go.
Otherwise just the arm wrestle. We'll probably lose but the performance has to improve.
Right. So this week is a big challenge for Flano. One of the toughest he's faced in terms of pure footy coaching.
Positives from last week were the improved showing in defence and the better application with the ball. Brisbane's points came through one bad read down a short side and a forgiveable error.
The other positive was the solid start. All was well and we were on top physically until Feefs was done for offside chasing Robbo's kick in their quarter.
The negatives were obvious. One of the worst attacking perfomances in memory given the quality of the individual players and the fact it was at home. Kicking game is still a weakness.
The challenge this week is to fix that attacking cohesion against one of the traditionally better defensive sides who'll be on their own dung heap and stinging from the loss to Manly. They've got a monster pack this year and always control the ruck well. They wrestled St George into submission in round 1 and made Benji B and Widdop completely ineffectual.
Cronk's long kicking game usually has us completely pinned deep in our end. Obviously Gordon and the wingers need to be at their best and really aggressive on their kick returns.
They'll throw a lot of right side shifts at us designed to get the ball to Chambers. Not much we can do but hope our left edge read it well and the cover work hard to get to the corner. It seems like they're mostly playing split halves so their left edge will be Green et all and probably less dangerous. Barbs will no doubt get sick of Tohu Harris but he's been defending well so far.
The temptation for us fans is to demand changes to the team but realistically note changes will probably just prolong the confusion and make cohesion even less likely. Its also hardly the place to hand out debuts.
So my approach would be to simplify the game plan a bit, define roles a little better and then flog em on the track. Part of that would be to shift Gal to prop and start Heighno. I'm not someone who thinks Gal should play there exclusively but I do think we play a bit more direct when he does.
I'd also place a pretty big emphasis on winning the physical battle early. We've been absolutely pantsed down there a couple of times and its been down to losing the ruck early and dropping ball. Play them straight up the middle at high tempo and try and work over McLean and Bromwich. When Tupou comes on look to followhis runs and attack off the back of a double play (run-offload-run). Just keep pouring through the middle, even to the point of bringing Holmes in off his wing as another trailing fullback.
Kick early and wide and keep the ball away from Slater - easier said than done. The wingers do have errors in them though. More kicking from Ennis and Graham, particularly if it can be done down short sides with the winger up in the line.
Attack wise just straighten things up. That starts with the tight forwards running their decoys nice and close. Fifita is always a chance of a try close to the posts if he commits to his run. Melbourne play a rush defence as well as anyone though depth is required. I like what Flano had to say about getting Barba more ball but it needs to be early ball with some room to move. Mann is a talent but BB could hurt him with his speed if he gets space. If things aren't working out wide dont he afraid to put the second man sweep back in the bag and just hit our back rowers relentlessly. Its boring and betrays a lack of confidence in our attack but it at least demands a good tackle.
On the left, it'd be great to see Graham playing slick Rick into some holes off his hip. Again, early ball and playing direct down short sides is the way to go.
Otherwise just the arm wrestle. We'll probably lose but the performance has to improve.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Excellent preview, AB.:good:
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
It's funny. In years gone by these are exactly the types of games we sometimes get up for and win, when nobody gives us a chance. I just can't see it happening though.
Napolean
Tiger Shark
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So I imagine this will be the run on side- It will be interesting to see if we stick with Val or go for Gagan.
Beale won't be dropped and Ricky has been surprisingly good so no reason for shift around. And of course Gordon won't go anwyhere.
1. Gordon
2. Feki
3. Beale
4. Leutele
5. Holmes
6. Barba
7. Robson
8. A.Fifita
9. Ennis
10. Prior
11. Lewis
12. Graham
13. Gallen
14. Bukuya
15. Tupou
16. Heighington
17. Arona/Fifita
That is a strong side. If we start to click we will win games. Barba needs more ball as does Beale. I hope to god they improve on last week's attacking effort. Broncs defended so strongly last week even a good attacking side would have only put 16-20 points on them, so there is hope for us if we can get a bit of luck.
Beale won't be dropped and Ricky has been surprisingly good so no reason for shift around. And of course Gordon won't go anwyhere.
1. Gordon
2. Feki
3. Beale
4. Leutele
5. Holmes
6. Barba
7. Robson
8. A.Fifita
9. Ennis
10. Prior
11. Lewis
12. Graham
13. Gallen
14. Bukuya
15. Tupou
16. Heighington
17. Arona/Fifita
That is a strong side. If we start to click we will win games. Barba needs more ball as does Beale. I hope to god they improve on last week's attacking effort. Broncs defended so strongly last week even a good attacking side would have only put 16-20 points on them, so there is hope for us if we can get a bit of luck.
djhabib
Jaws
All i want is a robbo settling touch finder.
To see one live would be magically. 30-0 down and that special touch finder would make the trip worth it.
the big boy
Hammerhead
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If anyone is going to the game can you please send us an email (with a pic preferably) to sharkcastpod@gmail.com and we will give you a shout out on THE SHARK CAST.
Also, anyone naming our strongest lineup who leaves out Gordon is flat out cray cray.
Also, anyone naming our strongest lineup who leaves out Gordon is flat out cray cray.
snowman
Total gronk
Why? Gordon is dross
the big boy
Hammerhead
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Yeah nah.
sharks2010
Dribbler
i will send you a todd carney style picture from outside the ground
the big boy
Hammerhead
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That would be so stunning. Please do it. Send as many bubbler pics as possible.
djhabib
Jaws
Dont encourage him
What if I send one of 2010 bubbling me out the front of the stadium?