Semi Final 2022 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Saturday 17 September 8:00pm @ SFS

[Wiz]

Apart from Fifita & Nikora who have Cronulla got as ball playing forwards? Rudolph? Hamlin Uele? They are not in the same class.

As far as game breakers/strike players go for Cronulla, who have Cronulla got-1=Nicholas Hynes, the whole attack revolves around Nicholas Hynes.
Unless Cronulla can unearth someone else that can take attention and pressure away from Hynes, Cronulla can't win anything in finals matches because you need options.

Unfortunately, Cronulla lost a game that they should have won against NQld and it cost them severely-momentum blown, I couldn't have seen that happening if say Paul Gallen was capt. and Michael Ennis & Luke Lewis were there. Graham should have been up the whole team in the last few minutes, and Taumololo should have been stopped.
In the end the context of the loss in 93 minutes and allowing NQld to score with seconds left on the clock before the full 80 was just too much to take mentally for the players, and then the two soft tries before half time, the disallowed try when Holmes took a dive.

Don't know why Nicholas Hynes did not challenge the call when he regained the ball from the dropout called a 'knock-on' v Souths.
Will Kennedy was absolutely belted by Mitchell with a swinging arm well after the ball had left his hands-definite penalty. In the context of the game these are huge decisions. The Ramien 'no try' was also contentious to say the least, camera angles are not always definitive, it would have made the score 24-18 when Mulitalo scored thereafter, different ballgame.

Cronulla needs some forwards because Fifita is not easily replaced, I actually believe he should have started this game-he would have stopped Nicholls, plus his experience counts for everything. Finucane, McInnes, Hunt, all workhorses, but do not offer too much in attack. The speed at the play the ball is too slow.
Graham is winding down, I recall when he was regularly making good off-loads and making some kicks, not much anymore.
You can't win finals games with 1 strike player. Fitzgibbon was rightfully filthy to go out in straight sets, but it will be interesting to see what he can do to remedy the problem of only having Nicholas Hynes as Cronulla's lone strike player in 2023, I doubt he can.

Good post - these problems have been there since the start of the year which is why I was suprised when Fitz said he wants to keep this same bunch of players but in reality these same bunch of players 90% if not more don’t have the killer instinct a top team needs we really just have a bunch of middle of the road players.

How does a coach expect to go through a finals series playing eyes up footy..

 

[Sharkfox]

Apart from Fifita & Nikora who have Cronulla got as ball playing forwards? Rudolph? Hamlin Uele? They are not in the same class.

As far as game breakers/strike players go for Cronulla, who have Cronulla got-1=Nicholas Hynes, the whole attack revolves around Nicholas Hynes.
Unless Cronulla can unearth someone else that can take attention and pressure away from Hynes, Cronulla can't win anything in finals matches because you need options.

Unfortunately, Cronulla lost a game that they should have won against NQld and it cost them severely-momentum blown, I couldn't have seen that happening if say Paul Gallen was capt. and Michael Ennis & Luke Lewis were there. Graham should have been up the whole team in the last few minutes, and Taumololo should have been stopped.
In the end the context of the loss in 93 minutes and allowing NQld to score with seconds left on the clock before the full 80 was just too much to take mentally for the players, and then the two soft tries before half time, the disallowed try when Holmes took a dive.

Don't know why Nicholas Hynes did not challenge the call when he regained the ball from the dropout called a 'knock-on' v Souths.
Will Kennedy was absolutely belted by Mitchell with a swinging arm well after the ball had left his hands-definite penalty. In the context of the game these are huge decisions. The Ramien 'no try' was also contentious to say the least, camera angles are not always definitive, it would have made the score 24-18 when Mulitalo scored thereafter, different ballgame.

Cronulla needs some forwards because Fifita is not easily replaced, I actually believe he should have started this game-he would have stopped Nicholls, plus his experience counts for everything. Finucane, McInnes, Hunt, all workhorses, but do not offer too much in attack. The speed at the play the ball is too slow.
Graham is winding down, I recall when he was regularly making good off-loads and making some kicks, not much anymore.
You can't win finals games with 1 strike player. Fitzgibbon was rightfully filthy to go out in straight sets, but it will be interesting to see what he can do to remedy the problem of only having Nicholas Hynes as Cronulla's lone strike play 2023, I doubt he can.

Need a genuine 7, someone who can game manage and also direct in any part of the game. Hopefully after this year, which is his first year as a fulltime top grade no.7 and with another pre season, Hynes can mature and fill that role better. We have re-signed Moylan so that will be our first choice halves pairing in the next two years. Don't see us going to the market for a genuine 7, despite talks about recruitment like Brooks (who I don't want, would rather Trindall) and players like Ben Hunt or Mitch moses going to market. It's up to Moylan and Hynes to transform their game. We have enough forwards, I would also look at having an extra hooking role off the bench, which has worked for other teams including Penrith, give Brailey a breather and bring someone on fresh to direct and spark something in the middle. Maybe give Mcinnis that role, and if we extend Graham's contract, make him a ball playing lock who subs Finucane. Give Wilton the left edge and mould him there. As for fullback, Kennedy needs to step up with his defense, or its a shoot out with Kennedy, Dykes and Miller next year.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Kennedy needs to step up with his defense, or its a shoot out with Kennedy, Dykes and Miller next year.

Miller shouldn't be in the 13. Full stop.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Well sitting slap bang on the halfway line, it was obvious 10 minutes in we were up against it. Their go forward in attack and line speed in defence was a good couple of notches above us trying to convince yourself it was all the doing of the ref is embarrassing. Our attack reminded me of wind screen wipers left right left right but very little go forward. Rabbits themselves were patchy at best (execution wise) I thought. I also wonder if dale has played two so so games in a row like he did in our final series. Shout out to fifs - thx again for the try of the century. Sure it will burn the boys like it does us and motivates them for pre season. One more day in steak n kidney then of to Fiji…

 

[egg]

Some of these player ratings generous at best
FOX

Hynes nullified, workhorse’s mixed bag as Ronaldo shines: Sharks Player Ratings

Hynes nullified, workhorse’s mixed bag as Ronaldo shines: Sharks Player Ratings

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Six Again]

Well sitting slap bang on the halfway line, it was obvious 10 minutes in we were up against it. Their go forward in attack and line speed in defence was a good couple of notches above us trying to convince yourself it was all the doing of the ref is embarrassing. Our attack reminded me of wind screen wipers left right left right but very little go forward. Rabbits themselves were patchy at best (execution wise) I thought. I also wonder if dale has played two so so games in a row like he did in our final series. Shout out to fifs - thx again for the try of the century. Sure it will burn the boys like it does us and motivates them for pre season. One more day in steak n kidney then of to Fiji…

Have a good trip . Think some of our players were thinking about their off-season trips during the game last night

 

[Vichyssoise]

Miller shouldn't be in the 17 yet. Full stop.

Fixed that for you. Played out of position too. Sadly, we didn't have a lot of other options.

 

[Sharkfox]

Miller shouldn't be in the 13. Full stop.

Has only played a handfull of top grade, first year in nrl, should still be in the squad and kept at fullback, has promise

 

[Six Again]

Yeah that’s the scary part though. Imagine if they were on

Exactly , that is why last night was so disappointing .

30 points against Sharks in both finals matches & other team scored first & through the forwards early in both matches .

Don't accept the narrative that we overachieved this year , we effectively ran 5th/6th which is just a par in my estimation.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Some of these player ratings generous at best
FOX

Hynes nullified, workhorse’s mixed bag as Ronaldo shines: Sharks Player Ratings

Hynes nullified, workhorse’s mixed bag as Ronaldo shines: Sharks Player Ratings

www.foxsports.com.au

Generous for sure.. I know Ronnie tried hard (and was my best shark on ground) but 2 runs in the first half and gets a 9 rating.. pls

 

[bort]

Miller shouldn't be in the 13. Full stop.

He was there because three players in backs were injured, hard to go down the depth chart and have an equal quality player.

Still, feel like he had the capacity to play better

 

[jocktheshark]

Saddest part for me was i thought the Rabbits were bog average , but unfortunately we were soo far down the dunny it wasn't funny . I don't know where our attack went last night , looked clueless in their 20 .
Plus we have to start stop letting easy offloads , has become a real issue for us , along with not having an unloading game of our own .
Was easily our worst performance of the season , by a margin , everyone seemed off .
Overall i'm happy to have made it this far , i didn't expect this at the start of the season .
Already looking forward to next season , with some astute changes it will be another big one .

 

[vicsharkfan]

Highlight of the night for me, was my Canadian club and dry and fkn molten hot pie that I swear took skin from the inside of my mouth pre game. I also sat here in darling harbour eating bacon and eggs this morning watching crazies run the marathon.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Still too devastated and gutted to make any real comments this morning. The only thing I can possibly console myself with is that we probably wouldn’t have gone any further next week.

 

[Soon I Hope]

What last night showed was the soft draw we had coming in masked how we were truely going, writing was on the wall really last few games, yes we kept the dogs to 0 but all they had was Burton bombs.
our ball control has been rubbish for months but we won ugly against lesser teams. We beat the cows with them resting most. Against tigers and knights we won ugly.
really the soft draw in didn’t give us a true look at how we were really going…

 

[Flanno]

What last night showed was the soft draw we had coming in masked how we were truely going, writing was on the wall really last few games, yes we kept the dogs to 0 but all they had was Burton bombs.
our ball control has been rubbish for months but we won ugly against lesser teams. We beat the cows with them resting most. Against tigers and knights we won ugly.
really the soft draw in didn’t give us a true look at how we were really going…

I think we were all hoping it wasn’t true because there was no evidence of it but last night we saw the evidence. Very disappointing, even against Cows we had it all in our court and blew it

 

[bort]

I think we were all hoping it wasn’t true because there was no evidence of it but last night we saw the evidence. Very disappointing, even against Cows we had it all in our court and blew it

The ‘soft draw’ was an obstacle that could be overcome. Missing two more starters (in complimentary positions) than them maybe was also. Combine to two and it’s a steep hill.

Give us healthy Katoa and Talakai we can win that

 

[Soon I Hope]

The ‘soft draw’ was an obstacle that could be overcome. Missing two more starters (in complimentary positions) than them maybe was also. Combine to two and it’s a steep hill.

Give us healthy Katoa and Talakai we can win that

Healthy Katia and talekai would not have stopped that try after 3 minutes, or saved finucane on the break, agree we would have been better, but not sure would have changed the result

 

[kotwben]

Apart from Fifita & Nikora who have Cronulla got as ball playing forwards? Rudolph? Hamlin Uele? They are not in the same class.

As far as game breakers/strike players go for Cronulla, who have Cronulla got-1=Nicholas Hynes, the whole attack revolves around Nicholas Hynes.
Unless Cronulla can unearth someone else that can take attention and pressure away from Hynes, Cronulla can't win anything in finals matches because you need options.

Unfortunately, Cronulla lost a game that they should have won against NQld and it cost them severely-momentum blown, I couldn't have seen that happening if say Paul Gallen was capt. and Michael Ennis & Luke Lewis were there. Graham should have been up the whole team in the last few minutes, and Taumololo should have been stopped.
In the end the context of the loss in 93 minutes and allowing NQld to score with seconds left on the clock before the full 80 was just too much to take mentally for the players, and then the two soft tries before half time, the disallowed try when Holmes took a dive.

Don't know why Nicholas Hynes did not challenge the call when he regained the ball from the dropout called a 'knock-on' v Souths.
Will Kennedy was absolutely belted by Mitchell with a swinging arm well after the ball had left his hands-definite penalty. In the context of the game these are huge decisions. The Ramien 'no try' was also contentious to say the least, camera angles are not always definitive, it would have made the score 24-18 when Mulitalo scored thereafter, different ballgame.

Cronulla needs some forwards because Fifita is not easily replaced, I actually believe he should have started this game-he would have stopped Nicholls, plus his experience counts for everything. Finucane, McInnes, Hunt, all workhorses, but do not offer too much in attack. The speed at the play the ball is too slow.
Graham is winding down, I recall when he was regularly making good off-loads and making some kicks, not much anymore.
You can't win finals games with 1 strike player. Fitzgibbon was rightfully filthy to go out in straight sets, but it will be interesting to see what he can do to remedy the problem of only having Nicholas Hynes as Cronulla's lone strike player in 2023, I doubt he can.

I agree with a lot you've said here, Steve. Nicho needs to improve his long kicking game (the glimpses we've seen have been fantastic but all the mid-field bombs were giving me Chad PTSD) and the forwards need to support him more in the same way Penrith give Cleary all the time in the world.

As for a Gallen, Lewis, Graham-led team beating Nth Queensland and stopping Taumololo in an extra time finals game? Unfortunately, 2017 would beg to differ.

 

[apezza]

So Chicken wings are only Grade 1 these days. Of coarse.