Style of play

[shire1976]

The effort the sharks often put in against the top teams must be commended, we did it today, they did it against the Dragons, and that sort of defense takes huge commitment.

But I'm sick to death of the crappy style of attack we've displayed pretty much since John Lang left as coach.

We never play with depth in attack, we never seem to stretch defenders wkith long passes. Sure we probably don't have the players to do it, but just watching dragons - tigers game I can't see why any decent attacking players would ever want to come to the sharks and play boring football.

I was really hoping a change of coach would change things, but we had enough ball in Melbourne's half to win 2 games, but we play the dullest footy on the planet.

End of rant

 

[Shire Shark]

The effort the sharks often put in against the top teams must be commended, we did it today, they did it against the Dragons, and that sort of defense takes huge commitment.

But I'm sick to death of the crappy style of attack we've displayed pretty much since John Lang left as coach.

We never play with depth in attack, we never seem to stretch defenders wkith long passes. Sure we probably don't have the players to do it, but just watching dragons - tigers game I can't see why any decent attacking players would ever want to come to the sharks and play boring football.

I was really hoping a change of coach would change things, but we had enough ball in Melbourne's half to win 2 games, but we play the dullest footy on the planet.

To think a ricky stuart apprentice would coach any different to the man himself is silly.

End of rant

 

[teflon77]

The effort the sharks often put in against the top teams must be commended, we did it today, they did it against the Dragons, and that sort of defense takes huge commitment.

But I'm sick to death of the crappy style of attack we've displayed pretty much since John Lang left as coach.

We never play with depth in attack, we never seem to stretch defenders wkith long passes. Sure we probably don't have the players to do it, but just watching dragons - tigers game I can't see why any decent attacking players would ever want to come to the sharks and play boring football.

I was really hoping a change of coach would change things, but we had enough ball in Melbourne's half to win 2 games, but we play the dullest footy on the planet.

End of rant

Pretty accurate assessment. We had enough ball on their line to win two football games but came up with one out uninspired efforts. Again I am critical of John Morris who lacks any real vision or attacking ability to be a first grade hooker in the modern game. He attempted to burrow over a couple of times which basically killed the momentum. We seem to go through the motions with no real zip and appear to be too shallow with poor decoys. If you watch our NYC team they regularly score down their right hand side with crisp ball movement and perfectly timed decoy plays. Why can't our top side do it?

 

[gando2230]

The only thing that really disspointed me was the
Last kick option the sharks kept putting bombs up

To the world best full back B.Slater maybe mix it up a bit
A couple of grubbers in the corners keep Slater
running after backing up from
Origin.
But hey I watched the game from the lounge

 

[deano the p]

I can't disagree with you here Shire I'm sick of it. John's today broke down the Dragons attacking formation and showed different options they have. It looks so simple but its so dam effective.

 

[since1967]

Hey i agree on the bombs. We don't even contest them 90% of the time. I am hoping the loss of Dougie and Snow will result in a change of style. Maybe faster through the middle. The only way we are going to be able to throw them wide passes to players in space is if we can punch holes in the middle and cause the opposition defensive line to come in. Gards/Kelly/De Gois (hopefully) are all fast and smart enough to play this style. The charges by Snow and Gal in particular and Toups to a lesser extent, are whilst meter gainers they take a while to complete because the last 3 meters are often dragging players along with them. This slows down the play the ball and the opposition line has that extra time to set itself. It's more Snow then Gal. Maybe some instruction to take the hit and play the ball a bit quicker might be the best place to start!

 

[Great White Shark]

i dont think it is a matter of some sort of culture influencing our play. The fact is our two best attacking players (Kelly and Gardner) are injured. And even if they were in the team they are young, inexperienced and inconsistent. Look at our current backline - Gordon/mills/ graham/porter (doing the best with what they have but are either not really skillful enough to make an impact week in week out in first grade or are V young and inexperienced), Best/Poms (not going to do anything, maybe once a season!?!).
That is just who we have. And here is a side point, given NO recruitment (and some serious losses)....it will not change next year (or probably the year after).

 

[shark12]

Attack is ordinary at best!!! And can someone tell me why in Gods name they still persist in Pomeroy. Coiln Best doesn't catch a Graham pass, game over. And poor young Stewart Mills may need time back in NYC or some serious catching pratice, two weeks in a row he has not taken the high ball. The shining lights are Bukuya who is getting better by the week and Gordon who has been very solid in both attack and defence. One can only hope we get Garden, Simth and Kelly back soon....

 

[shark 101]

Our attack is terrible, flanagans style is the same as rickys and the halves have no idea wat their doing

 

[josh11223344]

we need to use best more he always seems to get an arm free or have a half break when he gets it in space but we never give it to him.

 

[Great White Shark]

sharkies.....we have no one else!!!!

 

[deano the p]

we need to use best more he always seems to get an arm free or have a half break when he gets it in space but we never give it to him.

Very true and as a result he is very good at setting up his outside man.

 

[Nicholas2230]

I was at the game today and watched the 20's aswell, they had so much shape and structure they looked like a genuine attacking football team, everytime they were within 30m of the opposition goal line they looked a chance! I commented to my dad when comparing to our nrl team we looked flat and boring. Defence was strong but we need more shape in attack, graham has to go into the pack. He rarely passes the ball.

 

[squiddy]

Our attack is terrible, flanagans style is the same as rickys

What?????


much prefer flannos style to Stickys

 

[fitz]

Ok,

Now I would have thought this would have been pretty obvious but...

We are missing through injury

Our Strike Fullback: Nathan Gardner
Our Strike X-Factor Half: Albert Kelly
Our Enforcer 2nd Rower: Jeremy Smith

Oh... and yeah, we've also lost our goal kicker John Williams

Now... oh, just for argument's sake... then throw into the mix that Gallen and Snowden are forwards backing up after State of Origin on Wednesday night.

Mid-way through the first half we lose one of our starting props to a MCL tear and then his replacement pops a hammie and the normal 17 man squad gets whittled down to 15.

Take out of the Dragons squad

Darius Boyd
Jamie Soward
Beau Scott

Do you reckon that would affect there style of play?

Some of you lot have got to get a grip on reality! We lost to the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne by 6 points in a low scoring encounter.

Our defence, particularly our scrambling defence, was awesome. As far as I'm concerned the men in Black, White and Blue out there muscling up in a man's game did ok. I'm actually quite proud of what they were able to achieve today.

Sure it would have been nice to win but hey... that's sport. I think they won a fair bit of respect for that performance.

 

[sharkys26]

I agree fitz you would think we gave up and lost by 50 the way some people are acting on this site today

 

[Vichyssoise]

You're making some good points here fitz, but that doesn't explain why our 4th and 5th tackle options in the opposition 20 are so poor, nor why our passing and kicking skills are atrocious...
Both Gardner and Kelly have been missing for a month now. I fail to see how this can be used as an excuse for today's performance offensively.

That being said, our commitment in defense was great and we're unlucky to come home with a loss in the end.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

I actually think our attack (coaching) is heaps better. The execution was just off.

 

[Illawarra Shark]

I actually think our attack (coaching) is heaps better. The execution was just off.

Absolutely

 

[bluey]

We have to play to our strengths trouble is we dont have many.