The Cyber View from the Hill

Top of Table Clash

Predicatable is the word Wayne Bennett used to describe us after we played teh Knights. WellManly knew what was coming and had no answer for the onslaught. It was a great night out at the SCG with past players forming a guard of honor for the team. The team needed to make a statement in the asperations for the premiership race and they did so in style. That win has secured our semifinal position. We are now only 2 points behind leaders Manly with a much better differential. Focus now changes to a Top 4 finish with two more wins required.

Keary-Reynolds powerful combination

Another great performance by the Plan A halves combination Keary & Reynolds has left people thinking were will John Sutton slot back in. Manly ran everything at Keary all night, where he made 32 tackles only missing one. It was a outstanding performance. And for Reynolds the challenge has been thrown up and he has responded with a return to form. They combination is turning to one of the most leathal in the competition.

Disaster at Penrith

What is going on in reserver grade (NSW Cup). The team seem to be able to match it wall teams for the first 30 min of the game and then they just fall away. On the weekend they lead 12-4 before letting in 64 unanswered points. We need to sit down and review our recurement and match selection strategies as too many players who take the field are just not up to NSW Cup standard, and this is going to hinder development of the next genetaion of player. And the Wooden Spoon seems to be a certainty now.

Gutsy 11 man NYC Win

What a spitful game for young 18 year old Hiroti to make his debut. At one stage we were down to 11 men and Manly looking like they were going to power away. But what happened next was a great display of courage from the team as they fought back not only to get back into the contest. They they powered away to win the 4 point turnaround game over a team that was 1 point above them as they continue to fight for a Top 8 finish.

U18 Rookie Draft

There has been a lot of talk this week about a Rookie Draft for U18 players, with the first 5 juniors nominated by the club to be exempt. While in principle it sounds interesting in spreading the talent, there are a number of issues in the detail. Some issues are -

  • its illegal - as proven in the courts by the Terry Hill case in 1994
  • it hurts many clubs who have large nurseries and develop their juniors
  • players are forced out of their home from family and friends network
  • increased risk of player home sickness and depression
  • players may not want to leave as they a job or tertiary schooling in place in case they don't make the big time
  • the salary cap already performs this function
  • it will rip apart a quality junior team that has been progressing together up the age ranks. In most cases this team has up to 10 quality players.Wests-Tigers are banking on their winning U18 junior team to lift them
  • teams will TANK (or lose games) as they do in AFL to get the first pick

    Some pluses are

  • talent is spread with bottom teams getting high calaber youngsters and competition gets even more even
  • takes player managers out of the equation
  • gives players a better opportunity to break out of the home comfort zone
  • reduces the costs on running a junior operation

    Round 22 - Stat Attack

    Statistically it was astrong game but it did come down to key moments, like the defensive effort just after Manly's 40-20 Completion rates were poor at 72% our error count back in the poor range at 12 and we conceeded 5 penalties. Playing at night after they day CAirns game was a key continbuter. Souths Effective 1st tackle for the match dropped back to to 28.6m. Missed tackles were steady at 17 missed tackles this week. And our opposition offloads dropped back to 3, second best all year.

    Looking at our left side defence - Johnston-Auvaa-Keary-Turner/McQueen (2-2-1-0) was steady at 5 missed tackles. On the right side Tuqiri-Walker-Reynolds-Teo (1-1-0-1) improved to 3 from 5 missed tackles this week.

    Our go forward was the best this year at 1630m. With Sam Burgess, McQueen, Tuqiri, Inglis, Johnston, Auva'a, Walker and Keary all making 10+m per run. With Sam and Tom Burgess, Te'o, Luke, Inglis, Auva'a, Walker and Tuqiri making more that 100+m in the match. With Sam Burgess making more than 200m. Defensively Sam Burgess was our best in the tackling raking up 34 tackles. But a special mention to Luke Keary who made 32 tackles as Manly targeted him. With Tyrrell, Turner, McQueen, Tom Burgess, Reynolds and Inglis not missing a tackle.

    Signing off for another week - the midweek Cyber View from the Hill