26th August 2016
After the weekend results Souths have mathematically qualified for the Top 8 and cannot be knocked out. But it was a poor performance against the Bulldogs who dominated our forwards. But more alarming was a late injury to Greg Inglis. We have luckly remained in the Top 4 after some favourable results. The equation is now simple we must win both of our remaining 2 games. And its another big game against equal competition leaders the Broncos in a return to the SFS game.
In only his second first grade game for Souths Paul Carter is proving to be a valuable utility player.
Results over the weekend meant that the Bears qualified for the Top 8 ahead of their titanic clash with Wyong.
U20s continue to be a team that is work in progress after another narow loss. But a player who is standing up is Hiroti who is switching between center and second row and bagged a double.
Well it didn't take long for the old villan in the Super League War Rupert Murdoch to have a dig at RL when the ARLC decided to split FTA and PAY-TV TV rights negotiations. Rupert who caused so many issues 20 years ago, was visibly upset at the change in tactics being employed by the ARLC and his loss of control of the RL game. Today News Ltd owns 25% of Foxtel and the Brisbane Broncos. But the daily barage via the newspapers and RL TV shows was beyond ridiculus. Something many older RL supporters have seen 20 years ago and were ready for this time around. The electronic media landscape is changing rapidly and the NRL has decided to adopt a wait and see approach.
Statistically Round 24 were relavily good this week. Completion rates dropped to 83% this week. Errors increased to 8 from 6 last week. We gave away 4 penalities this week compared to 10 last week. Souths Effective 1st tackle improved but remained in a average level at 31.1m from 34.7m last week. Our missed tackles were steady at 35 missed tackles this week. Which is still very poor. Opposition offloads increased to 13 this week from 9 last week.
Looking at our left side defence - Goodwin-Auvaa-Sutton-Clark (1-2-3-1) decreased this week to 7 from 12 missed tackles last week. On the right side Johnston-DWalker-Reynolds-Turner (2-3-7-2) were increased to 14 missed tackles from 9 last week. With Reynolds very poor this week.
Our go forward increased this week to 1451m this week. George Burgess, Tom Burgess and Goodwin lead the way in making 10+m per hitup. With Tom Burgess, Grant, Stewart, George Burgess, Clark, Dylan Walker and Goodwin making more that 100+m in the match. Only one forward making 100+m again this week. Defensively McQueen was our best in the tackling raking up 40 tackles. With only Inglis not missing a tackle.
Signing off for another week - the midweek Cyber View from the Hill