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Round 2: TITANS vs NZ WARRIORS (2022)

Gold Coast Titans v New Zealand Warriors | Match Highlights | Round 2, 2022 | NRL

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No way I'd shift AJ back to FB after one game at 5/8, which I thought he looked comfortable in. Also said as much in his post-match interview, that he was comfortable and that he grew up playing there. The switch has been made and it should stay that way.
 
Great to get a win but boy was I happy to hear that full time siren ring :surprise: A win is a win though and we will take it but geez we would want to be better than that. As some have said though - last year we probably lose that game.

SPINE: Brimmo was absolutely brilliant at 5/8 and agreed HS, I think he’s in for a big year and needs to remain in the halves. Classy touches to set up two tries and more than held his own in defence. Sexton was also solid without being brilliant, his bomb kicking close to the line impresses me most. Campbell had a shocker. Completely hogged the ball instead of giving it to Fifita early, and would like to have some decisions over again. Clark was eh and Will Smith was dreadful I thought - knock on after he come on fresh and had no impact.

BACKS: Sami had a great game apart from that error on halftime which led to a try (which was not a try imo). Marzhew was also a monster in attack so not sure where Corey comes back into the side until one of these guys has a drop in form. Kelly was strong as always but gee I’m starting to lose patience with Patty Hebert. He was great for us last year but looks completely out of it this year. Poor decision making in defence and some of his crabbing across field runs leave a lot to be desired. Only early but he needs to wake up

FORWARDS: Captain Tino fantastic besides the dropped ball when we were attacking the line. Absolute workhorse and led through his actions. Fermor looked dangerous all game - AJ got him involved perfectly. MoFo solid, Lisone had some good touches and not sure why we had Proctor as our closing backrower but he wasn’t bad tbh. One thing we need to work out soon is how to use Fifita. As I said Campbell completely hogged the ball from him and Sexton hasn’t worked out how to play with him yet. Once we do we will be a much better side.

Anyway onwards and upwards to next week! Hopefully we can knock off the raiders at home two years in a row
 
I think we need more kicking options. Sexton was largely ineffective with his first half kicks. Most of the time they looked like going out on the full.
 
Lol JB … I have to admit to developing a man crush on our coach … I wouldn’t swap him for any other coach. Always talks sense without the cliches, wears his heart on his sleeve and never avoids the tough questions.
 
Yeah we won so no need for changes at this stage imo…although I do like the thought of Corey at the back if it turns out JC needs a little more time.
 
Sami and marzhew played very well. The work they put in to start the sets was great.
AJ looked much better than I expected
Sexton wasn’t nearly as good as last week, but still played decent.
Tino, Lui and Moe aren’t nearly as explosive as I hoped they would be. Lui to me made the most post contact meters. When tino first played for Melbourne I imagined he would be more damaging as a player. He’s seeming more like a toiler. He’s a great player and has an incredible work ethic.
It’s only early in the year but I’m worried we don’t have the defence and can’t grind out games again
AFB dominated and was a class above all the other middles.
 
AJ played far too good at 5/8 to move him anywhere else at this stage. If anything, he stays at 6 and figure out whether it’s JC or Will Smith at the back as the year goes on
 
Amidst the pain of watching that 80 minutes, one thing I did really notice yesterday is the improvement in defensive detail and effort areas. A guy like Isaac Liu does so much important work defensively that goes unnoticed and doesn't show up on the stat sheet because it's an effort/detail thing but when compounded over the course of a game, it adds so much to the team. Tino has always been good at that too. Fifita was particularly poor in these areas last year but judging by the last two games has improved a lot (if only we could give him some good ball..).

This is the kind of thing that Melbourne and the Roosters are built on. When you get this right, and you get it from all of your players, everything else improves off the back of it. I'm not saying we are there yet, or even close - but there are signs there we're improving.

Also, I really don't buy the "Warriors were a better team" thing either. We were bad, but when we needed to our key guys came up with big skill plays to score points. AJ to Fermor, Fifta to Marzhew, JC to Marzhew, AJ to Sami. And we should've scored another 2-3 in the first half with how we were attacking if not for some impatience and poor execution.

On the contrary, the Warriors scored - 1 dummy half barge over, 1 bunker try that wasn't even grounded when Sami couldn't clean up, and then one try from actual attacking shape where they made Marzhew make a decision and he made the wrong one.
 
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What about Corey Thompson to fullback
I really miss the impact of Mitch Rein on dummy half
We should of paid him more than Will Smith

Mitch Rein can play in the halves as well
 
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