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Round 26: KNIGHTS vs TITANS (2024)

Appsy said:
There absolutely has been improvement under Des. It is just the same culprits' that keep messing up the work that has been put in because they simply just do not care enough. There is definitely a divide in this playing group because certain players aren't getting their way anymore (I am sure you can all read in between the lines with who I am referring too). We need the boys to have some real accountability for their actions on and off the field. It is what we miss with Tino not being present on the field. Someone to actually call them out - Not in a "you're a $h!tcuNT" way, but in a "you are better than this" way.
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TBF, I'd be using both at training this week.
 
What can Tino do? He's been there for years with them and they aren't any smarter since he got here, He shouldn't have to tell BK at 28 to be better or Moe or any of the senior players... They don't listen. The team created the issue with AJ if there is even one, His groin is/was not good, His form wasn't him throwing a tantrum, His body isn't good right now. I think his words on his place in the team are way overblown.

I'd argue that JC is trying to be fit in when he's not really worth it IMO especially with the talent we have, I'd argue JC is pretty overrated by our fan base and there's a romance there to make it work due to his dad. I don't think he's shown to be a consistent star NRL player or shown it to be the hassle we put ourselves through moving him around.

I don't think he's as good as Kini or AJ at least.
 
Moe and JJ are just not starting forwards. They are just too passive in defence for starting props.

Fifita is a liability in defence and runs out of gas too easily resulting in him being out of position more times than being in position.

For all the work Randal does, he too does not make any impact on the collision and dies not dominate the tackle. I would rather him as starting 9.

I have mentioned before, Foz is not a 7 and it looks like age is catching up. Hope he sees that and moves into coaching next year.

JC has not improved in the 6 position and still struggles defensively.

We need some centres as they are rubbish.

Thank god for JOJO

Finally, I dont view seasons as building seasons. It is just kicking the can down the road and it shields accountability. We have been kicking this can down the road for at least 5 seasons only to continually be in the bottom 4.

Time for a complete shake up in our playing squad including moving players on under contract and getting NRL quality players and not QCup or NSW reserve grade players which is what we continually get. Time for our recruitment to do something different and accept accountability.

Flanno does not believe in building years and nor should Des accept what can only be described as another dismal year and shameful performances over the past 4 weeks.
 
The bad news is this season has left far more questions than answers.

The good news is that the questions are at least fairly obvious and many of which are fixable on paper.

There are some really really really low IQ players in this 17, don't think i've seen more players in a Titans uniform that actually flat out don't know how to play the game or even just play hard at the same time. Some of those 2019/15 teams for example at least had a few guys that just lacked flat out raw talent, this team lacks brains and toughness.
 
Whats Doing said:
Moe and JJ are just not starting forwards. They are just too passive in defence for starting props.

Fifita is a liability in defence and runs out of gas too easily resulting in him being out of position more times than being in position.

For all the work Randal does, he too does not make any impact on the collision and dies not dominate the tackle. I would rather him as starting 9.

I have mentioned before, Foz is not a 7 and it looks like age is catching up. Hope he sees that and moves into coaching next year.

JC has not improved in the 6 position and still struggles defensively.

We need some centres as they are rubbish.

Thank god for JOJO

Finally, I dont view seasons as building seasons. It is just kicking the can down the road and it shields accountability. We have been kicking this can down the road for at least 5 seasons only to continually be in the bottom 4.

Time for a complete shake up in our playing squad including moving players on under contract and getting NRL quality players and not QCup or NSW reserve grade players which is what we continually get. Time for our recruitment to do something different and accept accountability.

Flanno does not believe in building years and nor should Des accept what can only be described as another dismal year and shameful performances over the past 4 weeks.
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Well said WD. Can Hau start at prop next year? Is that too big an ask? If he and Pahulu can have a big off season, they could start with Tino, in the absence of a quality signing like Kamikamica (I know, I'm dreaming).

I agree about Randall but we need to keep Verrills close to the 17 for depth. I think his impact has waned late in the season because he was having to do too much earlier in the season.

I think we need to keep Foz because we don't have two halves that can organise their edge.

JC, Dave, BK and Lofi missed a combine 21 tackles today. The other edge with Foz missed 12. Our middle missed 17 combined. I know those stats don't tell you everything but I think that's indicative today.

Unless there's a big player swapathon later this year, we have to start well next year. If we drop our first five games again, the whole club can GAGF.

I hope to christ we have Jojo in the centres next year and Big Tony outside him (or as the other centre with slow Phil on the right wing). HSS is even better than BK and Sami in the centres. Reimis Smith would be ideal.

On AJ, I know he's dogged it at left centre but that's his side he attacks from fb. Kini attacks mostly on the right. If CG is our 6 next year, AJ should be able to work at 3. Otherwise hopefully he starts at 6 next year but the problem is the long kicking game. We don't have one. Injuries have stopped Des from working this out late this season but hopefully he's got a plan.

And I hate Flanno but watching his presser compared to Kevvie last night was a helluva contrast. One of them is a coach. The other wanted the player everyone thinks is the coach to answer the questions. A big silver lining out of this season is how badly the broncos have gone.
 
When kids come into systems they're meant to have vets that help them and lead the way, It feels the complete opposite with us where guys like Jojo, Kini, Pahulu, hell even Francis in his one game showed a tonne of courage and JDG are the players that don't let the team down and step up. They might make errors but they always seem to bounce back from them and learn.

Just on Moe and JJ and agreeing because it's pretty common but.... Moe played 60 mins and JJ 57, I know our bench is trash besides Pahulu and Haas (He's in his second full year of NRL basically, He was more good then bad this year and with his life situation I think he's been a pass mark). That's just insane to me in that heat and conditions, Moe looked cooked at the 20 min mark.

MT, Tuki can, He'd be in our 17 now with our depth in the middle and will be next year if they keep this up, Watching the Norths game now and when he came on from the bench momentum swung, Not just because of him but he has a good offload and physical, Reminds me of Herman a bit game wise (not our Herman, Herman at his best)

I still think Pahulu should be a 13 with Randy at 9 and Verrils at 14, He has all the skills IMO and hasn't really used them which is understandable but he can be a 13 100%.
 
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Cowabunga said:
When kids come into systems they're meant to have vets that help them and lead the way, It feels the complete opposite with us where guys like Jojo, Kini, Pahulu, hell even Francis in his one game showed a tonne of courage and JDG are the players that don't let the team down and step up. They might make errors but they always seem to bounce back from them and learn.

Just on Moe and JJ and agreeing because it's pretty common but.... Moe played 60 mins and JJ 57, I know our bench is trash besides Pahulu and Haas (He's in his second full year of NRL basically, He was more good then bad this year and with his life situation I think he's been a pass mark). That's just insane to me in that heat and conditions, Moe looked cooked at the 20 min mark.

MT, Tuki can, He looks NRL ready now especially for our team hahha.
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I saw that with Moe too Cow. I just don't understand in a hot game, you have two middles play only 20 and 25 and another 18 and still have a rotation up your sleeve. Is is part of Des' conditioning program for next year?

Have we signed Tuki?
 
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Moe played 47 straight then came on for 11 at the end... JJs looks like might've came on for Moe??? I got no idea either but is very Holbrookesque.

According to CM, Don't know what type of deal but I think it will be at least Developmental (probably what Leapai was going to be on?), HS mentioned to expect a few CUP guys to come in just to have some people who have grown pubes around the team.
 
Daves stats: 12 runs 115m / 42 PCM and 3.99 PTB speed / 21 tackles 7 misses.

He made about 7 of them in the first 10 mins and was cooked....

That's unacceptable IMO and worthy of a dropping to send a real message for the pre season, Get your ******* act together, You've been coddled by the club (Hasn't had to talk to media and we're breaking "rules" for him) and fans have backed you up now it's time to payback. We cannot have that from a player on 1m. JC is to blame for attack but it's the defence that's the main problem to me, I don't care about the attack to much but he's a bourdon on defence.

Dave needs to watch Kikau and see what you can do without having to have 20 carries, Put your effort into defence and cause some fear because IMO, Noone in the league actually fears him or is scared to come against him. Look at Olakawatu the other night, He makes it his mission to be a destroyer. There were massive calls to improve his workrate but I think in some ways it's made him less effective where there should be a balance, He doesn't need to have 20 hit ups, 12/13 should be good when in the right spots and focus on defending and causing turnovers potentially that way. I think it's just as much on the club and coaching staff as well though.

Verrills is making constantly 50+ tackles lately because Fifita is lazy/tired and being targeted, He's having lapses but it's because he's working himself to a complete standstill trying to save Fifita.
 
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You can't have an edge forward who is an awful defender. David Fifita is a massive liability right now. He's constantly targeted by the opposition defensively as his contact is garbage and his work at marker is diabolical.

Glad I didn't watch this one, I knew what was coming.
 
The presser was very depressing. Des obviously wishing he could be anywhere else and until poked about JDG’s debut he had nothing positive to say about any facet of the game. His red pen is going to be working overtime I’d reckon.
 
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