Round 4: TITANS vs TIGERS (2022)

[Just-a-Fan]

THANKS FOR THAT CLIP Hail Sezer So how much he care for the team
I Think we need to move Kelly to the wings and bring in Fifita ( JoJo ) in his spot
Ct was way off his best but better for the run but I dont know if he likes to Play outside Herbert ( wait and see )
Jwal needs to be o the bench work it for a better rotation for Lui and Mofo
Mofo was outstanding again every week he brings it
I still not liking AJ an 6 but no one else ( he would be such a fantastic super sub )
Our FB was strong in defence but got kinda sick and tried of his kick into legs not the play
I can see why Tino is captain I was a bit unsure at 1st
I say 1 thing some how we need to bring Fifita into the game AJ or Sexton need to work on it
but Fifita needs to offer different line also but need to be sorted out quickly I think
Great win to ya boys and it show it means a lot to you all keep it up

 

[5 Year Contract]

The thing I noticed with Fifita as well is he is only used on those wide shfit plays (which I get is normally where you will find edge runners). My only thought is to me would it make more sense bringing him into the middle a few times for some hard yards hitups to suck in all the defenders then follow up with a quick shift wide? they just seem to stack number against him and hes starting to look like Tony Williams once the defence figured him out. That said last night it seemed like he was getting the ball far too early before the line. I think the attack needs to get more creative (have him running decoy, back in, anything other than just getting the ball with a 2 step run up 5m from the defensive line who is sitting there waiting)


Another left field thought. He lost alot of weight in the offseason...is this hampering him (probably not but im miffed at the Fifita of last year vs this year)

 

[Hail Sezer]

The thing I noticed with Fifita as well is he is only used on those wide shfit plays. To me would it make more sense bringing him into the middle a few times for some hard yards hitups to suck in all the defenders then follow up with a quick shift wide? they just seem to stack number against him and hes starting to look like Tony Williams once the defence figured him out. Another left field thought. He lost alot of weight in the offseason...is this hampering him (probably not but im miffed at the Fifita of last year vs this year)

He's good at testing edge defenders but if we use him just pounding hitups and running at middles he just gets swallowed up in a normal tackle. I think the basic way to better use him (assuming on the right) is to either a) find him off a quick PTB off the left post on an overs line or b) On slow ball find him on a hard unders line and target their 3 or 4 man (this is really to set up the next play and is similar to what you explained, just more of an edge route than a middle route). Historically thats where he's been most effective.

He's still having some moments but I still think we've just been particularly poor at using him. Timing with Toby is off. Was unfamiliar with AJ last night. His best period with the ball this season was against the raiders last week but it was in the 2nd half when we were getting spanked so it didn't really register

 

[Boonarga]

Wallace belongs in the 17.
The team seems unable to get clean ball to Fifita at speed. I don't know if it's his poor positioning or his insiders not setting him up properly.
Kelly is a winger.
Tino didn't drop the ball.
Why were the players on the left side of the field standing on the 20 metre line when we scored? Luckily we had a couple of guys keen enough to chase.

 

[Hail Sezer]

Wallace belongs in the 17.
The team seems unable to get clean ball to Fifita at speed. I don't know if it's his poor positioning or his insiders not setting him up properly.
Kelly is a winger.
Tino didn't drop the ball.
Why were the players on the left side of the field standing on the 20 metre line when we scored? Luckily we had a couple of guys keen enough to chase.

Erin Clark the unsung hero in that final play, he's the one who chased hard and put the shot on their 6 to force the fumble

 

[Titslover]

AJ used Fifita really well right before Tino’s try last week. Got the ball out the back on the right side of the field and then gave Fifita a short ball while he was running an overs line. Put him into open space and if it wasn’t for 3 Raiders making a cover tackle he would’ve scored. Don’t know why there was none of that last night.

 

[Titanic]

Erin Clark the unsung hero in that final play, he's the one who chased hard and put the shot on their 6 to force the fumble

Yes fair comment and I also think we haven't given enough consideration to the desperation shown by the Tigpies in their spoiling defence ... that loss will be hard to recover from.

 

[gotitans101_]

What are people's thoughts on Holbrook's comments after the game?

Dominique Loudon
@dloudon9
Listening back to Justin Holbrook's post match press conference. I think he was watching a different game.

"I couldn't be happier or prouder of the boys tonight. I'm really happy to come away with that win."

Say what!?

 

[ozynorts]

I am still mystified about his “Lisone brings impact” call.
Watching the Panthers-South’s game, there is no way we get within 30 of them.

 

[Hail Sezer]

What are people's thoughts on Holbrook's comments after the game?

What id want my coach to say if I just busted my balls for 80 minutes to win in the last minute after a 5 day turnaround, disrupted week of prep and losing some of the best players to Covid, the week after an embarrassing loss. It’s dead obvious we weren’t good but his priority is keeping confidence within his own squad.

Surprised to see Dom tweet that to be honest.

edit - have just looked up the actual tweet and seems most of the responses share the above sentiment. Lets not overthink it.

 

[DIEHARD]

It's one thing to say you are happy and proud of the boys. But Holbrook absolutely said that he couldn't be happier or prouder. There is a way to communicate without throwing the team under the bus. But that comment doesn't sit well with most who watched the game. The team overcame a lot and we were lucky. But words need to have meaning.

 

[DIEHARD]

 

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers | Match Highlights | Round 4, 2022 | NRL
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[Hail Sezer]

It's one thing to say you are happy and proud of the boys. But Holbrook absolutely said that he couldn't be happier or prouder. There is a way to communicate without throwing the team under the bus. But that comment doesn't sit well with most who watched the game. The team overcame a lot and we were lucky. But words need to have meaning.

You genuinely took that as Holbrook literally couldn't be happier or prouder as in he literally does not have the capacity to be happier or prouder?

Did you watch the entire press conference? Where he also said we need to be better?

 

[Whats Doing]

Looking at the Panthers and Sharks defence tonight is that they suffocate the attack with speed off the line. The difference and effectiveness to the Titans outdated defensive structure could not be more starker

 

[Titanic]

We all have I think commented on the almost ridiculous defensive capacities of the team over the years. I am one of those and each week I temper my frustration with the reflection that when we are losing we blame the defense because losing by the nature of the game obviously means our defense is worse than the opposition … but gee, terrible line speed win, lose or draw year after year, coach after coach, squad after squad poses questions I can’t even begin to answer.

 

[Detwelve12]

Yes fair comment and I also think we haven't given enough consideration to the desperation shown by the Tigpies in their spoiling defence ... that loss will be hard to recover from.

Love this 'tigpies'. Magpies were the very first team I supported before they amalgamated. Couldn't bring myself to support them when they amalgamated and we're wearing orange.

 

[The Birdman]

We all have I think commented on the almost ridiculous defensive capacities of the team over the years. I am one of those and each week I temper my frustration with the reflection that when we are losing we blame the defense because losing by the nature of the game obviously means our defense is worse than the opposition … but gee, terrible line speed win, lose or draw year after year, coach after coach, squad after squad poses questions I can’t even begin to answer.

This is exactly how I feel. There's something inherently wrong at the club with the mentality and approach to the game.

 

[Whats Doing]

We all have I think commented on the almost ridiculous defensive capacities of the team over the years. I am one of those and each week I temper my frustration with the reflection that when we are losing we blame the defense because losing by the nature of the game obviously means our defense is worse than the opposition … but gee, terrible line speed win, lose or draw year after year, coach after coach, squad after squad poses questions I can’t even begin to answer.

I did my Level 3 Course eons ago (2000) and the defensive strategy taught back then is the same defensive structure used by the Titans. The theory was that it conserved energy. Whilst that is true to some extent it didn’t take into account the fact that more energy is required to be expended trying to bash your way out of your own 20 as a result of the better field position the opposition gains by your team having a passive defence.

With the players much fitter now days, it time the coaching staff get with the times and implement the modern day defensive structures which all of the leading teams have adopted.

 

[Hail Sezer]

I don’t really buy that our coaches are so out of touch they’re using defensive strategy from 20 years ago. The teams Jimmy previously coached didn’t defend like that either. Is it that they aren’t coaching some things properly? Is it that the playing group aren’t executing well? Conditioning? A combination of some of these? I honestly don’t know exactly.

But don’t believe this passive no-line-speed thing is coached and is structural. And that’s from consulting people who are well credentialed and close to the team. Like any team, they’re coached with the intention to have line speed and be efficient in the tackle (which is a whole other discussion) as key KPI’s. That’s bread and butter of U18s let alone NRL. But it’s obviously not happening on the field - so maybe the coaching methodology is off, or perhaps they’re not conditioned well enough, or perhaps the players simply aren’t executing as a unit. Whatever it is it doesn’t change the fact it needs to be fixed but I really don’t think it’s intentional from the coaching staff.