My immediate reaction after the game that it seemed disappointing, even though we won. So, Iâve tried to find some positives, like :-
We have had such a fantastic couple of years that now a solid win in a grudge match disappoints. In the past there are far too many years when I would have taken a win, any win, no matter how close or scrappy.
Despite our completion rate being abysmal (20% less than Wests), three tries being stopped on the try line by desperate Westsâ defence, their second try being highly dubious (funny they checked Kikauâs try but not the Wests one), an overwhelming dominance of field position, Cleary playing the worst game that I have seen for ages and Wests scoring two late tries to make the scoreboard look better, we still registered a comprehensive victory. Also, I canât think of any player who had a shocker and, after a lethargic start, we saw good or very good games from the likes of Kikau, Pangai, Martin, Yeo, Fish, Leota, Toâo, Edwards and Burton, with the rest being solid. If we had clicked, Wests would have been butchered, such was the difference in class. So that is the silver lining on the cloud.
What is it with Jacob Liddle? He seems to break our line with ease (both games this season).