Thanks for the feedback @steamboatfarmer. I usually wait a day or two to usually provide my thoughts on the game. It gives me time to watch the replay and time to put my thoughts together.
As for my comments about Ricky Stuart, I think in the past I have made my feeling clear about him. I don’t rate him as a coach and I find he likes to point the finger of blame to anybody else than himself, yet he seems to be the common thread in most the problems there. His comments about Salmon last year was out of line (and the NRL agreed with a suspension, which the Raiders went on to win the next week). To see him get his come uppance courtesy of Salmon crossing the line felt cathartic, of which I expressed here.
Alright on to the game…
I thought we looked a bit clunky out there. Playing like that against some of the teams hitting their straps right now, we would have been in trouble.
Considering that we haven’t really named the same side twice in a row so far this year though, I’m not incredibly concerned.
I thought a few players looked behind the pace.
Edwards looked uncomfortable at fullback and he messed up a few time where you would not expect him to, I’m sure Raiders fan would say it was down to the attacking pressure, but to me it felt that Edwards was getting in the way of himself. I wonder if we was just having one of those days you can have where everything you touch turns to crap, or if her carrying an injury.
Crichton wasn’t at his best, but in saying that, he hasn’t quite been himself since Round 1 if I am being honest about it. He is giving away a huge amount of penalties (2 last week and 3 this week). He still injects some brilliant moments, but penalties can cost us points, and his sin binning, after numerous warnings from the referee, lead to the Raiders first try of the night.
Zac Hosking has been amazing these past game, and will put real pressure on Luke Garner to hold his spot. He hits the line hard and bends the defensive line like a Prop Forward, but can also glide through the slimmest of gaps in the opposition. I would think of some sort to rotation with Scott Sorensen, either of them starting and the other on the bench.
I thought that Tyrone Peachy had a good game when he came on, took him a little bit to blow out the cobwebs, but when he did, his delivery out of dummy half was great and the little dart over the line must have been sweet for him.
My MOTM points went to Sunia Turuva, Isack Tago & Zac Hosking. They were my standouts this week.
The Raiders made it a point to load a lot of pressure on Edwards and take him out of the game, and when they seen he was having an “off game”, made sure he got traffic going his way. But the back row delivered with Tago, To’o and Turuva stepping up and hitting back hard. A double to Turuva, a double to Tago, and To’o with most run metres in the game.
I’m hoping that match knocked some of the rust the side has had and they go out of this one a lot more confident and press the competition with more of that surgical like pressure we are known for.
Onwards and upwards.
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