R2 Panthers v Roosters - Game Day Thread

[mrwalker]

@Mutley

Maybe it was the Vegas Hangover? Maybe it was thinking ahead to Melbourne next week? Maybe it was not paying the opposition enough respect? Maybe it was the heat? Maybe it was a combination of some or all of the above? Maybe it was something else all together?

I think all of these. And the fact I put the mocker on us by going to the game on the bus. I have previously committed to never going on the supporters bus again after losing every time I take the bus. But for my own selfish convenience I took the bus and look what happened
I actually was very nervous about the game. Whilst it seemed a W was there for the taking, I had a feeling that we would not be at our best, and that the chooks would play better than expected.
We weren’t very good against the gummies giving up a lot of points, and the pattern continued with so many errors and giving up way too many points this week. In the first half we held them to low metres on each set, which I think they planned for. Their plan was to put up short bombs from around the 40m, forcing our back 3 to come forward to take the kicks, and chase & cause as much pressure as they could - it worked with a number of errors. Unfortunately our defence this time was unable to work as we are used to & points were leaked.
The good news is that we have been pretty poor in the first 2 games, are 1-1, and whilst there are concerns expressed about our attack, we have scored enough points to win 3 games. We were terrible in many ways, but came within a foot of perhaps taking the game to golden point. We will get our defence in order and then we will see the familiar pattern return.
Onwards & upwards.

[SteveTidball]

Dylan Edwards is set to miss 2-3 weeks with a groin injury picked up in the clash with the Roosters.

Obvious replacement would be Dane Laurie.

Westfund Injury Update: Dylan Edwards

[Kevin]

as with SHF I saw alot of timing issues in our game. Although you appeared prepared, the training paddock is not the reality of the contest. Have faith that in time we (and SHF) will get to a point of comfortability and the game plan will flow as expected.

[SouthernHillFan]

@Mutley

memory serves correctly, we originally recruited him as a young 5/8. Unfortunately for him the Cleary/Luai combination was already seriously good, even in the juniors, and his best way in was to make a fist of another position, which ended up being fullback.

Your memory is not failing you! In the off-season I watched a Flegg grand final from 2014 or 15. Cleary was fullback, Edwards 5/8 and May 1/2. Leota was at prop. Sonny Luke on the bench, Jerome not in the 17.