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I could just list the Parramatta board this week but we’ve read enough of their issues.
Before I jump into proceedings it’s clear the players and coaches read this column, as all of last week’s contestants had huge turnarounds.
I loathe clichés but will add ‘a week is a long time in football’, a subtle nod to fellow Roarer Taking It One Week at a Time.
To this week’s dart board participants…
Benji Marshall
The great man’s return to the Dragons once again stuttered the side’s almost non-existent attack. Harsh to lay blame solely on his shoulders, but the stats don’t lie – all of the Saints’ wins this season have been with Josh McCrone wearing the No.7.
While he wasn’t the worst player on the field it’s clear the current pairing with Gareth Widdop and, to a lesser extent, his combination with Mitch Rein is not clicking. Tough times ahead for Paul McGregor, and if they are not interested in re-signing him next season, is there much point in continuing him as the starting half?
Ben Hornby must be on track to win the Dally M award as backs coach of the year, in the same way Justin Morgan at the Warriors will be the red-hot fave to take out the Dally M defensive coach.
So maybe I am being a tad bit harsh on Benji but the stats don’t lie when he plays. Widdop looked all at sea without Josh McCrone. Enjoy playing for the Cutters, Benji.
Michael Maguire
Insipid, lethargic, cement boots, zero commitment, lack of urgency: any of them describe Souths’ efforts over the past month.
A denial to the media he is working his players too hard in training and pre-season means the coach has the blinkers on. If any old hack can see it from the comforts of their TV set, why is it not apparent to the coach? His players are running on empty so early in the season. The way they tapered off last season appears it’s happening even earlier this year.
The forwards lacked any punch and were outmuscled by a weaker Tigers pack. To make matters worse, the Tigers lost both James Tedesco and Mitch Moses, yet still managed 30 points, albeit 20 were scored when Teddy was on the field.
Jordan Rankin looked electric in attack against a poor Bunnies – if that’s not enough to raise alarm bells, I don’t know what is.
Luke Keary
Missed tackles, poor last-tackle options, lack of spark in attack, the list is endless.
Cody Walker offered far more variety in attack and a decent short-kicking game. How Keary has not yet been dumped to the Bears is beyond me. A shadow of the player we saw in 2014, a spell in NSW Cup surely beckons.
The real glaring error was a three-man overlap and what did the No.6 proceed to do? He placed a grubber kick to the in goal. Not acceptable for a half of his quality to read the play so poorly.
Could have been a game changer had he set up his outsides for what looked like an almost certain try bombed.
Edrick Lee
Despite coach Ricky Stuart’s spray at the match officials, Edrick Lee was one of the key causes for the Raiders’ defeat. Although possibly dudded by a ‘no try’ call from the whistle-blowers, Brenko Lee, Sisa Waqa and the much-hyped Kato Ottio are starring in the lower grades, meaning a stint with the Mounties may not be too far away.
During the Raiders’ previous losses before the slaughtering of the Tigers, he was way down on the performance of his fellow winger Jordan Rapana, close to the form winger in the NRL.
Jono Wright
Apologies in advance to all Jono Wright fans, but in all my years of watching rugby league – AMCO Cup, Winfield Cup, Optus Cup, Telstra Cup and so on – I’ve never seen a winger served a meat pie on a platter, catching the ball cleanly with his feet planted on the try line, only to direct his movement toward the on-rushing defence and subsequently be held up in goal.
(I guess you could call it an ‘in and a in’ instead of an ‘in and away’.)
I was gobsmacked he didn’t just do what he does when he hits it up and flopped on the ground.
Just as I had got over this gaffe, he spills the pill from a scrum-feed five metres out, after great defence from his forward pack. Luckily for Jono, the Dragons coughed it up almost straight away, and was let off the hook from a side that has scored three points in its past five second-halves of football.
Fear not Jono fans, for the impressive Matt Allwood will be demoted to NSW Cup on Tui Lolohea’s return, or Wright will again be selected as the bench utility. You know it makes sense! I don’t doubt his punctuality; it’s just the rest of his game.
Enjoy a week off from my incessant, negative ramblings, although I may do a rep round special edition. I will be sending my chief scout, Ray Barnacle, to Belmore Sports Ground to cover the weekend’s biggest clash: Lebanon vs Cook Islands.
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