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The Roar

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The chopping block: Stripped-back, acoustic version

Mitchell Moses (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Grant Trouville)
Roar Guru
28th July, 2016
20

Now before you all get put off by the title, this is not a stripped-back version of Shannon Noll’s all time classic ‘Shine’, or the late, great Tiny Tim’s version of ‘Tiptoe through the tulips’ – as performed at Bear Park in 1992.

This is a stripped-back version of the chopping block to hear more from you fans on what was your lowlight or highlight of the previous NRL round.

With my chronic pointer finger arthritis kicking in and Ray having surgery for carpet tunnel syndrome – pretty sure that’s what he says when I ask him to type my rhetoric – we have decided less is more in our weekly rants on the week in league.

I know we made mass changes with our last few ramblings by adding positives of the week, upgrading our IT systems and so on, but if we are to go the long haul in this short-lived career change, we need to replace quantity with pure quality.

Gareth Widdop
Self-doubt and strange decision-making have snowballed for the poor Pommy international, and he looks a shadow of the player we sighted last season.

Benji Marshall has copped most of the criticism for the Saints’ inept attack, but at least he’s trying things and challenging the defence, although the pace and strength is not what it used to be. Maybe a shift to fullback for Widdop could re-energise his confidence.

Moses Mbye/Josh Reynolds
Ray and I could not split the Dogs’ halves, who showed again they lack the polish in the big, crunch games to challenge the heavyweights of the competition. The kicking game has been an issue throughout the season and could hurt when the bigger games roll on.

Both have been guilty of not picking their moments in the big games, and at time lacking patience. I’m sure Des Hasler just put it down to one of those nights, but the removal of Trent Hodkinson may prove to be an error in judgement.

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Mbye looked a lot better last season when combining with the more calming influence of Hodkinson. Ray and I could be wrong on that call, and we’re sure The Barry will call us out if we are. While Will Hopoate’s form has gone up a notch or 12 from his Eels stint, they lack that game breaker or class half that other sides possess.

They did beat the Storm earlier in the season, but it’s beating them toward this period, along with the Cowboys and Sharks, that really counts. Led by the blood nut Scouser, James Graham, who still applies SPF 50 before night games, the forwards will always hold their own, but the doubt in their halves still lingers.

They do have a 130 kilogram monster living in a halves body on the bench, who sometimes shows the current No.6 and 7 how it’s done, which is a bonus for any coach.

The Broncos
Again, hard to single out one poor performer from last week’s clash against the Panthers.

Is it a fallout from the ‘rat in the ranks’, or the player alleged to have been recorded doing something illegal which has caused off-field dramas out of Red Hill? Or is it the usual Bronco dip as the players are flogged in training prior to September?

More twists than a Summer Bay finale up in Brisbane, and hopefully some clarity will surface in the next few weeks.

Jarrod Croker
The head-geared leader at the Raiders single-handedly got his side over the line against the improving Warriors last Saturday in the nation’s capital. Ray and I have been critical of his defensive positioning, but his pace and vision in attack, along with leadership skills, have developed rapidly in 2016.

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The way he pinned the ears back and backed himself to score the match-winner showed he is in career-best form. Spotting a tiring Bunty Afoa in front of him he got to the corner in the nick of time from a fresh Tui Lolohea.

Mitch ‘Benji 2005’ Moses
The confidence he displays minus the guy we won’t mention is simply astounding. It really begs the question and debate Ray, myself and Matty ‘Zen’ Elliott continually have: is he the main protagonist in sending his old No.9 off to fixtures played at Henson Park and not Shark Park for the rest of 2016?

Judging by his displays so far this season, you’d have to think Moses – unlike Aaron Woods and company, who ventured out to Leichhardt Oval last Saturday – is relishing the chance to take the reins in attack and call the shots.

Luke Brooks hasn’t looked different in the absence of that guy, but correct me if I am wrong Roarers and Tigers tragics, if the No.6 doesn’t look a totally different player with plodders like Dene Halatau, Elijah Taylor and Jordan Rankin offering service out of dummy half?

So who made the chop or who did you toast with a nip of Kentucky Gold this round fellow Roarers?

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