This headline isn’t just because I tipped the Titans and therefore fell further behind in my tipping comp.
The Warriors deserved their win. They looked more likely throughout – which brings me to the main point of all this.
There’s less than two minutes left on the clock, the Warriors leading 24-22 and New Zealand manage to gift Gold Coast a set of six inside their territory. Aiden Sezer finds touch 40 metres out from the Warriors’ line.
This is it. Not just the result of the game but the Titans’ season is in the balance.
Six tackles to get a try or a penalty.
Now let’s begin one of the most feeble last attacking sets for a victory that I’ve seen in 30 years. It is emblematic of a larger problem afflicting many of the coaches in our game: an unwillingness or inability to foster creativity in their players.
Tackle 1: Brad Takairangi taps, passes to Aidan Sezer who hands it to Myles for a “settler” (what we’re settling I have no idea). Fair enough. I’ll let them burn one tackle centring the ball and setting themselves for…
Tackle 2: Beau Falloon out of dummy half, turning it inside for Taylor, hitting the ball at medium-fast speed (1 min to go, remember). Dave Taylor pushes forward, hands free. Nobody near him pushing up in support.
Tackle 3: Falloon to Nate Myles, who looks outside, sees nobody coming on to the ball and decides to take a slow hit-up.
Tackle 4: No playmaker in sight as Dave Taylor once again takes the ball at three-quarter speed, never looks to pass and dies with the football.
Tackle 5: Sluggish second-man play as Sezer throws it behind Ryan James to Ashley Harrison jogging into the defence with little support.
Tackle 6: Lottery. Cross-field kick. Too big. Kevin Gordon almost pulls off a miracle. Game over.
Really? This is the best a playoff contender can throw at the opposition with their final set?
The New Zealand Warriors, not exactly a defensive juggernaut, were forced to defend one play in that final set, a mediocre bomb. (And they still barely managed to hold them out.)
John Cartwright is to blame: either he hasn’t coached his unit to be more creative in their challenge or the players aren’t listening.
You choose. Either way, he has to go. And other coaches should be watching.
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