I hear this dumb idea, that age is a factor to not pick players. When Cherry-Evans is killing it and he’s Cleary delivering in SOO. In the meantime Cleary is getting dominated by Cherry-Evans, and people continue to push age being a barrier to SOO eligibility for Cody. NSW continue to lose, and we still have people saying: let’s exclude the players, as we work to the future! No! Put your best players on the field to beat Qld and get rid of moronic ideas like blooding youth for future years, because in NSW we’re cool with losing series, as we wait for young players to be blood in SOO. Go look at the stats, Cody and Hynes are miles ahead of Luia, Cleary and Moses. But, NSW have endless excuses as to why this out of form player was picked over another player who is in much better form. NSW don’t understand SOO and they have no idea what game style Qld have been using for the last 40 years. Fittler is only a small part of the problem with NSW SOO. The incompetence goes to the core of the Administration!

As a Souths fan, I can only see upside for Souths with Cody in Game 3. If Cody kills it, it boosts his self belief and confidence. If Cody gets pressured, as I think Qld will try to niggle him all game long, it’s another high pressure game for Cody to work on his composure while under heavy pressure. Or NSW play to their ability and show Qld that NSW are not always a basket case. Either way, Cody goes into the 2023 finals with more experience, confidence or work to focus on and improve his game. I can not see NSW do as badly with Luia finally gone. Game 3, should be very interesting as Slater goes for the white Wash and fiddler trying not to look like a total fool.

No argument with your rationale, if we were debating the logical thought processes of an expert Coach. I’m often reminded that fiddler was sacked at the roosters for winning the Wooden Spoon. Obviously, a highlight year for us Souths supporters! Haha. AJ will never get picked for NSW, as AJ doesn’t like hard yard carries out of the back field. I totally agree with it would be better to put AJ on the left NSW Wing if fiddler truly wanted to score Tries. But, we need to always remember that fiddler is a rooster through and through. So expecting fiddler to pick Souths players willingly is never going to happen. I believe fiddler was reluctant to drop Addo-Carr, as fiddler had made so many other team selection changes. Plus, Trell should return in 2024 and Addo-Carr will probably look like a standout. But, just know, I’m in agreement with you, AJ should be picked in place of Addo-Carr.

What’s truly concerning is your knowledge of what fiddler is thinking! I’m unable to combat your sound reasoning! Haha

Simple answers, Addo-Carr has been average, at best; he’s retained his spot, due to Cody playing. Cody will have a good connection with Addo-Carr. Look for long passes and kicks for Addo-Carr.

Coates retains his spot, because he delivered in Game 2 and team harmony is important to Qld as they look for a clean sweep of fiddler and his support clowns.

I should have known, such a well written post, would be from a Souths person!

You are absolutely correct. NSW are a basket case, and have been since inception. The Administration remind me of WWE Wrestling! That’s how highly I rate their expertise!

NSW lost the 2022 series trying to use the panthers game plan. Alexander needs to be jettisoned, as he’s actually holding fiddler back, yes I know that sounds proposterous. But, anyone who understands Rugby League knows the Qld system is very similar to the panthers game plan and NSW will never out grind Qld.

So essentially, NSW game in the 2 losing games was Penrith ball, with no Cleary carrying Luia. Because, Freddy and Alexander backed Luia to lead the team! Hilarious, when you look at Lucia’s 2023 stats and compare them to Cody or Hynes, it’s offensive that Luia got chosen at all.

So game 3, dead rubber, Freddy over rules Alexander and backs Souths players to change the game plan. Cook, Murray, Cody and Keaon. And Campbell Graham should be there, but as fiddler rejected Campbell in Game 1, Souths held Campbell out of Game 3. Karma for being a tosser. If anyone watches Crichton each week and watches Graham each week, it’s obvious how much better Graham is.

But, there in rests the real problem with NSW: the Coaches would rather be on TV, pretending that they are superior to everyone else, including the Qld Coaches and players.

If NSW had half a brain, they’d recognise that Slater is a hard working highly intelligent tactician, that will make it hard for NSW to win. But, that’s irrelevant when you have your media mates patting you on the back all the time, reminding you of past heroics as NSW best player. NSW are full of tossers and that’s why Lucia’s antics fitted right in. Until the NSW fans were in uproar about the NSW incompetence at losing yet another series.

Agreed, Addo_Carr has not been used correctly. But, both NSW SOO Wingers were out of position to receive try scoring opportunities in Game 2. Add-Carr has missed tackles that have directly led to Qld Tries.

What’s frustrating when discussing form, is everyone only wants to focus on Attack, but Defence is far more important in SOO. So when people say: this player is in form, what they are really saying is his Attack is great, but I have no interest in how terrible his Defence is in SOO.

Edwards should be picked over Teddy, for one reason alone: defence. His defence is next level and NSW desperately need a solid last line of defence. Yes, drinkwater is playing well, but most fans rate attack much higher than defence.

Keaon could play in Game 3, but Fittler is very very unpredictable, so who knows which NSW player he wants to destroy?

All I know is, if Luia plays SOO, Qld keep winning. How Luia and Crichton keep getting picked is a recipe for defeat. Add-Carr is out of form and needs to be replaced.

Immature analysis of Cody, any all Halves, playing behind a beaten pack, looks terrible. Watch the Warriors game and look at the difference, as Cody is the difference between winning and losing.

Cody has the best attacking stats for the last 4 years. But NSW keep picking panthers halves and keep losing to Qld. Attacking is the only way NSW will beat Qld.

Cody was the difference. It’s amazing what AJ can do when Tass doesn’t Hog the ball. I like Tom starting. Illias played well, thank God. Trell and Arrow return, Souths are dangerous.

Hopefully, Cook gets chosen for Game 3, and plays Hooker from the start. We shouldn’t trust Fittler to bring on Cook at the 20 minute mark.

Well written and your points of debate are sound. I got the impression that the author is probably questioning Gus more so in relation to his apparent need to always be in the media. Instead of fixing the structural problems within the dogs club and team.

I’m probably sitting on the fence in relation to the dogs lack of progress in 2023. But, as you have rightly pointed out, both Gould and Ciraldo should be afforded more time to turn around their club, as the lifting will be heavy and long in duration.

I will say, I’m in agreement with the author, Gould has a proven track record of hyping up his credentials of quickly turning a club around, but consistently later claims that it will take time and people need to be more patient. Mind you, these are the same people he’s been telling previously that he will quickly whip the club into shape.

As for the media giving Gould constant pats on the back and singing Gus’ praises incessantly, due to past SOO success, well I doubt anyone could be taken seriously for saying that’s not true. The Channel 9 Gould love fest, is best served by using the Mute Button on the TV remote!

Well, I do believe they do actually know better how to lose over 4 decades and still think they are smarter than everyone else!

Yeah, you are far to kind. Rate Luia, Cleary and Moses against their opposition: Munster and Cherry Evans. Then your post is way way too generous!

Are you mad or asleep: Trell got a soft tissue injury in his calf, due to the excessive running the NSW players were doing at training. Then 4 days later: Cleary tears his hamstring, which was also attributed to NSW training.

Souths only let their injured players return to SOO Game 2, if our Head Physio Eddie Farah was responsible for the Souths players, not the NSW SOO boof HEADS!

What’s worrying for NSW is fiddler said he had no game plan for Hynes in Game 1. Then in Game 2, fiddler said he told Cook that if either of the Centre’s got injured, Cook would play Centre. So Yeo has 24 games experience at Centre and Murray plays Centre at Souths when either of the Souths Centres get injured during the game. So instead of Yeo or Murray going to Centre, or sharing Centre during the game, nope, fiddler puts Cook there at Centre, who hasn’t played Centre before, but SOO is the time to throw Cook in at Centre!

Then Robson plays 80 minutes at Hooker! At no time did Cook get moved to Hooker and take Robson off. Nope, a NSW debutante plays 80 minutes at Hooker, the most important position on the field, because fiddler doesn’t want an experienced Hooker like Cook, because Robson is a better option!

Just morons with no idea!

I want to demand anyone who wants to rate Luia as good or dangerous or having a better game than other NSW players, please rate NSW halves against Cherry Evans and Munster, because when we gauge Luia in Game 1 and Game 2, Luia and Cleary are ineffective halves, that are directly responsible for the NSW failing attack!

I have no idea what game you were watching? Because Luia wasn’t scaring any Qld defenders. If you call skipping around, trying to look busy, then I’m not sure what I’m missing that you identified to say Luia had a good game.

At no time did Qld defence look fearful of Luia! As for Munster and Cherry Evans, as a combination, NSW halves are so far behind them, it’s actually embarrassing for NSW.

I doubt I’ve read anything more concise, accurate and simple to understand. How is it possible that NSW Coaches, Assistant Coaches are unable to understand such a simple concept?

Could it be that chasing media attention and pretending to be knowledgeable and superior to everyone else is so appealing to their egoes, that doing basic homework is just not appealing?

NSW SOO is yet again embarrassing!

Agreed, and Qld have been claiming for decades that their players were injured and were in doubt to play. NSW are now doing this lame act, and all the Muppets are still buying the misinformation and carrying on like babies. Drama equals SOO revenue raising.

Fiddler doesn’t over look players, he ignores them. Then when he has no game plan for players on the Bench, he blames them for the loss. Qld should ignore form, and just pick their friends to play SOO. Slater has no idea, him and his assistant Coaches only want to win, and have no interest in grabbing media attention or the spot light. Qld just don’t get SOO like NSW does, that’s why Qld win series that they have no right to win. NSW loves the media circus and Qld are usually the Ring Masters!

I don’t think parra have a chance with the court issues for Dylan Brown still being unresolved. But if there’s any team that the panthers don’t want not to play in the finals, it’s parra.

Storm play cronulla at home in Melbourne this weekend, it’ll be interesting to see if Hynes can get the sharks a win. Freddy has repeatedly said, that Cronulla can’t best Top 8 sides when asked about Hynes playing SOO. So I’m thinking Freddy doesn’t rate Hynes. Gould talks about Moses in the Halves. Cody will get overlooked I’m thinking with a quad strain. I’m doubtful Paps has enough time to lift Melbourne back into Premiership calculations, but I do think Melbourne are good enough on their day to beat the panthers. Especially with Cleary needing to come back from a hamstring issue. Interesting times await us all.

Totally agree with Cam. I’m amazed with Rugby League, as there are so many personalities who appear to be unable to determine how teams are consistently stronger and beat teams. I enjoy reading, so reading normal fans views and thoughts, you’d be safe thinking that the average supporter has no idea why teams win or lose. But I’ve read lots of really well written posts from fans that are far more insightful and detail perfectly team game plans and strategies. I have learnt a great deal, just from analysing fans posts. I can confidently say: the media has a lot of jibbering fools, who’re far more interested in seeing themselves on camera, than honestly analysing teams, game plans and strengths and weaknesses if clubs recruitment and retention strategies. Freddy and Brandy haven’t even worked out that Qld SOO Teams use a Defensive game plan. In fact, they call it the Qld spirit. When we hear that damn Qlder call to rise and grab the game by the collar and win, NSW don’t even realise what they’re doing. Imagine the NSW Coach (Freddy) Assistant Coach (Brandy) don’t even know the strengths of the opposition and they’ve been in the game for 40 years! The mismatch is mind blowing! The Penrith defensive game plan is built on very tough rugged Kiwi Forwards: Leota and Fisher-Harris and Leniu. If Cody is out, that’s a blow, but, Trell and Turbo are the key in attack and Freddy desperately needs them to win SOO 2. API OUT, Forces Freddy to bring Cookie back, and his service to the edges (if allowed) in the Freddy and Brandy game plan, will shred Qld’s rushing defence. Injuries and suspensions can kill either teams chances in SOO!

Great post. The reason Freddy needs to change his player selections is simple: Qlders are awesome defenders. In contrast the Blue panthers play a defensive game plan. Slater is a generational Coach and Freddy isn’t in the same class as Billy. Add to that, Slater’s assistant Coaches, are JT and Cameron Smith. In contrast, Freddy has Brandy! Souths players play each week with an attacking game plan, designed to tire out good defensive teams. Panthers game plan will not beat Qld, because Slater has already formulated the game plan to inhibit the NSW’s attack. Did everyone not see in game 1, NSW with all the ball in Qld territory, hopelessly failing to score?