Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm: Storm win 22-10

You are spot on with all your comments. But until we get a 'proper' halfback we will be forever behind, even before the game starts. There has not been a team in the history of the NRL that excelled without a great halfback. Just imagine what the Raiders would be like with Cooper Cronk at half. He would kick tactically, build pressure with repeat sets & have a running game. Until that day comes, it doesn't matter how hard the team tries, they won't succeed. I love the Raiders, I just don't understand why they haven't addressed the half issue. The rest of the team is great. There is no one in the 30 man squad that doesn't fit, just the half. Thanks Geoff

Hey Taree - share the pain. Those first three tries were too easy. Disappointed in Nick Cotric to be honest - he showed some feeble defence or made poor decisions (he should have tackled Vunivalua rather than trying to bump him over the sidelines). Unusual for him - but he'll learn from it. And agree about Cameron Smith - he's the best player I have seen by a country mile. Always makes really smart decisions. I have the utmost respect for him (even if he can be a grub). Hodgson is a good player but a long way from Smith. He makes too many poor options for more liking. Smith gives quick direct delivery out of dummy half whereas Hodgson can hang on to it and delay the pass which contributes to the attack breaking down. He needs to be more instinctive. Agree in hindsight that Sia should have started. Papalii didn't have as much impact as expected. And we noticeably improved when Sia came on. But there was too much simple one player hit ups. The Storm defence just lapped it up. We were lucky to make 40 metres a set. Not enough planning went in to how to disrupt their defence by going through the hands of support players or finding ways to get quick play the balls. Disappointing really. I put it down to poor preparation and probably fatugue after a 5 day turnaround. You are never gointg to beat the Storm if you aren't up to it from the start. They rarely lose when they have a lead. Sezer is a never ending conundrum. He looked good against the Titans but didn't stamp his imprint in the Storm match. Wighton was quieter also but got more involved in the second half. Wighton seems to have a decent kcik on him and agree Sezer should be booting the ball a lot further than he does in field play and when we get penalties. Maybe Wighton should do more of the longer kicking and Sezer needs to take charge in setting up the plays in the red zone. We seem to have been saying this for years about Sezer and nothing changes. How many times do you need to say he needs to step up? Couldn't believe some of the dumb plays on the last tackle in the last 20 minutes or so. Should have been looking for the grubber and a repeat set but instead off loaded to Papalii for a crash tackle. But I blame Hodgson for this rather than Sezer. I understand you being frustrated and annoyed at the cost of attendance. I live about a kilometre away from the ground. We have two season tickets on the half way line below the Meninga stand just next to the players race (great position) and park the car at the bottom of the ridge for nothing and walk up. I tend to share the tickets with my kids if we want a break. Can't really complain. I'd much rather be at the home games to get the atmosphere. I love the walk back to the car down the ridge with the green army after a win. I'm not giving up on this season. I saw enough to like in the game against the Titans and the second half of the game against the Storm to have confidence that we will be competitive this year. In fact the Storm were showing a few signs of panicking when we started to get a roll on. If a couple of things had gone our way it would have been a really interesting last 10 minutes.

Geoff, I made the trek from Taree to watch this game live. I thought that not starting with Sia was a not a good move. The lack of ability of Seizer in all area's of his game was painful to watch, kicking out on the full. Never getting a repeat set & just not having to ability to do his job was obvious. The lack of being able to build pressure on the Storm was telling, especially in the first half. Cameron Smith live is brillia, he stopped two tries by reading the play. He never passes a ball from dummy half backwards (ever). Jack Wighton was reasonable, however every time he had the ball his runs were across the field, he needs to straighten the attack to allow more opportunities. In defence he was pretty good. Until the Raiders get a new halfback & coach, I won't bother making the trek again. $130 for 4 adults & 1 child, sitting level with the try line is a bit steep, plus $10 to park the car. My Foxtel subscription pert month is half that, I get the see the whole game, get reasonable commentary & I'm at home watching every NRL game. Beats taking the trouble of travelling to watch a game live.

A win's a win.

Nuh - 22-10 is about right

44-10 would have better illustrated the yawning gulf between the two sides.

Just got back from the game. I didn't think the Raiders looked fatigued in the second half as Scott has suggested below. In fact I thought they had the better of the second half and had chances to get a lot closer than the finals score looks but were clearly outplayed and dominated in the first half. Credit needs to be given to the Storm defence as the Raiders forwards just couldn't get any momentum in the first half and were lucky to make the half way line before having to kick. The raiders defence was good in patches but the tries on the right side happened too easily. I thought Soliola and John Bateman lifted the intensity in the second half and Wighton got more involved. Thought CNK was excellent throughout in his second game at full back. He's been a great pick up from the Warriors. The Raiders didn't get belted but never looked like winning either.

Phew! Wasn't comprehensive but a pretty good win. They keep letting teams back in though and one of these days it will cost. Same as last week with Brisbane, they let them back in during periods in the second half and in both games should have been with a better lead in the first. They will need to learn to be ruthless. The big thing I'm really happy with is the right hand side is finally clicking into gear with Suli bagging 3. Well worked tries. Only need Munster and Co on the other side to fire and they should be a threat. Also as with last week really liking Kenny Bromich at 12. Couple of bust in the middle but just need to link up with Josh. Again I question the wisdom of Josh gaining bulk when his speed would have got him in support much quicker. Lastly NAS is becoming a real hitman, last week Gillett and this week Cotric. For Canberra I think Bateman has really proved himself in the two games. The two halves did not take charge when needed. I thought the forwards got overrun early but came back in the second half which was surprising considering their short turnaround and travel from last week. Rapana is just a beast wing, first game back from shoulder injury and in a match with 4 of the best wingers he was right up there.

Vanivalu voluntary tackle. I hate that deliberate lie down stuff.