02-28-2016, 11:15 PM
Well it sure was a bitter pill to swallow going down like that to the bombers. I have to keep reminding myself it is just preseason - Bolton is clearly experimenting with players and treating this more as a training activity than the opposition (limiting the number of interchanges for example).
While I expected to lose I did hope for a better showing at the old home ground. As many posts have already pointed out we did go in with a very young and inexperienced team, and it seemed that the experienced players weren't given much of a run (were simmo, casboult and jammo subbed out after half time?) Hopefully for the final pre-season game we get to see a bit more of our core group playing. Perhaps the match against Sydney is also the time to finally try Jones out as a full back too?
Perhaps my main area of concern is still the way we use the ball though and I'm not sure just brining Murphy, Cripps, Gibbs, Walker, Thomas and Kreuzer back will fix it. As with last year we still seem far too reliant on long kicks in hope - especially in clearing the backline. The whole team need to get better at linking up and running (harder) with each other to control the play and work it up the ground better. We seem to really lack players willing to just tuck the ball under the arm and run hard these days, especially in the back line. I had hoped Bolton would have made this change to the game plan in the off season.
Some positives - the new kids did some good things. Weitering almost looks ready to make CHB his own, SOSOS looks really lively (how big were the cheers every time he got his hands on the ball!) and it was great to see some mongrel in Mckay and Curnow (they are both going to be beasts when they fill out). The 3 qtr time mini melee with our new young guys was great!
If anything, the match was the reminder we needed that there is probably more pain to face this year before things get better. Nevertheless I'll still be buying my membership this week - have to support the team now more than ever.
While I expected to lose I did hope for a better showing at the old home ground. As many posts have already pointed out we did go in with a very young and inexperienced team, and it seemed that the experienced players weren't given much of a run (were simmo, casboult and jammo subbed out after half time?) Hopefully for the final pre-season game we get to see a bit more of our core group playing. Perhaps the match against Sydney is also the time to finally try Jones out as a full back too?
Perhaps my main area of concern is still the way we use the ball though and I'm not sure just brining Murphy, Cripps, Gibbs, Walker, Thomas and Kreuzer back will fix it. As with last year we still seem far too reliant on long kicks in hope - especially in clearing the backline. The whole team need to get better at linking up and running (harder) with each other to control the play and work it up the ground better. We seem to really lack players willing to just tuck the ball under the arm and run hard these days, especially in the back line. I had hoped Bolton would have made this change to the game plan in the off season.
Some positives - the new kids did some good things. Weitering almost looks ready to make CHB his own, SOSOS looks really lively (how big were the cheers every time he got his hands on the ball!) and it was great to see some mongrel in Mckay and Curnow (they are both going to be beasts when they fill out). The 3 qtr time mini melee with our new young guys was great!
If anything, the match was the reminder we needed that there is probably more pain to face this year before things get better. Nevertheless I'll still be buying my membership this week - have to support the team now more than ever.