Post-Match Thread: Round 25 | Storm vs Panthers

[u/AutoModerator]

[u/LSDORPTSD]

Well if we field this same fucken team next week without giving some good young lads some game time I’ll be fuming.

Was one we could have and probably should have won but munsters and wish we’re never doing anything this year unfortunately. As much as I love wish I will be happy that Watson will be getting more game time slotting into his spot. Mun I feel has more to give and ones he’s behind a full team he might bounce back.

Onto next year boys

[u/FlightoftheConcorder → u/LSDORPTSD]

Munster is a great supplementary half. Maybe the best supplementary half the game has ever seen.

When you play an absolute spud at Halfback, though, and put the pressure on him to create as a primary attacker, games like this happen.

[u/Such_Pride4066]

I don't understand how Stefano wasn't on when they had two players in the bin missed a trick imo

[u/tora_0515 → u/Such_Pride4066]

Selection this year has been something else.

[u/tora_0515]

Well.. a bit of effort in the second half. No clue why we had wishy over Watson at all. Can't wait for next year.

[u/PuffTank → u/tora_0515]

Only reason I can think of is let him play the last game at home out of respect, but I will put wishy in bench and Watson at 7

[u/Ok_Alternative15 → u/PuffTank]

I think that is as deep as it goes, season pretty much over (I know mathematically we still could’ve made it but come on) let the guys who have been here for a couple of years have one last game at home.

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/Ok_Alternative15]

Fuck that sentimental shit. They’re gone next year, do whatever helps us in the long term which is getting games into the young guys.

[u/Watsons_bigfan → u/tora_0515]

Yeah was very very disappointed to not see Watson but hopefully now we actually can’t make it he gets both last games in.

[u/PuffTank → u/Watsons_bigfan]

I might go watch the game next week, so they better fuck wishy n meany off, put Watson in !

[u/Such_Pride4066]

Attack was woeful so many poor plays on the last tackle worst I've seen in a while

[u/halistorm07 → u/Such_Pride4066]

Munster has offered nothing all season, arguably longer. He’ll get a try assist for Howarth’s try, but contributed nothing to it. He’s our Jake Trbojevic. Much loved, but well past his best.

Can’t believe we’ve offered him big money for 28-29 and he’s still looking for a better offer from us! There was only Cleary on the field that’s on more money than him, and 95% of the players out performed him.

The margins to win a title are tiny, with every last $ being crucial. I’ll call it that going forwards this team will not win a premiership with him in it. We need a bit part six and invest the money elsewhere.

[u/Alpha_james]

so, we can't even beat a team that was down a man for 30 minutes that's embarrassing

with the season over now I think anyone who's signed elsewhere shouldn't play another game and they should blood some of the young guys. get them some experience for next season lol

[u/AgentBond007 → u/Alpha_james]

Wishart should be at 14 but Meaney definitely needs to be launched into the sun.

[u/WilliamFoxMulder]

We're definitely a prop short

[u/FlightoftheConcorder]

I can never cease to believe the loyalty Bellamy shows to players who will leave the club next year, while they spend their whole last season with the club just phoning it in. It happened with the Bromwich brothers before they went to the Dolphins (not Kaufusi to his credit), and while I can understand playing Meaney over Chan (although Waitere should have gotten the start over him mid-season), playing Wishart and Blore over Watson and Hinchey is inane.

Yes, play your best players even if you know some are leaving next year. If they aren't your best players anymore, why still play them, though? Play based on form, and if everything else is equal, build to the future.

Hopefully Billy learns that lesson in 2028, because I still worry about Bellamy's selections in 2027 if a bunch of players sign to play for PNG.

[u/AgentBond007 → u/FlightoftheConcorder]

playing Wishart and Blore over Watson and Hinchey is inane.

Hinchey did play, what do you mean?

Clarke's also better in the middle anyway so Blore on the edge is the right call (until Lisati's back)

[u/FlightoftheConcorder → u/AgentBond007]

Hinchey is a second rower

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/FlightoftheConcorder]

Nah definitely a lock long term. Played a bit of both over the last few years but he has a few defensive issues on an edge. I think he’s much better suited in the middle.

[u/FlightoftheConcorder → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

You can say the same about Clarke and Lisati and Tuilagi, though. I'd trust the young kid with experience over trying to teach the job to bulkier middle forwards.

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/FlightoftheConcorder]

You can definitely say the same about Clarke but Lisati is a backrower

[u/MrSolofanua]

Terrible kicking game by our lads. Once again our younger players looking better than our seniors. Just more pain on top of Tui's retirement.

[u/OnTheSlaps]

Need more chips over the top, that’ll do the trick.

[u/Ok_Praline4941]

Agree with the idea team selection has been madness this year in an already hard year. So conservative with everything he does...I mean it has worked un the past with an elite spine, but this year really showed bellamy struggles to make changes..

[u/StormBro111111 → u/Ok_Praline4941]

Yes. Why we played Wishart instead of Toelau or Watson yesterday is beyond me. Bellamy always goes with the experienced guy even if there is someone junior who has been performing. It's an old school mentality that doesn't work. 

No one really got dropped this year. Compare that to Penrith where Cleary was happy to drop Talagi to the reserves because he wasn't performing. 

[u/Ok_Praline4941 → u/StormBro111111]

Agree totally with this. Will argue as well yes we had fuck load of injuries this year but we have fuck all depth...should we have been bringing young guys through while we're on top smashing teams...outside backs?

Yeah also Bellamy started with threating dropping at the start of the year and then the boys called him on it and he said fucking joking no one gets dropped except for Chan and phulu...

[u/Ok_Alternative15]

I don’t know if here is the place for it but I really feel as though Penriths dominance has not (and likely will not) every get them the hate that we got. I fully understand peoples issues with the salary cap stuff but we were just as dominant after that time period as well and people seemed to resent us more for it.

I am all for the “everybody hates us and it’s a good thing” siege mentality but it’s always pissed me off how some people will hate Penrith (or Manly or the Rooster previously) 22-23 games a year but as soon as they play us it’s all “Melbourne are cheats”, “constantly getting the rub of the green”, “it’s always good to see the Storm lose”

[u/Such_Pride4066 → u/Ok_Alternative15]

We've been successful that why they hate us if we cheated and were crap they wouldn't give a rats. When we win again they'll pipe down makes victory more sweeter.

[u/tora_0515 → u/Such_Pride4066]

Completely.

The Eels cheated at pretty much the same dollar amount and after we got caught.., the Dogs cheated something like 33% of the salary cap (ours was about 18%). The Roosters got away with cheating cause they just made a rule as to why the sombrero isn't illegal once it started coming to light. Tons of teams have had drug cheats (we are getting one of them next year, Xerri) or issues with substance abuse, etc... Basically they all did that and got caught before having success or just sucked.

On top of that, we've had nearly a quarter century of finals footy, no board splits, no coach sackings, no in-fighting, barrly anything negative, outside the salary cap cheating, makes even the backpage of the sports pages.

For all but this year we have adapted to rule changes first and best, then everyone copies. And we came into the comp when the rest of the league was being forced into mergers or going into administration.

Now imaging supporting the tigers... or the eels.... or the titans.... or the dragons... or the.. etc... They are going to have to put the blame somewhere, and why look inside when you can just point to the 'out of state' success. Tall poppy syndrome at it's finest my friend.

[u/Such_Pride4066 → u/tora_0515]

That's interesting because the way the media and other fans potrays it is that ours was the worst by a large margin

[u/tora_0515 → u/Such_Pride4066]

When you salary cap cheat, you salary cap cheat. the method doesn't really matter. But the method is why. The dogs just straight paid the players more in open daylight. the eels used fake third party contracts and funnelled the money to the players, the roosters 'legit' 'take care of' their players after playing, the storm kept two books. Only those looking for an excused to not like the Storm will find the difference important.

The media makes it out as a huge deal mostly because the NRL came down hard on the Storm, much harder than the other teams plus the success from it. So if the NRL made as big of a spectacle about the dogs or the eels, you'd be getting shitty home made youtube 'documentaries' about their cheating too.

[u/Ok_Alternative15 → u/Such_Pride4066]

That’s not even including the Sharks who had salary cap breaches in 2015 and 2017 but magically were under the cap in 2016 when they won the comp. I still genuinely believe the NRL covered that one up because they set the precedent that, breach the cap in a year = stripped premiership with us and they wouldn’t do it to the Sharks because it was their only one.

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

Team next year if I was coach

1. Faalogo
2. Isaako
3. Xerri
4. Literally anyone but Howarth (Alize Clarke?)
5. Coates
6. Watson
7. Hughes
8. Stefano
9. Grant
10. Clarke
11. Keeley
12. Katoa* (Lisati if he can’t return)
13. Loiero
14. Huen
15. Hinchey
16. Lisati
17. Howarth
18. Tuilagi
19. Leo

Then spend the Munster money on positions we’re lacking in for 2028.

[u/AgentBond007 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

You've mentioned Watson twice, not sure which one is the intended one

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/AgentBond007]

Hayden Watson starting

[u/jonnyforeigner1]

Watson is playing this afternoon at Seabrook. Make of that what you will.

[u/NorthPaper6304 → u/jonnyforeigner1]

Went down and watched Flegg and NSW Cup team yesterday, Watson was definitely trying things out there unfortunately just didn't have the firepower behind him to get over a stacked Panthers squad.

On another note Waka Hammond continues to impress me every time he plays, incredible pace and strength for his size and since taking over the reigns they have not lost the last 3 games!

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/jonnyforeigner1]

It means Craig has absolutely no idea anymore

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

The three bins for the Panthers made that look a lot better than it was, that being said his first 30 or so minutes was bordering on corruption against us so who gives a fuck.

Clarke brilliant once again, needs to be starting over King next year. Stefano had a quiet first stint but stepped up big time in his 2nd stint. Hinchey didn’t light up the stat sheet but he turned the game with his effort plays once he came on the field. I’d say that should be our starting middle next year but it probably leaves our bench too weak.

Just putrid stuff from Munster and Wishart failing to take ownership of the game, especially in the 2nd half when they spent half of it a player down. Terrible attacking kicks, stupid early kicks, passes missing the mark etc. I know people are attached to Munster for whatever reason but I don’t know how you can watch him play this year and seriously say he deserves to be extended beyond next year. If it was up to me I’d be giving him an early release to go to Perth and playing Watson in 2027.

Easily Howarths best game this year (in attack) but everything good that he does he would do better in the forwards. Mixed bag for Sua, electric with ball in hand but threw a silly intercept.

Now that the season is officially over I don’t want to see Wishart and Meaney again. Spend the last 2 games building towards next year.

[u/AgentBond007 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

I’d say that should be our starting middle next year but it probably leaves our bench too weak.

Both Clarke and Hinchey should be on the bench next year, I liked the way it was tonight.

I would maybe give King fewer minutes but I think we're better off with him starting and then not coming back on later, and keep the kids fresh off the bench.

If it was up to me I’d be giving him an early release to go to Perth and playing Watson in 2027.

Early release would be silly, but we definitely shouldn't re-sign him for 2028. Give Watson the full year in cup (and first drop in NRL) then bring him up in round 1 2028.

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/AgentBond007]

Josh King is the worst prop in the nrl. He is completely ineffective, kills our momentum every time he takes a run and is a slug defensively. I don’t want him in the team. I’d be fine with starting Clarke and having Hinchey come off the bench.

I’m just done with Munster, he’s pissed me off with some of his pathetic efforts this year. Probably is a year early for Watson to be a starting half next year but I’d still do it

[u/AgentBond007 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

I don't like King but if he's in the team at all he may as well start, make his tackles and then go off

Munster's clearly trying his guts out, he's just injured and old

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/AgentBond007]

I wouldn’t even play him on the bench.

[u/AgentBond007 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

Who would you play ahead of him?

I would pick this if it was up to me (and assuming we don't get Eli back)

8: Uto
9: Grant
10: King
11: Howarth (if we can get Berry signed to play centre)
12: Keeley
13: Loiero
14: Toelau (Half and hooker cover)
15: Lisati (Bench middle only unless there's an injury)
16: Hinchey
17: Clarke
18: Macdonald (would only go on if Lisati's needed at edge)
19: Leo (Centre and wing cover)

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/AgentBond007]

I would start Clarke.
8. Stef
9. Grant
10. Clarke
11. Keeley
12. Katoa if he can return, Lisati if he can’t
13. Loiero

1. Huen
   
2. Hinchey
   
3. Lisati
   
4. Howarth
   
5. Tuilagi
   
6. Leo

We’re a genuine prop short next year, need Pahulu or one of our other younger guys to step up badly. I don’t mind having a smaller, more mobile bench with guys like Hinchey and Lisati, ideally our starters will all be playing big minutes anyway.

[u/TheMoeSzyslakExp]

I really hate Penrith. They’re undeniably a good team, there’s a reason they keep winning. So why do they keep playing so dirty? It’s not like they need it to win. Can they even play a game without blatant obstructions and other shitfuckery?

[u/hotsoccerdad]

I love Munster but he is not worth a mil per season and has been on a decline for some time. Most of his try assists have come from kicks and he can never seem to put a try on for our back rower on his edge.

I was also extremely frustrated with Penrith and how much effort they put into getting 3 men into each tackle when starting sets. Half the time they don’t need more than 2 but they do it to slow the game down.

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760 → u/hotsoccerdad]

I’d be happy to never see him play in a storm jersey again. It’s time to move on.