Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:12 pm  

kobashi wrote:

McDermott was right with this quote

"I'd like to say that, given 10 games like that, by game eight or nine or game 10, I reckon we'd be up to that level," he told the post-match press conference.

"So we'll learn some massive lessons from that. But unfortunately it will be another couple of games before we're in a game as intense as that and in one played at that level."

He may be right, indeed he knows better than I do.
However, there's nothing to prevent him sending Leeds out with instructions to try to perform at a higher level than they generally do. As a fan, I've obviously long-admired our intensity and focus when the business end of he season roll around. What I've seen less of - a lot less of - is that kind of ruthlessness during the regular season. As I see it, it's up to the likes of ourselves, Hull, Wigan etc to raise that bar at home. As Melbourne have just shown, it can be done regardless of what the opposition bring to the party. The alternative is to carry on playing the aussies once a year then bleating about their comp being more intense when we lose.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:47 pm  

Fax Missionary wrote: I was at the game last night and was surprised by how little Wigan offered in attack against a Souths team without most of their superstars. Wigan’s defence was pretty good, but outside of that they were a shadow of Wigan teams of old. What I noticed of all three games at the weekend was that English teams still suffer from the old curse of not being able to maintain intensity for the full 80 mins. They always go to sleep mentally for 10-15 mins a game and that’s where Aussie teams steamroller over them. As someone who watches NRL games week in week out, until SL teams sort the mental issues out they will never compete at the same level. Can't really take much from that 'friendly' game. Just to put it into perspective, Wigan had 26 players on the pitch over the 80 mins, Souths had 20 players. Defence went okay but I think Wigan had one eye on Friday's game against Warrington, especially in that 2nd half. EDIT - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... ch-defence “The main priority of coming here (as a team) was to get two points and we did that by beating Hull. When that was finished we move on to this game but we’ve got a big game against Warrington on Friday to try and get two points and we were keen to look after our starting team for that so we put a lot of kids out in that second half. It was a fantastic experience for them but we’re still disappointed we didn’t get the win.” Also regards your last comment: Fax Missionary wrote: As someone who watches NRL games week in week out, until SL teams sort the mental issues out they will never compete at the same level. It isnt just the 'mental issues' as you claim, I think the $9.4 million against £1.9 million salary caps has a little something to do with it as well.

Fax Missionary wrote: I was at the game last night and was surprised by how little Wigan offered in attack against a Souths team without most of their superstars. Wigan’s defence was pretty good, but outside of that they were a shadow of Wigan teams of old. What I noticed of all three games at the weekend was that English teams still suffer from the old curse of not being able to maintain intensity for the full 80 mins. They always go to sleep mentally for 10-15 mins a game and that’s where Aussie teams steamroller over them. As someone who watches NRL games week in week out, until SL teams sort the mental issues out they will never compete at the same level. Can't really take much from that 'friendly' game. Just to put it into perspective, Wigan had 26 players on the pitch over the 80 mins, Souths had 20 players. Defence went okay but I think Wigan had one eye on Friday's game against Warrington, especially in that 2nd half. EDIT - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... ch-defence “The main priority of coming here (as a team) was to get two points and we did that by beating Hull. When that was finished we move on to this game but we’ve got a big game against Warrington on Friday to try and get two points and we were keen to look after our starting team for that so we put a lot of kids out in that second half. It was a fantastic experience for them but we’re still disappointed we didn’t get the win.” Also regards your last comment: Fax Missionary wrote: As someone who watches NRL games week in week out, until SL teams sort the mental issues out they will never compete at the same level. It isnt just the 'mental issues' as you claim, I think the $9.4 million against £1.9 million salary caps has a little something to do with it as well.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:03 pm  

I watched the Hull game and half of the Wigan game and tbh it looked like the NRL teams were treating it as a friendly and it was a chance to see some of their fringe players play. I wouldn't read too much into the SL sides performances. The only positives out of it for an SL supporter was that the commentary was 100 times better than what we hear week in week out.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:18 pm  

TheUnassumingBadger wrote:

I agree with this, I think it breeds from the lack of intensity in most Super League matches due to errors and penalties. Also, the time taken at every scrum and goal line drop out. It was very noticeable in the Warrington game the other night that it took 3-4 minutes for them to take the drop outs.

Until we see 3 or 4 high intensity matches per week in the Super League, we aren't going to see Super League teams competing with the NRL teams when they are taking it seriously.

Stop the clock for injuries and disciplinary only. There are far too many rests in the game.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:01 pm  

LifeLongHKRFan wrote:

I watched the Hull game and half of the Wigan game and tbh it looked like the NRL teams were treating it as a friendly and it was a chance to see some of their fringe players play. I wouldn't read too much into the SL sides performances. The only positives out of it for an SL supporter was that the commentary was 100 times better than what we hear week in week out.

Same could be said for Hull and Wigan. Neither played their strongest team for the full 80 minutes.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:18 pm  

Dress it up whichever way you like, the Aussies are still light years in front. Aussie rugby is robotic, even the commentators picked up on the way the english club teams were throwing the ball around. Rugby is the national sport in Australia, we just cant compete with that.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:25 pm  

LifeLongHKRFan wrote:

I watched the Hull game and half of the Wigan game and tbh it looked like the NRL teams were treating it as a friendly and it was a chance to see some of their fringe players play. I wouldn't read too much into the SL sides performances. The only positives out of it for an SL supporter was that the commentary was 100 times better than what we hear week in week out.

If you watched it then you would have heard before the game that st George were fielding their strongest available starting line up

Both teams then introduced youngsters as they game went on

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:28 pm  

Fax Missionary wrote:

What I noticed of all three games at the weekend was that English teams still suffer from the old curse of not being able to maintain intensity for the full 80 mins. They always go to sleep mentally for 10-15 mins a game and that’s where Aussie teams steamroller over them. As someone who watches NRL games week in week out, until SL teams sort the mental issues out they will never compete at the same level.

Couldn't agree more, time and again I've said on our board that too often we lack mental preparation, depth of fortitude or the ability not to act like headless chickens and go into panic mode. It's this that has by far the biggest effect on results IMHO, blow out scores are often indicative of one side going pop mentally than just an injury crisis or lack of quality.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:35 pm  

redmuzza wrote:

Rugby is the national sport in Australia, we just cant compete with that.

Really who told you that ? it's only played in two states with a manufactured franchise in Victoria.

Australian football is the most popular sport in Australia, followed by cricket, association football and rugby league.

Re: Humiliating triple defeat of Super League teams by NRL t : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:38 pm  

MattyB wrote: Can't really take much from that 'friendly' game. Just to put it into perspective, Wigan had 26 players on the pitch over the 80 mins, Souths had 20 players. Defence went okay but I think Wigan had one eye on Friday's game against Warrington, especially in that 2nd half. EDIT - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... ch-defence Also regards your last comment: It isnt just the 'mental issues' as you claim, I think the $9.4 million against £1.9 million salary caps has a little something to do with it as well. Not all but a big chunk, the SC is just like house prices, it's all relative to where you are. It's not as if they have an international player pool to choose from. There are very small differences in talent, early and all stages of coaching to pro level and mental preparation/in game mental ability to cope and deliver are the biggest differences by far.

MattyB wrote: Can't really take much from that 'friendly' game. Just to put it into perspective, Wigan had 26 players on the pitch over the 80 mins, Souths had 20 players. Defence went okay but I think Wigan had one eye on Friday's game against Warrington, especially in that 2nd half. EDIT - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... ch-defence Also regards your last comment: It isnt just the 'mental issues' as you claim, I think the $9.4 million against £1.9 million salary caps has a little something to do with it as well. Not all but a big chunk, the SC is just like house prices, it's all relative to where you are. It's not as if they have an international player pool to choose from. There are very small differences in talent, early and all stages of coaching to pro level and mental preparation/in game mental ability to cope and deliver are the biggest differences by far.