We badly need specialist centres and props. Rea has given us utility players, wingers and backrowers.
The forwards just aren't winning the collision - collectively, their tackle stats look fine but the oppo forwards get to walk an extra 1-2m in the tackle and then deliver a quick PTB. Related to this, our forwards don't seem to have grasped the fact that the refs aren't blowing for pens at the ruck at all - we should be slowing the PTB down more.
In the absence of reinforcements - and without Dollapi for a few more weeks - I'd start with a bigger set of forwards: Greenwood, Moore, Vea, Cook, McMeeken, Griffin. I hate the term but we need to get into the arm wrestle and we aren't doing that with the likes of Slyney who makes a tackle and then misses the next play because he's not fit enough to get to marker - oppo dummy halves have noticed.
A kicking game would help too but I fear Rea and Gigot have already cost us that aspect of the game. Gigot through not taking being dropped very well and Rea by doing the dropping. This has been a constant in Rea's coaching career - drop the European as soon as the Aussie is available. Gigot put in a great show against Salford and was dropped, Bishay put in a great show against Warrington and was dropped. Contrast that with Drinkwater - Rea comes out after every game and tells us his kicking game was rubbish but picks him again anyway. But I guess he has no choice now that Gigot has gone.
I am pretty depressed by it all.
Equally, I'm still hopeful that we can pick up/borrow a big prop, get Dollapi back and at least look competitive up front. I also think that Solomona is massively talented and exasperating in equal measure - can the coaching staff move him towards more of the former? I'm also hoping that Duckworth gets fit - I think he might be the best of the loanees.
