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by pickles
March 27, 2022, 12:42 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day
Replies: 783
Views: 35792

Re: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day

I wonder if that tackle will be a turning point for Valemi? He seems to have good attributes but no confidence so I reckon everyone getting around him might make him believe he belongs there and start playing like it. I hope so. His story is a nice one and he seems like a genuinely nice kid but we ...
by pickles
March 27, 2022, 9:55 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day
Replies: 783
Views: 35792

Re: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day

I wonder if that tackle will be a turning point for Valemi? He seems to have good attributes but no confidence so I reckon everyone getting around him might make him believe he belongs there and start playing like it. I hope so. His story is a nice one and he seems like a genuinely nice kid but we n...
by pickles
March 27, 2022, 8:14 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day
Replies: 783
Views: 35792

Re: 2022 Rd 3 V Titans: Game Day

Perfect example of rugby league 101. Complete at 45% and you will get flogged by everyone all the time. Complete over 80% and you give yourself a fighting chance. We clearly have the players to do enough with the ball and score enough tries to win games. We just need to learn to hold the ball for 80...
by pickles
March 16, 2022, 7:15 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Line speed
Replies: 23
Views: 1761

Re: Line speed

The other factor is refereeing. Across all games the 10m is inconsistently applied and enforced. It routinely varies between around 9m and around 12m and you can often see clearly either at the ground or on TV what the distance is. A bigger 10, makes it harder to get back and get set and move up qu...
by pickles
March 14, 2022, 9:32 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Line speed
Replies: 23
Views: 1761

Re: Line speed

There were definitely a few sets that stood out in the first half in how easily we let the sharks match up the field. Part of it could be the rule change and not wanting to give teams an easy attacking set but there needs to be a balance. Another thing that plays into it is marker defence over the p...
by pickles
March 14, 2022, 3:30 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Line speed
Replies: 23
Views: 1761

Re: Line speed

I noticed this watching the game as well and it is definitely something we need to improve. There's a number of factors involved though. The first one is the ability to slow down the tackle. Teams that do this the best at the moment are holding players up off the ground and once the referee calls h...
by pickles
March 14, 2022, 2:22 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Line speed
Replies: 23
Views: 1761

Re: Line speed

I noticed this watching the game as well and it is definitely something we need to improve. There's a number of factors involved though. The first one is the ability to slow down the tackle. Teams that do this the best at the moment are holding players up off the ground and once the referee calls he...
by pickles
March 12, 2022, 7:51 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2022 Rd 1 V Sharks: Game Day
Replies: 747
Views: 33506

Re: 2022 Rd 1 V Sharks: Game Day

Always good to start the season with a win and what’s another raiders related heart attack between friends? A couple of points. We do seem more committed to ball movement which is good but as Wighton suggested at half time, you need to play direct first and if you play with width you need players ru...
by pickles
June 21, 2021, 2:18 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Coaching issues
Replies: 2991
Views: 178998

Re: Coaching issues

Stuart certainly did a good job of developing a squad that was capable of competing for a premiership but we haven't adapted anything since then despite all the rule changes....

Anyone else think some Neil Henry style attack would go well under the current rules?
by pickles
June 15, 2021, 4:11 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

The team smelled blood in the water against the Broncos and played accordingly. Conversely, when things get tough they throw in the towel. Not overly endearing to be honest. It's an attitude issue. To me it showed that they are physically capable against a weak team. How they back up this week agai...
by pickles
June 15, 2021, 2:15 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

Fitness didn't seem to be an issue on Saturday night... Maybe controlling the ball and building some momentum was more important. I also noticed that the strategy of forwards targeting in behind the ruck was effective when used on the back of momentum rather than against a set defensive line. Our ba...
by pickles
June 10, 2021, 2:23 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

Doesn't make sense that a battle hardened team of professional athletes with rep or near rep talent would be unfit, even if they are capitulating at similar points in the game. Although I would disagree on this point. I think that we were previously capitulating in the second half of games but over...
by pickles
June 10, 2021, 1:53 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

The team is certainly unfit, however we also have the wrong types of players in order to control momentum under these new rules. Too many similar big body types in the forward rotation (which would have worked in 2019) but not now.. Not enough mobility and leg speed to consistently drive the speed ...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 4:26 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

There's a pretty solid body of evidence linking mental fatigue with reduced physical performance of over 15%. In an NRL game that is easily the difference between winning and losing. But yeah, fitness and conditioning.
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 3:48 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

Based on the fact that clearly fitness and conditioning are the only issues with the squad I want to see the Raiders make a hard play for David Goggins to join the club in a strength and conditioning role as soon as possible.
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 3:00 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

Cool, so a few beep tests for the squad and everything will be back on track!
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 2:46 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

Doesn't make sense that a battle hardened team of professional athletes with rep or near rep talent would be unfit, even if they are capitulating at similar points in the game. Although I would disagree on this point. I think that we were previously capitulating in the second half of games but over ...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 1:18 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

The yards we are getting from our back 5 in yardage sets clearly aren't helping the situation and we definitely don't have a devastating runner like BJ in that group at the moment. Our forwards also don't seem to be running that hard. They seem willing to amble up and take the tackle rather than try...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 1:02 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Re: Forward pack and defence

I agree. It's hard for the backline to get creative if we're not making the yards and creating that platform for them to shine. I, for one, gets sick of seeing our forwards running back behind the ruck and straight into the marker defence. It's a game plan that seems to work against us - opposition...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 12:39 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Canberra Raiders interest in Matt Dufty goes cold
Replies: 914
Views: 79696

Re: Canberra Raiders wild cards in race for Matt Dufty

Is there any chance the Raiders are considering Dufty for a halves role? He can certainly ball play and has the pace and footwork to take on the line. Not somewhere that he has played before at least at NRL level but it is certainly a consideration. Also puts him defensively in a position where he ...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 10:55 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Forward pack and defence
Replies: 46
Views: 2794

Forward pack and defence

There has been a lot of discussion about the speed and agility of our back line and there is no doubt that other teams are far stronger than us in this department and it needs a shake up. That said, our forward pack and defence are the 2 things that we have built our recent successful seasons on and...
by pickles
June 9, 2021, 10:34 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Canberra Raiders interest in Matt Dufty goes cold
Replies: 914
Views: 79696

Re: Canberra Raiders wild cards in race for Matt Dufty

Is there any chance the Raiders are considering Dufty for a halves role? He can certainly ball play and has the pace and footwork to take on the line. Not somewhere that he has played before at least at NRL level but it is certainly a consideration. Also puts him defensively in a position where he h...
by pickles
June 7, 2021, 1:05 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: History repeating as Canberra Raiders facing another painful rebuild
Replies: 51
Views: 3454

Re: History repeating as Canberra Raiders facing another painful rebuild

There's been a lot of focus on our back line and their lack of speed but our forward pack has sucked for pretty much the entire year. We have been playing a really negative tactic of running back in behind the ruck one out. This results in the opposition easily getting 3-4 in the tackle and dominati...
by pickles
May 24, 2021, 12:42 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 11 V Storm: Game Day
Replies: 665
Views: 30000

Re: 2021 Rd 11 V Storm: Game Day

That's going to be a very hard no from me. Sam is in the role he should be in, back up to Jack/George We'll need to figure out who we're getting in to replace George after this year, but the answer can't be Sam Williams. 100%. He is a fantastic back up and showed good composure and his kicking game...
by pickles
May 23, 2021, 4:38 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 11 V Storm: Game Day
Replies: 665
Views: 30000

Re: 2021 Rd 11 V Storm: Game Day

We haven’t adapted our style of play to the new rules at all. Almost every forward run all night was a one out run, back behind the ruck. A couple of years ago this strategy seems to work ok as over time t would tire the defence and open up some opportunities but now we are getting dominated in ever...
by pickles
May 18, 2021, 4:21 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: This is not rugby league
Replies: 213
Views: 15096

Re: This is not rugby league

The reality is that you can't remove concussion from rugby league without removing tackling completely. Most of the worst ones you see are from players getting their heads in the wrong place when tackling and copping a hip to the head. Nothing is going to change that and it is merely a consequence o...
by pickles
May 17, 2021, 10:55 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: This is not rugby league
Replies: 213
Views: 15096

Re: This is not rugby league

I actually thought that the adjustment made last season were good and added to the flow of the game. There were some teething problems in terms of getting the consistency right but on the whole it was an entertaining product. This year has lost me. I used to watch a lot of neutral games but I can't ...
by pickles
May 17, 2021, 10:02 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: Canberra Raiders Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton and Josh Hodgson take early pleas
Replies: 80
Views: 7176

Re: Canberra Raiders Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton and Josh Hodgson face bans

I can't agree with Papalii being sent for what he did. At any other point in rugby league history it is a tackle gone wrong. It's following a kick chase so they just run 30m to get there, any contact is going to be forceful and the attacker dips with no time for the defender to adjust. From my persp...
by pickles
April 30, 2021, 2:20 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day
Replies: 1022
Views: 43793

Re: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day

The two mystifying penalties to me were when CHN was penalised for having the audacity to tackle a player who had just taken a kick. Didn't hit him high or late just fell over him as he dived on the ground. On replay it looked like the ball was lost in the tackle but the penalty meant that instead ...
by pickles
April 30, 2021, 1:45 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day
Replies: 1022
Views: 43793

Re: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day

When we look back on this season there will be a few games like this that would have had a big impact on our ladder position if they had gone the other way. Last week in particular though seemed worse to me as we had a better team on the field and a bigger lead. To be honest we were our own worst en...
by pickles
April 29, 2021, 4:31 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day
Replies: 1022
Views: 43793

Re: 2021 Rd 8 V Rabbitohs: Game Day

The only thing that makes me slightly hopeful here is that I don't think we have any chance in hell of winning! We look too old, too slow and too lazy and the defence that our success was based on has gone completely missing. Unfortunately defence also relies heavily on consistency and we haven't be...
by pickles
April 10, 2021, 1:52 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 5 V Panthers: Game Day
Replies: 948
Views: 39901

Re: 2021 Rd 5 V Panthers: Game Day

There’s a lot to take from that game. We matched Penrith for intensity and skill for probably 50ish minutes of that game and then had a couple of periods where they got it over us. At the end of the first half after CNK went off, we conceded a penalty with the ball and that turned momentum their way...
by pickles
April 9, 2021, 4:04 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: 2021 Rd 5 V Panthers: Game Day
Replies: 948
Views: 39901

Re: 2021 Rd 5 V Panthers: Game Day

I do love a Friday night game! For what it's worth I think this will be close. It will definitely be tough and I'm not expecting us to win but we won't be blown off the park and are definitely a few bits of luck and a break out game from Wighton away from a massive upset here!
by pickles
April 9, 2021, 3:54 pm
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: CHN and Horsburgh
Replies: 213
Views: 11428

Re: CHN and Horsburgh

Whatever happens here we should definitely not forget that Horsborough picked up an astounding 0 votes in last years player of the year awards at 23 while with the exception of 1 aberrant season, Papalii has been in the top 7 players every year.

This is a very strange hill to die on....
by pickles
April 9, 2021, 10:33 am
Forum: Canberra Raiders
Topic: CHN and Horsburgh
Replies: 213
Views: 11428

Re: CHN and Horsburgh

This thread is like a postman, it continues to deliver!