A Disappointing End
Where did it all go wrong?
How could we go from being first after 11 rounds to dropping out of the 8 by the final round? How could we go from a team that were conceding just over 13 points a game, to conceding just under 30 points a game?
I don’t believe there is any one answer. I’m not sure we will know exactly what went wrong. I don’t think that there is one person we can point the finger at.
When you consider that after 11 rounds we beat the top 3 teams. Even in our run of poor form we managed to beat the Warriors who finished 4th. How does a team who beat all the top 4 teams miss playing finals footy?
Despite all the outside noise there was that hope that the boys will pull it all together for one last shot at giving this competition a real good shake up. Even without Latrell and Tom Burgess. The Roosters were missing some key players as well.
Back At Accor
There was a great crowd building up. Being back home at Accor for the first time since early July. The first game back for many of the fans. There was everything to play for.
As the game was getting close the nerves were kicking in. Was this going to be the last time that we see the boys run out this year? Was this the last time we would see the likes of Hame Sele and Blake Taaffe play first grade for us?
There was a special tribute to Kyle Turner. A sad moment.
The boys ran out in front of 36,000 fans. The crowd was pumped.
Then there was the minute silence for Kyle.
All Or Nothing
Then kick off. There was 80 minutes to play out. This was it. All or nothing.
The Roosters managed to get an early try off a loose ball on the ground. Wasn’t the start we wanted. Despite this it was early days and we were still in the game.
At the 15th minute the crowd rose as one and applauded in honour of Kyle Turner. His image appeared on the big screen. For that minute it didn’t matter what was happening on the field. This minute was all about Kyle.
Not long after that we lost Blake Taaffe to concussion. Things were going to be much harder for us. The make up of the side had changed. JD’s plans were all out the window in his bench rotations. Players were now having to play out of position for long periods.
Game On
Although it was almost straight after this that we were able to score and hit the front. A try to our captain Cam Murray next to the posts. Game was on.
The game was a bit of an arm wrestle. A few questionable calls went against us. One where we were called offside when we forced and error. Replays showed both players involved were onside. Then the escort penalty. Again replays showed Cody only had eyes for the ball. The penalty off that drew the scores level.
Our Achilles heel this year has been errors. A few were creeping in. Especially early in the tackle count in good field position. We were not building pressure. We weren’t showing any patience. This is one area that has cost us this year.
As the half was closing in the Roosters put a kick out wide. The Roosters winger goes to bat the ball back but knocks it forward. The ball comes off us and goes into touch.
Our scrum feed. Or is it?
A Blatant Knock On
Somehow the ref and touch judge missed a blatant knock on by the Roosters. This time we were made to pay for the error and once again we concede a try just on half time. Lost count of how often that has happened this year.
We go into the break only down 10-6. Still very much in the game. There is still hope.
It didn’t take long for us to concede a try. Wasn’t a great start to the second half. It was feeling like the season was slipping fast. Errors were again costing us opportunities.
Finally we get it right. A try to Michael Chee Kam. Who was playing out of position in the left centre. Lachlan Ilias gets the conversion and again it’s a 4 point game.
Errors Of Our Own
The momentum was now with us. A few Roosters errors were giving us some good field position. Unfortunately we returned the favour with errors of our own. Wasting opportunities.
Then the turning point of the match. We put a good kick up. The Roosters player catches it and it looked like a drop out. Only for us to be rightfully penalised for tackling in the air.
From that penalty all the pressure was relieved. The momentum of the game quickly tuned. The Roosters only needed one opportunity down our end to make us pay.
Then 5 minutes later they were in again. That was game. Many of the 36,000 fans started to make their way for an early exit. Our worst nightmare became a reality.
Our Season Was Done
How did our season come to this? Seeing the faces around me dejected. You can see how much this means to everyone. That was it. Our season was done. Many of the faces we get to see each week at the footy we won’t get to see for another 6 months.
It has been a strange ride this season. The highs of the first half of the season to the lows of the back end. Waiting for the boys to click again to what we saw at the start of the season. It just wasn’t happening for them for whatever reason.
No doubt there is plenty of anger amongst fans. There is disappointment as well. Those feelings come after a poor season. For me there is a sense of relief. Relief that it is all over for this season. As much as I would have loved to see our boys playing finals footy, they just weren’t up to it. Their form wasn’t where it needed to be.
A Club Review
Now the club get to review where it all went wrong. We all have our theories what went wrong. The boys get to go and have a rest now for their off-season. Then get back into it and work even harder to make sure we aren’t going through the same feelings this time next year.
Not all was bad over the weekend. Our NSW Cup side won their semi final over the Warriors. They now play the Bears this Saturday at Leichhardt Oval for a spot in the Grand Final.
For now it’s time to relax and not have the weekly stress of watching our team get us going through multiple emotions during the 80 minutes of footy. Catch up with friends and family we don’t get to really see during the footy season.
A Disappointing End.
By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.
I can’t help feel that there where players either carrying injuries or had lost their spirit. We had so many markers this year to win the comp. The new digs at Heffron, the passing of John Sattler, George Piggins Hall of Fame, and then Kyle, it is even the Chinese Yr of the rabbit. So many motivations, to dig deep and do the fans and the club proud. It was all going to plan and then nothing generated, no momentum, no passion, looking inwards and not outwards. Players are gifted, but they are fortunate. If the fans, who buy tickets, don’t turn up, then the players aren’t worth there salaries. When players don’t perform, it’s individual, but when the team does not perform it’s management.
And so many games away so many loyal fans who watch every game cannot keep following them all over the place! I’m thinking a lot of people will not renew their membership, sadly not worth it if you can’t have home games almost every second week. It’s hard not having games near Redfern, the old Sports ground was so easy for everyone, closer to home and better transport close by.