Improvement, (But) Still A Long Way To Go
By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.
Here we are after 9 rounds. Just days after sacking the coach. Winning just one game and losing 7. Conceding an average of 36 points a game. Sitting dead last on the ladder. It doesn’t get much worse than this.
It’s safe to say we have just about hit rock bottom.
To make matters worse if it wasn’t already bad enough with players unavailable we now have lost 2 more players to injuries. Both Jye Gray and Dean Hawkins are now out for an extended period. This was after losing Jacob Gagai during the week at training.
Jai Went Down
Jai Arrow also went down during the game, but has said that he will be right to go next week. Hopefully that remains the case. Jacob Host could be unavailable as well. Put on report for taking out the legs of a kicker. He will be lucky to escape with just a fine.
A Great Start
It was a great start by us. Taking advantage of them being down a player. Two tries in that time. Both from try assists from Cody.
Even though Jye stayed on you could see he wasn’t right. He was struggling. It ended up costing us the ability to activate our 18th man which we could have used last night.
It didn’t take long for the momentum of the game to turn. Defending our line, whilst giving away set restarts. A couple of penalties and Jai sent to the bin.
A Forward Pass
Like we did to them, Penrith made us pay with 2 tries of their own. Albeit their first off a pass that a NFL QB would be proud of. It makes you wonder how the only 3 people that didn’t see it were the ones making the decisions.
We had a few chances and were able to get over the line only to give away penalties and relieve the pressure off the Panthers. Another try to the Panthers before halftime whilst losing our halfback in the process and we were down 18-12.
We were right in this game. Unfortunately fate is sometimes cruel.
A Cruel Fate
In the second half, the boys run out and Jye Gray had succumbed to that injury from the Taylan May hip drop tackle.
Our makeshift backline was made up of Cook (Fullback), Thompson & Tass (Wing), Murray & Chee Kam (Centre), Wighton (5/8) and Cody (Halfback). This was going to be a tough ask.
As expected things started falling apart. We had a few chances, but some poor execution gave up easy possession.
Fatigue started to set in and wasn’t it starting to show. The Panthers try from when the ball that went dead could only be described as embarrassing. Firstly, the lack of kick chase, which has been a big issue during the season, to not showing any urgency outside of Jai Arrow in getting back to defend.
The Story Of The Night
The story of the night was when we put up a high kick and were able to challenge for it and get it back. The pass went to Mamouzelos only to die with the ball. That next set the Panthers did the same thing and they scored.
Although there are still issues which won’t go away overnight, I felt as though the score didn’t reflect our effort. Losing 2 backs during the first half will always hurt.
Right now fitness seems to be our biggest issue. Even with our injuries we should still be competing.
The draw has been tough for us. Playing 7 teams in the top 8. The only game we didn’t play a top 8 side was the Warriors who were a top 4 side last year. The good news is we now come to an easier part of the draw. Although there are no easy games.
We Have Been Here Before
As hard as this has been for everyone, we have been here before. Hopefully the decisions that are being made and will be made over time, will see this as a very temporary thing.
Whilst this is hurting right now, sticking with this team during these lows will make the highs all that much better.
Improvement, (But) Still A Long Way To Go.
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