Too Little Too Late

Too Little Too Late

On Wednesday news started coming through that Cody Walker injured himself at training. Surely not? I mean we were already without Latrell, Jai, Cam and Tom. 

It didn’t take long for the news to be confirmed. Come Friday Cody had been ruled out. This was a massive loss. How do you replace a player like Cody Walker? 

Still there was 80 minutes of footy to be played. Defence needed to be better than the previous few weeks. Get that right and we win the game. 

What Has Happened To Our Defence?

Unfortunately that wasn’t the case and once again we concede over 30 points. I know we had so many quality players missing, but what has happened to our defensive resolve we saw so often in the first 11 weeks? 

Is it tiredness and the bye is needed? Is it a mental thing? Or is missing certain players having an effect on the team? What ever it is it needs to be fixed fast. Otherwise we will be just making up the numbers. 

6 Tries All

The game ended up at 6 tries all, but goal kicking being a difference. In saying that there weren’t many easy attempts for Blake. 

Early on it looked as though we were on. An early try and a break by Cook only to kick it dead. Then from that set late in the tackle count we went to sleep and the Dragons made us pay. A penalty and another try found us down by 8 points. It wasn’t looking good. 

Finally another try from us to Keaon and it was game on. Only down by 4 at the break. We were right in this. Just needed to come out with the attitude we had in the second half last week. 

An early error from the Dragons gave us great field position to start the second half. Sadly we didn’t look like scoring. From there it was mostly one way traffic. 

Soft Tries

Some soft tries let in. Errors and discipline kept giving them good field position. It wasn’t just about losing now, but our points differential was taking a hit. We did manage to score a try amongst that off the back of a Cook break. 

The score blew out to 36-14 with 5 to go. That was game. 

Or was it? 

The Comeback

A late try was made to give the score a bit more respectability. Then from the next set a long range try off the back of a Campbell Graham line break. Same thing the next set from the kick off. This time a try to Campbell. 

There was time left for one last set. Just a few minutes ago we were no hope. Now there was enough time. Taaffe missed the kick. Strangely took 30 seconds off the clock to kick it. Valuable seconds. 

Still we were now 6 points behind and a chance to take the game to golden point. 

We went to the left. Tass had the ball with 2 players unmarked outside him. All he needed to do was pass the ball and we have room. Sadly the wrong option was taken. Next play we lose the ball and that was game. 

Can’t Concede 36 Points

The score in the end flattered us. If only we started playing that expansive game earlier what could have been. In the end though you can’t concede 36 points and expect to win. 

Keaon was probably our best player out there. Didn’t do his origin chances any harm. Was also a successful return by Saliva Havili. Will be much better for the run. Hame Sele was once again strong up front. 

Campbell Graham was the pick of the backs. His first half wasn’t great with a few poor defensive plays. The second half though he really troubled the Dragons. 

There were many disappointing effort’s yesterday. I know many of them will be disappointed with their game. Hopefully something they learn from. 

A Much Needed Bye

We now get the much needed bye next week. A week where the players can rest up any of those niggles and us fans can have a stress free weekend. 

The week after it is the Cowboys with hopefully a host of stars to come back. 

We still sit in a very strong position on the ladder. Just need to get back to what we saw in the first 11 rounds.

Too Little Too Late.

By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.