The NRL Season of 2016

Crazy Horse

@Bovidae I didn't see the game and I don't think I will bother now, but what were Gould's criticisms?

canefan

@Crazy-Horse said in The NRL Season of 2016:

@Bovidae I didn't see the game and I don't think I will bother now, but what were Gould's criticisms?

I remember him saying our final play options were the worst he's seen and I'd full agree. It was like amateur hour, getting caught twice more times than not in possession on the final play and note getting a good kick away was criminal

Bovidae

@canefan Yep. He and Joey Johns also mentioned that the Kiwis needed to use the power game and go up the middle before the off-the-cuff football. There was a lot of confusion out there with the tactics. I read that Kidwell has owned up to the mistakes made.

kiwiinmelb

yeah i found the tactics confusing ,

Kearney cops a bit of flak , but I think the last few years the kiwis have played pretty smart tactically with what they have had on the field .

another thing that has impressed me in those recent games has been their ability to stay in the contest for the 80 minutes , which has been a traditional weakness of the kiwis .

Sneakdefreak

I get the feeling that Kidwell will be relegated to assistant coach again in 2017, regardless of the results in the 4N, and Stacey Jones will take over as head coach for the RLWC (currently assistant coach at Warriors, had a good run as head coach in NSW Cup).

Nepia

@Sneakdefreak said in The NRL Season of 2016:

I'm hoping that Te Maire Martin grows into a player with Penrith and Foran pulls his life back together. Really lost faith in SJ.

"Kata had a good game, but still, he shouldn't be playing for us ...."

Neither should Fekitoa for the ABs if we take that line, but that's a different thread discussion about schoolboy rugby "scholarships" in NZ.

I said the same about Fekitoa.

canefan

Wayne Bennett is coaching England in the 4N? Oh well that's us poked

kiwiinmelb

in 2005 Bennett was coaching Australia and we beat them twice .

But I hear what you are saying , he could be the difference , our first game against England could decide our destiny , lose that , and it might be a bit hard .

Bovidae

Mannering will be a big lose for the Kiwis.

kiwiinmelb

Kiwis get home 17 -16 , a bit scratchy, but the good news was Shaun Johnson was good , man of the match ,

We all know he is hot and cold ,but any chance the kiwis have in this tournament involves him hitting form

Sneakdefreak

Sure it was 17-16 but I was impressed that the Kiwis took the one point lead with about 15 mins to go and shut down England the rest of the way (who have some top NRL talent, some whom I didn't know were Poms).

Good that SJ has found some form again, love it when he intercepts for the run away try.

Btw, is England fullback Jonny Lomax the son of former Kiwis prop John Lomax?

Sneakdefreak

canefan

@Sneakdefreak Is he? He looks pretty white..... Good game, SJ had a great kicking game and picked Widdop's pocket for the try. I was impressed by our 1 and 5 who I'm not familiar with. Big hard running boys