v HB

[taniwharugby]

@gunner ha I forgot he didn't play last week and yeah I heard he had concussion.

Monday

Yeah if we trust our defence and get more accuracy in our attack we can win this.

[Chiefy07]

Good team although Hohaia is lucky to get his 12 jersey back. Has been unimpressive all season compared to what he showed last season and Gregory had a good game first up in the 12 jersey.

HB will definitely try and stretch us out wide as they do have some pace in the outside backs. Agree with @J77 I hope we get Hyland on the ball more especially one on one with Emerson. Emerson is much faster but think he will struggle to contain Hyland.

Also hoping we send plenty of traffic down the 9/10 channel, think that's an area to exploit. Nock Vs Weber is going to be a bloody good match up.

[kev]

Good tough team. Had Olsen taken over from Moulds?

Have want to do basics better. Exits after scoring, lineouts, holding the ball, not taking ball into touch, reduced individual errors. We have a power running game and really good defence but we need good energy levels from start.

[taniwharugby]

@kev makes you wonder, but I do think they are such similar players I dont think it makes a big difference, which is a bit tough on both of them.

Expect Moulds will start Sunday, and going forward if we make the top 4 I guess we will learn more then.

I guess we are banking on neither injuring themselves with the very limited time Matthews has had as well, more so with Ross Wright on the injury list and from what I hear, not expected back too soon.

[Gunner]

FFS, poor start.
Ranger kicking the ball away while on attack then back to back penalties result in a line out drive try.

[J77]

That grubber was bloody stupid. No wonder our wings see fuck all ball..

[Gunner]

Another bad penalty on Ranger, he was first man there, had all rights to have a crack at the ball.

[taniwharugby]

sounds like a good game for me to not be able to watch already...

[J77]

It’s going to be a fucking cricket score the way we are playing.

[Gunner]

@taniwharugby yep, HB look pretty focused, and patient.

Oh great.

The poor start is now an awful one.

4 penalties and 2 tries given away in the first 10.

[Nepia]

Magpies thread is a deadzone at the moment ... I'll contribute to yours (until Northland gain the ascendency, then I'll likely need to go and cook dinner or something).

[Stockcar86]

Nepia said:

Magpies thread is a deadzone at the moment ... I'll contribute to yours (until Northland gain the ascendency, then I'll likely need to go and cook dinner or something).

I'm lurking here too Nepia, so you are not alone

[Nepia]

Try to Northland - Matiu.

[Gunner]

Oh yes, needed to hit straight back and Jake the Muss burrows over.

More of this please forwards, don’t let the backs have it until you’ve committed a few defenders

[taniwharugby]

thing is, statistically HB has a very leaky defence, but we are not scoring as freely as we should be...so if a few balls stick and our defence remains, you'd expect that to be enough

[Nepia]

@gunner I think both HB and Northland have now benefited from dubious penalties that put them in a position to score their tries (that lineout was not straight before Evans put his hands on the lock in the air).

[Gunner]

Man a lot of penalties both ways early in this match

[Nepia]

taniwharugby said:

thing is, statistically HB has a very leaky defence, but we are not scoring as freely as we should be...so if a few balls stick and our defence remains, you'd expect that to be enough

Yeah, but we always score a few early on before we lose shape - so you'll be able to go on a run soon.

[taniwharugby]

@nepia penalisable offence trumps the other, no?

[J77]

Sorting out shit out now. Lovely try!