The Silver Fern

I like to try and tone down player criticism, as I've been a shocker in the past, but can someone please tell me what Malcom Macleod adds to this team? This contracting business is a joke, as that chap Markwick is a way better option....

Macleod throws shit passes left right and centre, and takes a few steps before offloading. Not good enough.

I agree with other i thinking we should have our best side week in week out, we just need to get that W. Gotta go all out now, rip, shit and bust. Stop this rotation crap and just put the best team out there..

Getting sick of this losing business. We have the basis of a team that can get results, but its almost as if we've forgotten how to win..

<p>Only thinking what could of been if we didn't get off to that crap start. I was thinking a cricket score after 10 minutes, but we ground our way back and sort of kept in touch for the remainder of the match.</p>
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<p>I like Jacnaths point of earning the right to attack and having a mindset of getting into the grind from the word go. We have to be the proactive ones, not reactive! </p>
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<p>Whilst I'm spewing we're 0/4, I believe our season will now kick into gear and start producing results. This team has heart, and I was very impressed with a lot of these newer faces like Stokes, Larsen, Uluviti and Markwick. Everyone added something, which couldn't be said about some previous Northland sides.</p>
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<p>Obviously that wide defence is still a bit of a mess, so we really need to sort something there, and fast! All upcoming opponents will attack us here and score points guaranteed. From my observation we seem to caught like bees in the honeypot around the ruck, and when the opposition whip one way or another we don't have the numbers to fill the D line. I think a lot of these issues are communication and trust as well, you gotta trust your mates and talk to them too! </p>
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<p>I dont think we have it sussed in midfield yet, whilst Tua is a promising up and comer, I think we need a little more from that 13 position, I like the thought of Alaimalo in there, and Guy Wood to the back (or vice versa). By all accounts Wood sounds the business..</p>
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<p>All in all I think we'll take a heap of confidence from that match. Hopefully we can get it all right against BOP this week,,, </p>

<p>Awesome, he's a pommy isn't he? I seem to remember another Pom running around for MW last year, Rawcliffe or something similar??</p>
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<p>On another note, would like to see that bloke Erinemo Tau get brought in, surely got to be a step up on Lawebuka? I've heard positive things about Tau, and by all accounts he carved up for South Canterbury last season..</p>

<p>Like what I hear about this Guy Wood. How much footy did he get in for MW Gunner?</p>

<p>What the hell is up with all these injuries? It seems to happen to us every year. All good and well in a bigger city team, but with our lot, an injury list like that can be season hinging. I'm not relying on any local source (Advocado-ate, Taniwha FB page) to update us either, as they are shockers.. </p>
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<p>As for the match, was very impressed with our scrum and battling attitude, but not a hell of a lot else. the conditions were terrible and hard to adjust to no doubt, but that Auckland side was very beatable in my opinion. </p>
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<p>Whilst Olsen was his usual terrier self, I think someone else should have been handed the skippers armband (Pryor, Breen??). Surely it should have been worked out our line out was malfunctioning early on, and a plan B executed in turn.</p>
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<p>Very impressed with Ram, Matich and Waa. Ram and Matich were into everything as usual, and Waa was a rock in the scrum and solid around the field..</p>
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<p>The idea of Jordan Hyland at 12 is growing on me too, I was impressed with his hard, direct gain line running. The juries still out on his defence, but if he can sort that he'll nail that jersey. I would like to see Tua at 13 aswell, That guy with a little more space away from traffic could be the ticket..</p>
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<p>Moving onto Otago now. Tough ask under the roof, all will depend on what sort of team we can put out I guess. Will be tipping Otago 13+ in the hope I'm very wrong.</p>
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<p>Oh, and good to see Hawkins back too, eh TR!! </p>

<p>Was good to get along to this match with TR. I've been finding it hard to keep up with whats going on this year, so was refreshing to get back to Toll Stadium.</p>
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<p>I liked what I saw for 60 minutes of that match, it was a true throwback to the old days where we were a renowned counter attacking team. I must say when Manawatu jumped out to 17-0 I held grave fears they were going to do what we did to them in 2010 (77-8??), but we clawed back and became dominant for a long period.</p>
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<p>As for the new laws, I think our boys struggled with the interpretations there. Manawatu used them to their advantage with all those fly hacks, it was like the rucks had become a game of football!! Im not a fan of that kicking through business, I believe there should be some tweaking there, but what it does say is that the attacking side has to be way smarter with how they approach rucks. We have to find a way to stop what Manawatu were doing..</p>
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<p>Midfield defence was a worry, its an area that we simply have to have strong defenders, as rucks will attract a lot more players now, leaving it exposed out there.. Got to sort that out fast as i predict we'll leak a lot of points there..</p>
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<p>Players to impress for me were Alaimalo, Nock, Breen and the loosies (even Fluffy V2!). Goodhue was solid in the first 40 and Olsen was superb coming on.</p>
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<p>I think we will get some results this year, and reckon we need to go and have a real crack at Auckland this week coming. Canterbury did us no favours by thrashing them, so they'll be pissed off. Not smelling an upset, but you never know..</p>

<p>Im in for whoever needs me</p>

<p>I would have assumed Olsen over Hyland too..</p>
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<p>I also note Peter Breen has been added to the Blues Development programme as well. I think this bloke is a pretty handy signing, he will bring a lot more cleverness to our pivotal play than another certain 10 we have..</p>