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Cowboys have a bye then they got Tigers and Raiders at home. They just really need to win one of those games likely probably in the semis. We need to win our last three. Not going to be an easy task.
 
People might say the Dogs don't deserve to be in the semis, but no team has put 82 on us this season.

Dogs might not be great, but the Cows are rubbish.

We need to win the last 3, that will not be easy.

At least we have something to play for next gsme.
 
Warriors have been on fire since we beat them.

And we have gone a bit off the boil .

Almost hard to believe that we actually beat them and almost kept them scoreless.

We might have done them a favour, they have certainly responded.
 
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Broncos seem to have given up this year so hopefully they continue. I think the dangerous game to be actually next week against the Drags . Nothing to lose for them . Panthers seem wounded . Hopefully our boys got a bit of a up lift tonight .
 
If we could just repeat our peformance against the Warriors i would be confident.

8 day turn around for us, 6 for the Dragons.

Tigers are off a bye, if they can't just make the Dragons earn it, that might help us.

Tigers fluking a win over the Cows would be excellent.

Broncos getting the spoon is a remote mathematical chance.
 
Broncos won the comp with the same coach and the same players last season.

While they will not get the Spoon they might finish second last.

The biggest difference between them and the Dogs is, we have tried very hard to hang in all season, even when we sometimes haven't been able to do it for 80.

Our coach asks too much of the players and the players respond. Madge asks too much of the Broncs and players don't respond.
 
I don't think Hayward has had a HIA/Injury/Suspension all season.

He had some minutes off the field when he was totally gassed. And stayed on and contributed many more times when he was gassed.

That ability to find more when the tank is empty is what separates champions from average players.

If Hayward was out injured all season, we would be a lock for the spoon, we might even have won a game.

Hayward is reliable, Marhoney is unreliable, Hayward has a higher ceiling IMO.

The plan was for Marhoney to play at the Dogs at 2026, he changed the plan, we didn't. Hayward would never do something like that.
 
I don't get all of the criticism of Hayward and Galvin, both have been a net positive most games this season and without them, our results would have been at lot worse.

The main issue thus season was a lack of depth at hooker, wing and fullback.

Injuries to RInakama, Kiraz, Montoya, Tracey and Turpin exposed that issue. Injures to Thompson and King made us vunerable.

Hughes was probably playing injured all games this season, I am not sure that he has ever been injury free.

Our lack depth at wing and fullback caused us to play injured players. A few lower grade hookers probably progessed slower than we expected.

Our signings from outside the club for next season are hooker, wing and fullback, not a surprise.

Our forwards and forward depth is a lot stronger than it has been in the last 10 seasons.

Our problem with not being able produce 80 mine of consistent football was also a problem last season. Round 21 v Manly last season remains the only quality 80 minute performance in recent years. Round 21 v Warriors this season was next best with 60-70 minutes of quality.

It is worse than that, we rarely produce less than 20 mins of quality, but we often produce not much more than 20.

We need more attack, higher completions, better kick execution, better kick defusal, more discipline to take some pressure off our defence.

What is different this season is, we can beat the stronger sides, that is mainly due to a stronger pack of forwards, in particular the addition of Thompson.

Kurt Mann has also faded this season, and looks a shadow of the player he was last season. The last couple of games have been a bit more promising. But if we make the semis and he is in the team, I hope that is the 2025 Kurt Mann.
 
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I think what Cirro said could've been last month or so when we were losing games players have to put their bodies on the line and I think they did against the roosters but I not sure if they did against the Rabbitohs sometimes we tend to be like that unfortunately it's the way the game is .Teams play harder against the Bulldogs.
 
All I know is we seemed to fade against the Bunnies, we were trying hard, but didn't have the enegy, patience and exection.

The Bunnies also played better than they have for a long time.

I think a lot of the problem is mental, being up week after week. Expecting an easier game, starting well, then the opposition grabbing momentum and executing their chances.

While the bunnies were very good, if we are genuine contenders we should have found a way to win.

But that game is done, time to move on.
 
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I still think we are more worthy than the Cows of being in the semis and more likely to win a game or 2.

On form, the Warriors, Roosters or Panthers deserve to win the comp. I hope it is the Warriors.

Us winning the comp from here would be the miracle of the century, and based on what we have dished up so far, we don't really deserve it.

I do still hope to make the 8 and win a couple of semis, just to silence our critics.

We are hopefully more of a realistic chance in 2027, however this season ends doesn't change our chances for 2027, Making the semis and getting a couple of injuries might, but I would trade that for silencing our critics.
 
Mental prep for the Dragons game.

Watch the Souths game, then watch the Warriors game.

It is important to start the week at training on a high.

We know what we need to do, and we did that a few weeks ago.
 
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Panthers will not want to finish 3rd and have to play the Warriors in week 1 of the finals,

IMO they will only rest players against us if they want to finish 4th and there is no danger of finishing 5th.

We need to win well against the Dragons to get our game primed for the Panthers.

If there is no danger of the Broncos getting the spoon, they will have nothing to play for against us. That might be an easy game, but we also need to be close to our best, just in case.

We need 3 very good 60-80 minute performaces 3 weeks in a row.

And we need the Cows to lose at least one game at home.

Cows are a crap team, but their home ground suits how they play, they are used to the conditions,

Tigers might not be fit enough to go with the Cows, we might be relying on the Raiders un the last round.
 
I'm thinking to Panthers will rest players against us.
Raiders the team to knock off the Cows . More likely want to finish the season on a high note .
Are the Sharks sandbagging or in a bit of a slump now .?
We could definitely beat any of the bottom four teams in the semis if we make it and at our best .
 
Panthers might need to beat us.

They might have a tough game against the Storm.

Sharks also have a couple of players out injured.
 
Most fans of other clubs and experts have us missing the 8 becuase they don't see us beating Penrith.

SOS in the halves comes down to if Cirro thinks that improves our chances of winning.

The other option is replacing Jethro with a winger Sua or O'Meley. Assuimg he is out.

O'Meley on the right would allow us to shift Kiraz to the left.

Tuala and Kiraz have been shaky in defence the last few weeks.

Wing doesn't suit Tuala, but he would be great off the bench and could even play some minutes at lock.

So if we are shifting Critter to right centre, I would still consider O'Meley.

O'Meley would be solid rather than brilliant, but we need a reliable ball catcher / defender on the right wing.

Yes I am definately biased becuase he is Orge's son. Ogre was a great player who was a big part of our 2004 premiership.

Sua tends to have better attacking stats than O'Meley.

If picking Sua, and moving Critter to right centre, just put Tuala on the bench. Or start with O'Sullivan on the bench.

Cirro has a few options and needs to find the right one.
 
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