Qld Country v NSW Country Eagles - NRC Round 2

[Ash]

That's the game, NSW take a tap and kick it out off a penalty.

NSW attack much better, and Tala Gray, Hoiles and Kellaway looked a class above. Their lineout also messed up Qld ball all afternoon. Gray and Hoiles had spiders on them, it seemed no-one wanted to tackle them.

Robinson was one of the better Qld players, and their scrum dominance probably went unrewarded, partly through Walsh, partly through their own naivety by getting the ball out while walking forward.

Qld looked more dangerous with their mauling and pick and drive, their backs had little cohesion and struggled. Thought the decision making of Gale, particularly in the first half, was woeful.

Think Meehan is not up to this level of coach, if his specialty is back play.

 

[Ash]

Gray also looked very handy jumping at 2 in the lineout, really messed up a lot of Qld ball.

 

[kiap]

Think Meehan is not up to this level of coach, if his specialty is back play.

First hitout for them against one of the better sides (with a game under the belt) so it's a bit early IMO to put it all on Meehan.

His team at Bath played an attacking brand a few years back.

 

[Pfitzy]

QLD Country forwards were bossing large periods of that second half but lacked a couple of classy backs to finish it off. The halfback (Gale?) wasted a lot of ball with very ordinary passing.

Tala Gray my MOTM - he was everywhere the first 60 minutes.

QLD Country suffered from it being their first week in a game situation, but if they get their forwards moving and a different scrumhalf they could grind out a few wins.

After piping this through the Chromecast, I'm not completely on board with live streaming. Even on my decidedly average 6.9Mbps ADSL2 connection it was very good quality and after a few initial bumps as the nerds tweaked the whatsamajiggers and calibrated the thingamabobs, it was great.

 

[Bairdy]

First hitout for them against one of the better sides (with a game under the belt) so it's a bit early IMO to put it all on Meehan.

His team at Bath played an attacking brand a few years back.

But didn't crown himself in glory at the Force.

 

[swingpass]

Tala Gray substituted not long ago. He had another very strong game with ball in hand.

Needs to get picked up by a Super team that isn't NSW in my opinion. He's far too talented to play 10 minutes in a Super season, but he doesn't fit the balance of the Tahs backrow. They already have an explosive wide forward runner in Hooper, and they need a lineout specialist at 6.

Reckon he could make some waves in Canberra or Brisbane.

he could always come home to victoria, but he didn't want to

 

[kiap]

But didn't crown himself in glory at the Force.

. . . And the Reds backs were also stodge this season.

Gotta be careful about leaping to conclusions though. Graham Henry was a consultant to the Pumas last year and their play was truly dire. Now they've improved. What does that really mean? - Not much, although maybe their previous head coach was an anchor.

Also, if you remember the first Super game for the Force with Meehan on board against the Rebels then that was actual Smee-ball, attacking style. But Foley's team was never going to play like that for any real period of time. He knocked it on the head and reverted to his old Tahs game plan.

People on here were bagging Darren Coleman in these forums two months ago as a do-nothing coach. Well, they don't know much. I said they were wrong then and I say they are wrong now.

 

[boyo]

Hoiles is a real pest, he spends a lot of time offside.

A bit like Richie McCaw then.

 

[Dan54]

Went to game, enjoyed it again, agree comments about Gale at 9 he made some howler decisions, though looked to have a good pass. Not sure what Walsh was up to at times, seemed to miss a fair bit, one of early scrums Beau Robinson broke off, actually ran around Walsh and then rejoined scrum with no penalty or anything. Not sure if refs are actually trying to ignore things that don't affect game much, but this is second game I have been too , and both times have thoroughly enjoyed games, but have a slight feeling that it needs to be tightened up to stop it feeling like a schoolboy game.
Also have to add big ups to Bond Uni, an enjoyable experience, but hoped someone would cut wires to sound system when they felt need to blast us with music at every opportunity.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Match Highlights

 

[hammertimethere]

Tala Gray was excellent in all facets

 

[hammertimethere]

Could we have him please?

 

[swingpass]

Could we have him please?

NO back home to melbourne if anywhre

 

[Highlander35]

If Palu goes overseas after RWC, there's not a snowball's chance he'd leave the Tahs.

Otherwise, at least the Rebs and Reds should be chasing him, potentially the other two as well.

 

[Wilson]

NO back home to melbourne if anywhre

As long as he goes somewhere he'll actually get some game time, with a bit more experience he could be exactly what the wallabies need.

 

[Braveheart81]

Was that Ita Vaea in the pink headgear?

If so, he had a couple of good involvements late in the game including a crucial turnover close to the Eagles line when the score was still 21-13.

 

[oztimmay]

D

NO back home to melbourne if anywhre

Don't we have too may backrowers on our books already?