Handley at centre is a disaster. Can’t defend there. Connor at fullback is all over the place. We’re still dog sh**

Obviously a really disappointing performance and one we’ve seen all too much over the last few years. The fast line speed defence got worked very early on the edges. Unfortunately, Handley and Newman are not defensively strong enough to make that style work in my opinion. They misread the jam in consistently throughout. Hopefully we will work it out but It’s a worry. Jake Connor turned out a display that he has for the last few years as well. Slow and lethargic. He cannot be our full back going forward. If he plays it must be in the halves. I said it early in preseason - I don’t see where our line breaks are going to come from. Gannon looked like the main threat and he hasn’t played for the best part of two years. In better news I though Mik looked quality until the head knock

[quote="FGB":3jbm96dy]Time to earn your money Langley and sort it.[/quote:3jbm96dy] Maybe they need JJB in the dressing giving them an inspirational talk about adversity, fortitude and verisimilitude... Or alternative pathways out of the sport.

After watching that $h!t3 today, I think BA will be going back to Oz sooner rather than later,

Looks like Peter Smith is a bit peed off as well given his player ratings for the game, only Hall in the backs scoring more than 5 out of 10, and Gannon, Holroyd and Cam Smith on 6 in the forwards. Not sure how Smith got 6 though. This is so frustrating because it feels that despite a change of coach and another round of ins and outs, we've got almost exactly the same problems as last year, with some new ones in terms of edge defence added. The forwards are physically way too easy to dominate, without a single player in our starting lineup that opponents would be worried about tackling, our spine (partly because of the forwards) looks clueless and we generally lack speed. I know its very early, but I'd already look at Sinfield for Frawley for at least five games as soon as he's fit. The utter nothingness that Frawley offers is a marvel to behold, and he will not be part of any long term future. We desperately need one of our spine to take charge and move the team around, give the forwards a spray etc, and not wait for the coach to have a dig at half time. I'm more disappointed in Croft than Frawley for that though. You can see why Croft failed utterly as lead halfback in the NRL.

I should add that had Miller and Sivo been available things might have looked very different. Both of them would be expected to make big yards on kick returns, which would take some pressure off the forwards. Maye Clark-Wood will help there and Miller will be back at some stage. But there has to be a Plan B. Doesn't there?