Two ex Bulldogs to play in GF.  Finucane & Lee.  Why did we let Finucane go and in view of our centre assets, did our coaching staff do anything to correct Lee's deficiencies.

I took the 10-1 odds of storm leading at half time  but losing the game, so I was happy the storm jumped to a lead. Didnt expect it to get to 24-0 but after Raiders scored and momentum changed i thought Stuart had to get Starling into the game and find another try before the break. Didnt happen. 

Raiders started on fire in second half but again he kept Havilli in lieu of Starling. By the time He came on, they were chasing the clock. Stirm too good at controlling game at that stage and too much fire power. They deserve to make the GF on the back of smart players and coach. 

It was either Jacko or Finucane as they both played in back row then.
We went Jacko. Not our worst decision but probably looks bad now as Dale still maintains his form while Jacko is receding.

Lee I'm disappointed about. I was one of his few supporters and lambasted on this page when praising his attacking prowess. 

As you say, the club/coaches could have worked on his defensive lapses but he was the victim of a poor structure. 

Not all players improve in the environment they are in so you have to decide if you change the player or change the coach or gamestyle 

On a similar note, I was hoping we would keep Lafai as he has proven he can be an attacking weapon, and can probably be worked on for any defensive lapses. 

He is certainly better than Reimis. 

It will be interesting what style TB gets the team to play and how many of our players improve with it or go backwards.

Finucane was playing in the middle, Jacko on a edge, when they played 2nd row in the lower grades they played opposite sides.

A team typically needs 5-6 middle forwards.

Letting Finucane and Taupau go, signing  T-Rex and Woods were simply piss poor decisions showing that Des ans co were clueless about recruitment and retention and there is plenty more evidence, in fact I hste thinking about it.
Let's just say 2013-2018 we made more bad decisions than good decisions.

The fact that Bellamy couldn't get Finucane quick enough says all that needs to be said.

From memory our forwards over powered them, Bellamy started bulking up the Storm forwards soon after, if not 2014 it was earlier.

Now I think a faster game speed allows a smaller more mobile high work rate lock.
Sides are already doing that with the player sharing dummy half duties with the hooker.
In our case Elliott or Jackson  could start with Katoa on the bench.

He isn't small or high workrate, but I would like to try Hoppa as bench lock/2nd rower, he has the running and passing game to trouble defences. That type of move could extend his career by a few years.

It is a gamble but I think Cotric and Smith could be a very potent attacking centre combination, both have speed, size, power and tackle breaking ability. They need to work on defence and passing, but they can learn, a slow player can never learn to be fast. 

Don’t forget between 1979 and 2004 Bulldogs in 10 Grand Finals.    1979.1980. 84,85,86 88, 94,95 ,98,2004.. Not a bad 15 years ... I am glad I am older enough To have watched all of them ... Sorry for the younger guys who missed it ..

That's 25 years for those 10, but its 8 in 16 years and still very good.

80's were certainly our halcyon years. 

Wish we could return to them days again but I'm not sure the club and its history will allow it given the game has changed and we haven't kept up. The issue is, we dont want to keep up. 

Your right sorry about the bad calculations but still a good 25 years it was ..
Your also right the club is sort of stuck in the old grit style of play which is good on occasions but last ten years or so there has never been  a plan B.when the team was caught out .. 2012 GF was a prime example . I think next year things will start to turn around . 

Gagai lost that ball.... how did they allow that?

We live in the present, have hope for the future and, especially for us old blokes, the past were the good old days, mainly because we were younger.

Good game, right result in the end.

Last 2 Souths tries had an element of luck.

Overal I'm happy with the performance of the club in my time as a fan 1973-2020.

But 2015-2020  is a very bad 6 year stretch, I am not at all happy, mainly becuase the club lost it way.

We need to get back to being contenders, the next comp win will be just as big as 1980 IMO, years in the wilderness merely have us longing for a return to succesz.

What a great final series....

Roosters out in straight sets losing to Penrith and Raiders.

Eels out in straight sets losing to Storm and Souths

Souths lose to Penrith.

Textbook stuff.

I dont care who wins from here but have a slight favouritism towards the Storm.

API is the hooker we desperately missed out on. He just makes everybody around him look better than they are. Brilliant player who is tough as nails

I like the Panthers, but they need to improve, Storm attack looks more potent.

What we don't know is who will follow Barrett across in his slipstream, but I don't think there are too many vacancies left.

We need a good hooker no question, Baz is smart enough to know that.

Yes hd, Penrith start like a house on fire but the Storm come home strong. The unfortunate part about the GF this year, is that experience will probably conquer youth and enthusiasm.

I don't think it's as clear cut.
Storm are smarter across the park but don't understate Nathan Cleary. He is cool under pressure and mature for his young age.

Storm should win coz they simply know how to handle the game preparation and flow of game.

Will be exciting to watch.

Unfortunately with no Qcup or NSW cup we don't get to see if there is young hooker coming out of the woodwork. A bit like Harry Grant it the Falcons.

Kikau could be the x factor...Api was tremendous last night. His tackling responsible for at least 2 turnovers and he stopped them in their tracks. Hopefully his shoulder problem won't be too great. Too close to call in many areas and I'd even say whilst Penrth have not had the "loss they had to have" it may not be next week. 

Even though Penrith were clearly the better team last night, I reckon Souths were just a toenail away from winning it. That toenail belonging to Adam Reynolds that just hit the 40m line when he was going for the 40/20 with 5min odd to go.

I reckon if he got it, Souths would’ve got the try, the Panthers were in panic mode.

Next week if Melb score first it’s game over, in fact if Melb hit the lead at any time it’s game over. No team nails down a lead, I’ say in the history of a game, like Melb. Panthers need to score first and often.

Can’t see them doing it. Melb by 12ish.

Gagai's putdown was incredibly dodgy. As much as we all dislike Sutton....I think he had a pretty good game and he did proclaim no try...and based on the criteria of having control of the ball he was right.

I didn't like the slowing down of the PTB and a lot of marginal/forward passes were ignored but as far as consistancy goes both teams benefitted. As Zef indicated Souths were possibly a toenail away from a win as Penrith faded and panicked. Next week a much stronger opposition.

I tend to agree. Melb very hard to stop in a GF once they get in front.

They suffocated us in 2012 and they nearly got Sharks in 2016 after being completely outplayed for of the game. 

Once they get to a lead it's pretty much shut the gates.

This Panthers team however.... can score from anywhere, at any time. Lots of x-factor players that can snatch a try from nowhere

Penrith need to improve, the game against Souths was not one of their better games.

The Storm were very good, but I think the Raiders also had a bad day.

Which team had the better GF preparation?

If they can return to their normal energy level in defence, and get the rust out of the attack, I think Penrith.

If the GF comes down to a battle of attrition and desire in the last 15 mins, young legs and energy, have the edge over old legs, experience and execution.

I still favor the Storm, all they need to do is repeat their last game and put in a typical performance. The young Panthers need to play the game of their lives, stay with the Storm for 65 mins and have more energy in the last 15 mins. 

I also think that if the Storm get out to a big lead at any stage that they will be almost impossible to run down.

However, Rapana and Croker were very poor defensively in the first 20 mins. The Storm exploited bad decisions by Rapana and that resulted in a lot of posession. Centre and wing are also key defensive positions for the Panthers. Storm will also attempt to exploit the Panthers halves particularly Luai.

Panthers in return need to play up tempo and run the Storm fowards around, play to their gun attacking players on the edges and play through the Storm pack when they are tired.

This is the classic GF match up IMO, youth and energy, vs age and experience.

To be fair Harry looked like the best young player for the last three years. That’s why we tried to sign him. Such a shame we didn’t. I’m not hearing of anybody close to him in his position. 

Billy Brittian was the 2nd best option, not as classy and disciplined as Grant.
Brittian is less of a classical hooker and more of a hooker/half with aggro.

Brittian played some NRL for St Merge, but was not as dominant as in the lower grades.

I still think his kicking game and aggro would add something to our side, Grant is good for way more try assists.
Starling was the surpise packet this year at rep level Grant played for Qld, Brittian for NSW, Starling wasn't in the mix as far as I know, but he went past Brittian this season.

Brittian's lack of discipline might be costing him, I like players to have passion, the challenge is to channel that energy into the right areas.