If I was to perhaps put some perspective on today's game.... I thought the ref gave us a huge leg up when he could have easily penalised us on both offside or rush plays.

We don't seem to get that sort of kind treatment during NRL season. We get pinged for far less. 

And so the piggy back penalties and field position won't be as it was today. We will have to earn it with our forwards or Burton long kicking game.

I'm now very curious how the next trial will be refereed and how we go about getting good field position.

When you claim to be an expert on footy, that is comedy 😁

I don't know the stats, but there seemed to be less six agains than last year.

Looked like an octagon shaped object with strings hanging off it… 
I think it’s a space Octopus… in fact I’m certain…

They’re just warming up… can’t blow the pea out of the whistle too soon… 

The aliens have told me all Parra fans will be taken to  asteroid mining camps, we are safe.

But most the important thing is, the aliens like beer.

I am not sure if Marki is just used to us conceding lots of  6 agains and penalties.

When teams defend well they are under less pressure, and don't give a lot of 6 agains.

Refs know which team is on top and subconsciously give them a leg up, because they can't ingore odvious penalties and suspect that the weaker team is more likely to infringe.

We weren’t off side we were just quick. In fact in the middle and edges, when we were on top, there was a throwback to the old days - umbrella defence. Wonder if it’s a CC thing or just the enthusiasm.

If CC has studied Wok and is using the umbrella defence then welcome back the true Dogs of War.

I believe there is a smart way of inconspicuously slowing down the ruck but we haven't figured it out yet.... We therefore get pinged for it more often than not.

The truth is, refs know which teams play a fast PTB game and which teams don't. And so the tolerance level on a fast PTB team (like Panthers, Storm, Cows, Parra etc) is much smaller than say a team like us, Manly, Dragons etc.

In reality, we have to appreciate and understand the type of teams we play as well as the ref, and adjust to his tolerance level. It's the only way to combat the 6 again calls. Having a vocal captain who politely challenges the ref to keep him honest or keep it consistent will go a long way. That's why it's important Mahoney should be the designated captain to stay in the refs ear and keep him honest.

I reckon we got lucky. I saw multiple times where markers weren't square and we got away with it. They may not have made the tackle but they influenced the direction of play. Last year it was a 6 again every day of the week.

Look, if we are perceived to be a top 8 team and refs have changed their tune with us, all good. But I think it was aberration. I'm very keen to see if we get the run of green in the next trial....or even during regular season...

Did you watch all the trials? The refs were very lenient. All teams got away with a lot. 

Im not sure if it was traditional umbrella defence. But it was quick. And that meant the players were fit. And that means we are in for a good season. 

Headline -  Chold starts humiliating pizza job job…

Comment - Fuck u MSM and your germoulistic, presstitutie hypocrazy…

That job is humiliating yet you demand we celebrate disgusting obese ‘celebs’ who eat both pizzas and the GB on tight arse Tuesday???

I would like to thank all delivery drivers for their service… There is nothing humiliating about your role in the supply chain…

#istandwithDougie…

Unfortunately due to busy week I didn't watch many games. Just ours really -on replay.

Would be interested if the refs have been told to tone down on 6 agains or if they are just warming up.

Either way, yes, I was happy with the enthusiasm. As long as we know how to adjust it if the ref on the day becomes trigger happy.

Bwahahaha!!!… of course not… not even ours… there were replays of the hawks on…

I quickly formed the odvious conclusion, these aliens are highly intelligent.

Dr Marki is a bird watcher - 2 legged birds- with feathers. 
 
Both kinds.

Good looking team for next trial.

Go Dogs!!!!

The refs may have been told to. But I think it’s more of a warm up for them too. So they are going to miss a lot. 

In the first half against Canberra we did benefit from high completions, but the attack also looked threatening.

Add that to improved defensive linespeed and looks promising.

Canberra were more like what you would traditionally expect from a trail, a bit rusty, a few errors, not match fit, especially when posession favours the opposition.

I watched the highlights, Sharks should be a step up in class from Canberra and a good test.

Exactly what we need, we will build confidence and/or find some things that we need to fix.

3 spinners???… Plus Head…

I’ll give Hanscombe credit, and I’ve never been a fan - but that was never a fan of the old Handscombe who took strike on his stumps and then played off the back foot right in front of his stumps like a kid scared of pace.

He’s taking strike at the crease, actually further forward than Kawahja, and playing off the front and back foot and looking solid. Be interesting to see if he still plays like that on a fast pitch against express pace. If he does he might convert me yet.

…. probably get out now… plumb LBW off the back foot six inches in front of middle.

We are doing a bit better than the last test.

Second session pretty even… one less wicket and it was ours…

I reckon between 250-300 first inns is enough to win this Test. Wouldn’t like to bat last on that thing.

250 gives us a slim chance… 
My concern is if they play Lyon as well as they generally do, Murphy doesnt repeat his heroics, and the debutant cops a pasting… 
If they lead by 120-150,  we might be the team batting last… 
Im jstill baffled by leaving Boland out… hope I’m proven well wrong by the tweakers…

Admittedly Lyon goes pretty well against India…  and in the sub… plenty of wickets but at a highish average…