You could say the same for us. What annoys me most about the chickens is that they deliberately cheat by holding down players all game and somehow get away with it. 

Our game however is all that counts. If it’s not a blowout score it’s a winner n in my eyes. 

I hope Hayward plays dummy-half when he comes on and gets Hughes and Farmer rolling over the advantage line.

Reed can push out to first receiver and use the time to select the right play.

Mostly I want us to be brave, have a plan to win, stick to it and keep playing footy.

We can't just rely on defence against the Storm.

Kiks and Tracey must be playing because the reserves list now are only Sexton and Turpin.

Im glad you pointed that out Micko.
We are lucky on a couple of tries we didn't have them pulled back for forwardsl passes. Kikau to Burton was forward as was one last week. Not that we didnt deserve it, weve been on the receiving end of some poor calls on forward passes. But that doesnt mean we can throw stones.

On the holding down part, its a given that some teams are instructed aa part of their gameplan to "test" the referee. As the ruling is fairly discretionary, it varies from game to game, and ref to ref. All teams do it to varying degrees. 

What separates the good teams from the bad is the ability of a team to adjust to the ref discretion on the day. Of course the worst is when the ref changes his temperament within the one game so what he allows in the first 10mins is different to the last 10mins.

There is clearly a pre-conceived bias to teams that are known to play expansive and quick footy compared to teams that play a slow and tough brand. Teams like Eels, Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Cowboys play an expansive style and refs will penalise opposition quicker in the ruck than would against teams like Bulldogs, Manly, Dragons, Sharks and to some degree Roosters.

There is also subconcious favouritsm given to top 8 teams vs lower ranked teams. This is well established and not unknown.

They point is that if you know your standing with that ref is on the low end of the scale, train for it and have it in your players to adjust to his limits on the day.

Slowing down the ruck is a natural part of the game. Having watched afew Roosters games this season and innthe past, i wouldn't class them as being one of the favoured teams by the refs. 

In fact, i reckon theyd be one of the higher penalised ones. They are just better than us at overcoming the penalties and 6-agains.

Good thing is, this year, we are far better at defending our errors and penalties than in the last decade or so.

Hayward didnt really impress me in the halves. Always felt Rajab, BBO and even Docker-Clay were better. But from what ive seen of him in the trials and abit in cup at hooker, i reckon he can be a good bench replacement for Reed. 

Glad he gets his chance. Mann is very unorthodox but effective. At times it seems he doesnt even know what hes doing, let alone the players around him.

Hayward is your more traditional hooker with a more "deliberate" style of play. I expect he will do alright just not sure he'll get enough minutes given he will likely only replace Reed.

I think that they will keep Marhoney on and bring Hayward on, one of them will play first receiver, both are good high workrate defenders. 

A couple of years ago Hayward featured in most reserve grade highlights for tries off passes and kicks, playing halfback.

He got injured and when he got back his play at halfback dropped off. 

I now think that we consider O'Neill and Woods better halves prospects.

But I like the fact that Hayward can kick, pass and tackle,

I would have Taaffe back at fullback for that reason, he put up a nice kick for a Tracey try a couple of weeks ago.

Already I am thinking about our best side FB -Taaffe,  Left Centre Critter. 

Starting props Patolo and King.
Backrow - Kiks, Preston,  Mann

Bench - Hughes, Curran,   Morrin,  Hayward.

I am guessing in advance how Hayward would go, Farmer, Hello Kitty and a few others also shooting for that last bench spot.

Big Nelson has been playing reserve grade for the Storm, apparently he is fit.

I was half suspecting that he might get a run against us.

He has some weaknesses in defence and that might be why Bellyache isn't picking him.

If he comes on the market before June 30th, we should try to sign him.

He is potentially a starter for us, especially if we can sort out his defence.

Schuster might leave Manly and the Storm may fancy their chances of turning his game around, that might set the dominoes off. It is probably wishful thinking but I do wonder how well NAS and Bellyache get on.

my inside mail is that Tracy has been training  at FB and going well???  I hope so !!!! 

I like that mail... Moving Critter is madness for mine...

Yuck... 

assuming Critter on the right to scream PASS at hutch... Nope... Even that didn't work...

FFS can hutch pass the fvcking ball!?!?!?!...

Ok... Scratch that... 

C'mon boys... Too many errors... Again...
In it up to our necks though...

Dumb challenge...

Hutch can't figure out when to run or pass and had to go....

Need to sharpen up our execution and kicking.

Kicking one side pretty good... Sadly we have a half that kicks, passes, and runs poorly on the other... Thought critters done most of the kicking on that side...
#HDS...

Go Dogs..

Another awful pass... Give us 7exy!!!...

Fvcking bullshit... Penalty.. on report.. play on...

Great stuff.. 

Hey Dman are you watching a different game?

C'mon boys!!!!...

Well done Hutch passing at the right time on that play...  So same game... 

I agree that most of the useful attack is happening on the left,

F yeah!!!...

Nice pass to Button Hutch... N 😉😉😉

Yeah... 

Lololol at all the supporters writing off Foxx this year... Again...

We need one more try...

Give Foxy the ball.

Josh Curran is a fekking beast...