This last weekend the NRL has once again delivered something for everyone, or was it?
The Roosters’ 64-12 demolition of the Dolphins on Saturday night was an example of the simmering tensions that exist beneath the surface as the stakes get higher and some teams are running out of time.
At times, the tensions boiled over during the Roosters’ win, but at the end of the day, this did the Dolphins no favours at all.
In fact, it didn’t allow them to get refocused on their game.
I think the Dolphins have been one of the best teams to watch this year and I even thought they could be a smokey to win the premiership.
But not only losing, but the manner in which they lost on Saturday night, could have displayed the reasons they are not yet ready for that lofty title.
But, and it’s a big but, if centre Herbie Farnsworth can rejoin their backline for the finals race, anything could happen for this team from Redcliffe.
It is now the crunch time of the season and all eyes are on the superstars of the game because they do make things happen.
But a worrying trend are the simple penalties some players continue to cost their teams. For example, how hard can it be to ensure the ball is played properly?
Players must stand up to play the ball back with their foot – it is as simple as that.
I know speed at the play-the-ball is critical, but conceding a silly penalty there could be deadly.
I was lucky during my coaching career because I coached at all levels of the game. Club, international and Origin level.
From that time, I have some absolutely fantastic memories, but there are also a few clangers.
Some of those clangers were penalties we conceded for not doing the simple things right, for example the basic skill of playing the ball properly.
But maybe I should have been paying more attention to getting those skills practised?
