Man how important was that heroic upset win against the Raiders in week 1? They lose there and they probably aren't holding the trophy this morning.
They're probably just so used to playing from in front. I felt like they were much more in the game than what Gould and 9 were saying at HT. You had to know that when and if the field position and possession started to even up that they would come roaring back, and they did. They just couldn't sustain it. The most impressive thing about Cronulla's resolve was that for all the times they struggled in Melbourne's 20 (40+ tackled inside opp.20's for only 1 try), as soon as they got behind for the first time, they managed to shift the momentum back very quickly and strike back. It wasn't without Melbourne's help mind you, I mean that kick across the grain from Smith that went dead was one of the worst plays of the night. Totally ruined Melbourne's momentum. Nonetheless, Cronulla lead for 70 minutes of that match. Would've been devastating to lose in the last 5 and they just weren't gonna let it happen. Melbourne are great front runners and poor chasers because they play percentage football and structure. They get in front and grind away better than anyone. Chasing means they have to open it up and play more footy. That's not really their forte. That's the Cowboys all over
I dont think its big games so much as he just doen't play well against fast moving, aggresive defensive lines and that just happens more often than not to be in big games. I think he's definitely overrated, just takes way too many ineffective hit ups when his team is on the back foot. Poor mans Merrin IMO.
Key moment during the last phase of play here. If Cameron Smith passes to Tohu Harris, they go through the hands and probably score. Instead, he cut him out and threw a shit pass to Hampton who had to bend down to catch it and allowed the players to scramble.
