After winning seven in a row we have dropped two games on the trot. One of them was an average performance against the Raiders while last week’s game against the Storm was a decent effort. I don’t believe the 26-0 scoreline was fair, nor the sending off of Jason Ryles for kicking in the scrum.

Jason’s send off really set us back because I thought at that stage we were unlucky to be down and I felt we were playing some good footy and were in the game.

However the Storm are a hard enough prospect when you have 13 players on the field, let alone 12. Rylesy has been huge this year and is a real forward leader, so to lose him really damaged our cause. To lose him for that was ridiculous, the referee got it wrong and we paid the price.

Plenty has been said and written about it being a wild game on Monday night and I’ll weigh into that. The Storm play a hard, rough style of footy and there is always talk of wrestling in the ruck with them.

On Monday night we weren’t going to let them dominate. We pride ourselves on our defence so we played a bit rough as well and I don’t think they liked it too much. Not many teams have shown that sort of fire against the Storm and it resulted in a spirited encounter with a few fiery encounters.

It’s footy, that sort of thing happens.

I thought the funny thing was when Jeremy Smith and Justin Poore had their little post try stoush. Next year they’ll be mates both donning the red V.

The week before we took on the Raiders and the truth is we probably didn’t aim up for the game like we did against the Storm and it showed.

This week we have the Bulldogs in what could be another huge encounter. The Bulldogs game is one of my favourites on the calendar as the rivalry between the two clubs is pretty huge.

It’s another Monday night game and while they’re not my favourite matches, after waiting all weekend we will all be well and truly up for it.

The Dogs have had a bit of a torrid week and have stood down Ben Roberts and Lee Te Maari after they had an off-field incident, but they have brought in exciting youngster Ben Barba for the clash. I’ve seen the kid play before and, while he has plenty going for him, the man we still need to be most concerned with is Sonny Bill Williams.

Hopefully we can get a win and put a buffer between ourselves and the bottom of the eight. The last thing we want is to have to win the last two games to get in. No one likes that pressure!

Since I last posted Mark Gasnier announced he is leaving for France at the end of the year.

I have mixed emotions about it. On a personal note it’s disappointing to see Gaz go. We have both been at the club a long time and made out first grade debuts in 2000. During that time we have become great mates.

At the same time I don’t blame him for going and I think he will do very well in France. There are reasons for Gaz going that some people don’t understand but he is doing the right thing for himself and no one can knock him for it.

I can also see why fans are disappointed. Gaz is one of the best in the game and an attraction. While he said he is just one player I think he is underselling himself there as he’s a special talent.

But life and footy goes on and you lose one player, you gain a new one. Luke Priddis has joined us for next season and the Panthers rake will bring us a lot of experience and leadership.

Luke will replace Simon Woolford, who is retiring at the end of the season.

Coops

It’s been four straight days of hard training this week, which is unusual, as we normally have a break in the middle, so today is my first day off for the week and I am just resting up before the game this Sunday.
 
This is my first post since the end of the Origin series and [...]