Well patton had a decent game all in all and my mind was blown by how amazing we were in defence 2 players down. I couldn't careless about the end score or how patton played during the time he was on the field. I've not been that proud for a long time, well guys really well done. A bit more of that and we'll be sound as a pound

That's what took it out of us in the 2nd period and allowed KR to add respect to the score.
I believe we'd have buried them under 50 had we not been defending with 11 men.

The positive is that the team seem to be very unified and prepared to put everything on the line for the team.

I said to my missus that even when you was down to 11 your defence wasnt panicking and was very well drilled, when we tried to go wide it still looked like 13 on 13.
Other way to see it is that we played really dumb against 11 men, going up the middle from dummy half all the time when you have two very experienced halfbacks is criminal.
Well played and good luck againt Saints in the semi's

Patton's pass for the Mamo try was class.

As was his kick and chase to force the drop out.

Terrific game today. Inch perfect kicking, a few lovely long passes and kicked every goal.

Seems to have improved his consistency... Doing the job well at the moment

Was very good today. A much braver performance.

Yes exactly that.
His last 3 games have been just so.
I was disappointed with his early May form because he wouldnt back himself....and but for the injury to Ratchford was about to blow the opportunity given to him in February.
I think the substitution last month gave him a kick up the ass.

Played well today no doubt, spun out some decent passes

Keep it going DP, good stuff recently.

Now he’s got his finger out, he’s holding his own.

Taking over the goal kicking responsibility seems to have made him raise his game ... funny how that happens...remember the same thing happening with pat Richards at Wigan

Yes, credit where credit due. Well done Dec keep it up

You may well have a point about the goal kicking. There is nothing subjective about whether he gets the 2 points or not. He has an obvious value to the team and that may give him the leeway to try things in open play that he may have been reluctant to do before. I certainly hope so as it benefits him and the team.

He just needs to be steady, error free and reliable. Doesn’t need to be something more and take risks etc

Much improved. Seems to have kicked on since the Ratchford injury. Long may it continue.

No the opposite.
His problem was just exactly what you said...I had just given up on him and I expressed reasons on here of disappointment in him because he has ability and wasn't using it.

Since his example substitution, Dec took on risk. Dec was out...I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have played again this season if his 2nd chance this season hadn't come 10 min later, in the very same game, with the injury to Ratchford.

...who dares wins. He's winning.

He’s starting to get a rhythm now and is playing well. Confidence is a huge thing too, just mentioned about that with Currie in another thread.

It’s become a cliché to say sport is 90% mental but you can’t dismiss it. Your body and ability can be there, ready; but if you’re mind isn’t right, your confidence is low or you just kind find your mojo and feel inferior in a team to others, then no player is going to be at his best.

Especially is he’s read this forum over the years.

Disagree with that. I think he went into his shell, hid behind Austin, was worrying about making mistakes and paid the price with a lack of confidence.

I'd love to know what Price said to him but I'm guessing it was along the lines of him having to be braver and not to leave everything to Austin.

Good signs, hopefully he can keep it up.

No doubt he has put in some decent performances of late but I would imagine that the sight of Kevin Brown close to returning to full fitness may be a motivating factor as well

Skill levels aside, i would hope Dec would prefer to play his best game rather than a bad or cba type of game. I think maybe it is a lack of confidence with the lad & i believe it would do him good to jump over the parapet & take a game ,any game , by the scruff of the neck.

I tend to agree with Psychedelic about the rhythm thing last saturday he was playing flat passes at the right time a split second later it was over run or intercepted a split second earlier it was weak and didn't put any doubt into the defensive line. I think his earlier form was based on not having that rhythm with his team mates that confidence second nature aspect to a player's game and to be fair to Patton he seemed to be struggling by trying too hard rather than NBA IMO

Hope it carries on

Lee Penny.