Post by happybadger on May 25, 2018 1:10:43 GMT
by Press Association
After the 16-24 defeat to North Queensland in the previous round, Raptors' boss Theo was utterly tight lipped, he didn't say anything after the game. But looking at the video, it was clear that whatever tactics Theo had tried, had utterly failed - whether it was lack of execution, or just the ill fortune of the Devils anticipating correctly what the Raptors were going to do, it was hard to tell.
But it didn't matter, because the Auckland Orcas were coming to Spotland next (despite the ASRL system stubbornly and wrongly saying that Rochdale played at the Etihad), and there was work to do after the Raptors' first loss of the ASRL season.
Surprisingly, there was no panic in the training last week - but there wasn't any joie de vivre, either...it was all business, and I don't think Theo or Jamie Rooney smiled once. The loss of second rower Corey Harawira-Naera to a long term injury didn't help matters either. But, life goes on in league, and the game plan was put in, and kickoff ensued...
...and after two video-denied tries for Auckland early in the second half, the Raptors' Mahe Fonua got sin-binned for an alleged dangerous tackle (the video showed it was a 50/50 proposition on dangerousness), but the abdication rumours afflicting Auckland was probably one reason why the Orcas didn't score during their advantage...but Wade Graham landing a try during, and Jarrod Wallace landing a try just after, Fonua's sinbin siesta, told the story of the Auckland abdication better than any article could have...
...and the first shutout for the Raptors this season, 24-0...and Theo noted the weird turn of fortune, where Rochdale got out-penaltied this game and won, and out-penaltied the Devils before and lost...
...only to see the big screen crackle to life, and the sound of children singing a happy song...and Theo smiled...
...those Caterpillars from Yipirinya...bless their hearts...
After the 16-24 defeat to North Queensland in the previous round, Raptors' boss Theo was utterly tight lipped, he didn't say anything after the game. But looking at the video, it was clear that whatever tactics Theo had tried, had utterly failed - whether it was lack of execution, or just the ill fortune of the Devils anticipating correctly what the Raptors were going to do, it was hard to tell.
But it didn't matter, because the Auckland Orcas were coming to Spotland next (despite the ASRL system stubbornly and wrongly saying that Rochdale played at the Etihad), and there was work to do after the Raptors' first loss of the ASRL season.
Surprisingly, there was no panic in the training last week - but there wasn't any joie de vivre, either...it was all business, and I don't think Theo or Jamie Rooney smiled once. The loss of second rower Corey Harawira-Naera to a long term injury didn't help matters either. But, life goes on in league, and the game plan was put in, and kickoff ensued...
...and after two video-denied tries for Auckland early in the second half, the Raptors' Mahe Fonua got sin-binned for an alleged dangerous tackle (the video showed it was a 50/50 proposition on dangerousness), but the abdication rumours afflicting Auckland was probably one reason why the Orcas didn't score during their advantage...but Wade Graham landing a try during, and Jarrod Wallace landing a try just after, Fonua's sinbin siesta, told the story of the Auckland abdication better than any article could have...
...and the first shutout for the Raptors this season, 24-0...and Theo noted the weird turn of fortune, where Rochdale got out-penaltied this game and won, and out-penaltied the Devils before and lost...
...only to see the big screen crackle to life, and the sound of children singing a happy song...and Theo smiled...
...those Caterpillars from Yipirinya...bless their hearts...