R12 v Newcastle Jets | Mon 26th Dec | 7.35pm |

Think WeeMac might be back by now. Can Smeltz play, or does he have to wait until the window opens in Jan?

Nah he needs to be in Wellington to carry Mrs Smeltzy's Boxing Day shopping. 

who would you drop for wee mac? Roly, Finkler or Lia? Assuming Greeacre and co want him central, otherwise its Kosta or Roy.

Roly. I'm sorry but although he did a bit of work last saturday, he made quite a few errors, especially with his long diagonal passes to Kosta whom would have to have been 9 feet tall to get to some of them.

I thought Parkhouse was impressive playing in his actual position after Doyle subbed on too, and that we'll be more defensively solid with Doyle at the back but I think that they'll stick with Parkhouse at LB for now.

I really hope they don't. Parkhouse playing in his natural position was the spark which brought us back from 2 goals down.

I'm sympathetic to Doyle as a player but I don't think he's that great at left back.

Smeltz' Wikipedia infuriates me right now: 

It seems clear to me that Parkhouse is told to get far forward (more forward than Tratt) because that is his more natural position. I wouldn't be blaming Parkhouse for positional issues.

You know who was badly positioned on Saturday? Roly, that's who. He always seemed to be 2 or 3 yards too far back, missing passes and letting WSW break on counterattack.

I thought Roly looked kinda lost. Not sure where he was meant to be but ran and made so e effort. Sadly Kosta was on the end of so e horrendous diagonal passing from Roly. Shame because tbe intent and idea were excellent, the delivery was just piss poor.

I hope we win

Massive game for us, a must win. Onwards and Upwards please.

He was still too far back in the 2nd half IMHO.

One of the interviews after the game, can't remember if it was Dura or Doyle, said something to this effect. He was pushed further forward in the 2nd half and it made a big difference. He does need some defensive responsibilities though, even if Lia is in the best form I've seen in a long time.

I thought Parkhouse was ineffectual once moved further forward as well, although his cross for Roy's goal was very well done. Rogerson should have got far more minutes than just stoppage time, that was the kind of game he could've blown wide open.

Don't see why WeeMac should automatically roll back into the team..maybe on from subs bench.  No need to change formula.

Krishna header? Parkhouse created that goal! This was superb work by Parkhouse, great run, pinpoint pass. 

Yeah, Kosta played well, too ;-)

Was a very handy contribution.

When is the team flying over? Christmas day?

Win to the Nix to celebrate Xmas. 3-1!!

Pretty cool item on TV3 sports news about the boys heading out to play tomorrow. Well done tv 3.

game day, fire up

rights smash the Jest and take over fifth place

Third at the end of Jan

Momentum

                                                    COYN

Really crucial game, even though it's early in the season still. Our problem for what seems like forever has been our inability to find consistency. Seems like a mental block at times. If we can pick up the win today, 7 points out of 9 could put our season back on track and help us pick up momentum. 4K 4 THE NIX FIRE UP NIX LEVEL FARKEN 

must win game

The Jest are pants and ours are on backwards if we can't beat them

Newshub > One News

Please let us win!  I'll be warming up for this game with the T20 match at the basin reserve.

29 degrees in Newcastle today. If it cools down that's good for us, anything around 30 degrees has to help them.

Our red hot skills should give them something to think about

Please Nix, make my Christmas a better one by winning.