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Hey guys, I've just got back to aus yesterday and I managed to watch the first 3 games yesterday. All I can say is we are very lucky that we signed the "big three" in the offseason.
Positives from first 3 rounds:
Defence
We are a completely different team from last year in this department. The loss to lol@souffs was a low point, but apart from that we have been solid in defence. SBW is doing overtime in this area. That last game against the gronkos, he made a huge amount of very important tackles which normally would have lead to second phase play last year. We were found wanting against LOL@souffs on the skd side of the park and RTS left his man on a few ocassions but I'll get to that later.
Structured play
We're finally starting to play to a certain structure both in attack and defence. Robbo and JT deserve a lot of praise in that area. In defence we are sliding across the park much better than last year and this was seen against the warriors and broncos when we shut down a lot of their backline movements.
Key signings
Maloney has been sensational especially against the Broncos where imo, he won us the game on his own.
Sbw had a quite start in round 1 but he has been getting better and better as time has gone on. I think he is one of those player's who can win games on his own. And that offload to jennings in the warriors game was a freakish reminder of why we moved earth to signed him.
Jennings has been playing every game like he is in origin. Why the riff released him is beyond me . Maybe Gus owed uncle nick a favour or gus has finally lost his last marble in that big head of his. Once the passes start sticking and he finds some space that left edge will be unstoppable.
The good players getting better
JWH and Cordner are two of my favourite players from last year and they just keep hitting the line with more intensity every hitup. The future cornerstones of our pack for sure, and two very nice young men both on and off the field.
Negatives:
I seriously don't want to sound like coggy by mentioning these. We have played well this season but some of these negatives are frightening especially when you consider that they're in the spine of our team.
FB
This has been hacked to death on this forum even before I left to go overseas a month back, but whether you look at this game statistically or subjectively, Mini is past it as a fullback. I know that many of you consider him a easts legend like I do and that many of you will throw the he's played origin card, but we cannot win a premiership with him at fb full stop. If that's not enough, he may very well destroy a young man's confidence and career by hogging his deserved spot and leaving him to get cold on the wing.
For all those who believe that mini is our ideal fb, a few questions,
When was the last time he was involved in a backline play and set up a try for a outside back by being a ball player?
When was the last time he broke the line on a kick return?
When was the last time he put in a grubber or attacking kick in the opp. 20 which lead to something?
He has no ability as a ball player and the game has passed him by. While he was injured the role of FB has changed and he has not adapted. RTS has been a phenomenal ball player in the 20's. He gets involved in backline set plays and set ups trys. He also breaks the line on kick returns and has an x-factor with his side stepping(like a young benji Marshall). I'm not attacking mini as a player, because I still think that he has something to offer our team. The sad thing is that he'd probably make an awesome winger. That try against the warrriors is evidence of this but as a fullback he is finished. Yes he is good under the highball but against the vermin rts showed he can be put under the high ball and take some screamers.
Pearcey and friend:
I'm not going to go on about Pearce but I think that he needs to take a serious look at his kicking game if he is going to dominate other halves. Against the broncos last week wallace looked the dominate of the two half backs and he was in a losing side.
Friend has been good in some patches but when Morts plays from dummy half we look alot more likely and the speed of the game increases. I've always rated morts and I'm really happy that he's finally getting given a go to prove himself. A very nice young man.
Tupou
The last thing we need is another young SKD fumbler. After having a great season last year, his ball security this season has been woeful. He's also not timing his jumps very well. If he keeps strolling off the path, the I think Oldfield/Henry may slot in for him. A shame really, he was one of my favourites last year.
Positives from first 3 rounds:
Defence
We are a completely different team from last year in this department. The loss to lol@souffs was a low point, but apart from that we have been solid in defence. SBW is doing overtime in this area. That last game against the gronkos, he made a huge amount of very important tackles which normally would have lead to second phase play last year. We were found wanting against LOL@souffs on the skd side of the park and RTS left his man on a few ocassions but I'll get to that later.
Structured play
We're finally starting to play to a certain structure both in attack and defence. Robbo and JT deserve a lot of praise in that area. In defence we are sliding across the park much better than last year and this was seen against the warriors and broncos when we shut down a lot of their backline movements.
Key signings
Maloney has been sensational especially against the Broncos where imo, he won us the game on his own.
Sbw had a quite start in round 1 but he has been getting better and better as time has gone on. I think he is one of those player's who can win games on his own. And that offload to jennings in the warriors game was a freakish reminder of why we moved earth to signed him.
Jennings has been playing every game like he is in origin. Why the riff released him is beyond me . Maybe Gus owed uncle nick a favour or gus has finally lost his last marble in that big head of his. Once the passes start sticking and he finds some space that left edge will be unstoppable.
The good players getting better
JWH and Cordner are two of my favourite players from last year and they just keep hitting the line with more intensity every hitup. The future cornerstones of our pack for sure, and two very nice young men both on and off the field.
Negatives:
I seriously don't want to sound like coggy by mentioning these. We have played well this season but some of these negatives are frightening especially when you consider that they're in the spine of our team.
FB
This has been hacked to death on this forum even before I left to go overseas a month back, but whether you look at this game statistically or subjectively, Mini is past it as a fullback. I know that many of you consider him a easts legend like I do and that many of you will throw the he's played origin card, but we cannot win a premiership with him at fb full stop. If that's not enough, he may very well destroy a young man's confidence and career by hogging his deserved spot and leaving him to get cold on the wing.
For all those who believe that mini is our ideal fb, a few questions,
When was the last time he was involved in a backline play and set up a try for a outside back by being a ball player?
When was the last time he broke the line on a kick return?
When was the last time he put in a grubber or attacking kick in the opp. 20 which lead to something?
He has no ability as a ball player and the game has passed him by. While he was injured the role of FB has changed and he has not adapted. RTS has been a phenomenal ball player in the 20's. He gets involved in backline set plays and set ups trys. He also breaks the line on kick returns and has an x-factor with his side stepping(like a young benji Marshall). I'm not attacking mini as a player, because I still think that he has something to offer our team. The sad thing is that he'd probably make an awesome winger. That try against the warrriors is evidence of this but as a fullback he is finished. Yes he is good under the highball but against the vermin rts showed he can be put under the high ball and take some screamers.
Pearcey and friend:
I'm not going to go on about Pearce but I think that he needs to take a serious look at his kicking game if he is going to dominate other halves. Against the broncos last week wallace looked the dominate of the two half backs and he was in a losing side.
Friend has been good in some patches but when Morts plays from dummy half we look alot more likely and the speed of the game increases. I've always rated morts and I'm really happy that he's finally getting given a go to prove himself. A very nice young man.
Tupou
The last thing we need is another young SKD fumbler. After having a great season last year, his ball security this season has been woeful. He's also not timing his jumps very well. If he keeps strolling off the path, the I think Oldfield/Henry may slot in for him. A shame really, he was one of my favourites last year.
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