Moa

[Waerea-Beast!]

What's going on with him?

Hardly bending the line, missing lots of tackles... really a shadow of his former self.

[milanja]

Used to be a tryscorer too.

[2026]

He looks very flat compared to the energy the bench is offering.

We should utilise his ball-playing ability more often.

[Rooster_6]

Yeh, very poor this year. not sure what the go is...

I think it's only a matter of time before Napa takes his starting spot.

[bondi paul]

Can't match the pace of faster forwards he opposes.The era of smith having big bopper forwards at easts is not relevant in 2015 - Lui also struggles with the pace of the game. Very telling in the Raiders game. The culture of the game is turning to speed and mobility and the new sub rules will highlight it. The vermin I dare say are a step ahead in forward play and selection.

[bondi paul]

Not blowing my trumpet here however Roy Masters in the SMH article states the interchange and speedster factor and big bopper forwards not relevant as much as past seasons. A cultural change is happening in the game unlike the Brian Smith era of having many Polynesian forwards.

[davos]

yeah he needs a stint off the bench with napalm starting.

Wouldn't mind seeing SST start and Liu back to bench also.

[roosterproud]

yeah he needs a stint off the bench with napalm starting.

Wouldn't mind seeing SST start and Liu back to bench also.

that's my thoughts as well. moa rotating with jwh worked a treat

[ism22]

Can't match the pace of faster forwards he opposes.The era of smith having big bopper forwards at easts is not relevant in 2015 - Lui also struggles with the pace of the game. Very telling in the Raiders game. The culture of the game is turning to speed and mobility and the new sub rules will highlight it. The vermin I dare say are a step ahead in forward play and selection.

I'd argue that all Souffs have are big bopper Burgess-style forwards. Not all that mobile/intelligent, just MASIVE and capable of punching holes down the centre.

IMO we have the mix just about right, with a mixture of enforcers and ball players. Guerra, Cordner and Liu are pretty skinny but are smart and good ball players (I'll include Friend as one of those smart forwards too because he's technically a forward.) On top of that we have JWH and Moa as strong enforcers who bash their way forward. Moa's never been amazing but the simplicity of him charging straight and fast down the middle (like JWH) and drawing in defenders so that Guerra/Cordner can slip through is the idea I reckon.

Napa, Evans and Taukeiaho [sic] are well balanced enforcers. All tall, solid and fast. Moa looks like he's injured (heavily strapped) and look TBH... Napa and Evans are definitely gonna play Origin one day... they will eventually be much better players than Moa. For now though, I like having Moa as this short nuggety guy who runs hard and straight (and doesn't drop the ball.) IMO that's all part of the game... bit like cricket, you groom good batsmen into submission by using a mixture of fast and spin bowlers. We have out boppers and our ball players.

Souffs... just bash forward using what I reckon are lame tactics. They are hard to stop because they have a lot of meat, but they lost to the Cowboys and Parra, which IMO is telling. JT can play big forwards like a record... parra's a faster/more mobile team (while they have their flaws.) IMO Souffs aren't the gold standard when it comes to forwards.

Burgess... will run 10m and IMO gets a lot of tries because Souffs will get a penalty 10m out and pass it to Burgess. They're not as smart as us, but with so much meat, if we're playing stupid (which we have been all season) we'll get beaten.

IMO that's the problem with relying on speed/creativity... if rain closes up your game, cold throws off your passing or your playmakers are having a shocker then teams like Souffs just simplify the tactics, charge hard/straight and will muscle away a win. Helps that Retnolds is one of the best field position kickers in the game and Keary is a sneaky little guy who can constantly create gaps for the big boppers.

---

I dunno... I reckon on our day out forwards are second to none. Currently we have the second highest points difference in the comp which is TELLING. Our defence is good!!!! Souffs have muscled out more wins and still have a worse PD because when they hit creative teams, thug Burgess and co stumble around with their stupid 'fi fi fo fum' tactics. When a team's dropping balls they just run down the middle taking the whole team with them and their size guarantees them tries if they get within 10m.

[bondi paul]

I'd argue that all Souffs have are big bopper Burgess-style forwards. Not all that mobile/intelligent, just MASIVE and capable of punching holes down the centre.

IMO we have the mix just about right, with a mixture of enforcers and ball players. Guerra, Cordner and Liu are pretty skinny but are smart and good ball players (I'll include Friend as one of those smart forwards too because he's technically a forward.) On top of that we have JWH and Moa as strong enforcers who bash their way forward. Moa's never been amazing but the simplicity of him charging straight and fast down the middle (like JWH) and drawing in defenders so that Guerra/Cordner can slip through is the idea I reckon.

Napa, Evans and Taukeiaho [sic] are well balanced enforcers. All tall, solid and fast. Moa looks like he's injured (heavily strapped) and look TBH... Napa and Evans are definitely gonna play Origin one day... they will eventually be much better players than Moa. For now though, I like having Moa as this short nuggety guy who runs hard and straight (and doesn't drop the ball.) IMO that's all part of the game... bit like cricket, you groom good batsmen into submission by using a mixture of fast and spin bowlers. We have out boppers and our ball players.

Souffs... just bash forward using what I reckon are lame tactics. They are hard to stop because they have a lot of meat, but they lost to the Cowboys and Parra, which IMO is telling. JT can play big forwards like a record... parra's a faster/more mobile team (while they have their flaws.) IMO Souffs aren't the gold standard when it comes to forwards.

Burgess... will run 10m and IMO gets a lot of tries because Souffs will get a penalty 10m out and pass it to Burgess. They're not as smart as us, but with so much meat, if we're playing stupid (which we have been all season) we'll get beaten.

IMO that's the problem with relying on speed/creativity... if rain closes up your game, cold throws off your passing or your playmakers are having a shocker then teams like Souffs just simplify the tactics, charge hard/straight and will muscle away a win. Helps that Retnolds is one of the best field position kickers in the game and Keary is a sneaky little guy who can constantly create gaps for the big boppers.

---

I dunno... I reckon on our day out forwards are second to none. Currently we have the second highest points difference in the comp which is TELLING. Our defence is good!!!! Souffs have muscled out more wins and still have a worse PD because when they hit creative teams, thug Burgess and co stumble around with their stupid 'fi fi fo fum' tactics. When a team's dropping balls they just run down the middle taking the whole team with them and their size guarantees them tries if they get within 10m.

All valid points ism - I often enjoy your posts. Interesting article in the SmH today on the same topic we are talking about.

[crikey chris]

Got married in the off-season. He is playing like he is still on vacation on his honeymoon lol 😱

[JAF]

Got married in the off-season. He is playing like he is still on vacation on his honeymoon lol 😱

The same thing happened to SBW last year as well - got married and his form dropped!!!

[Waerea-Beast!]

The real Sam Moa was well and truly back last night. His form has picked up dramatically over our past few matches.

[BUDDY]

Has he escaped being charged?