Blessing in disguise?

[Ray Stehr]

It has taken Nikorema one game to show up Pearce, I can't believe the thickness of some on here and I am glad that none of them have any say in selections. We are a much more formidable team with Nikorema and no Pearce. Time will prove me right.

[Andrew Walker]

Yes another win with Pearce absent The amazing statistic of us winning over 70 percent of our matches since 2007 without Pearce continues Make of it whatever you like

[dice]

It has taken Nikorema one game to show up Pearce, I can't believe the thickness of some on here and I am glad that none of them have any say in selections. We are a much more formidable team with Nikorema and no Pearce. Time will prove me right.

Pearce was a champion against weak opposition. Nikorima hasn't even proven to be that much as of yet.

You are going off way too soon as you did with your Mortimer and Seluini selection.

[player 1]

Carney in 2010 was as good as Fittler for mine.

Close to, I agree.

Uncontainable in attack at times, and could win games with clutch plays with little time remaining.

Should have won us a comp in 2010. That pass from him to put Leilua over in corner late in first half to make it 14-6 in GF was a beauty - but wasn't allowed. Touch judge didn't like it.

[Chook]

It has taken Nikorema one game to show up Pearce, I can't believe the thickness of some on here and I am glad that none of them have any say in selections. We are a much more formidable team with Nikorema and no Pearce. Time will prove me right.

And prior to his one game you would not have know how to spell his name...and you still don't so you'll forgive us if we question this sage prediction won't you. You're track record for being right is not impressive.

Chook.

[stephenj]

pearce will enjoy playing for wyong it will certainly rub it in to him reality can be such a bitch

[Bigchook]

I liked what I saw of Nikorima has a bit of Crsig Wing about him. Hopefully he develops week in week out to the point that if Pearce does play this season it will be as a twenty minute cameo at hooker giving Jake a breather

I see very little chance of that happening. Nikorima looked fantastic the other day. The real test will be how his body handles the defence of nrl standard forward packs week in week out. Think what you want of Pearce but he is one of, of not the best defensive half-backs in the game.

[Thirteen]

Anyone want to chip in a few bucks so Stehr can get laid at a brothel?

[Andrew Walker]

. Nikorima looked fantastic the other day. The real test will be how his body handles the defence of nrl standard forward packs week in week out. Think what you want of Pearce but he is one of, of not the best defensive half-backs in the game.

I agree and did think that I had addressed your concerns by adding to see how he develops week in week out However if he does stand up to the rigours on a weekly basis and we are going well the only place for Pearce will be off the bench giving Jake a rest his defensive abilities will be welcomed(we always seem a bit weak defensively when Jake goes off) and his speed out of dummy half will see Pearce a very dangerous player and give our team even more dynamics than what we currently have

[ROC181]

Lets not pick on poor jnr Jnr...We're still to see his potential, when he grows up, if ever!
I liked what I saw of Nikorema, which ever way yo spell it. More breaks in one game than some other 'doggy lover' we got in our team made in a year.

[dj_sta]

I think the biggest question once Pearce returns will be - Does Robbo stick to loyalty and as a result give Pearce the 7 jersey after a few warm up games off the bench/Wyong? Or does Robbo award good form (if Niko is still playing well) and keep him in the starting 13?

If I were Robbo I dont know if I would bring Pearce back in the side - because what would that do to the confidence of Niko. Unless Pearce is gradually brought in, allowing him to earn his place back by playing for Wyong first.

I think Cronk's decision on where he plays will play a big part on Pearce. I think if Cronk decides to remain at Melb, the Dragons may go hard for Pearce.

Alternatively, if Cronk leaves Melb, Bellamy might want to bring Pearce to Melb. The only other team I could see throwing Pearce a bone (pardon the pun), would be Titans but they've got Elgey and Taylor (2 youngsters). I don't see any of the other teams making a real play for Pearce.

[Bigchook]

I agree and did think that I had addressed your concerns by adding to see how he develops week in week out However if he does stand up to the rigours on a weekly basis and we are going well the only place for Pearce will be off the bench giving Jake a rest his defensive abilities will be welcomed(we always seem a bit weak defensively when Jake goes off) and his speed out of dummy half will see Pearce a very dangerous player and give our team even more dynamics than what we currently have

It's certainly an option. I just can't see it happening. I see nikorima being more suited to that explosive 20 minute cameo off the bench and into hooker just to blood him. Same way we used Hastings when he debuted, although nikorima is arguable more suited to the role than Hastings who still did a great job. I'm no Pearce fan boy by any means but I just think we're a stronger unit with him for this season if he can get his shit together. I'd be happy for us to not renew his contract for next yr with nikorima having the experience.

[The Brain]

Close to, I agree.

Uncontainable in attack at times, and could win games with clutch plays with little time remaining.

Should have won us a comp in 2010. That pass from him to put Leilua over in corner late in first half to make it 14-6 in GF was a beauty - but wasn't allowed. Touch judge didn't like it.

that turned out to be bad decision looked forward on the angle shot but the over head camera showed it wasnt but hey its only a GF -ref shit him self cant video ref a forward or not

[2 weeks]

The 2010 GF taught us one thing - Morris was in!

[Danish]

So if Niko doesn't turn out as good as Freddy, he is going to be a failure?

I suppose that will match nicely with Mitchell who will need to be carving up like Inglis did or else he'll be labelled a dud.

Any other young kids in the side we want to heap a shit tonne of unnecessary pressure on? Perhaps Hastings should be made to convert all our water to free beer at half time every game?