Team list Tuesday: Rnd 13 vs Knights

[Poupou Escobar]

Dropping top 17 players generally is. I'd be more inclined to believe he is carrying some niggles. I wonder if he'll play reserve grade.

So he wasn't named in reserve grade.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Fergo might score 6 in reserves.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I'm hearing that Ferguson won't play reserve grade this week.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He tried to work harder(maybe he was warned) but he was still rushing up in defence even with Sivo outside him.

Every outside defender rushes up. The question is whether it's effective in stopping the opposition.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Claytons relegation not too dissimilar to Mennings in 2018. Maybe Fergo hasn't been told and they will just tell him The Eels have the bye this week.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

I'm hearing that Ferguson won't play reserve grade this week.

ffs, from Origin hopeful to dropped from reserves. Big fall for Fergo

 

[Enamoured Eel]

I am inclined to believe that Fergo is being rested physically, mentally or a combination of both against a depleted Newcastle.

If I stand to be corrected, I will be somewhat concerned over two decisions that have been made, IMO, hastily.

Firstly, Opacic should without question remain on the left. Moving him from our fortified left edge only weakens both sides defensively. He looks a natural left and I believe he has been good for Sivo.

Relegating Fergo would make me question my usual stoic defense of the coach. From the outside looking in he doesn’t appear to be the problem. In fact, I believe he has been one of our best this year.

All of the problems over the last two weeks have unquestionably come from young Jakob Arthur. With this post being written with the benefit of hindsight (though my foresight saw a belting), it was always coming after the Manly game as the Rabbitohs have the best left side attack in the competition. Bennett would have been licking his lips on playback from the week before.

What’s the fix?

Play Opacic on the right? Nope.
Drop Fergo? Nope.

It’s bring back Dylan Brown, timely. I don’t know why the wheel needs to be reinvented when we are replacing a 70kg, 18 year old half with one of the best defensive halves in the game this week.

BA harped on Fergo and Blake simply not clicking in his presser, referring back to 2020? We are much stronger this year on that edge with Brown. We are a much better side in general. Despite the small sample size, the pair looked good round one together.

Blake did himself no favours coming back drastically overweight. It would be hard having a lower limb injury to maintain fitness though if he was honest with himself, I’m sure he could have come back better. I desperately want to see him succeed. It’s make or break now.

If you’re not sold on him, run Niukore there. I’ll give BA that one, I didn’t expect it to go so well. No doubt he would get found out occasionally in the position marking up against fleet footed opposition but you know what? Like Olam, he makes opposition think twice before digging so far into the line or even probing along that edge.

Long story short, if Fergo doesn’t show in Cup, disregard this post and crisis near averted. If he is, I have my concerns.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I'm hearing that Ferguson won't play reserve grade this week.

He's probably on some roof with duges sipping on some pineapple cruisers

 

[oldmancraigy]

I sent him a congratulations message, told him to have fun, stay healthy and come back a looser.
He LOL'd me.

I don't understand at all?

If the Maroons loose him, then he won't be playing for QLD

Hrm... anyway hope he loses if he plays.

 

[Enamoured Eel]

Will Waqa go back to the other side this week?

You would hope that the shift is reverted. The problem isn’t Blake’s decision making. It’s his technique and lack of strength. His technique and lack of strength affects his ability to hit and stick. His hit and stick affects his ability to win the tackle. His inability to win the tackle results in momentum for the opposition. This is his major deficiency. Not his decision making.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

He's probably on some roof with duges sipping on some pineapple cruisers

I did read something about pineapples around here today.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I don't understand at all?

If the Maroons loose him, then he won't be playing for QLD

Hrm... anyway hope he loses if he plays.

FFS OMC!

 

[Eelogical]

I am inclined to believe that Fergo is being rested physically, mentally or a combination of both against a depleted Newcastle.

If I stand to be corrected, I will be somewhat concerned over two decisions that have been made, IMO, hastily.

Firstly, Opacic should without question remain on the left. Moving him from our fortified left edge only weakens both sides defensively. He looks a natural left and I believe he has been good for Sivo.

Relegating Fergo would make me question my usual stoic defense of the coach. From the outside looking in he doesn’t appear to be the problem. In fact, I believe he has been one of our best this year.

All of the problems over the last two weeks have unquestionably come from young Jakob Arthur. With this post being written with the benefit of hindsight (though my foresight saw a belting), it was always coming after the Manly game as the Rabbitohs have the best left side attack in the competition. Bennett would have been licking his lips on playback from the week before.

What’s the fix?

Play Opacic on the right? Nope.
Drop Fergo? Nope.

It’s bring back Dylan Brown, timely. I don’t know why the wheel needs to be reinvented when we are replacing a 70kg, 18 year old half with one of the best defensive halves in the game this week.

BA harped on Fergo and Blake simply not clicking in his presser, referring back to 2020? We are much stronger this year on that edge with Brown. We are a much better side in general. Despite the small sample size, the pair looked good round one together.

Blake did himself no favours coming back drastically overweight. It would be hard having a lower limb injury to maintain fitness though if he was honest with himself, I’m sure he could have come back better. I desperately want to see him succeed. It’s make or break now.

If you’re not sold on him, run Niukore there. I’ll give BA that one, I didn’t expect it to go so well. No doubt he would get found out occasionally in the position marking up against fleet footed opposition but you know what? Like Olam, he makes opposition think twice before digging so far into the line or even probing along that edge.

Long story short, if Fergo doesn’t show in Cup, disregard this post and crisis near averted. If he is, I have my concerns.

A fair, balanced, and well written post. Kudos to you, E E.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Having RCG and Brown would help. Dropping Fergo shows Arthur is not afraid to weild the axe. Not sure if it'll completely help the defensive issues.

Its unfortunate for Mahoney having been named in the 13 for QLD, then dropped, but hey Id be happy to have him play for us.

 

[lingard]

I am inclined to believe that Fergo is being rested physically, mentally or a combination of both against a depleted Newcastle.

If I stand to be corrected, I will be somewhat concerned over two decisions that have been made, IMO, hastily.

Firstly, Opacic should without question remain on the left. Moving him from our fortified left edge only weakens both sides defensively. He looks a natural left and I believe he has been good for Sivo.

Relegating Fergo would make me question my usual stoic defense of the coach. From the outside looking in he doesn’t appear to be the problem. In fact, I believe he has been one of our best this year.

All of the problems over the last two weeks have unquestionably come from young Jakob Arthur. With this post being written with the benefit of hindsight (though my foresight saw a belting), it was always coming after the Manly game as the Rabbitohs have the best left side attack in the competition. Bennett would have been licking his lips on playback from the week before.

What’s the fix?

Play Opacic on the right? Nope.
Drop Fergo? Nope.

It’s bring back Dylan Brown, timely. I don’t know why the wheel needs to be reinvented when we are replacing a 70kg, 18 year old half with one of the best defensive halves in the game this week.

BA harped on Fergo and Blake simply not clicking in his presser, referring back to 2020? We are much stronger this year on that edge with Brown. We are a much better side in general. Despite the small sample size, the pair looked good round one together.

Blake did himself no favours coming back drastically overweight. It would be hard having a lower limb injury to maintain fitness though if he was honest with himself, I’m sure he could have come back better. I desperately want to see him succeed. It’s make or break now.

If you’re not sold on him, run Niukore there. I’ll give BA that one, I didn’t expect it to go so well. No doubt he would get found out occasionally in the position marking up against fleet footed opposition but you know what? Like Olam, he makes opposition think twice before digging so far into the line or even probing along that edge.

Long story short, if Fergo doesn’t show in Cup, disregard this post and crisis near averted. If he is, I have my concerns.

I agree with most of this - but I still don't understand the reluctance in most people's minds to slot Marata back in as right centre. With Dylan Brown back, we could have an extremely strong right-side defence again. What is wrong with that?

 

[chiefy1]

Where is my money? How can I collect it?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Will Waqa go back to the other side this week? Was last week BA telling fans that it wasn’t Waqa’s fault? What the f**k is happening with Rheed? Will Krakatoa be 18th man?

I reckon last week was about getting our best defensive centre alongside Jake Arthur (and probably Ferguson too). When Blake arrived at the club Mennings (our best defender) was on the left helping rookies Sivo and Drown. Now that Drown is our best defensive half he moved over to the right to help that side, but with Drown replaced by Arthur we suddenly had our best defenders all on the left. Of course teams were going to attack our right side. So we moved Opacic. I wonder if Opacic will move back to the left now that Drown is back, or if he will stay on the right to help Dunster.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Interesting to see who replaces Fergo's go forward from our own try line. I'd be surprised if Dunster solves the issue defensively. In reality he's not half the player Fergo is at the stage of both players careers are at.

I reckon Dunster is safer, at least defending kicks. Maybe he is a better decision maker too? Agreed he'll offer f**k all go forward. Sivo needs to step up.

 

[Enamoured Eel]

I agree with most of this - but I still don't understand the reluctance in most people's minds to slot Marata back in as right centre. With Dylan Brown back, we could have an extremely strong right-side defence again. What is wrong with that?

1. It weakens our middle rotations.
2. Marata prefers the middle (morale).
3. He also provides outside back cover if on the bench.
4. The psychology of having a player on elite centre money playing reserve grade.
5. The fact that Marata hasn’t been heavily targeted or tested in the position and;
6. The fact that Blake is RIDICULOUSLY talented and has untapped potential, though it hasn’t been seen to that level or close to consistently.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I agree with most of this - but I still don't understand the reluctance in most people's minds to slot Marata back in as right centre. With Dylan Brown back, we could have an extremely strong right-side defence again. What is wrong with that?

The thinking is that Niukore is a front rower, and therefore our worst defensive centre of the three. If he looked better it's because he was never tested. He certainly never defended outside Jake Arthur. How could you know he was any good if he never faced any overlaps?