That’s the biggest thing about this year is the team is winning ugly which is what they lacked last year, much rather be winning ugly than loosing pretty.
Most positive thing is they’ve been doing it for the most part with plenty of frontline troops missing and not putting in complete 80minute performances- if they can get it to click for the full 80 there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Great to see Metcalf growing into the role- he still has a ways to go to be the finished product yet. He has shown to be a solid 6 but there were questions about how he’d go at 7- being on the older side at 26 to be learning still was a bit of a concern too but he’s made solid progress. His halves partner is still up for grabs for mine, CHT has been pretty good foil for him but there’s still a question over his ability to do so consistently. TMM has been showing form too strong to be in NSW cup but he tends not to gel as well with our other halves which throws up a few more selection headaches.
I'm a massive fan of TMM and I'm not alone because he's keeps getting named to come off the bench, which is a big compliment when you're a half !
This team has incredible depth and shows really good coaching when you have to change centre pairing most weeks and the defensive structure holds up.
Best case scenario imo:
TMM evolves into a player who doesn't go into his shell in the presence of another dominant half, tightens his defence and partners Metcalf.
Roger learns wing well ( as in keeps his line and doesn't over complicate his role in attack) and we get those great carrys coming out of trouble.
DWZ returns to his fearless best on the other wing and Tuapiki becomes the 14 - devastating roving role at the back end of games but covers wing fullback and halves.
Everyone else stays fit.
That's an ideal world but the constant injuries that keeps their side being chopped at changed will come off the tracks completely is the bad case.
Where they are is great but they need to build into more, they need to keep this consistency while slowly introducing some X factor if they want to win the whole thing!