Rd13: Parra v Penrith GAME DAY THREAD @ Commbank 1/6/25

[Avenger]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

Because he can be a momentum killer in attack. Drops the ball at crucial times and did it again yesterday. Maybe because he’s tired due to making too many tackles.

 

[Avenger]

I was thinking about that (and the game day comments wishing he could pack his bags and go). When he came to the club he was a workhorse middle with an offload. These days he is being changed into a ball playing lock and yes there is a bit of a transition, but gee some people are harsh.

He’s not on $650k because of his defence. His attack has been shithouse. I’d argue that Williams is now more important to us than he is.

 

[84 Baby]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood.

Seriously? Have you watched last 3 games? The turnovers he’s doing aren’t from pushing offloads or good defence shutting down him trying to expose an overlap, they’re basic f**ken errors. 2nd tackle yesterday he threw a pass to no one.
I think Ryles is trying to get him into the Walker role but at some point you have to think he’s just not capable of that. Just RUNIT merkin

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe Ryles can remove his passing licence. Because he is absolutely shit at it. Tuck the ball under your arm and focus on going forward and getting a decent play the ball, that's it.

He has a couple of senior players outside him calling the ball. Who knows whether he is allowed to ignore them based on his read.

 

[Timana]

If you break it down, we both had 50% possession, yet Penrith ran 240m more than us. Achieved through their superior centres and forwards.

I was pretty clear that we struggled to get to the red zone in a scoring position. If it wasn’t for Mitch’s kicking game, they would have been camped in our half for the full 40 after oranges.

We have good players, they have great players.

View attachment 102678

Just after half time, we had 58% possession. We lost because we bombed a number of opportunities and didn't ice them. They finished much fitter than we did. Lomax and Moses were knackered towards the end and the youngun also couldn't match the fitness

 

[Timana]

I don’t think Joash will make it. He looked like a garden gnome out there and we have better options in nearly every position he plays.

Penrith won because they were fitter and Cleary is still a better game manager than Moses.

That's how i saw everything too.

Joash has to be fullback or nothing really

Although haven't seen him kick, iongi does move like Kenny. So give him a run at 5.8th

 

[Stevie]

I was thinking about that (and the game day comments wishing he could pack his bags and go). When he came to the club he was a workhorse middle with an offload. These days he is being changed into a ball playing lock and yes there is a bit of a transition, but gee some people are harsh.

You are probably right but you can forgive fans I guess who are going on nearly 4 decades of plop.

 

[JokerEel]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

Hopgood is good for a stupid pass and a knock on at least once a game.

His defense has gotten better this year and he doesn't seem as lazy.

Attack wise they think he is a ball player which he isn't. Walker is the ball playing 13.

 

[JokerEel]

That's how i saw everything too.

Joash has to be fullback or nothing really

Although haven't seen him kick, iongi does move like Kenny. So give him a run at 5.8th

Joash did a decent job on the wing just last weekend.

He isn't tested at 5/8 in the NRL either. Played 15 minutes at hooker when Penrith had most of the ball and had to do mainly defending.

 

[Pazza]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

he kept turning the ball over, no wonder he had so many opportunities to tackle....

 

[Poupou Escobar]

he kept turning the ball over, no wonder he had so many opportunities to tackle....

He made one error. Maybe you're confusing it with last week (2 errors) or the week before (3 errors)? At this rate he will make zero errors against the Dogs and -1 error during the bye.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Joash did a decent job on the wing just last weekend.

It's easy playing wing (and anywhere else) when your team is on top.

He isn't tested at 5/8 in the NRL either. Played 15 minutes at hooker when Penrith had most of the ball and had to do mainly defending.

It's true. He had no good opportunities to run, either from dummy half or in support.

 

[Gary Gutful]

nearly 4 decades of plop.

Should be our tagline.

 

[Pazza]

He made one error. Maybe you're confusing it with last week (2 errors) or the week before (3 errors)? At this rate he will make zero errors against the Dogs and -1 error during the bye.

He threw some shocking passes that lead to turn overs.

Do you even watch the game or just the stat sheet???

 

[Soto]

The final count was 50%-50%, so us having nearly 60% of the ball most of the game would mean Penrith had more than 60% for a significant part of the game at the end. I remember we had over 55% at halftime though.

58% at halftime is what I remember seeing

 

[lucablight]

They are a one team town, which is a massive advantage for player retention. I'd say they are a more attractive destination for most kids from the country as well.

The Raiders are outperforming us for the third straight year, but we outperformed them for the three years prior to that. I'd say the two clubs are about even.

Raiders have a massive disadvantage when it comes to recruitment though because of their geographical isolation.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He threw some shocking passes that lead to turn overs.

Do you even watch the game or just the stat sheet???

That’s the risk of any flat pass. If you want to see an expansive game, that’s the price of it.

 

[Suitman]

Raiders have a massive disadvantage when it comes to recruitment though because of their geographical isolation.

I'm not sure Perth will, and their geographical isolation is far worse.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Raiders have a massive disadvantage when it comes to recruitment though because of their geographical isolation.

I’d suggest the country kids don’t have a problem with it. Not everyone wants to live in Sydney. I prefer Canberra, and the traffic and cost of housing were both factors. Most 20 year old NRL players aren’t buying mansions in the eastern suburbs.

 

[Pazza]

That’s the risk of any flat pass. If you want to see an expansive game, that’s the price of it.

Other players seem to be able to execute.

You don't praise his defensive work rate when his turn overs are the reason why he's making a good amount of tackles in his allocated game time.

Maybe that why he's only player 35mins, he's well out of form.