Paulo - 1 well targeted try, 12 runs, 91m, 2ish decoy runs, 4TBs, 32 tackles, 2 shit ones
Not a dominant display but there were times you could really see him working to get into a position especially in defence to take on their big men. And then of course got into position to run at their small men. I want to rewatch it because I think that try was actually signalled 2-3 tackles before.
Rheed - 6 runs, 42m, 1 TB, 1 LBA/TA, 2 kicks for 91m, 59 tackles, 10 shit ones
Stats say he had a shit game... 6 runs merkin!?!? Stats clearly don’t show the amount of times he got clear of the ruck. Joey warned everyone of Bmith going one way then turning it back to Papjdnrzen. Oh well fire with fire merkins. That period in first half where Rheed had us cranking them back up middle was sexy as f**k. And those kicks were superbly timed. Missed tackles came about because he was trying to tackle every Scummer.
RCG - 17 runs, 154m, 60PCM, 3 TBs, 39 tackles, 6 shit ones
I’m with hindy on this. Not enough praise for RCG in the votes. He struggled for traction in first half but I reckon all his post contact metres came in 2nd half. He coming back on was a f**ken ambush. Absolutely ripped them apart.
Lane - 12 runs, 104m, 50 PCM, 10ish support runs, 41 tackles, 7 shit ones
Much improved! Plays so much better when he doesn’t drop ball
Matto - won’t give his stats. They probably would’ve ended similar to Lane. It wasn’t an edge runners game
Nrown - 16 runs, 135m, 1 TB, 40 tackles, 10 shit ones, a six again conceded for abusing Katfusi
I thought we were living on edge with him steaming onto passes and then popping passes at the line, but can’t blame him for being risky if he doesn’t make a mistake. I mitigate his missed tackles because he was the only one to abuse Katfusi
The Non-Merkin Kaufusi - 7 runs, 58m, 4ish decoy runs, 26 tackles, 5 shit ones, 1 error
Thought he was called on against their starters more this week. We didn’t get horrendously worse with him on but I still feel he needs to go to another level.
Papali’i - 9 runs, 72 tackles, 2 TBs, 43 tackles, 2 shit ones
Merkin not putting in!! But seriously he didn’t need to do much. Reckon Matto will be out next week. Have zero qualms if Papali’i moves into start.
Hipgrave - brought energy but not stats. Did one cracking tackle on Bmith I think it was.
Billy Smith - condensing 80 mins of just running around terrorising tired forward into 10 mins is perfect for Smith. Nothing onerous, just run and dance through gaps. I think that in dry conditions with some heads up support runners will create heaps of opportunities
