Around the Grounds

[Woody90]

How involved is Joey with our coaching staff? I know he works with the halves.

Don’t get me wrong, the team deserved a massive spray after last game, and definitely not implying he’s at all responsible for how the team plays, but he has a habit of distancing himself from the team (“them” rather than “us”) when we’re not performing. I guess having a role with Nine though he needs to be somewhat impartial.

 

[Woody90]

Millie Boyle was the best captain we've had at the club since Bedsy or Gidley I reckon.

I don't know what happened to Dan Saifiti but I swear his Origin call up coincided with the season he was made captain and he was loving it. Then it was taken off him and given to Ponga and that seems to be the turning point.

I’ve found Dan lazy and a bit soft for 95% of his career tbh. This isn’t a new thing for him sadly.

 

[Jono078]

I’ve found Dan lazy and a bit soft for 95% of his career tbh. This isn’t a new thing for him sadly.

It's not, but he was in a real rare patch when he first got captaincy and then made the NSW team. Some would argue he was the best prop during that period.

As things currently stand, we're not getting the best out of them at all, let alone on a weekly basis.

I wonder how many of our blokes were thinking about their holidays during the Eels game...

 

[Apey]

How involved is Joey with our coaching staff? I know he works with the halves.

Don’t get me wrong, the team deserved a massive spray after last game, and definitely not implying he’s at all responsible for how the team plays, but he has a habit of distancing himself from the team (“them” rather than “us”) when we’re not performing. I guess having a role with Nine though he needs to be somewhat impartial.

Never really understood this point of view. To me its obvious he still bleeds red and blue. You see it in these more laid back shows. There is meant to be a degree of professionalism and impartiality when commentating. Not that that is often case.

Said he's been doing some work with Jesse Southwell in their off-season which is cool. We have no real idea about his coaching ability but the idea of one legendary Newcastle halfback helping another potential one is heart-warming.

 

[Yosh]

I think Joey doesn't want to associate with this bunch of losers. Once we get our identity back I'm sure he will subconsciously start referring it 'us' again.

 

[Woody90]

Never really understood this point of view. To me its obvious he still bleeds red and blue. You see it in these more laid back shows. There is meant to be a degree of professionalism and impartiality when commentating. Not that that is often case.

Said he's been doing some work with Jesse Southwell in their off-season which is cool. We have no real idea about his coaching ability but the idea of one legendary Newcastle halfback helping another potential one is heart-warming.

Sorry I probably worded my question wrong - I was just wondering if how involved he is in our coaching staff. Just reading some articles it seems he’s employed by the club at the very least. There were articles in the off season where he said that he was involved in the decision to move Ponga to the halves and had been working with him a lot on it. I’m also pretty sure I read another one where he said he had been working with our other assistants, mentioned Blake Green specifically, on our overall attack, so he is involved at least to a degree.

That’s the only reason why I was questioning the (“them” rather than “us”) fluctuations when he’s an employee of the club by all accounts. He obviously needs to keep impartial due to his Channel Nine commitments, but I couldn’t see Gus referring to the Dogs in the same way Joey does us. He has a way of coming out and saying where the issues are and what needs to be worked on without distancing himself.

I don’t even think it’s an intentional thing, might even be subconscious like Yosh said.

 

[Woosh]

Player Stats Top 5 (Bye Week)

Tries
C Graham - 11
M Sivo - 9
W Kennedy - 9
H Tabuai-Fidow - 9
D Young - 9

Linebreaks
R Mulitalio - 14
D Young - 11
C Graham - 11
A Johnston - 11
M Sivo - 10

Line Engaged
N Cleary - 85
B Hunt - 71
J Hastings - 70
C Murray - 67
I Yeo - 65

Tackle Breaks
L Miller - 68
D Edwards - 56
D Gagai - 52
L Mitchell - 52
G Marzhew - 46

Half Breaks
D Gagai - 6
A Johnston - 5
R Walsh - 5
H Tabuai-Fidow - 5
T Trbojevic - 4

Offloads
J Hopgood - 23
P Haas - 21
J Kiraz - 19
B Cartwright - 17
D Gagai - 14

Linebreak Assists
R Walsh - 12
S Talakai - 12
C Walker - 11
N Hynes - 11
D Gagai - 10

Linebreak Involvement
J Hastings - 8
L Ilias - 7
S Johnson - 6
M Moylan - 6
N Cleary - 5

Kick Meters
S Johnson - 4894
M Moses - 4289
C Townsend - 4009
A Reynolds - 3812
J Hastings - 3727

All Runs
L Miller - 191
D Edwards - 168
H Perham - 161
C Gutherson - 158
C Murray - 156

Run Meters
L Miller - 1715
D Edwards - 1695
H Farnworth - 1652
B To’o - 1560
P Haas - 1534

Kick Return Meters
H Perham - 679
S Kris - 659
W Kennedy - 562
H Tabuai-Fidow - 561
L Miller - 501

Errors
S Cobbo - 17
A Khan-Pereira - 17
D Young - 16
R Walsh - 14
J Wighton - 14

Handling Errors
L Miller - 14
M Suili - 13
D Young - 12
T Trbojevic - 12
R Walsh - 12

Penalties
R Mahoney - 11
L Fitzgibbon - 10
J Preston - 9
C Murray - 9
T Fa'asuamaleaui - 9

Set Restarts
J Hastings - 4
T Trbojevic - 3
S Walker - 3
C Walker - 3
W Blake - 2

 

[The Axe of Druss]

"Half Breaks" lol. what an absolute Claytons stat that is

 

[Knight Tales]

A fullback leading handling errors is not what you want to read. Especially how many of those are from kicks or kick returns.
He is in good company there though. His effort, work rate and evolving experience play big parts in that I suppose.

 

[Supercat 2023]

The mere fact Miller features on the stats be it good, bad, indifferent is an upward shift to the days of Ponga at Fullback and his impact. Eliminate his errors and learn when to play his hand Miller can get much better.

 

[Yosh]

Apparently Gus ripped into our lads for going holiday in Bali for the Bye. What's the consensus around here?

 

[slotmachine]

Proof will be in the pudding.
If they have a go against the Titans it's a masterstroke, another sleepwalking effort and it was the worst idea ever.

 

[Yosh]

If RCG and Jake Trbojevic both out, a chance for both Saitifis to play together at Origin 1, surely they play like their lives depend on it for the next 2 weeks.

 

[Woody90]

Apparently Gus ripped into our lads for going holiday in Bali for the Bye. What's the consensus around here?

Do we know how many of them actually went? I know Best did. I know Frizell and Gagai also went away with their families. Young looks to be on the Gold Coast. Ponga, Hastings and Croker still in Newcastle.

I’ve not read the article but I actually agree with Gus. It’s not a good look. The last result just exacerbates it for me. I know they’re entitled to do whatever they want during their time off but to me I think it highlights their priorities. What if one of them got sick or picked up an injury or missed their flight back and then missed training? To me they get 8 weeks off every year now which is double what the standard worker gets…surely you can hold off on a boys trip until the end of season?

Also I’m sorry but they don’t need to go to Bali to “rest”. They’re more likely to spend the week getting f**ked up. I don’t think this sort of thing happens regularly at other clubs (not the good ones anyway…)

 

[Spot On]

A fullback leading handling errors is not what you want to read. Especially how many of those are from kicks or kick returns.
He is in good company there though. His effort, work rate and evolving experience play big parts in that I suppose.

3 fullbacks in the top 5.

Not sure what else you’d expect.

Miller’s stats are impressive, there’s no doubt.

His Dally M points count is impressive as well.

Not bad for a rookie giving it a go in the top grade.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

If RCG and Jake Trbojevic both out, a chance for both Saitifis to play together at Origin 1, surely they play like their lives depend on it for the next 2 weeks.

With the money they're on, they should be doing that already.

 

[Rod]

I doubt any club will make their players train through all 3 byes this year. In fact they would be silly to.

Bali makes a nice headline but it doesn't look like many of them are there, and TBH it doesn't really matter if they're in Bali or Newcastle. Time off is time off.

 

[Frederick]

"Half Breaks" lol. what an absolute Claytons stat that is

It's up there with the AFL awarding a point for missing the goals

 

[Yosh]

Maybe the were looking forward to the bye and didn't prepare properly for the Eels game???

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Do we know how many of them actually went? I know Best did. I know Frizell and Gagai also went away with their families. Young looks to be on the Gold Coast. Ponga, Hastings and Croker still in Newcastle.

I’ve not read the article but I actually agree with Gus. It’s not a good look. The last result just exacerbates it for me. I know they’re entitled to do whatever they want during their time off but to me I think it highlights their priorities. What if one of them got sick or picked up an injury or missed their flight back and then missed training? To me they get 8 weeks off every year now which is double what the standard worker gets…surely you can hold off on a boys trip until the end of season?

Also I’m sorry but they don’t need to go to Bali to “rest”. They’re more likely to spend the week getting f**ked up. I don’t think this sort of thing happens regularly at other clubs (not the good ones anyway…)

Nathan Cleary went to Bali last year during bye round

It happens all the time at every club and is not a big deal at all. Players train and play in the toughest comp on the planet and deserve to take time away when they can. They aren't comparable to "standard workers" at all given what they put their bodies and also minds through for our entertainment

Gould is making something out of nothing to stay relevant. The guys is becoming a meme lately