Ben Matulino

[Manu Vatuvei]

So good. Our #1 prop. When does he ever get outplayed?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

He's only going to get better.

Hopefully Packer gets the treatment he needs over the off season too. Those two have massive potential.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Really, really good.

 

[hineyrulz]

He's an abolsute Beast,Packer goes very good as well. And Johnson ande Locke are outstanding young players. You guys should be a massive threat the next 5 years.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Anyone else noticed that Matulino makes a 12-15 metre hit-up, gets a quick play the ball and is lucky if the commentators mention his name? Goes about his work almost imperceptibly.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Lilyman and Rapira are top notch at hardly getting put on their backs. Always end up on their stomach and get good play of the balls. The improvement from Lilyman this season has be unbelievable.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Anyone else noticed that Matulino makes a 12-15 metre hit-up, gets a quick play the ball and is lucky if the commentators mention his name? Goes about his work almost imperceptibly.

To be fair he often gets a mention - when Mateo is the one taking the ball up. The amount of times they get those two confused is ridiculous.

Although channel 9 news isn't any better here in QLD. Apparently Mateo scored our second try of the night. :lol:

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Superstar. Thought he was going to be a superlative second-rower when he first came into the NRL but has made the switch seamlessly.

I think Packer will learn a lot from this week, in terms of how to go about your work in big games. I didn't think he had a bad game, but he carried on like an Asian tourist - taking photos, pulling peace signs etc.

 

[Warmess]

If he was an Aussie he'd be playing Origin, etc, etc.

He doesn't charge into the line, so commentators have nothing to get excited about, but he just keeps rolling forwards no matter how fast he hits t he line. Wouldn't trade him for any prop.

 

[Rich102]

The guy is all class. Glad he didn't give the game away.

 

[Iafeta]

Matulino was terrific off the bench. Really bent their line back and bumped a few off in the middle of the ruck. There was one point there where Manly absolutely refused at all costs to clear the ruck, Ben shoves them off, and they still try and hang on, and somehow it wasn't a penalty... lol worthy refereeing performance right there. But yes, he played exceptionally well. I thought him and Lillyman were our best in the middle third.

Ben even gave a couple of offloads last night. He's put them away for a while but he certainly has the class to create good second phase. I'd like to see Sam Rapira get back to offering some second phase as he used to have one of the most lethal late offloads going around.

 

[Meth]

Matulino was terrific off the bench. Really bent their line back and bumped a few off in the middle of the ruck. There was one point there where Manly absolutely refused at all costs to clear the ruck, Ben shoves them off, and they still try and hang on, and somehow it wasn't a penalty... lol worthy refereeing performance right there. But yes, he played exceptionally well. I thought him and Lillyman were our best in the middle third.

Ben even gave a couple of offloads last night. He's put them away for a while but he certainly has the class to create good second phase. I'd like to see Sam Rapira get back to offering some second phase as he used to have one of the most lethal late offloads going around.

Have been our best for some time.

I'm a little bit miffed at Packer's performances of late

 

[Iafeta]

I was reading that Matulino went to Dean Bell in '09 and asked to leave the club as he didn't want to play league anymore. I don't know if it was all Sonny Fai related but it gives some insight into what was going on emotionally for these lads in 2009. Bell apparently asked him to see the end of his contract out and then reconsider. Glad he got that advice.

Packer has a fairly dicky injury with his feet I believe. That's why sometimes when he comes off he literally takes his boots off and walks to the bench in barefeet. Its such a shame, in my estimation Packer was the best prop in the 20s. He had a big engine running under him, a lot of yards made. Sometimes he comes up with a cover defence play that beggars belief, he certainly has the hunger, hopefully the issue with the feet can be managed.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Matulino's a beast.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Packer has a fairly dicky injury with his feet I believe. That's why sometimes when he comes off he literally takes his boots off and walks to the bench in barefeet. Its such a shame, in my estimation Packer was the best prop in the 20s. He had a big engine running under him, a lot of yards made. Sometimes he comes up with a cover defence play that beggars belief, he certainly has the hunger, hopefully the issue with the feet can be managed.

I heard about this on the radio, it's plantar fasciitis/compartment syndrome - means he has sore heels and tight calves all the time. He's having off-season surgery on it but I don't know if it ever fully recovers. He wears orthodics etc, and is not ever allowed to wear jandals. Rough for a guy from Foxton.

Speaking of cover defence, Rapira getting back not only once - in a huge play in the wake of that obstruction on Heremaia before halftime (which ironically probably cost us a try) - and twice in the corner on another occasion was unbelievable.

 

[ozbash]

Will be best prop in the game in a year or 2.

 

[_addict]

I thought our guys were up for it yesterday, the heart was there.

Just on Packer, he was starting to show some nice ball handling skills at about the mid-3/4way through the season. That aspect of his game seemed to have gone off the boil since. I really hope we can get that short passing interplay going among the forwards next year. IMO the best the forwards have been in our history was when this was occurring with Seu-Seu and the boys. I still rate him as the best prop we've ever had, but see in our current crop some huge potential.

 

[typicalfan]

This guy was the Warriors best in the Grand Final IMO. On the other end Inu. The old Inu reared his ugly smily head.

 

[Kong]

It amazes me sometimes how Matulino and Mannering can hit the line and keep pushing on taking players with them, as they are not the heaviest, just tall and lean. Steve Price used to be good at making more metres after meeting the defense but Matulino is starting to do it even better, must be great footwork and strength

 

[dpnz]

It amazes me sometimes how Matulino and Mannering can hit the line and keep pushing on taking players with them, as they are not the heaviest, just tall and lean. Steve Price used to be good at making more metres after meeting the defense but Matulino is starting to do it even better, must be great footwork and strength

Ben is my fav player, have always loved this guy.

When he was playing really average he gave Steve Price a ring and he got the harsh but true speech. I'd say Steve has done a bit of work with Ben.

Now look where he is! Still feel like he has so much to give.

Biggest shoulder in the game since Sonny Bill tbh.