Eels Holden Cup Team and junior reps thread, Part II

[Forty20]

Hey Forty20 who were our best? Sounds like Davis was good. Moeroa scored 2, our halves directed well, Goodall was strong. But who were our best and any run down would be great. Cheers

I thought Tepu-Smith and Mauala were excellent early in the game and really laid the foundation for the domination of NZ across the park.

Clay and Lussick fed off that offensive pressure and looked assured and in control throughout the game. As I said earlier, although Clay was in the #7 and Lussick in the #9 they played the opposite roles. It worked out quite well as Clay is a constant threat around the ruck if his forwards can free their arms (which happened today) and Lussick looks to be the more level headed, taking the right option at first receiver most of the time. Matterson had some quality touches and was well involved in the game despite coming off briefly for an injury.

Our outside backs got through plenty of work, Lavaka and Goodall both made strong contributions via their runs early on in plenty of sets but on the whole the backline was solid without lighting the field up. Eric Auckafolau made some excellent tackles though.

Aloiai and Moeroa were our best in the backrow. From various accounts it seems that our backrow all played big minutes (if not the full 80min), which makes their efforts all the more impressive. Pauli did some good things with limited ball but he was well marked by the right edge defenders for NZ.

Davis was excellent at the back and is a handy goal kicker. He was well positioned in attack to back up attacking raids and was solid in defence. Fed some nice balls to his outside men throughout the game and when he backed himself to run he went hard. I'm not sure if Holbrook views the move to fullback as a long term one but the kid oozes class and will likely star where ever he plays in the backline.

The only interchange player that I honestly noticed was Raeli who was busy in attack and defence. Captain BF has covered why I missed Pritchard's brief stint but I failed to notice any of the other bench players.

For the majority of the game the team looked well drilled. Strong defence, at least for the NYC, was the highlight for myself.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

From one game if I had to pick future first graders?
Tepai Moeroa and Nathan Davis would be the ones id get excited about. Something about the two of them that I liked.

I reckon that's the two everyone's tipping. Dockar-Clay is a talent but unless he develops a kicking game (or grows another three or four inches) he won't be a first grader.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I reckon that's the two everyone's tipping. Dockar-Clay is a talent but unless he develops a kicking game (or grows another three or four inches) he won't be a first grader.

Does he need a great kicking game for hooker ?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Does he need a great kicking game for hooker ?

He needs to be bigger for hooker (for defence, not attack). He needs the kicking game to play in the halves.

 

[hindy111]

I reckon that's the two everyone's tipping. Dockar-Clay is a talent but unless he develops a kicking game (or grows another three or four inches) he won't be a first grader.

I thought Falou-Goodal Pauli Pauli and ZDC where everyones picks to someday make it??

Davis is a real player-
Falou and Goodal are athletes which seem to be a dime a dozen these days.

ZDC looks too small.Its not like he was pushed around out there thou, he is very tenacious.

Doubt anyone from under 20's makes first grade this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I thought Falou-Goodal Pauli Pauli and ZDC where everyones picks to someday make it??

Davis is a real player-
Falou and Goodal are athletes which seem to be a dime a dozen these days.

ZDC looks too small.Its not like he was pushed around out there thou, he is very tenacious.

Doubt anyone from under 20's makes first grade this year.

Sorry, forgot Pauli. He'll play plenty of first grade, just not this year.

Agreed Goodall and Folau are typical big, sluggish outside backs. They'll both play at least a couple of NRL games in their careers, but I wouldn't be surprised if neither of them ever reaches 50 games.

 

[Jake the snake]

Was very impressed with Davis. He is class. Tepai M had a good game. His defence is amazing. Chopped a guy in half I reckon. Very impressed with this years NYC team. Very impressed!!

 

[half_back]

Doubt anyone from under 20's makes first grade this year.

Hope no one debuts as that is a good sign about the strength and success of first grade. I could see Davis replace Toutai and Moeroa claim Smith's spot though. Hope that happens next year as both are still 18.

 

[The Engineers Room]

I was impressed with the halves and hooker. Ryan Matterson really controlled that game well and ZDC seems to have a great passing game. I also agree of Moeroa and the run on forwards were all impressive.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Hope no one debuts as that is a good sign about the strength and success of first grade. I could see Davis replace Toutai and Moeroa claim Smith's spot though. Hope that happens next year as both are still 18.

I think that Davis and Moeroa could use a year in NSW cup if they play well for the rest of the year. Both are outstanding talents and I think both should get used to NRL-experienced players.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think that Davis and Moeroa could use a year in NSW cup if they play well for the rest of the year. Both are outstanding talents and I think both should get used to NRL-experienced players.

As opposed to playing NYC again next year? Or as opposed to playing NRL?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

If they're too good for NYC this year and keep producing quality games then there's no point in playing them there. NSW cup is still a stepping stone we should be using, it lets the players go up against players who might have played some NRL without having the intensity of NRL.

 

[Forty20]

Moeroa could probably make the straight transition to NRL much like Tanginoa did but we are better served with depth and quality in the backrow this year so time at Wenty (either this year or next year) is definitely on the cards. That is unless Moeroa is the rumoured 'young gun' that is throwing down the NRL selection ultimatum mentioned in the Harrison thread, which is a massive hypothetical/speculator on my behalf.

Davis has had a few runs in the Ron Massey Cup for Guildford, including a game against an extremely strong Wenty outfit (for the level of the RM Cup) and did very well on every occasion. However when compared to Moeroa, Davis is not as physically ready for the NRL as the hulking backrower and a year at Wenty would give Davis time to fill out.

Stuart would have likely rushed both into first grade so it will be interesting to see how BA handles their development.

 

[Forty20]

1. Nathan Davis

2. Fabian Goodall

3. John Folau

4. Erick Aukofolau

5. Halauafu Lavaka

6. Ryan Matterson

7. Joey Lussick

8. Tepai Tepu-Smith

9. Zach Dockar-Clay

10. Fred Junior Mauala

11. Tepai Moeroa

12. Pauli Pauli

13. Josh Aloiai

Interchange:

14. Eric Newbigging

15. Brandon Raeli

16. Jordan Muna

17. Jeff Markus

Clicky

 

[Y2Eel]

Good Team, Interesting ZDC is playing....

Is Pritchard injured ;-)

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Unless there's injury in NSW cup I expect this side to run out for most of the year. Folau might move up to NSW cup once Ball is over with Davis taking his centre position and French moving to fullback

 

[half_back]

Unless there's injury in NSW cup I expect this side to run out for most of the year. Folau might move up to NSW cup once Ball is over with Davis taking his centre position and French moving to fullback

I hope they keep the majority of the squad together for the year and give the comp a good shake but at the same time give some of the players a few solid weeks in NSW Cup against open age to prepare them for life after NYC before bringing them back down to ease them into it. I'd give Folau, Pauli, Moeroa, Davis, Goodall, ZDC all a few weeks here and there alternating with each other to keep some strength in NYC.

 

[Footy Mad]

How is Blake Harrison going after his injury ? Poor kid, is he still with Parra ? I heard his brother Daniel has been released immediately.

 

[Footy Mad]

How is Lussick playing ? See he is not playing hooker this week ?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

How is Blake Harrison going after his injury ? Poor kid, is he still with Parra ? I heard his brother Daniel has been released immediately.

Last I heard was he was going in for clean-up surgery and was getting back into walking again. Poor kid, had the world at his feet.