Peni doesn't bend the line enough even though he runs it up at pace. I actually thinks he lacks power, runs too upright and gets smashed like Martin Lang used to.
I don't think it's Peni's job to bend the line. You only need one bloke on the field at a time with that role, and we have Mannah and Junior Paulo.
Terepo only carried the ball three times yesterday but he averaged almost eleven metres per carry. He also made plenty of support runs. That's his job more so than providing genuine go-forward.
Eels Tight forwards vs Sharks
Runs/minute
0.38 Junior Paulo
0.30 Mannah
0.26 Lussick
0.22 Allgood
0.12 Terepo
0.06 Joe Paulo
Tackles/minute
0.54 Lussick
0.50 Allgood
0.44 Joe Paulo
0.41 Mannah
0.41 Junior Paulo
0.31 Terepo
Metres/carry
10.7 Terepo
9.6 Mannah
9.3 Joe Paulo
9.3 Junior Paulo
9.2 Lussick
6.7 Allgood
There are no stats available for quick play-the-balls but I'm sure they would show Junior Paulo and Tim Mannah comfortably at the top.
I know it's a small sample but it at least reflects the role of each player yesterday. These particular stats (minutes, carries, tackles) are always interesting, at least for a nerd merkin like myself. They give plenty of insight into the game plan.
Overall these stats show why Mannah/Lussick and Paulo/Allgood are partnered the way they are, and why Terepo shouldn't be in the prop rotation, assuming we are going with two props on the field for the whole 80 minutes. But Peni Terepo does add something in attack beyond the grindy stuff. He also has a bit of power in defence, which is nice at stages of a match.
