I really hope those of you going over the top about this team watch NSW Cup closely, because I really don't understand the issue. Better judges than me who do watch reserves don't think that Aku or Sau or whoever it is you're all screaming about not being selected look terribly more likely than Lulia or Vuna. All these guys are young and promising and some inconsistency shouldn't surprise. Vuna has had some outstanding games and some poor ones, Lulia has been very up and down, but a couple of weeks ago everyone was raving about how he handled Hodges and then Folau. If Aku and Sau still get shown up defensively on occasions in reserves do you really think they're certainies to come in and play like seasoned campaigners in week-to-week NRL? I wouldn't have a clue who are going to be the best of the bunch in the long-run. Maybe it will indeed be Aku and Sau, but I just don't see it as a big selection issue all of a sudden. In fact for the expediency of getting a badly needed win on the board, I think chopping and changing when we're dealing with inexperienced players is the worst possible approach. I'd much prefer to see Aku given his first shot in a more stable week, when the team's hopefully got some confidence back, Gids is at fullback, and our leaders are back in the forwards.
As far as the pack goes, who are the truly incredible options being overlooked? I like the little I saw of Taufua last year and White goes OK. Sarge is leaving anyway. Sure Ciraldo hasn't been a standout, Houston's been inconsistent. Wicks has been disappointing but might yet turn his form around. Basically the team looks weak because the players who would really make a difference: Bedsy, Gids, Cross, Simmo aren't available. Shuffling around the up-and-comers and the space-fillers is hardly a big deal. If anything it could further disrupt an already disrupted side.
Imho the hysteria in this thread is based on frustration over the last two weeks performances, and has little logic behind it. Looked at objectively, the whole team lacked focus in defence against the Tiges. This happens to all teams from time to time in a tough NRL season and it's no surprise it happened to a young team backing up from that intense game against the Storm. As for the Warriors game, one of the main reason we lost is that a couple of our usually reliable and very good young players--Dureau especially and to a lesser degree Patto had off days; and a couple of our inconsistent young guys (Vuna, Lulia) weren't at their best either. To be a truly competitive team this year we need our stars to come through Origin healthy, and the younger guys to gradually improve their consistency. If this happens I've no doubt we'll really kick on in the latter part of the season. And issues like whether Ciraldo or Lulia get picked over another rookie or fringe first-grader this particular week, or whether Wicks starts or comes off the bench, is imho a whole lot of fluster over nothing.
