Huge wrap on Parramatta Eels' 17-year-old Bevan French

[Chipmunk]

I wonder if he had the shits cos Gutho came straight back in to fullback.

Given the performance of Gutho last night and the fact that French key stats are tries = zero and rag dolled into touch = three, then I doubt he has any reason to believe he should be playing fullback.

I doubt that was the reason for his poor performance in any case. His inability to provide what most wingers provide was hidden in previous seasons by Semi's efforts...

In my opinion, Semi's performances disguised plenty of weaknesses in this team, including our middle forwards inability to have any impact.

 

[Bazal]

Given the performance of Gutho last night and the fact that French key stats are tries = zero and rag dolled into touch = three, then I doubt he has any reason to believe he should be playing fullback.

I doubt that was the reason for his poor performance in any case. His inability to provide what most wingers provide was hidden in previous seasons by Semi's efforts...

In my opinion, Semi's performances disguised plenty of weaknesses in this team, including our middle forwards inability to have any impact.

Lol.

Semi was great, but he wasn't THAT great.

The biggest thing we're missing from him now is his runs from acting half, honestly. Although his kick returns would also be very handy. He and Gutho were demons for getting into acting half at just the right moment last season and going for a dangerous little 10m plus scoot, which set up a bit of a roll. French, too, was quite good at it in the middle of the field at times. It was good because our hookers don't do it at all....now, with French and Gutho sidelined for much or all of the year, and Semi gone, no one is really doing that, so we've lost a key part of what we were doing to change up the attack a bit.

 

[Chipmunk]

Lol.

Semi was great, but he wasn't THAT great.

The biggest thing we're missing from him now is his runs from acting half, honestly. Although his kick returns would also be very handy. He and Gutho were demons for getting into acting half at just the right moment last season and going for a dangerous little 10m plus scoot, which set up a bit of a roll. French, too, was quite good at it in the middle of the field at times. It was good because our hookers don't do it at all....now, with French and Gutho sidelined for much or all of the year, and Semi gone, no one is really doing that, so we've lost a key part of what we were doing to change up the attack a bit.

He also received plenty of penalties when bringing the ball back. He was hard to tackle and a relieving penalty gave us a way to get up field. We no longer have that.

His ability to make a long run or score a try from our own half took pressure of our play makers from having to create tries, particularly early in the match. We no longer have that and our play makers are struggling to create tries.

His actions disguised plenty of weaknesses, as did Guthersons efforts

I'd go as far to say that 80 minutes of Brown, the actions of Semi and the overall effort and enthusiasm of Gutherson disguised just how ordinary most of our blokes in reality are.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Given the performance of Gutho last night and the fact that French key stats are tries = zero and rag dolled into touch = three, then I doubt he has any reason to believe he should be playing fullback.

I doubt that was the reason for his poor performance in any case. His inability to provide what most wingers provide was hidden in previous seasons by Semi's efforts...

In my opinion, Semi's performances disguised plenty of weaknesses in this team, including our middle forwards inability to have any impact.

He might not have a good reason for thinking he should be fullback but it doesn't mean he's not down about it. Previous games on the wing have seen him be much more involved. He didn't look interested last night.

 

[Gronk]

I wonder if he had the shits cos Gutho came straight back in to fullback.

Well if he went full princess on BA then punt him to wenty now.

 

[Bazal]

He might not have a good reason for thinking he should be fullback but it doesn't mean he's not down about it. Previous games on the wing have seen him be much more involved. He didn't look interested last night.

He has had plenty of games on the wing and not sulked.

I thought it was a stupid suggestion last night when someone else made it and I think it's a stupid one now.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

He has had plenty of games on the wing and not sulked.

I thought it was a stupid suggestion last night when someone else made it and I think it's a stupid one now.

Right, cos the circumstances are exactly the same as before and players' feelings never change? You can't fathom how the first time or two you get overlooked for the position you want that you might be determined to fight back, still optimistic? But further down the track it happens again, for a player making his return from a long layoff, and maybe you realise you're never going to get it back? Sounds completely implausible, does it?

 

[Bazal]

Right, cos the circumstances are exactly the same as before and players' feelings never change? You can't fathom how the first time or two you get overlooked for the position you want that you might be determined to fight back, still optimistic? But further down the track it happens again, for a player making his return from a long layoff, and maybe you realise you're never going to get it back? Sounds completely implausible, does it?

Whiney has hacked you bro...seriously, French is not the type to sulk. He's never demonstrated that yet in his career, why would he suddenly start?

 

[Happy MEel]

I wonder if he had the shits cos Gutho came straight back in to fullback.

I don’t get the sense that French is a spiteful kind of bloke.

 

[Noise]

I don’t get the sense that French is a spiteful kind of bloke.

Me neither but if what MJC says is correct that Jennings was doing the kick returns instead of French then I'm sure French would have been thinking what the f**k his role in the team was last night. He may have been a bit 'lost' rather than 'pissed off'

 

[hineyrulz]

Whiney has hacked you bro...seriously, French is not the type to sulk. He's never demonstrated that yet in his career, why would he suddenly start?

Oi!! Last night was not a nightt for a player like French on the wing. I just thing that was the gameplan for him to do as little as rucking it out as possible. I agree French is not the type to sulk and kick Stones.

 

[Chipmunk]

Me neither but if what MJC says is correct that Jennings was doing the kick returns instead of French then I'm sure French would have been thinking what the f**k his role in the team was last night. He may have been a bit 'lost' rather than 'pissed off'

It sounds like something you do with a winger in kids local football, not the NRL.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Whiney has hacked you bro...seriously, French is not the type to sulk. He's never demonstrated that yet in his career, why would he suddenly start?

Like I just explained, maybe it's clear to him now that he'll never be first choice number one? No one here is saying that it's definitely the case, just wondering if it might be. And calling it a stupid suggestion is over the top.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I don’t get the sense that French is a spiteful kind of bloke.

Well I don't either.

 

[Happy MEel]

Me neither but if what MJC says is correct that Jennings was doing the kick returns instead of French then I'm sure French would have been thinking what the f**k his role in the team was last night. He may have been a bit 'lost' rather than 'pissed off'

Yep that’s certainly plausible.

 

[Bazal]

Oi!! Last night was not a nightt for a player like French on the wing. I just thing that was the gameplan for him to do as little as rucking it out as possible. I agree French is not the type to sulk and kick Stones.

Sorry, I didn't mean in terms of French criticising...just the sooking

 

[hineyrulz]

Sorry, I didn't mean in terms of French criticising...just the sooking

Fair call on the sooking Baz.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Sorry, I didn't mean in terms of French criticising...just the sooking

Would you tell me how giving an explanation for why Bevan might have been sulking is itself sooking?

 

[Bazal]

Would you tell me how giving an explanation for why Bevan might have been sulking is itself sooking?

Mate, you read the post...and then maybe have a lie down, watch some Lynnsanity.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Mate, you read the post...and then maybe have a lie down, watch some Lynnsanity.

That's not an answer. Probably a good reason for that.