There’s a lot of talk about writing off the season already. We only need to win 5 lousy games, I haven’t seen enough to suggest we won’t.
I bloody well have.
In respect to a lot of good posters that post here, Im hearing a lot of soft takes about our performance today. I had hopes of improving as the year goes on (and still hope we do) but those hopes dashed a great deal after that trial against St George. Our players clearly looked like they had no desire and fitness and got steamrolled. Things from that trial certainly seeped into this game.
f**k ME!!!!! I watched our NSW Cup game today. I heard a lot of the under age sides were soundly beaten. When I watched them, I could see why. They looked considerably more out of shape (some of them deadset looked like part timers from local league footy) than their Canberra counterparts. They were absolutely bullied in the game and had very little control of the result. I looked out for certain people on how they would perform and they were all disappointing. I will absolutely understand if Benji does not make many changes in the near future as the cupboard is very f**king bare in a lot of areas. Anyway, lets get onto first grade.
A performance that lacked desire, iq and pure fitness. I understand if a side is down on skill levels but as professional athletes, you need to come into a season f**king fit. When an 18 year old outdoes the whole club with fitness tests, the team will have a long f**king year. That is on Benji.
Bula : I don't think he quite knows how good he is and can be. He needs to be involved more but when we had a pack and halves not gelling today, it is a bit hard for Bula to be as he can be. Im giving him a pass mark today.
Staines : He'd be a reserve grader at any other NRL club. Too small and not good enough in other areas to compensate for the size. Keep him for now and hope that Lobb, Ailomolo develop their games in NSW Cup quickly or put Naden/Toa in when troops come back.
Toa : Toa has been a competent centre for us for three games....the third one being the Cowboys game. Not shown form ever since and was a non-event today. Yet another bloke who is not a first grader.
Faatape : A bloke I had hopes for after looking at his Qld Cup highlights reel. He looked really undersized and ineffective today. Hopefully, he gets a good run in NSW Cup to develop his game.
Tupou : We are not losing much with this guy going to the Dolphins. Keep him in until a Lobb or an Alioami show something in NSW Cup, then pull the trigger on Tupou. We are a developing team, no point keeping him if a player is close to what Tupou is producing....which is nothing extra.
Galvin : I can see the two reasons why the coach picked him and he is correct on both counts. 1) The guy has some bloody talent and is clearly the best playmaking half at the club. 2) No point playing him in a shit side like our NSW Cup side where he'd get zero protection when playing against men there. I doubt his game would develop much in being surrounded in shit with little potential to improve anyway
Sullivan : The first player on this list who should be shaking hands with the NSW Cup Coach on Monday morning. f**king dreadful debut and I hate him already. Non-threatening kicking game, positioned himself incorrectly so many times in attack, slower than I thought running game and a lack of smarts and will in defence. The fact that he wants to be known as "Bud" and has a shit hairstyle for the game does not endear me to him as well. Here is the kicker....he is here for FOUR years. Well played Bud's manager!
Stefano : Some people on here were actually happy with the bloke. The bloke played like a slow powderpuff today. He is certainly capable of being a very good front rower but my f**k, it is time that he puts in some consistency in his game. His performance today will win us jack shit. VERY disappointed in him today....he simply has to be better for us to get anywhere this year......or he can take the exit clause he has and f**k off.
Api : He had a dig today but only so much he can do with a pack that rarely had momentum.
Klemmer : Klemmer is one guy who always has a dig....but his motor since joining the tigers is not what it once was. To his credit, he did a shitload of tackling early in the game...but it pretty much gassed him as his forward runs were slow and ineffectual. I certainly wouldn't drop him but is one we we need to let go of at the end of the year. Im hoping it is not his "one year too long" year.
Papallii : He is an eternal disappointment for this club....but his halves and pack don't help him to be at his best. He is pretty much used as a front rower at this club when he can be soooooo much f**king more. I think rewatching his Parra highlights would make us cry hard. f**king tragic.
Bateman : Bateman, despite not being great last year at least had a dig. I think we've sucked the life out of him as a player. I'd say his worst game for the club today. If he delivers more shit like that, I'd start Fainu in the back row. Lift you overpaid bastard.
Seyfarth : f**king useless. He'll never be a threat in attack. If Manamutua shows something in NSW Cup, throw the ranga out!
Sezer : Limited opportunities with the game already decided by the time he came on. Put him at 7 next week. Waste of a bench spot as he is not an impact player or a worker.
Pole : Pretty decent....a definite pass mark from me. I'd consider him starting with Stefano next week. Guys like him we simply need to keep.
Twal : A typical Twal performance. Good worker but never threatening with the ball.
Fainu: Very promising debut from a man I doubted. He looked fit and wanted to play. Embarrassed his older teammates today.
