Nines

[franklin2323]

I always felt the Blake bashing was stupid and naive.

There were bigger issues in 2015 than him(cough Archer's Airhead Army).Blake never had a set partnership with anyone in the team.Everyone around him was a different player every week.

Rather than develop his game week after week, he's forced to adjust to different playstyles...just as he debuted too.How do you do well in those circumstances?

Why is he great now?Continuity, pre-season trainings, Griffin coming in and building him like a demigod...funny too what happens to a player when everyone around him believes in him.

Also, the fact we almost won this is baffling to be honest.Wasn't the squad we sent over viewed as a joke and no chance of beating the other club's NRL player dominated teams?

Oh boy, that is some ugly signs for the other clubs this season.

He had about 3 years RL experience fullstop in jnr his size would of hidden certain weaknesses. In FG he was in a foreign position on the left side when he had played only right size. A few of his handling errors were due to holding the ball in the wrong hand. Now his here watch out this season

 

[franklin2323]

People make judgements on kids way to early. Blake was written off as never going to be a star after his rookie year, which was ridiculous. Even that season being overweight and playing in a struggling side he still showed glimpses of what he could do, he just dropped the ball a lot. A year later and he finishes the 16 season looking like a world beater. I read in here the other day someone opinion that Dylan Edwards will never be more than a stop gap winger, fair enough its a possibility but the kid has played 1 FG game after a very promising junior career, its way to early to be making a call like that. Kids at that age can develop massively over 1 year let alone 2 or 3, look what a bit of fitness and confidence did for Blake. I have no idea why we are so keen to write kids off so early but I find it really dumb.

Edwards has been a half now FB. Wouldn't of played much wing given the outside backs we have. I can't see where he will get the chance unless he plays wing in NSW Cup

 

[betcats]

Edwards has been a half now FB. Wouldn't of played much wing given the outside backs we have. I can't see where he will get the chance unless he plays wing in NSW Cup

He will play FB in NSW cup this season unless Hiku is. He will have to wait for his chance no doubt but he will get one if he is playing good enough. They have already played him on the wing in FG so im sure they would play him there again if the chance came. He is listed on the site as a fb/winger.

 

[franklin2323]

He will play FB in NSW cup this season unless Hiku is. He will have to wait for his chance no doubt but he will get one if he is playing good enough. They have already played him on the wing in FG so im sure they would play him there again if the chance came. He is listed on the site as a fb/winger.

We have a few halves so may play Nicholls or someone back there. DWZ is listed as a FB too doesn't mean there's not a few in front of him to get that start.

 

[Copperhead]

Edwards has been a half now FB. Wouldn't of played much wing given the outside backs we have. I can't see where he will get the chance unless he plays wing in NSW Cup

He played wing in the 20's after he got pushed out of the halves, so its not completely foreign to him. But if we intend to use our wingers the same as last season I don't think he can carry the ball strongly enough, and Hiku might be a better option (depending on his knee), or go past the likely candidates and try Tuisese.

 

[hindy111]

Yeo was very good

 

[betcats]

Yeo was very good

Another guy who was written off as 'nothing special' and "fringe/solid FGer" after his debut season at 18 or 19. Been on his bandwagon for a long time, he will play rep footy one day and be a very good panthers player for a long time.

 

[betcats]

We have a few halves so may play Nicholls or someone back there. DWZ is listed as a FB too doesn't mean there's not a few in front of him to get that start.

I'm not really arguing his place in the pecking order. My point was its stupid to write him off at 20 after one NRL game. There was no spot JFH on the depth chart this time last year and look at him. Edwards could easily force his way into reckoning with the coach we have.

That being said in fairly certain that outside of Hiku or DWZ playing NSW cup Edwards will be our FB there to start the year.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

How fit is Tamou looking. Lean and mean side stepping machine..

All i cared about was coming out of it Injury free

 

[betcats]

How fit is Tamou looking. Lean and mean side stepping machine..

All i cared about was coming out of it Injury free

He looked very fit and mobile. Yeah I wasn't even that excited by our good form, I just wanted everyone tog et home injury free. It was nice to see us do well but I really don't like the format.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

He looked very fit and mobile. Yeah I wasn't even that excited by our good form, I just wanted everyone tog et home injury free. It was nice to see us do well but I really don't like the format.

Its hard to get excited over good form when only 3 or 4 of those guys are walk ups to the 17.. But it was a good slap in the face of the 9's. We basically said its a shit comp, we hate it, dont want to be here, but f**k it we'll just about win it anyway

 

[franklin2323]

He played wing in the 20's after he got pushed out of the halves, so its not completely foreign to him. But if we intend to use our wingers the same as last season I don't think he can carry the ball strongly enough, and Hiku might be a better option (depending on his knee), or go past the likely candidates and try Tuisese.

I rate Ratu highly. Probably have him behind MWZ though

 

[franklin2323]

I'm not really arguing his place in the pecking order. My point was its stupid to write him off at 20 after one NRL game. There was no spot JFH on the depth chart this time last year and look at him. Edwards could easily force his way into reckoning with the coach we have.

That being said in fairly certain that outside of Hiku or DWZ playing NSW cup Edwards will be our FB there to start the year.

There's a reason him, May and Jed etc have longer deals. We won't see the best of them for year 1 but year 2 should see them coming strongly

 

[umina panther]

Jed looked better than he ever did at the Tits

 

[franklin2323]

Jed looked better than he ever did at the Tits

His very like Yeo in hole running ability. When he's actually playing backrow fulltime he will improve plenty

 

[The yak]

Happy the team went well. I thought we'd be lucky to beat the dogs in the pool stages.
Got a bit of luck and the boys played well. Regardless of the format it should give the morale of pre season training a nice healthy boost.

 

[TheFrog]

How fit is Tamou looking.

"Fit as a trout" in the words of Warren Smith.

 

[MrBlack]

Tamou, Blake, and Yeo all looked really fit, lean and fast. Maybe something that has been focused in pre-season training. Yeo especially moved really quickly. Blake looks in fantastic shape. Will be interesting to see if the whole squad is the same.

Was never with the whole Edwards hype. But he did look really good in the step up in class. Hopefully we don't rush him. Tie him up longer term and let him spend a few years in reserves.

 

[umina panther]

Firing Dinosaur Ronnie Palmer already paying dividends

 

[mxlegend99]

Tamou, Blake, and Yeo all looked really fit, lean and fast. Maybe something that has been focused in pre-season training. Yeo especially moved really quickly. Blake looks in fantastic shape. Will be interesting to see if the whole squad is the same.

Was never with the whole Edwards hype. But he did look really good in the step up in class. Hopefully we don't rush him. Tie him up longer term and let him spend a few years in reserves.

Edwards impressed me most defensively. He never gives up on a play.

In his single first grade game he stopped a certain try. In the 9s he must have saved 3 or 4 tries with great tackles and not giving up on the play.

I would love to see him at fullback for us:

1. Edwards
6. Moylan
7. Cleary
9. Wallace

14. TMM

I doubt its a possibility. But I would love to see that spine some day. I would have Ratu and MWZ ahead of Edwards for a wing spot though.