You heard it here first, Parra are going to walk away from Telstra stadium with a loss next to there name.
I feel ver bad saying this, but just watching the 5 PM edition of Sports Tonight, where they announced the four new faces in the Dogs side, I thought so too. I mean, Bill Williams in the centres? How are we going to stop him? And that prop Maevau (or whatever) - he's a gun. Suddenly I am not so confident, I don't know why ...
I think your being abit premature, Considering that Parra have won 3 trials and where the runners up in the world 7's. Sonny Bill Williams and Hutch Maiava are big and intimidating but either have yet to play first grade. I think they are more scared of coming up against Players like Lyon and Cannings. Let me ask you, how is Willie Tonga or Sonny bill Williams going to handle Jamie Lyon?
Don't ask me why i think we will loose, i just sense it!!.
The exact same thing with me. Funny thing is I always believe in the team, except for now.
I think Parra have a great chance, but lets not kid ourselves, the Bulldogs will be a tough assignment and i am expecting a close game.
Our backs have done next to nothing in the trials & our half's combination with Wagon & Dykes looks pretty mediocre compared to Thurston & Sherwin.
Can't really gauge that - our trials were focused on our forwards. But Thurston/Sherwin is a proven combo.
I must admit i am pretty unhappy about Wagon in the halves and the total disappearance of Michael Witt. But Parra have managed to score some good points in the trails against the Warriors and the Sharks, the Tigers game was disappointing but you get that. The Parramatta Backline has nothing to prove, Lyon and Burt are total class. Grothe has had a good preseason and will do well outside Lyon. Vaealiki and Petersen do there job but hopefully we can find some better options. Infact i think they are deadset head and shoulders above the Bulldogs backline (without Harris and Utai).
To win the game we will need to target there backs, i doubt this will happen as Brian is placing to much emphasis on the forwards & not enough attention top detail on the backs.
I think the only positions we can beat the Dogs is in the back 5.
You got to go forward before you go wide, footy basics. The point of trials and the off season is to focus on your weaknesses. According to what i read is that Parramatta has really focused on its go forward and defence. Trail form isnt a true indication of how a team is going to play during the season. I am confident once the Parra forwards lay the foundation we can see the backline in full swing.
Canterbury have guns across the park, and i don't care what everyone else say's...Mason is a gun player who can destroy any team when he controlls his handling.
I disagree - Mason is too inconsistent. And he should ALWAYS play like a man possessed for a dude his size. He was the least of our worries last year.
Mason always saves his best for the Eels and quite frankly it is scary. But dont forget we have Hindmarsh and Cayless! Our team performs so much better with these two fit. IMO Hindmarsh and Cayless will make the difference. Their workrates will test the bulldogs forwards fitness, cause Hindy and Caylo will just keep on hitting it up and hitting it up. They are a unstopable combo.
