Parramatta v Raiders TRIAL Game Day Thread @ Netstrata Jubilee Stadium Feb 17, 2024

[Noise]

Also, Danny Levi continues to carve us up. He must love playing us.

 

[Enamoured Eel]

The whining following a trial primarily stacked with youth and lower-end top 30 players is nothing short of embarrassing.

This initial trial is on the calendar to blow out some cobwebs and prepare for some match fitness and contact.

The comments filtering through which from what I have seen are mostly negative in nature (after a bloody long off season), and are a sad indictment on the state of online forums.

If anything, I found myself very pleased with the players we needed to see perform for vacant spots in the 17. Russell, Grieg and Tuilagi were outstanding. Harper, Simonsson and Hands looked good.

We might not break our drought this year and that would suck. I want nothing more. But we might. No one can tell based off a bloody trial where we were missing eleven of our best. Relax and enjoy the start of the season.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Game means nothing in the scheme of things.

Running out the cobwebs.

Key parts of trials are getting your combinations communicating in a match situation and no injuries.

I think most of those kids need another pre-season just need to be patient with the good ones. Not all will make it but hopefully they can all develop together in NSW Cup playing against men getting used to the physicality week in week out. And we can see as the year progresses whose tracking better then expected.

 

[Avenger]

The whining following a trial primarily stacked with youth and lower-end top 30 players is nothing short of embarrassing.

This initial trial is on the calendar to blow out some cobwebs and prepare for some match fitness and contact.

The comments filtering through which from what I have seen are mostly negative in nature (after a bloody long off season), and are a sad indictment on the state of online forums.

If anything, I found myself very pleased with the players we needed to see perform for vacant spots in the 17. Russell, Grieg and Tuilagi were outstanding. Harper, Simonsson and Hands looked good.

We might not break our drought this year and that would suck. I want nothing more. But we might. No one can tell based off a bloody trial where we were missing eleven of our best. Relax and enjoy the start of the season.

Historically when we have been shit in trials we start slow. We are a team that needs to start with plenty of wins because under Arthur we always plateau mid season and struggle for the top 4.

Personally nothing short of a preliminary final should save his arse. Hopefully our top 17 perform for him because I reckon even they could be sick of him.

 

[Gronk]

Tuilagi was good. Who put shit on his signing ?

Good hit out. A few players are close to FG and others not so much.

I think that some ^^^^ are harsh on Blaize.

 

[JokerEel]

Historically when we have been shit in trials we start slow. We are a team that needs to start with plenty of wins because under Arthur we always plateau mid season and struggle for the top 4.

Personally nothing short of a preliminary final should save his arse. Hopefully our top 17 perform for him because I reckon even they could be sick of him.

We were ok in the trials last year and started Absolutely shit house.

The players that needed to play well did tonight.

Greig
Hands
Russell
Ogden
Simmonoson
Harper
Makatoa
Lane
Matto
Kelma Tualigi

 

[Hindmarshisgod2]

I'm glad we got smashed. Hope we get smashed again next week, and gets the team hungry for round 1 when it counts.

 

[Suitman]

I'm glad we got smashed. Hope we get smashed again next week,

That's the spirit!!!
Go Eels!!

 

[Eelogical]

The whining following a trial primarily stacked with youth and lower-end top 30 players is nothing short of embarrassing.

This initial trial is on the calendar to blow out some cobwebs and prepare for some match fitness and contact.

The comments filtering through which from what I have seen are mostly negative in nature (after a bloody long off season), and are a sad indictment on the state of online forums.

If anything, I found myself very pleased with the players we needed to see perform for vacant spots in the 17. Russell, Grieg and Tuilagi were outstanding. Harper, Simonsson and Hands looked good.

We might not break our drought this year and that would suck. I want nothing more. But we might. No one can tell based off a bloody trial where we were missing eleven of our best. Relax and enjoy the start of the season.

I don’t see my comments as whining, just an observation. The Raiders youngin’s pumped our youngin’s. It’s the first opportunity to see where we’re at. So far, I don’t see a weapon player coming through.

 

[parra pete]

I enjoyed watching it. Raiders pulled a few 'arse' tries to run away with the game in last 20. Liked the efforts of Emu, Tauligi, and Ky Rodwell and Ogi...

 

[King-Gutho94]

I'm glad we got smashed. Hope we get smashed again next week, and gets the team hungry for round 1 when it counts.

Penrith got flogged 36-0 in a trial match one year and won the comp.

They actually beat the team on GF day that year that flogged them in that trial.

 

[emjaycee]

I think Emu getting some long minutes under his belt was good to see.
Not overly happy with Doorey (expected more given the number of FG games he has played) and was good to see Tualagi have a hit out in the Blue and (Gold). Moretti, Maka, Ogden and Rodwell showed what we have already seen in FG.

For the backs, I thought Harper and Simmonson were at a pretty similar level and Russel cemented his wing spot for round 1. Asi and Dunster will do a job as second stringers if called upon but neither are superstars.

The young spine players (Blaze, Ethan, Lynn) will be better for the run and the only stand out for me from the rest of the young'uns was Guymer who reminded me of a young Ray Stone in some ways.

Overall, a trial where we got to see how some newbies might fit in and see some young players play against grown men.

 

[Jake the snake]

Not disagreeing with you at all all those players were freaks

But

How many premierships did we win with them?

09 robbed

 

[Jake the snake]

The whining following a trial primarily stacked with youth and lower-end top 30 players is nothing short of embarrassing.

This initial trial is on the calendar to blow out some cobwebs and prepare for some match fitness and contact.

The comments filtering through which from what I have seen are mostly negative in nature (after a bloody long off season), and are a sad indictment on the state of online forums.

If anything, I found myself very pleased with the players we needed to see perform for vacant spots in the 17. Russell, Grieg and Tuilagi were outstanding. Harper, Simonsson and Hands looked good.

We might not break our drought this year and that would suck. I want nothing more. But we might. No one can tell based off a bloody trial where we were missing eleven of our best. Relax and enjoy the start of the season.

That’s what BA said about the first 4-5 games we lost in a row last year. It didn’t matter. He was comfortable with it. And we didn’t make the 8.

I know it’s a trial but to get flogged is embarrassing in any grade. If they were supposedly working on attitude or whatever in the off season it should reflect in the games no matter if first graders were out.

 

[the phantom menace]

Why are we wearing a Dogs jersey….this club has lost its identity …..they suck balls, I’m glad I’m not parting with my hard earned anymore they don’t deserve it!!!!

Yep, sleeves need some yellow on them. Even if it's just changing the colour of the sponsor's logo

 

[Tmars]

Kelma a beast, put him the centres.
Harper and Bailey are not first grade centres

 

[Enamoured Eel]

That’s what BA said about the first 4-5 games we lost in a row last year. It didn’t matter. He was comfortable with it. And we didn’t make the 8.

I know it’s a trial but to get flogged is embarrassing in any grade. If they were supposedly working on attitude or whatever in the off season it should reflect in the games no matter if first graders were out.

Here’s the hot tip; they were games for legitimate points whereas this was a reserve grade trial.

Of course the slow start mattered last year. In fact, I’ve heard BA make mention of it since. He’s obviously not going to come out publicly and lament the slow start at the time, heaping further pressure on the team.

You were embarrassed by losing a trial game? Really? Don’t ever say “you too” to a waitress when they tell you to enjoy your dinner; you will never recover.

 

[JokerEel]

That’s what BA said about the first 4-5 games we lost in a row last year. It didn’t matter. He was comfortable with it. And we didn’t make the 8.

I know it’s a trial but to get flogged is embarrassing in any grade. If they were supposedly working on attitude or whatever in the off season it should reflect in the games no matter if first graders were out.

Russell chasing down Savage and Simmonoson saving a certain try shows attitude.

You have to remember most of the kids out there tonight played SG Ball last year won the competition and then backed up to almost win Flegg.

I suspect a few (if not most) will be in Flegg for most of 2024.

They are good players but as Hindy said 2025 is the year they stand up.

Looking at this trial team compared to last year's first trial team I am alot happier with the backups this year.

 

[Jake the snake]

Here’s the hot tip; they were games for legitimate points whereas this was a reserve grade trial.

Of course the slow start mattered last year. In fact, I’ve heard BA make mention of it since. He’s obviously not going to come out publicly and lament the slow start at the time, heaping further pressure on the team.

You were embarrassed by losing a trial game? Really? Don’t ever say “you too” to a waitress when they tell you to enjoy your dinner; you will never recover.

the way the loss happened today at whatever level of player shows where the coaching is at. Our defensive attitude wasn’t there. The way we conceded points was soft. Yes it was embarrassing and concerning. Conceding a try from a 20m restart? That’s embarrassing. And conceding like that is an attitude problem. These same players trained with the first graders the whole year. Is that the shit we are going to get served up again just like last year?

No doubt BA will say he ain’t concerned just like last year.

 

[Jake the snake]

Russell chasing down Savage and Simmonoson saving a certain try shows attitude.

You have to remember most of the kids out there tonight played SG Ball last year won the competition and then backed up to almost win Flegg.

I suspect a few (if not most) will be in Flegg for most of 2024.

They are good players but as Hindy said 2025 is the year they stand up.

Looking at this trial team compared to last year's first trial team I am alot happier with the backups this year.

I like Russell. He’s got a great future.

but I have no faith is this coach who has been given 11 years to prove something but has failed like a choker.

Forgive me for my negativity but I’m over him and have been for the last 4 years. He will never win us a comp. But we keep giving contract after contract, he’s been kissed on the pecker this bloke. Any other club would have sacked him for constant failure.