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

[Poupou Escobar]

I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing. You seem to be having a crack at me for commenting that they’ve been underwhelming. They have been, they were horrendous in that second half particularly.

But we both agree that none of these young fellas can be counted on to get into firsts at this point. What I’m saying following on from this is that discussions about restructuring the squad to accommodate someone like Sanders (which is not a hypothetical strawman, that exact discussion has occurred on this forum during this offseason) are so fanciful to be pointless.

Plenty of these young guys might end up making it as first graders. But it won’t be in 2024.

You’re right, but the discussion around Sanders was for 2025, which is twelve months away. That’s a long time for a player his age. Think how good he was this time last year. Most merkins hadn’t even heard of him, but now he can at least hold his own against grown men. In another 12 months he could be a genuine first grader.

 

[JokerEel]

Gutho
Sivo
William
Superman
Russ

Brown
Moses

Reg
Lussick
Paulo

Carty
Lane
Hopgood

Hands
Greig
Offa
Matto

NSW Cup
Talagi
Lumelume
Cini
Harper
Martin

Asi
Sanders

Ogden
Smith
Rodwell
Kelma
Guymer
Moretti

Loizou
Lyn

 

[The Predictor]

Today was a disaster, because our future appear to be the mirror version of our first grade…..having same difensive issues along with a poor attitude and lots of brain explosions, , Reggie’s are exactly the same, this was a trial and NO junior out there hand up, personally I think this is a big problem, thank goodness for our SG Ball players, even so how many of them will make it or b poached…..I’ll say it again we used to win club championships, we are lost, scratch the surface or kid urself it was just a trial

 

[JokerEel]

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.

If I see MA play Cup this year I will join you on the BA should be sacked.

The kid is tiny I watched him in his only CUP game last year and he kind of held his own but you could see he needed to bulk up.

 

[Soto]

Tonight was a bit parts team trial...let's be honest it was a nothing game to gauge on how we are going to go.
The team for round 1 barring 2 or so players has been selected...
I still think we will go really well.
2 benchies for first grade who played tonight I thought were outstanding. Kelma and Wiremu.
Throw in Moretti and Ogden and there is some quality backup and depth in the fwds.
I also think Hands mounted a very good case to play in the 17 despite the fact I think BA will go with 1 hooker.
I'm saying this will be a good year for the Eels. Do not read too much into this trial..

 

[the phantom menace]

I think Hands has to be in the 17. BA won't select him over Lussick, but I think he'd be effective coming on at the 30min mark, as Lussick isn't really a stand out 80min NRL hooker - and BA's tactics on that front are stale.

But BA will probably not have Hands on the bench, so the fourth bench forward is probably still Ofahengaue, who BA preferred over Makatoa and Ogden? Three remaining first choice for bench spots are then Matterson and Greig for middle rotation, with another edge option... I think Tuilagi might get that.

Russell was always the next best option in the backline behind automatic selections Penisini and Sivo. Simonssen showed enough to fill the fourth backline spot, but we won't lose much if Harper needs to come in on that side during the season.

 

[JokerEel]

Today was a disaster, because our future appear to be the mirror version of our first grade…..having same difensive issues along with a poor attitude and lots of brain explosions, , Reggie’s are exactly the same, this was a trial and NO junior out there hand up, personally I think this is a big problem, thank goodness for our SG Ball players, even so how many of them will make it or b poached…..I’ll say it again we used to win club championships, we are lost, scratch the surface or kid urself it was just a trial

2023:
Made Matt's Semi Final
Made Ball GF and Won
Made Flegg Semi Final

It's 2024 they aren't going to transition into first graders in 1 off season...


BTW we won the Reggie's or Cup trial today

 

[the phantom menace]

Though squad depth will be an issue again this season, in particular positions where we (still) appear weak.

I think we're in trouble if Sivo or Russell get injured, because I don't see a decent enough winger in the squad to fill that gap - maybe shift a backrower to centre, and Simonssen onto the wing if need be?

If Gutherson gets injured it's the same, because we'd have to cover Russell or Simonssen's position (as there's no reliable option to call up at fullback).

 

[JokerEel]

Though squad depth will be an issue again this season, in particular positions where we (still) appear weak.

I think we're in trouble if Sivo or Russell get injured, because I don't see a decent enough winger in the squad to fill that gap - maybe shift a backrower to centre, and Simonssen onto the wing if need be?

If Gutherson gets injured it's the same, because we'd have to cover Russell or Simonssen's position (as there's no reliable option to call up at fullback).

If we lose a winger Simmonoson to wing Harper to centre.

If Gutho goes down (we are screwed but I assume Russell to fullback or Brown to fullback and Asi to 5/8)

I am a fan of Martin he has speed which I think would cover fullback or wing.

 

[The Predictor]

2023:
Made Matt's Semi Final
Made Ball GF and Won
Made Flegg Semi Final

It's 2024 they aren't going to transition into first graders in 1 off season...


BTW we won the Reggie's or Cup trial today

I understand that, that wasn’t point, clearly they are a long way off, which is why depth wise the club has big problems, I thought that was fairly obvious

 

[JokerEel]

I understand that, that wasn’t point, clearly they are a long way off, which is why depth wise the club has big problems, I thought that was fairly obvious

We have depth problems in our backs.

We have some fine players coming through the problem already pointed out we have to wait a year or 2.

Martin I think could do a job on the wing.
Dunster is our backup winger.
Harper is our backup centre.

We should be chasing the Raiders 3 from tonight he has pace.

Unfortunately the club signed Cini to the top 30. We have 3 players in our top 30 that are wasting a spot...

Forwards we have alot.

 

[84 Baby]

Talagi - don’t think he’s a fullback (at least not yet) but he showed willingness

Dunster - done sadly I’d say. Fuimaono f**ked any career he might have had

Harper - he’s ok. There’s a nervy energy but I’m not really concerned if he gets call up

Bailey - put some great efforts in. Have him as ahead of Harper

Russell - superb hitout

Asi - handy but he’s also not a genuine first grader

Sanders - OOOOFFFFFF!!!! He’d like that game deleted from memory

Ogden - superb hit out. Down the pecking order, but not concerned if we need to run him out

Hands - superb hit out…. Possibly putting him in box seat, or at least bench contention

Rodwell - not good, not bad

Lane - got the cobwebs out, expect he’ll see bigger minutes next week

Tuilagi - superb hit out but there’s some lazy details I’d like for him to fix up

Matterson - clearly class above for most part

Moretti - not quite the hit out we’d be hoping for

Greig - superb hit out

Doorey - not great hit out

Makatoa - off the pace

Everyone - at best were meh but there were some very concerning defensive efforts and laziness. For now it’s just a trial game

 

[the phantom menace]

If Gutho goes down (we are screwed but I assume Russell to fullback or Brown to fullback and Asi to 5/8)

Actually I didn't think of who to pick if Brown or Moses are injured. I don't think Sanders is ready yet, and I'd hope we could do better than Asi. Maybe Hands would be an option into the halves - and more reason to have him on the bench in 17 too?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Tuilagi was good. Who put shit on his signing ?

Good question @Tiger5150

 

[lucablight]

I’ve been curious as to why Cini hasn’t been able to get a chance at first grade despite having outstanding stats in NSW cup. That question was answered really emphatically today with his “defensive efforts”. Very disappointing that he barely even laid a finger on his opposite targets when trying to tackle.

 

[Gronk]

Savage headline, considering it was a trial with plenty of players who have never even played that grade before.

Talking about super faaaaaaaast savage. Russell >>>> Savage

Raiders belt Eels in trials but spine questions remain

Canberra have comfortably accounted for Parramatta 38-16 in an NRL pre-season trial, but uncertainty lingers as to their...

www.illawarramercury.com.au

 

[The Predictor]

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

FMD….if this was just fringe first graders having a hit out, the result would not matter, but it was our future on the park and they were woeful, but clearly you are happy to more or less wait another year it’s delusional fans like you the club love!!!!

 

[The Predictor]

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.

Exactly the point !!!

 

[The Predictor]

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.

It appears peoples differing opinions is an issue for you, anyways you have the people that matter agreeing with you !!

 

[The Predictor]

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.

Doesn’t the same apply to the Raiders???