Pre Season Game 2 V West Tigers Game Assessment

[hindy111]

I thought Penisini was crap. I’ve never really rated him. Russell was exceptional. He would be my winger in round 1. I won’t say anything yet because I haven’t seen him play with Moses but there will be calls for Lomax to play on the wing before round 10.

Greig was crap. Loved how Williams played. Ryles Smith should get a top 30
Spot. He deserves it. The less said about Lussick the better. Volkman crashed down back to earth. Kelma is a lazy merkin around the edges.

Iongi will be our rookie of the year if not the entire NRL.

I agree with most except Penisini. I thought he was our best back. Yes Iongi had 2 magic moments but Will was a powerhouse carting it up with tough carries. Lomax did nothing. Not that its a big deal. Just a fitness run for him.

 

[the phantom menace]

I'm usually critical of Penisini (when he's had so much smoke blown up his arse during his brief career), but I had no problem with his efforts in defence or attack (however limited we were) last night.

I too thought he was our best back alongside/just behind Iongi, and was quite reassured he'll be back to bringing his best this season.

 

[hindy111]

Possitives for me -

Iongi - Has more class then I expected. I didn't know he could pass like that.

Peninisi - Power house and made so many tough carries.

Morretti - Ran hard and has developed a nice offload

R.Smith - I mean he looks like a genuine NRL prospect in a position we need.

W.Latu - Short stint but he has enough to work with

J.Williams - Hits like a hammer

Tuivati - Much closer to NRL then I imagined. He could debut later this year.


Negatives -

Guymer - Defense was ok but he got belted to often hitting it up. Impossible to know what his ceiling is at this stage or if he is ready for week in week out NRL.

Kelma - Terrible game. For me he is nothing more then a bench impact player.

J.Tago - Thought he was better. Awfully game

Grieg - Still slow in defense.


It's hard to gauge seasoned players like Matto,Lomax etc. For them it is a training/ fitness run. They know how to get their bodies right for the season.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Gee I reckon some are being way to critical on the players, just improving our completion rate goes a long way to fixing a lot of the issues mentioned. We completed at 63% had 43% of the ball.

We won't have trouble scoring points this year - even this game showed we wouldn't, when ever we held the ball attacking the tigers line, we scored. We looked pretty good.

The key was defence, and apart from a couple of individual misses, I thought it showed signs of improvement.

Interesting stat, our run metres were 1343 m / 142 runs, 9.46 m per run. While the tigers were 1680 / 191, 8.8 m per run. Good signs.

Overall , the boys will be better for the hit out. And we will improve/learn from it.

 

[Pazza]

Gee I reckon some are being way to critical on the players, just improving our completion rate goes a long way to fixing a lot of the issues mentioned. We completed at 63% had 43% of the ball.

We won't have trouble scoring points this year - even this game showed we wouldn't, when ever we held the ball attacking the tigers line, we scored. We looked pretty good.

The key was defence, and apart from a couple of individual misses, I thought it showed signs of improvement.

Interesting stat, our run metres were 1343 m / 142 runs, 9.46 m per run. While the tigers were 1680 / 191, 8.8 m per run. Good signs.

Overall , the boys will be better for the hit out. And we will improve/learn from it.

i do like that the edges didnt looked panicked facing an overlap like they have over the course of the last few years

 

[Sensei Cobra]

Harsh on Will, thought he made some really tough carries early out of trouble.

Bit of a make or break year for him but I thought it was a solid start.

Agree thought Will was strong along with Russell

 

[84 Baby]

They’ve just been trial games so the only things I think can gauge where we are at fundamentals and effort.

Spine is 3/4 obvious with Hands likely the hooker. Of the 3 weve seen in trials (and I don’t think we can doubt Moses either), fundamentals and effort are fine. Will be interesting to see who we carry on bench.

Backline is likely obvious for round 1. Russell and Simonsson will duke it out at full strength. Basics and effort were fine for Russell, Wenisini & Lomax. Fundamentals were ok from Tago but I found his effort lacking. His likely competition in Samrani, AMS & Renisini were the reverse with good effort but lacking in some fundamentals. With two higher choice backs missing, this is just the reality of squad make up/back ups. We just need whoever to do a job for 2-4 weeks.

Middle forwards there is heaps of competition. Most of players had good fundamentals and effort. I’d expect Paulo to still be first choice, along with Hopgood, Ofahengaue, Williams. Matterson too but there was some laziness the other night from him. Everyone else will come down to actual skill and fitness but from trials there is a lot of pressure for those other five to perform.

Edge forward has always been my biggest concern. I don’t think we have a definite starter. Based purely on trials, Latu is the best but starting him with already so many newcomers and rookies in side is a lot of pressure. Moretti is probably distant second but mental effort was bit lacking and he’s more a combo forward so best case he’s a bit part edge forward. Tualagi & Kautoga can be beasts with the ball but they’ve got the Penis Torpedos and their efforts in defence weren’t good enough. Based on trials Cartwright is behind them and Doorey I think unfortunately is done as an NRL player. I think the starters will probably be Tualagi & Cartwright, they may not be great defenders but we may be able to squeeze some good offence out of them, with Moretti on bench, he may not be better defensively on edge but he’ll at least try.
That last bench spot is completely up for grabs. Smith I think has probably done the most. Either him or any of the other middle forwards and then Williams is also rotated on the edge.