Raider PL side announced

[Kris_man]

kris would you seriously rather
Russo then Moggy

no. as i've said many times, i like Russo as a back-rower/utility, so Mogg would not be threatened by Russo as he is not a back-rower/utility. i would, however, prefer D Howell or Gafa to Mogg.
Would i prefer Russo to some of the back-rowers we have going around at the moment? Yes. I'm not saying that Russo will be the next star. what i'm saying is:
a) he's certainly not the crap-arse player that so many people make him out to be; and
b) he deserves a chance at the top level, not to say that he'll consolidate that spot.

If you can't see any value in Mogg, then I'm really surprised.

i do see value in Mogg. his style of play (dummy half runs, defensive specialist) suit Elliott's "up the middle" game plans very well. as you probably know, however, i can't stand the boring style of football that Elliott coaches. I don't think Mogg would really blossom in an attack-based rugby league team, although he might be of value on the wing.

 

[jed]

krisman, I think the needle has worn down to the stump - you've played that record too many times.

 

[Prodigiousman]

If we lose it'll be because our pack is outmuscled, our backs are the key to our win. As long as our pack can hold their own then Campese and Carney can work their magic but if the better (on paper) Dragons forward bash us early, we won't win.

Just give the ball to Graham people! GF 2003!!!!

 

[Tidus_Raider]

On paper I think we have the stronger, more experienced side.

 

[Kris_man]

i'm just gonna copy and paste what i put on the other thread:

we certainly have more first grade experience than them, but that's not to say that we're a better team, either on paper or otherwise. i do, however, believe that we are a better team, and that we'll kick their arse on Saturday night. Miller, Chalk and Graham all gun it in firsts, so they'll naturally kick arse in PL too.

On paper I think we have the stronger, more experienced side.

ditto, i disagree that their forward pack is better than ours on paper. guys like kahler, koups and even bryant are underrated.

krisman, I think the needle has worn down to the stump - you've played that record too many times.

shut up jed. i wasn't even talking to you.

 

[jed]

krisman, I think the needle has worn down to the stump - you've played that record too many times.

shut up jed. i wasn't even talking to you.

krisman, you've made your opinions known quite well already - merely repeating them again and again and again (and again) does not make them any more valid than everyone else's.

 

[Steven Gerrard]

If you can't see any value in Mogg, then I'm really surprised.

i do see value in Mogg. his style of play (dummy half runs, defensive specialist) suit Elliott's "up the middle" game plans very well. as you probably know, however, i can't stand the boring style of football that Elliott coaches. I don't think Mogg would really blossom in an attack-based rugby league team, although he might be of value on the wing.

What about Mogg's Length of the field breaks? I havent seen many other Raiders do that this year....

 

[greeneyed]

The St George site says that 10 of their players have first grade experience this season.......

 

[SOULS 04]

i think mogg will only get better and better

he is my favorite player right now and i think if we had some real play making halves running the show... then mogg will show you what he can really do.

i think he is our best centre and like i said he'll only get better.

 

[Kris_man]

If you can't see any value in Mogg, then I'm really surprised.

i do see value in Mogg. his style of play (dummy half runs, defensive specialist) suit Elliott's "up the middle" game plans very well. as you probably know, however, i can't stand the boring style of football that Elliott coaches. I don't think Mogg would really blossom in an attack-based rugby league team, although he might be of value on the wing.

What about Mogg's Length of the field breaks? I havent seen many other Raiders do that this year....

ok jed, am i allowed to answer this? :roll:

ok #1, mogg has made a couple of long range line-breaks, and this is definitely a credit to him. i just feel that gafa, frawley or graham are capable of doing exactly the same plus more. and a couple of those line-breaks (in fact, they're the only two length of the field ones i can think of) had my heart in my mouth, here's why:

line break vs. Tigers, rd 17: resulted in a try, a great individual try by Moggy, but all that fending and dummying (in other words, hogging) wouldn't have been necessary if he just passed to Graham soon after he made the break.
line break vs. Eels, rd 4: an absoulte scorcher of a run, but also an absolute scorcher of a bombed try. i think he was so intent on scoring it himself that the effort resulted in no try at all, for anyone.

good bowlers like Jason Gillespie are always looking like getting a wicket, and inferior bowlers like Bichel don't look like getting wickets, but they do manage to get the odd random one. to me, Mogg is the Andy Bichel of the Raiders: he never looks like making a break, but he does manage to pull out the odd random line-break. a player like matt bowen, willie tonga or ken nagas in his heyday would be the opposite of this - they always look threatening.

my conclusion is basically this. mogg makes those line breaks for two reasons:
a) he's a hog; and
b) they're flukes (which is related to a. anyone who hogs the ball long enough is bound to make a line break at some point.

 

[Raider_69]

mate Andy Bichel would be a walk up start in any other era IMO
its a shame he bowls the same pace as Gillespie, Lee and McGrath, he is a top class bowler, and my fav cricketer, i liken Bichel to Alan Tongue, dosnt get the credit he deserves but holds his own in their repecting sports

 

[jed]

krisman, I'm not suggesting for a second that you're not allowed to express an opinion. It would be good however if you weren't to comment at every opportunity, in every possible thread, that you support neither Tongue or Mogg.

Kudos on explaining reasons why you feel as you do, and not simply say "he's weak in attack/defense.

 

[Kris_man]

krisman, I'm not suggesting for a second that you're not allowed to express an opinion. It would be good however if you weren't to comment at every opportunity, in every possible thread, that you support neither Tongue or Mogg.

Kudos on explaining reasons why you feel as you do, and not simply say "he's weak in attack/defense.

thanks mate, appreciated ;-) .

i'm very tempted to pay out Bichel while i'm at it, but i'll restrain myself...

 

[jed]

Nah, don't pay out Bichel - Stuart MacGill is even more of a Bichel than Bichel. Bring on Warnie! :lol:

 

[Kris_man]

don't get me wrong, i love Bichs, he seems like a top bloke and is a great fielder, but when you compare him to Brett Lee, Jason gillespie, Glenn McGrath, even Michael Kasprowicz (the new version), well, there is no comparison in my opinion. he just lacks that natural spark.

 

[Raider_69]

McGill also would be a walk up start if not born in this era
both very good and often under-rated bowlers
both however are a tad too inconsistant, Bichel is a champ thou

 

[greeneyed]

Getting back on subject.........

Today's CT reports that this weekend could be the last time that West Belconnen junior, Nick Kouparitsas, will play for his beloved Raiders. He is heading to the Tigers next season in the hope of getting a regular first grade spot. But....

"I try not to think about that and just try to think that next week (the week of the Grand Final) will be my last game" Kouparitsas said. ""When we played Souths in the last round I thought, gee this wil be my last game with the club at the home ground, but apart from that its been fine. I just really hope this season can pan out one more week."

Kouparitsas started our with the Raiders via a junior development squad as a 12 year old. He was selected in the Australian schoolboys rugby side in 2001. Two victories against an English Academy side and a France schoolboys team gave him the taste of league that ultimately swayed him to stick with the sport in preference to rugby union. "Being at Dara[malan College] I played a fair bit of union growing up but finally decided league was for me. I'm glad because this year has been realy good."

Kouparitsas was named once on an extended bench for first grade (Round 15 against the Bulldogs) this year but did not make the cut on the day.

**********

I seriously think we will regret letting him go to the Tigers. Yet more junior development wasted.

 

[greeneyed]

There was no news on PL on WIN TV tonight. There was, however, scum union news. :x

 

[Tidus_Raider]

The more I read about this guy the more I think we will regret letting him go. You dont let players who you developed from the age of 12 to Australian schoolboys slip through your fingers. You just dont do that.

 

[Kris_man]

Today's CT reports that this weekend could be the last time that West Belconnen junior, Nick Kouparitsas, will play for his beloved Raiders. He is heading to the Tigers next season in the hope of getting a regular first grade spot. But....

"I try not to think about that and just try to think that next week (the week of the Grand Final) will be my last game" Kouparitsas said. ""When we played Souths in the last round I thought, gee this wil be my last game with the club at the home ground, but apart from that its been fine. I just really hope this season can pan out one more week."

Kouparitsas started our with the Raiders via a junior development squad as a 12 year old. He was selected in the Australian schoolboys rugby side in 2001. Two victories against an English Academy side and a France schoolboys team gave him the taste of league that ultimately swayed him to stick with the sport in preference to rugby union. "Being at Dara[malan College] I played a fair bit of union growing up but finally decided league was for me. I'm glad because this year has been realy good."

Kouparitsas was named once on an extended bench for first grade (Round 15 against the Bulldogs) this year but did not make the cut on the day.

damn, that's so sad we'll miss you Nick!