Rd1: Eels v Titans GAME DAY THREAD @ Comm Bank Stadium 13/3/22

[Poupou Escobar]

Finishing from centre is different to finishing from wing. Russell or Sivo both score that try under the same pressure

Any winger can bomb a try. Look at Alex Johnston fluff this one at the end of this video: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/12/13/the-best-or-worst-bombed-tries-from-the-2020-season/

 

[Happy MEel]

He is a better half than who? My dog?

Probably, but I haven’t seen your dog play

 

[JokerEel]

Perham should be playing as our utility in the next few weeks.

I do like JA but he needs to just dominate second grade and play 80. At least his eyes are not painted on unlike alot of the people on this forum..

 

[strider]

Interestingly, Cody Walker's team only scored 4 points on the weekend. Matt Burton's team only 6. Sam Walker and Luke Kearys team only 6 points. DCE and Turbo Tom's team 6 as well. Strange round of footy.

Will Smith's team scored 28

 

[Poupou Escobar]

In the games he started at centre he won more than he lost.

But had a lower win rate (60%) than his team overall that year (69%)

 

[JokerEel]

Probably, but I haven’t seen your dog play

No chance my dog can defend unlike Carty

 

[JokerEel]

Will Smith's team scored 28

How many did JA side score

 

[hineyrulz]

The attack and defence were both poor. I've provided an explanation that covers both. How are you going to blame Jake Arthur for the defensive collapse? The fact is we got a good lead and clocked off. At the same time the Titans got a sniff of blood. It was good leadership from their young leadership group.

You’ve explained??? Thank god where would we be without you???

 

[strider]

• Dally M votes: 3 - Mitchell Moses, 2 - Reed Mahoney, 1 - Toby Sexton. Judge: Greg Inglis.

NRL Round 1 wrap-up: Moses, Hughes claim early Dally M points

All the scores, highlights, injuries, judiciary news and Dally M votes from Week 1 of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership.

www.nrl.com

I think Greg might have been to the Ruan Simms school of dally m pointing

 

[strider]

How many did JA side score

JA only gets partial credit

 

[84 Baby]

Any winger can bomb a try. Look at Alex Johnston fluff this one at the end of this video: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/12/13/the-best-or-worst-bombed-tries-from-the-2020-season/

Johnston failing to catch a simple pass isn’t the same as Blake misjudging what he was required to do to plant the ball over the line.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Question - if Russell didn't get injured yesterday, just WTF was BA going to do with JA? Replace Drown or Moses? Madness

We could've only used 16 players like so often happens in the NRL. Or he could've had some pity minutes if we got enough of a lead. That's also very common. Nico Hynes played zero minutes in the 2020 grand final. He probably would've played if Penrith hadn't made it close, like Slade Griffin's 12 minutes in the 2017 grand final.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Matterson goes to centre. Player a lot there at NRL level. Stone slots into lock.

Instead we had a guy play wing who never realy has and a guy play centre who never realy has. Two of our strike players id say moved too accommodate a guy who has poor defense and no real spark in attack.

Strike players can't play wing and centre? Wingers get more opportunities to run than centres and centres have more room to move than halfbacks.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The fact that Jake did so much kicking illustrates that he wasnt purely selected as a replacement in case of injury. Russells injury or not, Jake was coming on and playing 7 at some stage with the previous weeks trial game additional evidence and BAs pre game comments about trying Drown at center and fullback.
Id be flabbergasted if the same dosent happen V The Sharkies cause thats how BA rolls.
Personally Id play Oppy on the wing and avoid any disruption to our halves and backline. Rein to 14 also which would allow Hands to have a full game in the 2s. He looked promising in his short spell and needs game time. Im a big fan of Maka but Rodwells efforts V Simms and Burgess in the 2s shouldnt be ignored.

Jake did a lot of kicking because he is good at it, plus it lets Moses get wider and run the ball on tackle five because he's not required to be the kicker on the last. Moses had one run in the first half and four in the second. They play to their strengths. Drown runs more when he plays 6 while Arthur kicks and passes more.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

In the centres running wide with the winger outside of him keeping the defense in two minds.
Fucjing rabbit

Our winger was only covered by their winger, meaning he still had to beat his man and the fullback to the corner.

 

[84 Baby]

Jake did a lot of kicking because he is good at it, plus it lets Moses get wider and run the ball on tackle five because he's not required to be the kicker on the last. Moses had one run in the first half and four in the second. They play to their strengths. Drown runs more when he plays 6 while Arthur kicks and passes more.

Jrthur is passable as a kicker but Moses is possibly the premier field kicker in the comp. Does the addition of Moses running game on 5th tackle add enough to warrant losing that kicking ability? Maybe every now and then

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yes fine. It isn't about JAKES game solely. The question I ask you is do you feel he it of NRL LEVEL?

He is backup level, which is how he's being used. He will come on if there's a backline injury or if we get a good lead and we can afford to give him some minutes to aid his development.

We had Haze Dunster on the bench a few games last season. Lot of injuries and I guess they felt he could help cover. Unsure if it was when Marata was in the 2nd row.

Both times it was when Niukore was playing centre. In fact the first week he wasn't on the bench was round ten when Blake returned from injury.

So is JA NRL calibre player?

He is good enough to be a backup. Perfect even.

If he is only there cause we have no other utility options then you have to ask yourself why we didn't sign one in our squad. He looks very average. Even when he kicks the ball he looks uncomfortable. And puts up these wobbly looking bombs.

He is also never in motion when he gets the ball and just crabs across field and shuffles it back inside. No real conviction. Anyone could do that. There is no skill in toddling 5 steps sideways and turning the ball inside to a flat footed forward. Its just giving the defense an easy tackle and time to catch breathe.

Halves have to be in motion and know what they are about to do on every play. They must be going after something or plotting for the next play.

Nobody is saying he won't be an NRL player. Everyone is just saying he needs time and work. He isn't a generational talent that has to be part of the 17. For his sake and the coaches he is best in under 20s imo and then NSW cup later in the season.

I would say the only back who is better than him in reserve grade is Opacic. But if he was on the bench what do we do if we lose a half? I'd argue that this is more disruptive:

1. Simonsson
2. Blake
3. Opacic
6. Gutherson
7. Moses/Drown

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Perham would be a better option. Can cover more positions.

Having a utility part of your top 30 also should of been sorted before kick off

Perham is high risk. Not what you need from a backup player.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Well i spoke to about half a dozen parra fans today at work and not one of them could come up with a justifiable reason why you move your starting 5/8 out into the centres to bring in an 19 year old backup half who has yet to do anything meaningful in 8 first grade games to play in your spine.

I said it last year this will be the deathknell for BA if he persists with his son.

Fans aren't going to cop it they see enough nepotism at junior sport let alone professional sport when it comes to their team. We are trying to win a premiership not hand out jerseys.

Unless JA gets himself up to Cleary's level as a rep player which is still years away an unlikely at this stage this will end in tears unless someone at the club has enough balls to step in and tell BA he is doing more damage than he realises.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The only thing I’d add is Round 1 isn’t the Grand Final. I’ve actually been (undeservedly) the guy who rides the pine an entire GF. Not saying I should’ve started but I deserved to be subbed on. Almost/should’ve decked the coach that season. Anyway my point is other than forum nuffies whinging, a round 1 loss (they whinge when we win too) isn’t as bad as a GF loss so you can experiment with things. If someone needs to be Aaron Raper in SOO to win a GF then that’s what has to happen.
The Jrthur on/Drown to centre looked ok in trial but for whatever reason it didn’t work yesterday. BA may try it again this week, he may be forced to but it’s bed wetting to assume yesterday’s team has already been penned in as our GF team.

Exactly. The coach has a history of giving his youngsters a couple of games in first grade (often off the bench) to aid their development and then sending them back to reserve grade to get more minutes. I'm sure he'll do the same with other youngsters through the year.