Round 1 v Sharks

[hindy111]

You think for that role, Blaize has played fullback, wing, centre and 5/8th he has size to potentially be of use should we lose a forward or 2.

Ticks most boxes if we can get him some game time when we don't have to reshuffle then it is more helpful

His spot is 5/8 I reckon. J.Cole long term may look elsewhere.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I doubt Garner will be starting at centre a whole lot. This happened due to Alamoti covering To'o. Ivan could have used Jesse Mc but maybe one rookie too many.

Yep.
The pre-season training left edge was IPap, Casey and Alamoti. Bizza's injury caused a big re-shuffle. Casey was good in the 1st trial but not so good in the All-Stars game. Against a weaker opposition he probably plays.

 

[betcats]

Blaize will get his chance. I suspect he will play a few cup games and assuming he plays well he will be pushing into the bench

 

[Chins]

Blaize will get his chance. I suspect he will play a few cup games and assuming he plays well he will be pushing into the bench

Can't see him improving with how Ivan uses a 14. May as well stay in cup until picked at 6

 

[betcats]

Can't see him improving with how Ivan uses a 14. May as well stay in cup until picked at 6

Ivans got this, he’s been developing superstars like they’re going out of fashion the last few years.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

It doesn't pass the pub test, but the interpretation has been very consistent since they brought the rule in: dislodging the ball in a try scoring situation goes against the attacking team.

If the exact same thing happened on the halfway line it would have been play on, 6 more tackles.

Glad it didn't cost us the game.

I think you might be a little mistaken about if it happened on halfway. That would be 2 on one in a tackle strip and penalty to team in possession.

Try scoring situations is where the strip rules go out the window.

What we saw was a blatant error by the on field and video ref's.

 

[Sime_11]

i have no issue with Kennedy's play but it doesn't sit well with me that its a knock on to Lindsay Smith when he maintains possession of the ball - he only loses the ball because Kennedy knocks it out.

IMO the ruling should be clarified:

if the defending player makes contact with the ball whilst the attacking player is in the act of scoring a try, causing the ball to be dislodged from the attacking player = play on, 6 again to the attacking team

if the defending player makes contact with the attacking players hand/arm (no contact is made with the ball), dislodging the ball from the attacking player = knock on against the attacking player.

im still dirty on the Peter Wallace knock on up in Brisbane 10+ years ago - that was the same situation

 

[Iamback]

His spot is 5/8 I reckon. J.Cole long term may look elsewhere.

I have to see more from him to say that.

Cole did the right things yesterday. Cleary was tackled on the 5th tackle, he put a decent kick in and we got the ball back. Straightened up well to throw a nice pass for Laurie's 1st try

That is what we need from the 6. I haven't seen anything from Blaize yet to say he can do that.

There is no rush, plenty of chances to play in the 17 and build from that for him

 

[hindy111]

I have to see more from him to say that.

Cole did the right things yesterday. Cleary was tackled on the 5th tackle, he put a decent kick in and we got the ball back. That is what we need from the 6. I haven't seen anything from Blaize yet to say he can do that.

There is no rush, plenty of chances to play in the 17 and build from that for him

Blaize attack is far better then Cole. He is electric.
But he currently will be your worse defender by some margin. That's the issue. Once/if he learns to defend at NRL level he gets the spot and will go well.

 

[betcats]

Coles defence meanwhile is excellent, he’s got some Nigel plum in him when he hits low. Yesterday and in our trial he had two great hits that woulda brought tears to plummies eyes

 

[Iamback]

Blaize attack is far better then Cole. He is electric.
But he currently will be your worse defender by some margin. That's the issue. Once/if he learns to defend at NRL level he gets the spot and will go well.

We aren't after attack though. Attack is very handy but not if it puts someone out on the next play. Ivan likes players that make their tackles, don't make mistakes. Do the basics well and go from there

I think 14 is good after a few lower grade games in 6, Injuries and suspension will see him start and can go from there.

It will be great discussion to have for next season about the 6

 

[Iamback]

Coles defence meanwhile is excellent, he’s got some Nigel plum in him when he hits low. Yesterday and in our trial he had two great hits that woulda brought tears to plummies eyes

That is years in the system showing up there

 

[age.s]

I want almost no passing from Dyl haha

His hands for the Alamoti try were silky.

I feel the same way about Dyls ball playing as I do Kennys. It's not where their strengths naturally lie and they both overplay their hand sometimes, but their positions demand they do it and they're better at it then people often give them credit for.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

Went in Rusty, underdone, many coming off surgery and shortened pre-season, and we never looked out of control against a side many are saying could be a GF team, definite top 4.

The wheels just keep rolling. Not to mention missing the likes of Toó and Henry.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Went in Rusty, underdone, many coming off surgery and shortened pre-season, and we never looked out of control against a side many are saying could be a GF team, definite top 4.

The wheels just keep rolling. Not to mention missing the likes of Toó and Henry.

You are totally correct in your assessment, especially the underdone bit. That to me means we will only wind it up as the season progresses and blood some young fella's.

On Cronulla being a top 4 side, everyone falls into the "experts" talk about how improved they will be, blah blah blah.

We saw the same old same old stuff from the Sharks with a prop that actually has a go and it was still not good enough. To their credit, at least they scored some points this time.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

You are totally correct in your assessment, especially the underdone bit. That to me means we will only wind it up as the season progresses and blood some young fella's.

On Cronulla being a top 4 side, everyone falls into the "experts" talk about how improved they will be, blah blah blah.

We saw the same old same old stuff from the Sharks with a prop that actually has a go and it was still not good enough. To their credit, at least they scored some points this time.

Agree on the addition of AFB, yes he can play but he isnt going to change the direction of that team all too much.

 

[soc123_au]

Coles defence meanwhile is excellent, he’s got some Nigel plum in him when he hits low. Yesterday and in our trial he had two great hits that woulda brought tears to plummies eyes

His technique and timing are excellent. Hopefully we see a bit of stability positionally on his side of the field. Once that side has some confidence in each other they will be hard to crack.

 

[Pomoz]

Just a couple of points:

-No trial game for most of the players, thanks to the Storm's shenanigans and yet they all managed to keep the intensity for most of the game. Our fitness staff are peerless;

-To lose McLean so early and play most of the game with a 3 man bench shows you the mentality of our team. That toughness comes from five years of intense training and conditioning so it reaches a point it is ingrained into the culture of the club and even new players, get it;

-Attack was clunkier than a Yugo GV, but...Cleary just organises the team like a general, the other players just need to do their job correctly and then a try is scored. It's beautiful to watch. Like watching chess pieces with muscles and tats moved around by a grand master;

- According to some on here, Kenny is plod, according to the NRL coaches surveyed in 2024, he is one of the most underrated players in the game. He is harder than a Pit Bull with a flick knife and his service yesterday was excellent. Kenny, together with Leota, and Martin are our engines of destruction, smashing players backwards and letting them know, "ye shall not pass";

- Leota looked really good. Last year he was broken most of they year carrying an injury, after his surgery he has started the year looking his normal beastly self. Maybe there is hope after Fish's departure after all;

- Cole hits like a missile. If he develops his ball playing game, silk" to add to his "steel", he will be another salary cap problem waiting to happen, which will be a great problem to have;

- Papali had no highlights reel but 25 tackles for no misses and 108m is a great first up effort. He could be a very handy acquisition.

 

[age.s]

Re Cole, the issue was never whether he could play and/or had the potential to be quality, it's whether his body will hold up for a full season of NRL. Hopefully this is the year where he gets some luck on that front.

Agree with all who have been saying he's a perfect fit for the 14 role when were full strength.

 

[Panfa]

If cole does well at 5/8 no reason talagi can't play centre with tago and have t'oo and alamoti on both wings.Otherwise I'm even happy for talagi to be the 14 ahead of laurie,he can cover the same positions and looks bigger and stronger than laurie.Hes too good a player to leave out of our top 17.Im sure ivan will work it out.