Round 2 v Bulldogs

[Pomoz]

I should add, in my view, Griffin not debuting TMM or ZDC against the Bulldogs monster pack was a good call. I'm sure they will get a run soon.

 

[umina panther]

TMM against the fat Dogs fowards would have been perfect

 

[Kilkenny]

TMM is already 2 years older than Greg Alexander was when he made his first grade debut, after one game in reserves and prior to that schoolboy football. He is three and a half years older than Brad Fittler was on debut.

The game has changed since the 80's I suppose, but they used to say if you're good enough you're old enough.

In the Freddy and Brandy Alexander era the game was very different. There were few Pacific Islander kids in the game and the average weight of players in that era would have been at least 10kg less than in the current game.

Watching our game on Thursday night was no different to any other game. The entire offensive line, was one straight line. I watched a Foxtel Classic era game a few weeks back and in the 90's it was not uncommon for the winger on the open side to be 20-30 metres behind the first receiver. Not now, it just doesn't happen.

Yes if your good enough age may not matter there are examples of halves in the later teen's early twenties being blooded in the modern game but given the size of the modern player the halves need to be men not boys.

 

[franklin2323]

Moylan, Seg, Katoa are out. We need the extra attacker while they are out. When they are fit we are fine. So TMM or ZDC can go back down.

We had the option to make a play for McCrone or someone as depth. We chose youth so we should play them when needed.

 

[Pomoz]

Moylan, Seg, Katoa are out. We need the extra attacker while they are out. When they are fit we are fine. So TMM or ZDC can go back down.

We had the option to make a play for McCrone or someone as depth. We chose youth so we should play them when needed.

I agree, play them in bursts and then when the seniors return, back down they go. Thats a long way from some of the calls on here to make TMM the permanent 5/8th and sack Wallace.

For the record, I think Wallace is a great pro and it was good business to keep him at the club. We shouldn't underestimate the importance of his positive influence on the youngsters coming through. That said, he is now at a stage where he is a squad player and I would have preferred that Moylan was made 5/8th, no questions asked and given time to grow into the role. It won't work if you say "we'll give you a game there and see how you go'. It creates pressure on him to try and make big plays in one game. Lockyer was not brilliant in his first showing as 5/8th and he was a hell of a player and grew into the role over time. Moylan deserves a run of say 10 games and given a chance to show he can do it. Wallace on the bench and he can come on and play hooker and also spell Moylan as he builds up his fitness in that position.

 

[Pomoz]

TMM against the fat Dogs fowards would have been perfect

Their "who ate all the pies" physiques, didn't seem to restrict their mobility. We made no line breaks even with noted tackle busters like Blake, Mansour and Hiku. Whare is no slouch either.

They may have love handles, but the Dogs are tough as nails and would have loved to have eaten up TMM with some Fava beans and a bottle of Chianti.

 

[Copperhead]

Their "who ate all the pies" physiques, didn't seem to restrict their mobility. We made no line breaks even with noted tackle busters like Blake, Mansour and Hiku. Whare is no slouch either.

They may have love handles, but the Dogs are tough as nails and would have loved to have eaten up TMM with some Fava beans and a bottle of Chianti.

Hard to make breaks when the only time you see the ball is when you take it up after a penalty (Whare and Hiku), or running from Dummy half (Mansour). TMM would have given them a chance to do their thing.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Moylan, Seg, Katoa are out. We need the extra attacker while they are out. When they are fit we are fine. So TMM or ZDC can go back down.

We had the option to make a play for McCrone or someone as depth. We chose youth so we should play them when needed.

The best part about playing youth even off the bench is it gives them a taste of first grade, the pace etc, and then letting them go back down a level to understand they need to dominate that level (ala Thurston and even barba when he was coming into grade). They also come up as much more level headed players, without the weight of the world on there shoulders as they have had a taste off the bench but without any major responsibility.

So your coach really needs to try out some of the talent this way, especially if it's a bit of a rebuilding/consolidation year.

 

[Pomoz]

The best part about playing youth even off the bench is it gives them a taste of first grade, the pace etc, and then letting them go back down a level to understand they need to dominate that level (ala Thurston and even barba when he was coming into grade). They also come up as much more level headed players, without the weight of the world on there shoulders as they have had a taste off the bench but without any major responsibility.

So your coach really needs to try out some of the talent this way, especially if it's a bit of a rebuilding/consolidation year.

DOW, that is what we have been doing the last few years and it works well. Griffin also did that at the Broncos. I remember JT at the Dogs and the way he was handled was exactly like that. Too much too soon and players end up with busted bodies and damaged psyches.

 

[betcats]

And yet Jack Bird got thrown in the halves, out of position at the same age as TMM and won rookie of the year. Milford got thrown in the deep end at Canberra and did well. I am all for a cautious approach with our young guys but not every kid is the same, some of them can handle it. I don't think giving TMM a shot can hurt him that much, worst comes to worst he struggles and we move him back to NSW cup or the other side of the coin he goes well and we are laughing.

Bellamy gave a kid a run this week who was playing SG ball last season. Bennet had no worries at all throwing little milford in the halves last season. Not every kid has to be held back for two or three years. We have basically wasted a sub each week with JFH and SA doing little twenty minute stints, let TMM come off the bench like that, he is good enough to try it imo.

If we don't start winning games this week or next we are basically done in terms of making the 8 unless we go on some big run so the only point of making changes after that imo is to set up for next season.

 

[franklin2323]

Don't even need to start them. Both games we have looked lost for ideas in the last 20mins with the game on the line. Having him on the bench to come on in that situation is better then we have now

 

[abpanther]

Anyone see that video of the last try? It appears Reynolds holds the marker back and prevents them from chasing the ball and cutting off the inside run from Mbye

 

[abpanther]

Dude is a grub

 

[TheFrog]

Anyone see that video of the last try? It appears Reynolds holds the marker back and prevents them from chasing the ball and cutting off the inside run from Mbye

It was the first Mbye try. DWZ was the marker. The Panthers didn't appear to complain about it when the try was scored so they didn't go back. It also seems the bunker is looking at these things during play in order to make the referral process quicker. They may have passed this incident as OK.

 

[Copperhead]

Dude is a grub

Can't say I was sorry when Whare ironed him out.

 

[Pomoz]

And yet Jack Bird got thrown in the halves, out of position at the same age as TMM and won rookie of the year. Milford got thrown in the deep end at Canberra and did well. I am all for a cautious approach with our young guys but not every kid is the same, some of them can handle it. I don't think giving TMM a shot can hurt him that much, worst comes to worst he struggles and we move him back to NSW cup or the other side of the coin he goes well and we are laughing.

Bellamy gave a kid a run this week who was playing SG ball last season. Bennet had no worries at all throwing little milford in the halves last season. Not every kid has to be held back for two or three years. We have basically wasted a sub each week with JFH and SA doing little twenty minute stints, let TMM come off the bench like that, he is good enough to try it imo.

If we don't start winning games this week or next we are basically done in terms of making the 8 unless we go on some big run so the only point of making changes after that imo is to set up for next season.

NRL stats show that very few handle it, which is why the average age on debut is 21 plus. I don't think anybody on this forum disagrees that we should give him a run for at least a couple of games. He could be exceptional and not need to be spelled back in NSW cup and wouldn't that be great?
I hope so. What we don't want is another busted body to add to the rather long list we excel at creating.

 

[PenrithPanther45]

moylan is set to be not named and not play round 3, likewise blake and whare are in doubt we are screwed badly

 

[franklin2323]

NRL stats show that very few handle it, which is why the average age on debut is 21 plus. I don't think anybody on this forum disagrees that we should give him a run for at least a couple of games. He could be exceptional and not need to be spelled back in NSW cup and wouldn't that be great?
I hope so. What we don't want is another busted body to add to the rather long list we excel at creating.

Still would rather him go back at some stage. Just when is the question

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Whare is reportedly out for 4-6 weeks - Michael Chammas twitter

 

[betcats]

There is no way he got passed 100 percent fit, no f**king way.