Round 23 v Souths. Posts by @iamback are all opinion based

[snickers007]

So Franklin's opinion is worth more than mine, because he travels to see cup and junior games.......Right ?

That's a bit like saying someone is a better supporter or fan the other.

Don't waste my time writing such twaddle.

When the opinion is about the playing ability (and NRL potential) of a reserve grader, of course the opinion of the person who has seen them play more holds more weight.

That's called learned experience.

If you want to stick your head in the sand and pretend that everything will be fine just because Soni Luke is a local junior, and he must be a gun because all local juniors are great, be my guest.

If you ask a stupid question, don't be surprised if people call you out on it.

 

[Iamback]

When the opinion is about the playing ability (and NRL potential) of a reserve grader, of course the opinion of the person who has seen them play more holds more weight.

That's called learned experience.

If you want to stick your head in the sand and pretend that everything will be fine just because Soni Luke is a local junior, and he must be a gun because all local juniors are great, be my guest.

If you ask a stupid question, don't be surprised if people call you out on it.

Good reponse.

The Question isn't so much the player's skill but the position they are coming into.

To expect Soni Luke with around 60 mins of FG, To come in and have the same impact as a dual premiership winning elite 9. Is just madness

So too Mitch Kenny, They will show glimpses and look decent in the structure but when we have injuries hit. The ability to step it up
won't be there.

Tago is a perfect example, He is still playing well enough, Still looks like a quality FG ( before someone says I am knocking him)

He had 8 tries and 4 try assists from the 1st 10 rounds.

Since then has 4 tries and 3 try assists ( his last one in Round 14 )

So the ability to be constant threat early on is very hard. We have seen it perfectly with SOS too, He does some great things. Only to follow it up with some poor play.

So that is why an educated guess says we will fall back to the pack next year, That is without knowing how big a loss Kikau also is or the assistant coaches

 

[Pomoz]

Good reponse.

The Question is so much the player's skill but the position they are coming into.

To expect Soni Luke will around 60 mins of FG, To come in and have the same impact as a dual premiership winning elite 9. Is just madness

So too Mitch Kenny, They will show glimpses and look decent in the structure but when we have injuries hit. The ability to step it up
won't be there.

Tago is a perfect example, He is still playing well enough, Still looks like a quality FG ( before someone says I am knocking him)

He had 8 tries and 4 try assists from the 1st 10 rounds.

Since then has 4 tries and 3 try assists ( his last one in Round 14 )

So the ability to be constant threat early on is very hard. We have seen it perfectly with SOS too, He does some great things. Only to follow it up with some poor play.

So that is why an educated guess says we will fall back to the pack next year, That is without knowing how big a loss Kikau also is or the assistant coaches

A very reasoned analysis. There is always an unknown element in this. Could Jenkins, Turuva or any other junior, make a big leap in performance? To’o and Crichton hit first grade and just improved to almost rep level immediately. Could another off season turn Leniu into the beast he shows glimpses of now. How good could Garner and Hosking be with our strength and conditioning programme, which must surely be one of the best in the NRL (based on the fitness levels our players show)?

The unknown element at least makes next season interesting.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

The folks rushing around saying unless you actually have seen a cup or flegg game live, your opinion is basically worthless.

As many know here on this platform my days of actually watching games live are very sadly dead and buried.

(Not looking for sympathy just dealing in facts)


I've seen marked improvement in Kenny, and especially Luke's work when at dummy half. (this done via the games I've watched on facebook or which have been on the tellY)

I believe it's not doom and gloom for 2023 and beyond.

If some want to don sack cloths and ashed proclaiming 'we'll all doomed'




Go for it.

(spelling and grammar corrected in the edit. Along with explanation about how I watched these games.)

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

When the opinion is about the playing ability (and NRL potential) of a reserve grader, of course the opinion of the person who has seen them play more holds more weight.

That's called learned experience.

If you want to stick your head in the sand and pretend that everything will be fine just because Soni Luke is a local junior, and he must be a gun because all local juniors are great, be my guest.

If you ask a stupid question, don't be surprised if people call you out on it.

Oh great and wise one.

I didn't ask a 'stupid' question as you put it..........

I gave my opinion.

Which apparently unless it goes with what some of the 'Eddie the Expert Lounge chair coaches' believe it's considered worthles.

 

[Iamback]

A very reasoned analysis. There is always an unknown element in this. Could Jenkins, Turuva or any other junior, make a big leap in performance? To’o and Crichton hit first grade and just improved to almost rep level immediately. Could another off season turn Leniu into the beast he shows glimpses of now. How good could Garner and Hosking be with our strength and conditioning programme, which must surely be one of the best in the NRL (based on the fitness levels our players show)?

The unknown element at least makes next season interesting.

I have said before I would have Tago centre, which allows Jenkins or Turuva to come in.
That has Garner off the bench which gives Martin less time and we would see the best in him.

Leinu with his leg speed and quick play the ball has a huge upside

Chris Smith is a defensive player

Lisati is the closest to Kiks but has been playing front row, As has Mav - They are capable but likely to get limited minutes next year

Further down. Puru can attack but playing lock
Zac Lipowicz in Flegg started the year as a hard runner. The last month or so has developed a passing game to the extent the is throwing cut out passes to put wingers over.

Those last few guys are likely 2024 projects but who knows if they come on quicker.

As for Hooker,
Conner Mason hasn't really made an impact

Jack Cole in NSW Cup played 6,7 and 3. Would be a handy 14 and give him some 9 and see how he goes. He might become an option down the track

 

[Crashtest]

Jack Cole in NSW Cup played 6,7 and 3. Would be a handy 14 and give him some 9 and see how he goes. He might become an option down the track

I just had a look at Cole's NSW cup stats. Impressive for a 19 rookie with only 10 games behind him.

In his 10 Cup games he has 5 tries, 8 try assists, 10 line break assists, tackling at 90%, and has kicked 17 goals at 89%.

Do you know if we have him locked up on a contract?

 

[Girds89]

Another fanboy post here and proud of it. Api could dominate like this every bloody week but he steps back and plays for the team with Nathan and Luai in the side.
Some people on here questioned his heart going into this year after he signed with Wests.......fmd don't those merkins look silly

Same way you and those merkins look silly about kikau mate haha?

 

[Iamback]

I just had a look at Cole's NSW cup stats. Impressive for a 19 rookie with only 10 games behind him.

In his 10 Cup games he has 5 tries, 8 try assists, 10 line break assists, tackling at 90%, and has kicked 17 goals at 89%.

Do you know if we have him locked up on a contract?

Yeah he has gone well considering he has moved in multiple positions

Yeah he signed until end of 2024

 

[Smug Panther]

Same way you and those merkins look silly about kikau mate haha?

What about Kikau?

 

[Girds89]

Good reponse.

The Question isn't so much the player's skill but the position they are coming into.

To expect Soni Luke with around 60 mins of FG, To come in and have the same impact as a dual premiership winning elite 9. Is just madness

So too Mitch Kenny, They will show glimpses and look decent in the structure but when we have injuries hit. The ability to step it up
won't be there.

Tago is a perfect example, He is still playing well enough, Still looks like a quality FG ( before someone says I am knocking him)

He had 8 tries and 4 try assists from the 1st 10 rounds.

Since then has 4 tries and 3 try assists ( his last one in Round 14 )

So the ability to be constant threat early on is very hard. We have seen it perfectly with SOS too, He does some great things. Only to follow it up with some poor play.

So that is why an educated guess says we will fall back to the pack next year, That is without knowing how big a loss Kikau also is or the assistant coaches

Bit shallow just putting this down to tago..

If youd look over the last 2/3 years that same period you alude to above has seen our whole team drop off... not just tago.

Over origin we have a huge amount of players out or fatigued. It takes its toll..

You cant honetly expect our outside backs to have the same numbers during origin and post origin when we have been missing our best players for huge portions.

That goes for everyone. Not just tago. Like, may has dropped off, critta and too look out of sorts.

Just grabbing some stats for him meand nothing when in reality the whole side has dropped off over that period the last few years.

If anything i think tago has shown he real qualities.

That parra game when we went down to 12 i thought he was incredible.

Like he grew another leg and he just kept putting his hand up and every run he took was damaging.

I agree re: kenny and luke, but tago is going from strength to strength regardless to what stats you produce.

The first 14 rds he was also dropping the ball twice a game and making the off avg decision in defence too but hes fixed that up. Hes defence is rock solid as is hes ball security.

Stats only show so much

 

[Girds89]

What about Kikau?

You were one of the main ones saying he was going to phone it in.

But hes had hes best year ever for us

 

[Smug Panther]

You were one of the main ones saying he was going to phone it in.

But hes had hes best year ever for us

Had a epic first half of the year thats for sure. Been totally ineffective for a while now but hopefully he fires in the finals

 

[Iamback]

Bit shallow just putting this down to tago..

If youd look over the last 2/3 years that same period you alude to above has seen our whole team drop off... not just tago.

Over origin we have a huge amount of players out or fatigued. It takes its toll..

You cant honetly expect our outside backs to have the same numbers during origin and post origin when we have been missing our best players for huge portions.

That goes for everyone. Not just tago. Like, may has dropped off, critta and too look out of sorts.

Just grabbing some stats for him meand nothing when in reality the whole side has dropped off over that period the last few years.

If anything i think tago has shown he real qualities.

That parra game when we went down to 12 i thought he was incredible.

Like he grew another leg and he just kept putting his hand up and every run he took was damaging.

I agree re: kenny and luke, but tago is going from strength to strength regardless to what stats you produce.

The first 14 rds he was also dropping the ball twice a game and making the off avg decision in defence too but hes fixed that up. Hes defence is rock solid as is hes ball security.

Stats only show so much

Where did I put Tago down?

Just pointing out as a rookie it is hard to have the same impact across a whole season.

As such the hooker next year will have the same

 

[Iamback]

Had a epic first half of the year thats for sure. Been totally ineffective for a while now but hopefully he fires in the finals

Using the same Metrics as above with Tago

7 try assist until Round 10
2 since

Been ok scoring tries but Cleary and Api have been short to the forwards

 

[Girds89]

Where did I put Tago down?

Just pointing out as a rookie it is hard to have the same impact across a whole season.

As such the hooker next year will have the same

Read my post. Didnt say you were putting tago down.. i was alluding to the fact that the WHOLE team drops off over the period you talk about.

You are using a bloke who has gone from stremgth to strength all year as an exsmple which doesnt make sense.

Regardless to the stats hes games far better now than it was in the first half of the season.

Using stats to tey say hes dropped off when the whole team does during that period is silly lol

 

[Girds89]

Using the same Metrics as above with Tago

7 try assist until Round 10
2 since

Been ok scoring tries but Cleary and Api have been short to the forwards

Like i said.....

Whole team drops over that period... not just tago lol.

 

[Pomoz]

The toll on the body really impacts the rookies. It takes a few off seasons to build the strength to cope with the NRL, hence the “50 games before you are a first grader” rule espoused by people like Gus. Our own club has shown this rule to be true. We have really hit our straps once Yeo, JFH, Cleary and Luai had enough games under their belt. They were inconsistent before that and now they are at elite level.

It is quite incredible to think how well May and Tago have coped considering this is their first full year and they put their hands up and do the tough carries. Credit to the strength and conditioning staff and also to their good genes. They get the most credit though. They really give their all for the team and are quite fearless. They both have a great attitude. Next year they will have had another off season to build strength. They could both rise to rep level performance given where they are now.

They get very little praise from the media and that’s probably a good thing. Let them fawn over Sualii (a brilliant player, no doubt) and Nanaai (same), but just quietly we have a couple of gems in our back line with plenty more to come from them both.

 

[Iamback]

Like i said.....

Whole team drops over that period... not just tago lol.

Yes but the reply was to covering Burton. Given Tago has replaced Burton then his numbers are relevant

 

[Iamback]

The toll on the body really impacts the rookies. It takes a few off seasons to build the strength to cope with the NRL, hence the “50 games before you are a first grader” rule espoused by people like Gus. Our own club has shown this rule to be true. We have really hit our straps once Yeo, JFH, Cleary and Luai had enough games under their belt. They were inconsistent before that and now they are at elite level.

It is quite incredible to think how well May and Tago have coped considering this is their first full year and they put their hands up and do the tough carries. Credit to the strength and conditioning staff and also to their good genes. They get the most credit though. They really give their all for the team and are quite fearless. They both have a great attitude. Next year they will have had another off season to build strength. They could both rise to rep level performance given where they are now.

They get very little praise from the media and that’s probably a good thing. Let them fawn over Sualii (a brilliant player, no doubt) and Nanaai (same), but just quietly we have a couple of gems in our back line with plenty more to come from them both.

It is tough SG Ball is 10 week comp
Flegg is 70 min games

So the games alone is a big step up, then you throw in full time training

No games last year, the fringe guys must of got a good workout