Rumoured and Confirmed signings - Part 4

[umina panther]

I want captain Yeo playing 80 but Kikau could do with a rest in some games

 

[franklin2323]

I want captain Yeo playing 80 but Kikau could do with a rest in some games

Kikau hasn't played backrower before. Even Taupau sidestepped him 50 mins to start and go from there.

Even if he played 80. It is very easy to go off for HIA. Need a bench backrower regardless

 

[Luke Bowden]

JFH was an edge player in juniors. Not releasing CHN or Peachey would of solved this.

We have to have a backrower on the bench so what is your solution?

8.Merrin
9.Katoa
10.RCG
11.Kikau(80mins)
12.Yeo(80 mins)
13.Fish

14.Egan/May
15.Heatherington
16.Leota
17.Tamou

 

[TheFrog]

He's been no where near his best since 2016. How long can we wait at his age?

Something hasn't been right, maybe its his relationship status, and maybe its something else. He seems like a genuine sort of bloke to me, and his form would bother him as much as anyone. Rather than running away, maybe he should be seeing someone in the sports psychology area. Or maybe he was carrying injury in the latter stages of the season when his output really dropped.

I don't think we should be in such a rush to offload him. He did play for us with a nasty dislocation in his finger which must have been painful. He could have just sat 2 or 3 games out and still drew his pay. The club showing faith might be just the thing that brings him back.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Something hasn't been right, maybe its his relationship status, and maybe its something else. He seems like a genuine sort of bloke to me, and his form would bother him as much as anyone. Rather than running away, maybe he should be seeing someone in the sports psychology area. Or maybe he was carrying injury in the latter stages of the season when his output really dropped.

I don't think we should be in such a rush to offload him. He did play for us with a nasty dislocation in his finger which must have been painful. He could have just sat 2 or 3 games out and still drew his pay. The club showing faith might be just the thing that brings him back.

I personally think it’s a lot more to do with Griffins Game plan. I believe that’s why he was shifted to the bench and ultimately the front row.

 

[umina panther]

Another reason I'd like a backrower on the bench is in games where nothing is happening and we can't break a team down is Kikau shifting to the middle for a bit.

 

[franklin2323]

8.Merrin
9.Katoa
10.RCG
11.Kikau(80mins)
12.Yeo(80 mins)
13.Fish

14.Egan/May
15.Heatherington
16.Leota
17.Tamou

Who plays backrow if Yeo or Kikau need to go off? All it takes is a stray boot and they could be off for 15 mins getting checked out

 

[Luke Bowden]

Kikau hasn't played backrower before. Even Taupau sidestepped him 50 mins to start and go from there.

Even if he played 80. It is very easy to go off for HIA. Need a bench backrower regardless

What are you talking about?? A lot of people thought he should have been the Dally M back tower of the year??

 

[franklin2323]

Another reason I'd like a backrower on the bench is in games where nothing is happening and we can't break a team down is Kikau shifting to the middle for a bit.

Ideally for me. We get a Taylor type guy to start on the left. Would help with the bad starts then Kikau is 1st change and gets as much ball as possible.

Him and Blake are weapons but need to sort the left defence a good start is a must

 

[Luke Bowden]

Who plays backrow if Yeo or Kikau need to go off? All it takes is a stray boot and they could be off for 15 mins getting checked out

May/Heatherington/Fish or Merrin. Depending on whose on the bench when the injury occurs.

 

[franklin2323]

What are you talking about?? A lot of people thought he should have been the Dally M back tower of the year??

Who are these people? He can't defend well enough to be mentioned in that class yet. Attack wise he is a beast and scary to see how good he will get but ATM defence needs work

 

[umina panther]

Who are these people? He can't defend well enough to be mentioned in that class yet. Attack wise he is a beast and scary to see how good he will get but ATM defence needs work

He did start the year better defensively before he was playing with a few knocks but how much of that was injury and how much was the opposition working him out a bit?

 

[OldPanther]

He did start the year better defensively before he was playing with a few knocks but how much of that was injury and how much was the opposition working him out a bit?

Jimmy running out of the line left him isolated a lot.

 

[umina panther]

Jimmy running out of the line left him isolated a lot.

Yeah well their is that haha. Halves will miss tackles but hold your place in the line ffs

 

[mxlegend99]

Who are these people? He can't defend well enough to be mentioned in that class yet. Attack wise he is a beast and scary to see how good he will get but ATM defence needs work

Be honest. He along with a second rower or two from just about every club was more deserving than Josh Jackson.

His defence was only bad after he had a few knocks and Jimmy was playing busted. Before that he was pretty decent. Jimmy shouldnt have been playing busted. But if you're going to carry a defensive liability you should be covering him with your best defensive players either side of him.

Cleary would have helped Kikau. Yeo would have helped Jimmy

 

[franklin2323]

Be honest. He along with a second rower or two from just about every club was more deserving than Josh Jackson.

His defence was only bad after he had a few knocks and Jimmy was playing busted. Before that he was pretty decent. Jimmy shouldnt have been playing busted. But if you're going to carry a defensive liability you should be covering him with your best defensive players either side of him.

Cleary would have helped Kikau. Yeo would have helped Jimmy

It is a changing of the guard really. Latrell, Ponga etc have burst on to the scene and had good years but needs more then. Kikau is one of these.

Kikau didn't play his 1st game of RL until he was 18. Only played centre and prop so it is natural he falls away.

Blake was the other side of Maloney and missed less than a tackle a game. Kikau let a few easy tries in but like any rookie is bound to have bad patches.

Changing sides with Cleary/Maloney will help. With both attack and defence

 

[franklin2323]

He did start the year better defensively before he was playing with a few knocks but how much of that was injury and how much was the opposition working him out a bit?

All part of learning to play FG. Him continuing to develop is the most exciting part of the next few years

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Just because Merrin has been offered a big contract in the UK doesn’t mean he’s leaving. He may not want to leave, Gus May not release him. It’s all just rumours and speculation at this point.

If he doesn't improve he's not going to get a better offer. It depends if he backs himself to improve.

 

[kinghippo]

I don’t think we are in a position to let Merrin go. I know his form has been poor but he may come good and we definitely need his experience in the team.
If we can get a big name replacement at prop great but it’s unlikely we will get anyone better.

The coaching dramas and big signings have overshadowed the biggest problem our team will face next year, depth.

Merrin can play anywhere in the pack decently, if he turns up fit and firing we will be better off than letting him go.
I am also a bit worried about the depth in the backline, who is next in line on the wing if we loose a back or two?

 

[franklin2323]

I don’t think we are in a position to let Merrin go. I know his form has been poor but he may come good and we definitely need his experience in the team.
If we can get a big name replacement at prop great but it’s unlikely we will get anyone better.

The coaching dramas and big signings have overshadowed the biggest problem our team will face next year, depth.

Merrin can play anywhere in the pack decently, if he turns up fit and firing we will be better off than letting him go.
I am also a bit worried about the depth in the backline, who is next in line on the wing if we loose a back or two?

wing is ok. Dallin's brother and Phillips. Even Aekins can fill in for a few games as needed. For me who is our backup centre or backrower that is the issue