Rumours and Stuff

[TheRam]

The duke has put together a nice squad. Workers who also make impact like Yeo,Merrin,Tamou then they unleash the power of Rcg,Kikau,Jfh....
All our players are first graders. But the balance is off. KE,Terepo and maybe T rex or Niaukore can change this. Even Vae if he pulls his finger out.

But relax Ram apparently our smaller pack struggled in the heat and once gets cooler we be fine. I always thought it be the other way around but what would I know.

That's exactly the way I see it too Hindy. I like you could see an ambush coming on, but thought we should be able to repel it due to our smaller more agile pack in 30+ deg on Sunday. But how wrong was I. We were the useless merkins in the heat, once the Panthers started to not make those initial errors.

Sure we will recover and probably make the 8, but I hardly think we could beat the Storm, Raiders, Panther, Dragons or Cowboys if we had to play those sorts of packs 2 or 3 weeks in a row. One off outperforming a big pack, sure doable. But having to back it up 2 or 3 times in a row against the bigger packs, when they are playing well. Not likely.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It's not so much him being an edge forward. It's what he brings to the table due to size and aggression. We have nothing like it unless T-Rex stuns us all and turns back the clock to his Manly days. Very unlikely though.

We will get dominated by the bigger more aggressive teams. Cowboys and Storm for example.

You mean those teams full of Origin players? If they beat us it won't be because of more size or aggression, but because of more quality across the board. Swapping Ma'u for Kikau won't give us a better squad than them.

How about the Raiders with their huge pack? Do you think we'll get dominated by them as well?

 

[TheRam]

It's not their size, it's the extra intensity they defend with. That's why Brown had to have a rest. But mostly the heat killed us because Penrith has all their possession in one block in the middle of the game when our benches were on the field. Penrith don't defend with much line speed either, which is better in the heat.

So what are you saying Pou? We should try and avoid teams that play with extra intensity in defense and hope the weather stays cool.

Well I reckon we should just focus on signing better players who can deliver on both those counts. You know like when our bench players come on they can have an impact like Kikau. But hey, you can live in fear of the oppositions "EXTRA INTENSITY IN DEFENSE and the WEATHER.

Each to their own.

 

[TheRam]

He has played 8 FG games FFS. Not quite a career yet.

Have you watched him in the lower grades and Fiji. Anyone who has can see a star in the making. Look I don't want to keep bunging on about this, time will sort it out. But I am hardly ever wrong. Shaun Lane comes to mind. Last year I wrapped him and many on here bagged me out.

Just keep watching this space.

 

[TheRam]

You mean those teams full of Origin players? If they beat us it won't be because of more size or aggression, but because of more quality across the board. Swapping Ma'u for Kikau won't give us a better squad than them.

How about the Raiders with their huge pack? Do you think we'll get dominated by them as well?

If they play to their ability, yes. Their issue is overcoming Stewart.

Our issue isn't quality. We have more then enough quality right across the board. It comes down to size for us now. The coach has done wonders for these players as far as extracting the best out of them. They just get worn out when a bigger meaner bunch of merkins get a big swath of possession.

 

[TheRam]

Oh and don't forget people last year we had Semi, who was our version of Kikau. A game breaker. Someone when all is almost lost and the team is running in quicksand can break tackles from anywhere and create momentum where there was none.

Sure we now have Hayne, but until and if he starts to play like he once did, we don't have anyone else that can break the line like a Kikau or a Semi. We need a Fui type of player. Someone that cracks even the mightiest of defenses wide open.

The Storm and the Cowboys in particular have it in spades.

 

[parra pete]

which dopey prick would make a decision to drive intoxicated with his kids in the car?

Probably that was it!!!!...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So what are you saying Pou? We should try and avoid teams that play with extra intensity in defense and hope the weather stays cool.

I'm saying the defensive intensity that works well for us in the cold might not work so well in the heat at the start and end of the season.

Well I reckon we should just focus on signing better players who can deliver on both those counts. You know like when our bench players come on they can have an impact like Kikau.

Takairangi had an impact, just like Edwards when he came off the bench last year. The difference is Takairangi had to come onto the field too early last week, so his impact was lessened.

But hey, you can live in fear of the oppositions "EXTRA INTENSITY IN DEFENSE and the WEATHER.

Each to their own.

I was talking about Parramatta's extra intensity in defence. Penrith don't play with a fast defensive line. That's why the heat hurt us more than it hurt them.

Anyway stop slashing your wrists while simultaneously crowing about thinking you were right. Penrith are a team at about our level, and they narrowly won (by a few goal kicks) at their home ground during round one when it's a lottery. Let's judge the two teams over the course of 26 rounds (plus finals). Don't forget we beat them last year (despite losing the second half) - when two teams are evenly matched one of them will still probably lose.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Have you watched him in the lower grades and Fiji. Anyone who has can see a star in the making. Look I don't want to keep bunging on about this, time will sort it out. But I am hardly ever wrong. Shaun Lane comes to mind. Last year I wrapped him and many on here bagged me out.

Just keep watching this space.

Shaun Lane might finally become a first grader this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If they play to their ability, yes. Their issue is overcoming Stewart.

Our issue isn't quality. We have more then enough quality right across the board. It comes down to size for us now. The coach has done wonders for these players as far as extracting the best out of them. They just get worn out when a bigger meaner bunch of merkins get a big swath of possession.

Then we need to use our quality to stop them getting that possession. That's why we signed Moses - kicking games decide possession more than anything else. Having Moses off the field (twice) hurt us badly on the weekend.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

Trex could be the answer!!!!...Don't know what the question would be....but he could be the answer..

I'll take "Much maligned NRL superstar, about to resume his wrecking ways" for $2018 thanks Pete!

 

[Gary Gutful]

Trex could be the answer!!!!...Don't know what the question would be....but he could be the answer..

The question is part of a shitty knock knock joke.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Knock knock

 

[Gary Gutful]

Knock knock

Whom is present?

 

[Gronk]

Have you watched him in the lower grades and Fiji. Anyone who has can see a star in the making. Look I don't want to keep bunging on about this, time will sort it out. But I am hardly ever wrong. Shaun Lane comes to mind. Last year I wrapped him and many on here bagged me out.

Just keep watching this space.

Sure mate but they said the same about Pauli Pauli when he was playing U20 origin and even after he played a few FG games.

I hope that the Fijian makes it to 60+ FG games like Tepai has. Facts are that it takes more than size and ability. It takes Hindmarsh ticker to become a career NRL player.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

T.

 

[Happy MEel]

Bloody hell, Vave looks in better shape this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sure mate but they said the same about Pauli Pauli when he was playing U20 origin and even after he played a few FG games.

I hope that the Fijian makes it to 60+ FG games like Tepai has. Facts are that it takes more than size and ability. It takes Hindmarsh ticker to become a career NRL player.

Pauli carved up a couple of times, just like Kikau. Until NRL teams realised it wasn't worth hiding him in defence.

 

[hindy111]

A drunk one? I'm sure most sober people would never make the decision to drive drunk. But once you've had a skinful your risk profile changes. For some people it changes a lot.

I reckon you'd be annoying to drink with

 

[hindy111]

It's hardly just one game. You obviously haven't been watching his progression son.

When the Ram speaks I listen. Words of dam wisdom.