Rumours and Stuff

[TheRam]

Agree re early season form Poo however after much discussion re our improved training form and fitness it was disappointing to see the usual fade out after 30 minutes. We seem to be a one speed team. When the opposition lifts we cant go with them. Im concerned it was same old same old and hopefully BA is as well.

That's because, no matter what your girlfriend says, size does matter.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sure he is a decent defender

No, he is an exceptional defender. He has been an NRL quality defender since he was 18 years old. He has only gotten better at it as he's matured.

but I am yet to see the great attack whether in the middle or on the edge.

Well he's not a great attacker, but he is certainly good enough. If he played 80 minutes out wide he would make plenty of line breaks.

Sure the occasional but good run, but even a slug attacker makes a bust here and there, especially if given a great early ball.

Do you even watch the game? Early ball makes it harder, not easier, to isolate defenders. Early ball is what you give to playmakers so that they can attract defenders and set up their supports. If you want an attacker to run at an isolated defender (like Kikau vs Moses on the weekend, or Moeroa vs Fuimaono against Souths last year) then somebody needs to draw defenders away. That's a playmaker's job.

I don't want to keep bagging Moreoa. I think everyone here knows my feelings on him by now. Lets all just agree to disagree. The only reason we predominately use him in the middle is because he was found wanting when we first used him exclusively on the edge.

No, it was because Arthur likes to use playmaking forwards on the edge, and Edwards (and now Takairangi) aren't reliable defenders over 80 minutes. So Moeroa gets those first 20 so Edwards/Takairangi don't have to play 80.

I haven't closed off my feelings on him. There is still time on his side to change my mind. But it ain't looking good for him in attack. If he doesn't pick up his metres to around 130+ a game and some of those being open breaks in the clear, then he will not warrant a hefty renewed contract. I believe he is already on 5-600k. For that sort of coin, I expect the player to be very good, especially in attack and domination of the defense. At the moment he doesn't dominate the defense when carrying the ball.

The only person who dominates the defence in the middle of the field is Jason Taumalolo. Moeroa made good metres on the weekend but he's not a battering ram. He is a mobile hole runner with good speed and work rate. He is a good first grader who hasn't been to blame for any of our losses since about 2014.

 

[84 Baby]

Sure he is a decent defender, but I am yet to see the great attack whether in the middle or on the edge. Sure the occasional but good run, but even a slug attacker makes a bust here and there, especially if given a great early ball.

I don't want to keep bagging Moreoa. I think everyone here knows my feelings on him by now. Lets all just agree to disagree. The only reason we predominately use him in the middle is because he was found wanting when we first used him exclusively on the edge. I haven't closed off my feelings on him. There is still time on his side to change my mind. But it ain't looking good for him in attack. If he doesn't pick up his metres to around 130+ a game and some of those being open breaks in the clear, then he will not warrant a hefty renewed contract. I believe he is already on 5-600k. For that sort of coin, I expect the player to be very good, especially in attack and domination of the defense. At the moment he doesn't dominate the defense when carrying the ball.

Kikau's stats from weekend - 1 try, 79m from 8 runs, 9.87m/run, 1 offload, 1 line break, 1 LBA, 3 tackle breaks, 16 tackles @ 100%

Tepai's - 106m from 10 runs, 10.6m/run, 1 LINE BREAK, 19 tackles @ 86%, 1 error

f**kING HUGE DIFFERENCE but also clearly you are blinded by your hatred of all things Parra

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Moeroa's big game vs Souths last year: 1 try, 134m from 14 runs, 9.57m/run, 1 line break, 2 tackle breaks, 36 tackles @ 97%

 

[emjaycee]

Moeroa's big game vs Souths last year: 1 try, 134m from 14 runs, 9.57m/run, 1 line break, 2 tackle breaks, 36 tackles @ 97%

What were his stats against Melbourne in last years final? Especially in the first half?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What were his stats against Melbourne in last years final? Especially in the first half?

You must mean only in the first half:

1st half: 42m from 3 runs, 14.0m/run, 1 tackle break, 8 tackles @ 100%
2nd half: -

Munster would've been f**king stoked Moeroa didn't get back on the field, because he was giving Munster nightmares.

 

[hineyrulz]

I wouldn’t swap Tep for Kikau, Tep can play on an edge or in the middle. And defensively excellent for a young forward.

But then again I would love them both in the Blue and Gold.

 

[hindy111]

This all said I think Ram is right and Kikau & even Shaun Lane COULD be good players. Kikau's footwork for a big man is particularly impressive. But they were so far from what we lacked on Sunday that mentioning them as players we need is ridiculous. How would of Kikau stopped Blake scoring in the first half? Negating the fact his was in the lead up to it, how would have Kikau stopped the play that led to Moses' binning? He'd have been walking back into position like the majority of his (fitter) teammates

Problem with people on here is they cant handle criticism. If your happy with the odd play off spot every few years and not much else sure defend the club.
If you want to win the whole thing you must always look to improve and this is what Ram wants. He is the type pf guy who doesnt settle for mediocrity and knows what areas we need to improve to get the big prize.

 

[hindy111]

I wouldn’t swap Tep for Kikau, Tep can play on an edge or in the middle. And defensively excellent for a young forward.

But then again I would love them both in the Blue and Gold.

I would swap them for simple reason I reckon guys like Tepai are easier to find. Not suggesting Kikau is a better player but they are rarer.
I reckon KE could do Tepai job as good if not better tbh.

 

[hindy111]

Except @hindy111

I reckon Kikau will play more nrl games then Semi

 

[hindy111]

I don't think anyone (even BA) is thinking we couldn't do with some larger forwards and some impact players.

The problem is as a club you can only buy what is available and that doesn't always work in your favour.

If a Kikau type player (or even Kikau himself) was available and suited what BA wanted, does anyone think BA wouldn't have a go at getting them?

That is why he bought Evans and TRex FFS.

Vae looks a diff beast now. Lost a lot of fat.

 

[hindy111]

Kane Evans was the only forward to make more than 10 metres per carry four us. If we'd had more ball while he was on he would've made more runs and had more impact. Instead we had all the ball while Mannah and Alvaro were on and none of the ball while Evans was on. It was just bad luck, though obviously not helped by having our best kicker off the field for 25 minutes in the middle of the game.

Bad luck or poor coaching? Everyone on here hates Alvaro and Mannah on at same time for this reason. Shit balance.

 

[hindy111]

Mute point now on Kikau. We will have Buckleys' chance of getting him off the Panthers now.

The Duke stole Kikau from i think the Cowboys and groomed him for a few years.
They where never going to let this kid go.

 

[hindy111]

Tbh Mannah and Alvaro starting together makes me ill. It means when Evans and !atagi come on together we have poor defense also.

 

[Bazal]

Problem with people on here is they cant handle criticism. If your happy with the odd play off spot every few years and not much else sure defend the club.
If you want to win the whole thing you must always look to improve and this is what Ram wants. He is the type pf guy who doesnt settle for mediocrity and knows what areas we need to improve to get the big prize.

No see the problem with rather a few people on here seems to be that footy is all they have...deadset with some of these spanners you'd reckon every weekend was life or death instead of literally just a game

 

[emjaycee]

You must mean only in the first half:

1st half: 42m from 3 runs, 14.0m/run, 1 tackle break, 8 tackles @ 100%
2nd half: -

Munster would've been f**king stoked Moeroa didn't get back on the field, because he was giving Munster nightmares.

My first half comment was sarcasm...

So, would you agree that against the eventual premiers in a final Moeroa had Kikau'sque level numbers?

 

[hindy111]

No see the problem with rather a few people on here seems to be that footy is all they have...deadset with some of these spanners you'd reckon every weekend was life or death instead of literally just a game

And you can tell this by? Seriously even if that is all they have why insult them with a shit comment like that. Maybe the weekend footy is what they look forward to and keeps them going.

 

[Bazal]

And you can tell this by? Seriously even if that is all they have why insult them with a shit comment like that. Maybe the weekend footy is what they look forward to and keeps them going.

It's pretty easy tbh. And I couldn't care less what you reckon is shitty, either. Some people need to lighten up

 

[hindy111]

It's pretty easy tbh. And I couldn't care less what you reckon is shitty, either. Some people need to lighten up

I highly doubt anyone gets off a forum and is deeply offended. I reckon people enjoy it. If we all agreed the forum would be boring.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Wrong!