Rumours and Whingers and Occasional Optimism XXIX

[Captain BF]

I almost feel sorry for Benji. To me it looks like a bloke whose brain thinks he's still 26 but his body isn't up to it anymore. He's not playing badly through lack of effort.

 

[hindy111]

Not sure what stats you are reading but these ones say he missed 6, scott missed 4 and Junior & Tep missed 2. Click on player stats, then tackles.

http://live.nrlstats.com/matches/nrl/match43335.html

Missing 6 tackles is Sandow-esque

https://matchcentre.nrl.com/match/2016/111/20161110570/#player-stats

 

[hindy111]

Gordon to be offered a 1 yr extension

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He can. He played 80min against the Dogs for 14 hitups for 116m, 28 tackles, 6 tackle busts, 1 offload, 1 line break assist. 4 missed tackles though.

Well anyone can play 80 minutes if they're left out on the field the whole time. Four missed tackles might be a sign he was out there too long. Plus there's the defensive mistakes that don't show up as missed tackles. Wallace's try yesterday was due to Edwards taking too long to get into position.

 

[hindy111]

Yeah I second that. Some blamed foran but KE was at fault

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Did those merkins on the Johns show say M Morgs is off contract? Straight swap for Norman?

 

[lucablight]

Did those merkins on the Johns show say M Morgs is off contract? Straight swap for Norman?

I'd rate Norman higher than Morgan.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Then he will cost more.

 

[Avenger]

I'd rate Norman higher than Morgan.

They are on par mate. Morgan is top shelf. He basically won them the GF last year.

 

[Suitman]

They are on par mate. Morgan is top shelf. He basically won them the GF last year.

Good morning.
Homesick I see.

 

[Bigfella]

I don't think anyone other than a subsets of parra supporters would put Norman ahead of Morgan.

Morgan is a certainty for the Queensland squad.

Norman would need about four halves to be injured to have a chance.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Morgan has a lot less responsibility than Norman. He just stays on his side of the field waiting for Thurston to give him the ball. He doesn't even kick.

 

[lucablight]

They are on par mate. Morgan is top shelf. He basically won them the GF last year.

He did and I would rate what Morgan did as the greatest play in rugby league history. However, as Pou said he plays in a side with Thurston so he doesn't have to lead the team around the paddock like Norman does.

 

[Bigfella]

He did and I would rate what Morgan did as the greatest play in rugby league history. However, as Pou said he plays in a side with Thurston so he doesn't have to lead the team around the paddock like Norman does.

Has he actually done that yet?

He's got great skills. But he's never led a team to finals as he?

And he still goes in and out of games.

He's getting there, but he's far from established.

 

[lucablight]

Has he actually done that yet?

He's got great skills. But he's never led a team to finals as he?

And he still goes in and out of games.

He's getting there, but he's far from established.

I would say Norman didn't really become a marquee level player until last year and we didn't have the roster to make the finals in that season.

 

[Johns Magic]

8. Junior Paulo 10Runs, Metres(116m) T.Brks 3, Tackles 19, Offloads 1, L.Brks 1 - versus Penrith.

13. Tepai Moeroa 11 Runs, Metres(81m) T.Brks 3, Tackles 25, Offloads 2, Errors 2 - Versus Penrith.

8. Junior Paulo Mins 43, Runs15, Metres(128m), T.Brks 2, Tackles 24, offloads 1, L.Brks 1, Errors 1 - versus Tigers.

13. Tepai Moeroa Mins 44, Runs 9, Metres(72m), T.Brks 0, Tackles 29, Errors 1- versus Tigers.

8. Junior Paulo Mins 53, Runs16, Metres(141m), T.Brks 0, Tackles 14, Offloads 4, Errors 2 - versus Dogs.

13. Tepai Moeroa Mins 56, Runs 11, Metres(78m), T.Brks 2, Tackles 37, Offloads 2, Errors 2, Pen Conc 2 - versus Dogs.

8. Junior Paulo Mins 51, Runs17, Metres(116m), Try Ass 1, T.Brks 0, Tackles 26, Offloads 1, LB.Ass 1, Errors 0 - versus Cowboys.

13. Tepai Moeroa Mins 58, Runs 11, Metres(75m), T.Brks 0, Tackles 30, Offloads 0, Errors 0 - versus Cowboys.

8. Junior Paulo Mins 38, Runs10, Metres(81m), Try Ass 0, T.Brks 2, Tackles 24, Offloads 3, LB.Ass 0, Errors 1 - versus Broncos.

13. Tepai Moeroa Mins 58, Runs 9, Metres(72m), T.Brks 1, Tackles 39, Offloads 0, Errors 0 - versus Broncos.


Hardly figures that show that he is picking up Paulo's slack. More to the point, Paulo is doing what you would expect of a massive man in the middle and that is yardage and getting us on the front foot and defending more then adequately.

Whereas Tepai defensively, except for two of the 5 games so far, is making around the mid 20's a game and very little to show in attack for someone that has such huge raps.

His work rate in attack is more reflective of someone who make an average of over 40-45+ tackles per game, no not mid 20's.

We could replace him with any Johnny on the spot defender with the sort of offensive metres he is currently producing and be way better off as a defensive team while not losing anything in attack.

So to summarize, he is not pulling his weight either in defense or offense at the moment with those sort of figures. Wheres as Junior Paulo has consistently proven to be our number one attack weapon in the forwards.

Compare Gallen or Corey Parker or Merrin's stats over the same amount of minutes and they are no better.

You expect 40-45 tackles and 10 runs in 44 minutes or 47 minutes like his last two weeks? No one does that.

EDIT:

Also you seem to be quoting nrlstats for this but you sell him short for yesterday - 31 tackles not 25.

31 tackles and 11 runs(82 metres) in 47 minutes

Merrin: 28 tackles and 13 runs(109 metres) in 56 minutes

 

[TheRam]

We win yesterday if Foran waits til the 5th and kicks the ball over the sideline

We win yesterday if Semi attacks that final kick, even if he knocks it on, we win.

Gordon did more good than poor yesterday. Converting his try would have been nice though...

Or if we'd just took an extra two hit ups instead of kicking it back to them on the 4th tackle :crazy:.

Still can't believe how dumb that play was, when we had the lead.

Yeah all good points. But if we had a top tear fullback, none of those things matter, cause we win regardless, unless he was having a real off day.

 

[TheRam]

Compare Gallen or Corey Parker or Merrin's stats over the same amount of minutes and they are no better.

You expect 40-45 tackles and 10 runs in 44 minutes or 47 minutes like his last two weeks? No one does that.

EDIT:

Also you seem to be quoting nrlstats for this but you sell him short for yesterday - 31 tackles not 25.

31 tackles and 11 runs(82 metres) in 47 minutes

Merrin: 28 tackles and 13 runs(109 metres) in 56 minutes

Sorry my bad on the tackle mistake.

As for the opinion on ability, I stand by what I said. I expect more from someone of his physique in attack. Defense he will never be a machine due to his size and weight, which is expected.

But his go forward at the moment, is ordinary to say the least.

Kind of like Jason Taumalolo when he first came into the NRL. Lets hope he eventually develops like Jason did, and have you noticed, he is not known for his defense either.

I expect more go forward from him. He should be doing 120+ almost every week at least. Not 70's and 80's, that is pathetic anyway you slice it.

 

[Twizzle]

Morgan has a lot less responsibility than Norman. He just stays on his side of the field waiting for Thurston to give him the ball. He doesn't even kick.

Doesn't mean he doesn't have the ability, how do you lead a team around the park with JT in the same team ?

He could be anything but atm he is an unknown quantity as far as leadership skills go. I dont think we will know till JT calls it a day or he moves on to another NRL club.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Pou is gonna go postal when he sees that you are talking about someone "leading the team around the park".