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SG Ball and Harold Matthews results

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,074
Trai Fuller is the shortest player in the NRL. About 170cm
TPH put on about 2 of the best front on tackle and covering tackle I have seen on blokes twice his size running at speed. Absolutely fearless. I thought Jesse Williams was all the rage in the backs but I'm liking this kid more and more, I still think he could make a name for himself at 9.
 
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Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,458
Am I the only one not seeing the Ackers promise? I mean he's been sat down on the bench for the SG team for one. But he just seems a bit lazy and like he doesn't have a great motor. In the GF, he put down a simple pass straight to him which the dogs picked up and started going in the other direction with. Instead of fighting to clean up the tackle and make up for his mistake, he stood and watched whilst others cleaned up his error. Certainly not like he doesn't have talent, but if I'm picking a couple to let go so that we can keep others at this stage, Ackers is one of them I'm letting go.
 

Runner

Juniors
Messages
1,756
Am I the only one not seeing the Ackers promise? I mean he's been sat down on the bench for the SG team for one. But he just seems a bit lazy and like he doesn't have a great motor. In the GF, he put down a simple pass straight to him which the dogs picked up and started going in the other direction with. Instead of fighting to clean up the tackle and make up for his mistake, he stood and watched whilst others cleaned up his error. Certainly not like he doesn't have talent, but if I'm picking a couple to let go so that we can keep others at this stage, Ackers is one of them I'm letting go.

I am not sure about Ackers as I haven't seen enough of him. I would say he is behind Pasifika Tonga, Latu and Halangahu though based on what I have seen.
 

Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,458
I am not sure about Ackers as I haven't seen enough of him. I would say he is behind Pasifika Tonga, Latu and Halangahu though based on what I have seen.
Completely agree, and he might be behind Hutchinson considering Ackers was benched for him. From what I've seen of Hutchinson, I'm not sold on him either, although he might be playing a year younger than a lot of players (?). The other thing to factor in is the Steelers side of things where Meafou I would say will likely be getting ahead of Ackers. Then up the grades, Hamish Stewart would be ahead of Ackers. Even though Stewart has been playing some edge this year, I still think he'll play a lot of middle. Factor in Weatherall a grade down who they seem to have some wraps on as well. There's a lot of middles there they're going to have to choose from, and from what I've seen, Ackers is not a priority compared to others in my opinion
 

TheRev

Coach
Messages
11,601
TPH put on about 2 of the best front on tackle and covering tackle I have seen on blokes twice his size running at speed. Absolutely fearless. I thought Jesse Williams was all the rage in the backs but I'm liking this kid more and more, I still think he could make a name for himself at 9.
Different positions, Williams imo is a sure bet, strong, lightning fast (like proper lightning fast), breaks tackles and goes the length.... seems (from limited viewings) to read defence well and communicate... and Wing is a relatively easy spot to bring him in early..I dunno what his fitness is like.. but imo hes someone we bring into cup (granted we need to have room) and see if he can do his thing against men.. if he can.. hes making a 1st grade debut next year at some stage.

TPH love this kid also.. I compared him size wise to the 2019 steelers SG fullback in Treigh Stewart.. but as is on display in every game.. this kid has 1st grade tenacity written all over him.. he thrives on repeated defence and effort, good technique cover and front on tackling.. in attack he puts on a lot of our tries.. like a lot.. hes not lightning quick but hes quick enough..

I cant work out how old he is.. this is another one we have imported from QLD btw.. he gets picked up and carried from time to time.. but he does a reasonable job in his hit-ups to find space between defenders.. but we would have to see how he goes in older grades. Problem is.. Ben Rumble is in front in Flegg (well he was, I think hes injured), so im not sure what they will do.. he can do it all though.

Am I the only one not seeing the Ackers promise? I mean he's been sat down on the bench for the SG team for one. But he just seems a bit lazy and like he doesn't have a great motor. In the GF, he put down a simple pass straight to him which the dogs picked up and started going in the other direction with. Instead of fighting to clean up the tackle and make up for his mistake, he stood and watched whilst others cleaned up his error. Certainly not like he doesn't have talent, but if I'm picking a couple to let go so that we can keep others at this stage, Ackers is one of them I'm letting go.
I feel you on this one.. hes one of our 6 development kids as we speak.. which is even more important in 2025 cause those 6 spots cannot be wasted.. with all the young talent... the kids who miss out are the kids who are gonna get poached.

But certainly not written him off based on this season of SG (could be injured even?), he is pretty fearless and ive seen him put on some silky passes.. folds blokes, and I think hes actually a dragons junior... all the skills... a bit of a Lawrie + Merrin + JDB hybrid maybe, noone folds em like Jack.. but Jack is fit as.... so Corey he will have to work on his fitness if he's serious.. which surely he is.. but the other kids get bigger.. and can he step up?

Definitely over-shadowed by his higher profile colleagues, and even Hutchinson looks 50x better a prospect (based on SG form).. and im not sure if Hutcho has a place moving forward either.. that one I think we may regret, but we cant fit em all... what I like about Hutchinson is he doesnt just run straight (he can do that ofcourse), he seems like he has pace in his legs, so he arcs out a bit.. chews up the space and hits a hole, thats why he reminds me of Martin, even though Martin plays 2nd row. Hutchinson also does plenty of minutes...
 

KogarahWarrior

Juniors
Messages
2,139
TPH put on about 2 of the best front on tackle and covering tackle I have seen on blokes twice his size running at speed. Absolutely fearless. I thought Jesse Williams was all the rage in the backs but I'm liking this kid more and more, I still think he could make a name for himself at 9.
That last sentence is an absolute shout justa. He'd make a terrific hooker. Enough speed though not blinding, tough, fit, strong, ball playing ability and great technique
 
Messages
4,420
I'm liking this kid more and more, I still think he could make a name for himself at 9.
Same here. With what he showed with those two cut outs for tries I am adding half too. Those that think he is too small for footy take a Bex. Mark Shulman played for us from 1971–78 and he was shorter than TPH at 157cm, Perry Haddock also had a long career, including three years with us, he was also 165cm as was Allan Langer.
 

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,074
That last sentence is an absolute shout justa. He'd make a terrific hooker. Enough speed though not blinding, tough, fit, strong, ball playing ability and great technique
Have to give some credit to @AyiosYiorgos he pointed it out which made me look at him in a different way KW. But you put his ticker into Sloan and you would have a totally different player.
 
Messages
4,420
seems (from limited viewings) to read defence well and communicate.
I say he does not read the defense all that well, was out of position three times that I noted when the Dogs broke away, luckily he once, then team mates recovered in time and a try was averted. The other time he was saved by a poor pass which he dived on. Coaches need to give top priority to this problem of players leaving their wings too often. I saw even Lomax do it once or twice.
 
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Messages
4,420
he is pretty fearless and ive seen him put on some silky passes.. folds blokes, and I think hes actually a dragons junior... all the skills...
:100: Agree about his fitness as he has not had any long mins to date, but he sure as hell does some damage in his short time on the paddock. You did not mention his pile driving tackling technique.
 
Messages
637
Completely agree, and he might be behind Hutchinson considering Ackers was benched for him. From what I've seen of Hutchinson, I'm not sold on him either, although he might be playing a year younger than a lot of players (?). The other thing to factor in is the Steelers side of things where Meafou I would say will likely be getting ahead of Ackers. Then up the grades, Hamish Stewart would be ahead of Ackers. Even though Stewart has been playing some edge this year, I still think he'll play a lot of middle. Factor in Weatherall a grade down who they seem to have some wraps on as well. There's a lot of middles there they're going to have to choose from, and from what I've seen, Ackers is not a priority compared to others in my opinion
I suspect they don't have big plans for Hutchinson (there's just so many young forwards that they can't invest in all of them). But he is a good player, and was super important in them winning the comp.

Hamish Stewart is definitely ahead of Ackers. He's top 30 for next year and has already shown he is competent at NSW Cup level. He can (and does) defiinitely play both middle and edge.

There are a lot of these good kids. However, even if there weren't too many, it would be unlikely that they'd all progress at the same rate or to the same level. For example, Toby Couchman and Jacob Webster were in the same 2022 NSW u19 team. Toby played in our first NRL game of the next season and even now Webster has mostly played Flegg with a few minutes of Cup last season. The next level up always poses new problems that not all kids can deal with straight away. For example, each step up the game gets faster and fitness is put under pressure.
 

Auntie.Gerald

First Grade
Messages
7,261
TPH tackling and controlling the ruck might be a few years way minimum as a no9

he is a goer

we all love him

He is dangerous

but he is not a 168cm Geoff Toovey yet that could control that ruck in defence

AFB coming thru……..nasty !
 

TheRev

Coach
Messages
11,601
I think its a bit of a waste to use TPH as a tackling bag, hes skill in setting up tries is elite.. id be keeping him out of the defensive line... hes a fullback for me, possibly a 6.. but why not leave him at fullback.. he chimes in and makes the right call most times, has the passing and running game already.. cant recall if he can kick or not.. but he was a goalkicker in his earlier days so probably... Defensively you know he is going to get his body in position every time...

I genuinely didnt even blink on saturday when a dogs back broke through and was running the length, I knew TPH would get there...
 

Wayne's World

First Grade
Messages
6,349
Am I the only one not seeing the Ackers promise? I mean he's been sat down on the bench for the SG team for one. But he just seems a bit lazy and like he doesn't have a great motor. In the GF, he put down a simple pass straight to him which the dogs picked up and started going in the other direction with. Instead of fighting to clean up the tackle and make up for his mistake, he stood and watched whilst others cleaned up his error. Certainly not like he doesn't have talent, but if I'm picking a couple to let go so that we can keep others at this stage, Ackers is one of them I'm letting go.
Isn't Ackers only 17? So is Latu as well which is really good as he's definitely one to watch.
 

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