Skandalis

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

simon, an opinion is an opinion but a veiled shot at someone because they're a Wests junior...

Robbie Farah has done sh*t when he's been up. Christ, he can't even cement a place on the FG bench. Yet he's going to be a "champion".

Skando already is one.

Two points,firstly,Farah has been outstanding in the lowers.Ask any Wests fan(who actually goes and watches the lower grades)what Farah did to them in the semis of Flegg last year.He is only a kid,and still isnt fully fit yet and has the potential to go all the way.And last year when he made a few cameos he was awesome,you must have a short memory .

And Skando has been outstanding in First Grade.

Do you understand the difference?

This isn't about Farah's exploits in Flegg or Premier League?

There is a bit of a step up in class from Flegg and PL to FG and Farah, potentially as good a player as he is, isn't a regular First Grade player.

Look at Canberra's Gafa, over 300 points in PL last season but can't crack it for FG.

Secondly,Skandalis is not a champion.He is bloody good player who busts his hump,but champion,I dont think so.I wouldnt rate him in the top half dozen props in the comp.In saying this I wouldnt swap him for anyone as he is the heart and sole of the pack,but to call someone biased cos they have a different(and quite reasonable)opinion is really farcical.

Calling brook biased toward Balmain juniors and against Wests juniors is farcical?

:lol: :lol:

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Hey, if I had a consistent hard worker like that in my team, I'd probably love him too. And I reckon he would go ok in Origin. But he's hardly an excitement machine.

And that's the point.

I think Luke Bailey is the best prop in the competition, but he's not exactly an excitement machine either. He gets the job done. So does Skando.

Skando has a lightweight pack behind him and shoulders a hell of a lot of the heavy workload at Wests.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, obviously I was exaggerating by saying "excitement machine". As props go, Bailey is pretty exciting IMO. He crosses the advantage line, and occasionally he even pops out the other side and makes a 20 or 30 metre run. Do you reckon Skandalis could do that at Origin level?

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

I didn't think that Bailey could do that at Origin level.

But he got the chance and did it.

Skando, if he has another blinder on Friday deserves the same chance.

That's the point. If you don't give a bloke who deserves the chance the chance, you'll never know if he could have stepped up to Origin.

 

[brook]

lol its pretty incredible - even *very very mild* critisism of the golden boy brings this kind of hysteria

Skando ISN'T an elite prop and doesn't have the impact of those that get selected for origin - he's more than good enough for city-country though and I hope he has a great game

cry bias all you like, I'm happy to admit I have a bias towards *some* of the Balmain boys - I've been watching some of these kids for up to 3 years now and am proud to see them do well. On the other hand I also know that I am not afraid to critisise them when they deserve it - as eddie pointed out I was disapointed in both Dene and Bronson (two of my favourite players) after the saints game and called for Bronson to be sent back to PL, I've also been more critical of Galea and Miles (both Balmain contracted) than anyone else and for longer. if the best you can do is drag up praise of robbie...well if you truely believe my comments about robbie are based only because he's a balmain junior and not because of his exceptional talent...well I am not the one looking at things through biased eyes. (the question I was replying to wasn't 'what sort of first grader is robbie now' but 'what do you think of him' - I think he will be a champion and said so - many others who have seen this kid play back me up on that)

I also know that I was calling for Laffranchi, Covell and Viane to be put in first grade well before any of them got a jersey and that Gibbs is fast becoming one of my favourite players (and he DOES have what it takes to make a future origin forward - he lacks the polish now of course but give him a few years and you'll see what I mean - the kid has the fire that skando lacks).

This is the last post i'll make on this thread 'cause its a pointless argument - Skando will do very well on friday night but his name won't be read out with the NSW team list - and for very good reason.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

lol its pretty incredible - even *very very mild* critisism of the golden boy brings this kind of hysteria

Yeah, and even *very very biased* criticism too.

Skando ISN'T an elite prop and doesn't have the impact of those that get selected for origin - he's more than good enough for city-country though and I hope he has a great game

Who decided that Skando isn't an "Elite prop", you?

What is the criteria to be considered Elite?

"To be considered an Elite player, brook has to think that you're elite".

Your opinions aren't the basis for picking rep teams thank God. Otherwise we'd have Balmain's PL team running around on Friday night.

cry bias all you like, I'm happy to admit I have a bias towards *some* of the Balmain boys - I've been watching some of these kids for up to 3 years now and am proud to see them do well. On the other hand I also know that I am not afraid to critisise them when they deserve it - as eddie pointed out I was disapointed in both Dene and Bronson (two of my favourite players) after the saints game and called for Bronson to be sent back to PL, I've also been more critical of Galea and Miles (both Balmain contracted) than anyone else and for longer. if the best you can do is drag up praise of robbie...well if you truely believe my comments about robbie are based only because he's a balmain junior and not because of his exceptional talent...well I am not the one looking at things through biased eyes. (the question I was replying to wasn't 'what sort of first grader is robbie now' but 'what do you think of him' - I think he will be a champion and said so - many others who have seen this kid play back me up on that)

Why bother admitting your bias, I already knew that.

And when is that "Exceptional talent" going to be exceptional to the point of being a regular first grader?

I also know that I was calling for Laffranchi, Covell and Viane to be put in first grade well before any of them got a jersey and that Gibbs is fast becoming one of my favourite players (and he DOES have what it takes to make a future origin forward - he lacks the polish now of course but give him a few years and you'll see what I mean - the kid has the fire that skando lacks).

pffft.

You have no idea what Skando can do in Origin if given the opportunity.

This is the last post i'll make on this thread 'cause its a pointless argument - Skando will do very well on friday night but his name won't be read out with the NSW team list - and for very good reason.

Like you understood the argument. LOL

Bye.

 

[innsaneink]

Hey, if I had a consistent hard worker like that in my team, I'd probably love him too. And I reckon he would go ok in Origin. But he's hardly an excitement machine.

And that's the point.

I think Luke Bailey is the best prop in the competition, but he's not exactly an excitement machine either. He gets the job done. So does Skando.

Skando has a lightweight pack behind him and shoulders a hell of a lot of the heavy workload at Wests.

When I read TH's post, Bailey was the first player to pop into my head as well.....not an "excitement machine", hey they all cant be like Webke, but hes one of those players, like Skando that no coach would swap, and theyre the sorta players that are more noticed when their not there, rather than when they are....another that comes to mind, Andrew Ryan, even though he's a backrower....same sorta player....does everything thats needed of him week in, week out, but rarely gets his name mentioned in a column let alone a headline.

lol its pretty incredible - even *very very mild* critisism of the golden boy brings this kind of hysteria

Skando ISN'T an elite prop and doesn't have the impact of those that get selected for origin - he's more than good enough for city-country though and I hope he has a great game

cry bias all you like, I'm happy to admit I have a bias towards *some* of the Balmain boys - I've been watching some of these kids for up to 3 years now and am proud to see them do well. On the other hand I also know that I am not afraid to critisise them when they deserve it - as eddie pointed out I was disapointed in both Dene and Bronson (two of my favourite players) after the saints game and called for Bronson to be sent back to PL, I've also been more critical of Galea and Miles (both Balmain contracted) than anyone else and for longer. if the best you can do is drag up praise of robbie...well if you truely believe my comments about robbie are based only because he's a balmain junior and not because of his exceptional talent...well I am not the one looking at things through biased eyes. (the question I was replying to wasn't 'what sort of first grader is robbie now' but 'what do you think of him' - I think he will be a champion and said so - many others who have seen this kid play back me up on that)

I also know that I was calling for Laffranchi, Covell and Viane to be put in first grade well before any of them got a jersey and that Gibbs is fast becoming one of my favourite players (and he DOES have what it takes to make a future origin forward - he lacks the polish now of course but give him a few years and you'll see what I mean - the kid has the fire that skando lacks).

This is the last post i'll make on this thread 'cause its a pointless argument - Skando will do very well on friday night but his name won't be read out with the NSW team list - and for very good reason.

Dont make this out to be something its not.....hysteria?? :lol: :lol:
How does that pedestal feel? Comfy.

This is the last post i'll make on this thread

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Mighty Tiger]

EV are you actually blind????

Just looking through the posts it would appear Brook actually said he deserved his spot in the city/country clash instead of saying he is crap and dosn't deserve to play 1st grade let alone in this match did she not :roll: :roll:

Oh and for the Wests/Balmain crap as far as I am aware she hasn't mentioned any Balmain players to run around on friday night because she knows they don't deserve to get a run!! Oh and by the way Brook was also one of the first people last year to call for Gibbs, Viane, Covell, Collis and Fulton to get a run in front of players like Harrison, Lima and Small last year was she not :roll: :roll:

On top of this she has made some very valid points, sure he is a work horse and one of the best props in that field however to be a top grade prop you need to make an impact not just in defence but also when hitting the ball up - both of which Skando dosn't do! He at best would be lucky to scrape 6.5 meters an average per hitup no matter what side he plays and then on top of it his missed tackle count (something which this season has improved a heap) would go heavily against him compared to the other props in the game - add to this his inability to offload the ball and well there are better prop options running around for NSW SOO selectors to look at!

Also EV to comment on players like Farrah, Halatua, Harrison and Lima well I would be interested to hear your words on some of these players (who havn't made it into the top grade or obviously havn't made the impression like the others have ) Covell, Patterson, Fulton, Collis and De Gois :roll: :roll:

But hey I thought this was after all a topic that was meant to bring descussion about Skando and not about the clubs that people support :roll: :roll:

Clinton, Bailey, Ryles, Perry, O'Mealy, Stevens, O'Hara, Lang, Davico IMO are all better props than what Skando is, In saying that if Skando did hit the ball up hard and straight, learned how to offload the ball and then on top of it cut down the amount of tackles he misses then he would be in front of a few of the above mentioned names!

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

errr

1. Who is EV.

2. If you don't defend brook, she'll cut your balls off.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Stevens?

hahahahahahaha

Why don't you look up the season stats and compare the players you mentioned to Skando?

The point is and always was that brook thinks that Skando isn't up to Origin without having seen the bloke play more than one Rep match.

 

[Mighty Tiger]

errr

1. Who is EV.

2. If you don't defend brook, she'll cut your balls off.

1. Errr I wonder :roll:

2. Pfft she fight for herself, the fact is that she is right about Skando ;-)

 

[Mighty Tiger]

Stevens?

hahahahahahaha

Why don't you look up the season stats and compare the players you mentioned to Skando?

The point is and always was that brook thinks that Skando isn't up to Origin without having seen the bloke play more than one Rep match.

Stats don't mean everything :roll:

For example if you just looked at the stats and nothing else you would think that Skando is not just a work horse but he would also be the BEST prop in the game :lol: :lol: :lol: Something which he isn't

To be honest if Skando wasn't going to start in SOO then what is the point of having a work horse prop come off the bench when infact you would be after a prop who would make an impact especially when you have at least 2 players on the bench who can play in the Front Row, unless you want to slot him into the backrow :roll:

He is not one of the best 2 props in NSW let alone one of the best 4 props in the state!

 

[Anonymous]

This is total and utter crap. EA, I respect some of what you say mate, but are you just look for a blue or what?

Insan you're just a tool.

Several points
- Skandalis is not a blockbusting prop. He's integral to our team, no doubt about that. Our best player this season. He wouldn't dissapoint in origin in my opinion (that's where I disagree with Brook), however I do think there are better options that hit the line harder and are thus more suitable for origin.

- Calling Brook biased is ridiculous. Of course she has a soft spot for the Balmain juniors - she goes to every bloody match she can get to standalone or on before FG. Something i'm sure you do not do, so who the hell are you to critisize? The reason she is more likely to call for a Balmain player to make the step up is because those are the games she WATCHES. Often Brook'll say i'm sure there's plenty of deserving magpies players as well.

- Note in another thread Brook has called Hodgson outstanding this year, advocating him for fullback if mini is injured.

And finally, just to defend Robbie, I think he's been extremely good in his limited first grade. He's kicking hasn't been brilliant, but he's being eased into first grade and will find his feet with time. And when he does, it'll be nice to have the Australian hooker again

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

The part of this that I think is ludicrous is that a few people think they know if Skando has what it takes to play Origin.

You don't know. I don't know and everyone except Skando doesn't know. But bagging a guy who just made Reps probably isn't too smart.

Being an expert on Balmain's Premier League team to the point where you know more about their careers than FG players careeers doesn't mean your qualified to comment on John Skandalis' representative career.

Balmain Boy, brook praised Hodgo after she was accused of bias in this thread.

;-)

 

[SouthernTiger]

You are a tool EA. I used to read your posts on WORL and think you had a bit of sense but now Im not so sure. Everytime a wests tigers fan from the Balmain side of the venture happens to criticicse a player who might have played one game with the magpies you accuse them of bias. The reality is skandalis is not a SOO quality prop. In fact for most of this year he has been next to useless. It is only in the last two games that he has stood up. Go watch the Cowboys or the Dragons game and tell me John is deserving of a skyblue jumper. Your kidding yourself. Who exactly would he get a spot over. I can name five better props from NSW than him Clinton, Bailey, O'Hara, Davico, Villasanti, Mason (depending on where you played him), O'Meley. Thats without looking at Perry and others. They are all better than Skandalis. Yappy makes a good point Skandalis would be a good prop as your your third man on your rotation. It is sad that he is the best prop at wests tigers but that says more about the club than the ability of skandalis. Get over yourself

cheers

s. tiger

 

[tiger_nick]

I think Skando deserves a shot at origin. Off the bench he won't let anybody down. He won't win the game for the Blues but he won't lose it. I would love him to play as it will make him a better player.

On the whole Brook thing::

EA isn't she allowed to have an opinion? I'm sick of whenever Brook (or another Balmain/Western Suburbs fan) saying something not positive about a Western Suburbs player get shot down! Isn't a Balmain fan allowed to have an opinion on a Western Suburbs player that isn't 100% positive? Should we all be scared of voicing our opinion because we know you will call us bias?

Than I see you have a go at Robbie Farah, who I think has played well in his limited oppurtunity in first grade. However youre entitled to your opinion so me, as an adult, respect your opinion and am happy for you to show it!

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

You are a tool EA.

I think highly of you too.

I used to read your posts on WORL and think you had a bit of sense but now Im not so sure.

I'm crushed, who gives a stuff.

Everytime a wests tigers fan from the Balmain side of the venture happens to criticicse a player who might have played one game with the magpies you accuse them of bias.

Well, you may have to dig up a post to prove that. I don't post in the Wests Tigers forum too often because in reality it's a Balmain/Wests Premier Leage forum. I don't think calling brook or Yappy biased is a stretch of anyone's imagination.

The reality is skandalis is not a SOO quality prop.

And you know this because you're a SOO selector?

Who was the last bloke to step up to Origin and play above himself?

Luke Bailey?

In fact for most of this year he has been next to useless. It is only in the last two games that he has stood up. Go watch the Cowboys or the Dragons game and tell me John is deserving of a skyblue jumper.

Tell me any Wests Tigers player from the Dragons match who deserved a Wests Tigers jersey?

Your kidding yourself. Who exactly would he get a spot over.

See, you're a nong. That isn't my argument.

I can name five better props from NSW than him Clinton, Bailey, O'Hara, Davico, Villasanti, Mason (depending on where you played him), O'Meley. Thats without looking at Perry and others. They are all better than Skandalis.

Villasanti? I wouldn't have him cleaning the boots.

Tell me, did you see Skando's only rep match in 2002?

Why do you believe he's not up to Origin when other players have lifted their game from Club to Origin?

Shit, every player lifts their game from Club to Origin.

Yappy makes a good point Skandalis would be a good prop as your your third man on your rotation. It is sad that he is the best prop at wests tigers but that says more about the club than the ability of skandalis. Get over yourself

Yappy?

Yappy hates the Wests Tigers?

Why the hell would I listen to him?

Listen dickweed, if I want to know about Balmain Premier League, I'll ask Brook and if I want to know abour Wests Premier League, I'll ask Yappy. But I won't ask either of them for their opinions on the FG team because they're biased and can't see past it.

Oh, and get stuffed.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

On the whole Brook thing::

EA isn't she allowed to have an opinion? I'm sick of whenever Brook (or another Balmain/Western Suburbs fan) saying something not positive about a Western Suburbs player get shot down! Isn't a Balmain fan allowed to have an opinion on a Western Suburbs player that isn't 100% positive? Should we all be scared of voicing our opinion because we know you will call us bias?

No, definately not, everyone is allowed an opinion. But everyone's opinion that is posted here is subject to comment. And if I think brook's opinion stems from her club bias, I'll say it.

I wasn't the only one that thought that either.

brook came into this thread and immediately was negative about a Wests Tigers player who has just been picked to play Reps.

No fan from another club has been as negative about Skando as she was.

I'd also point out that brook's allegiances aren't in question, she is a Balmain supporter and her primary focus is on the teams under FG.

Than I see you have a go at Robbie Farah, who I think has played well in his limited oppurtunity in first grade. However youre entitled to your opinion so me, as an adult, respect your opinion and am happy for you to show it!

You missed the point.

brook was talking Farah up as a "champion in the making", yet he is still unproven in First Grade. He is also not a regular First Grade player as yet.

Skando is and on Friday night will play a match that is one step from Origin. Robbie Farah generally plays the match that is one step from First Grade.

If Farah deserves respect and support from the fans of this Club before actually earning it, why doesn't Skando deserve support and respect?

Because he's a Wests Junior?

 

[simon says]

I dont see what him being a Wests junior has to do with anything.......its a lame old excuse really.I thought we were over this stuff,and now its been dredged up again.

Brook doesnt think Skando has what it takes to beat other candidates for SOO....."oh,she hates Wests"......but she openly champions players like Bryce Gibbs and Brett Hodgson....guess what,they are both Wests juniors.

If there is any bias here,its on your behalf,jumping the gun and drawing conclusion to conspiracies that dont even exist......

The scarey thing is,there are more than one of you......... #-o #-o #-o

 

[tiger_nick]

brook was talking Farah up as a "champion in the making", yet he is still unproven in First Grade. He is also not a regular First Grade player as yet.

What does 'in the making' mean to you??