Team v Tigers

[sup42]

It would've been nice to have both Roache and Luke playing IMO. Should we make the finals, I hope Kearney goes with Luke and Roache. Maybe Kearney sees more of an impact from Jazz coming off the bench, I'm not sure but yeah...those two would be my preference.

I was a fan of two specialist Hookers before the interchange rules took away the need for it, forwards just don't tire like they used to.

Maybe you can catch them out by using a different type of hooker as your alternate.

Otherwise Luke can do everything Roache can do apart from a longer sprint in the open, even then there is not a huge difference. Lukes kicking game and his niggle count for a lot.

I really want to see Ah Mau running off Luke this year, should be massive.

So why use Roache then? because he's good like Luke? I say no, not if Lukes a 70 minute + Hooker.

The other thing I was thinking about the other day is, they have opened their account as a top four side with an emphatic performance, we saw last year how that can have a roll on effect while other teams are still finding their feet.

In that scenario I want them roll Luke out, go for the throat, get him game fit as fast as possible, get on top of some of these teams before they find their rhythm.

Not to worried about this shoulder injury either, since he played most of last season carrying the injury, its of the range of movement type that you don't do extra damage by contact.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

So why use Roache then? because he's good like Luke? I say no, not if Lukes a 70 minute + Hooker.

Is he really a 70 minute + hooker though? Last I saw Bully, he looks to be carrying a bit more weight than he was in his skinny days as a Rabbit. I'm not so sure we get the best of Bully through those long minutes, although Kearney did push more minutes upon him to get him match fit last year. Bully wouldn't want to come off either, no player does but there were times last year where I could've sworn he was JUST getting to the play the ball.

The other thing I was thinking about the other day is, they have opened their account as a top four side with an emphatic performance, we saw last year how that can have a roll on effect while other teams are still finding their feet.

I'll wait till we get tested. We did have a good roll on last year but that all came to a crashing holt when we lost badly to the Storm.

Not to worried about this shoulder injury either, since he played most of last season carrying the injury, its of the range of movement type that you don't do extra damage by contact.

One thing Bully has over Roache (and probably over any other hooker for that matter) is his ability to do hits. Lets hope that shoulder doesn't take away from his passing game as well.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

So was Roache dropped or injured?

 

[Benek]

Jazz named to start at hooker. Shit, there goes our attack for the first 30 minutes. I hope Luke it fit to play a big role.

Can't imagine Roach was dropped. Must have been injured in training. Tough luck, the kid can never stay on the field for more than one game at a time.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

So was Roache dropped or injured?

Yous guys said injured... I dont know for sure but he cant have been dropped. Surely!

 

[Leber]

Roache is injured.

Hopefully nothing major

 

[sup42]

Hoepfully Sam Cook and Lawton come on this year.

Roach is like using glass for space shuttle windows. Looks good, might not be wise to future plan around.

 

[Blair]

Jazz named to start at hooker. Shit, there goes our attack for the first 30 minutes. I hope Luke it fit to play a big role.

D might be the key today. So many tries look certain, from both sides.

 

[Rich102]

I know you can't take too much from trials - but we were clearly the better team in Whangarei.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I know you can't take too much from trials - but we were clearly the better team in Whangarei.

Both sides were close to full strength so I’m hoping that game was somewhat indicative.

 

[sup42]

They will be better after a taste up north.

They were better than that in round one.

If we can string together two performances of similar standard two weeks in a row, only the Warriors are walking away with the points.

 

[sup42]

Jazz named to start at hooker. Shit, there goes our attack for the first 30 minutes. I hope Luke it fit to play a big role.

Can't imagine Roach was dropped. Must have been injured in training. Tough luck, the kid can never stay on the field for more than one game at a time.

Jazz is never going to start ahead of Bully.

Kearney wouldn't do it.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

28 degrees, overcast and humid now. Likely a storm on the way. Sure feels like it where I am and looking on the rain radar there’s already storms moving into the southwest around the ground. I don’t think heat will be a huge issue by kickoff but it’ll be wet.

 

[sup42]

28 degrees, overcast and humid now. Likely a storm on the way. Sure feels like it where I am and looking on the rain radar there’s already storms moving into the southwest around the ground. I don’t think heat will be a huge issue by kickoff but it’ll be wet.

The wets no good for us.

We use the leg speed of outside backs for momentum in sets rather than heavy big bodied forwards.

On the flip side with Green in charge, Luke back, no SJ I think a wrestle will suit our backrow forwards.

Either way the heats no chop as you say, last week was a muggy stinking hot day in Aucks, the Dogs couldn't cope with it.

 

[sup42]

Is he really a 70 minute + hooker though? Last I saw Bully, he looks to be carrying a bit more weight than he was in his skinny days as a Rabbit. I'm not so sure we get the best of Bully through those long minutes, although Kearney did push more minutes upon him to get him match fit last year. Bully wouldn't want to come off either, no player does but there were times last year where I could've sworn he was JUST getting to the play the ball.

I'll wait till we get tested. We did have a good roll on last year but that all came to a crashing holt when we lost badly to the Storm.

One thing Bully has over Roache (and probably over any other hooker for that matter) is his ability to do hits. Lets hope that shoulder doesn't take away from his passing game as well.

Luke was in the top four players for the Warriors, arguably only a smige behind RTS.

I didn't notice what you said about him being slow to get to the play the ball, I'm sure it happened with all the tackling he does on the right middle side.

I can't say at anytime last year that I thought 'Lukes been on too long, it's putting the team on the backfoot".

Could have said that about a lot of players out there tho . . . he was one of the top three hookers in the comp imo

 

[SpaceMonkey]

The wets no good for us.

We use the leg speed of outside backs for momentum in sets rather than heavy big bodied forwards.

On the flip side with Green in charge, Luke back, no SJ I think a wrestle will suit our backrow forwards.

Either way the heats no chop as you say, last week was a muggy stinking hot day in Aucks, the Dogs couldn't cope with it.

I’d rather us in humidity and a bit of wet than heat and sun. Much closer to Auckland conditions and something our boys will be acclimatised to.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Temperature is dropping now, a bit of light rain coming through.

 

[Blair]

Temperature is dropping now, a bit of light rain coming through.

Magpies smashed our NSW side 48-10. It might be a long season in reserves.

 

[Leber]

I'm uncomfortably nervous about this game.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Luke was in the top four players for the Warriors, arguably only a smige behind RTS.

I didn't notice what you said about him being slow to get to the play the ball, I'm sure it happened with all the tackling he does on the right middle side.

I can't say at anytime last year that I thought 'Lukes been on too long, it's putting the team on the backfoot".

Could have said that about a lot of players out there tho . . . he was one of the top three hookers in the comp imo

I've not said a thing about Luke being crap. Just like I know he was a big part of our team winning last year, I also know he did start to tire late in the game. And he was tired because hookers do a lot. As you mentioned - he had to do a lot of tackling getting to most play the balls etc etc. Its the reason why so many teams have 2 hookers.