Team vs Titans

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Agree he's improving in that aspect, but there's still not much in his own play that justifies his selection, he's good for a few grass cutters and 45m of mediocre hitups per game. If he didn't rev the rest of the team up he'd have no real value.

Hate grass cutters. Its actually dangerous for both the tackler and attacker. Tackler can accidently get kicked anywhere in the head and where do you start for the attacker. For one, the attacker is most likely to skip rendering him airborne and powerless if he gets smashed in the air. Grass cutters should be banned.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Banning tackling low round the legs?! Dude that's one of he dumbest things I've read this week. A good legs tackle is pure classic footy technique, although Gubb does go for them too often admittedly.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Banning tackling low round the legs?! Dude that's one of he dumbest things I've read this week. A good legs tackle is pure classic footy technique, although Gubb does go for them too often admittedly.

Where Im from grass cutter is just putting your body in front of the attacker extremely low. Often head first. Rushing up or coming in from the side looking like your going for a boot lace tackle but really youre just tripping them up. Hence the name grass cutter.

Around the legs tackle we call just that. Around the ankles we call boot lace tackle.

Im not saying ban around the legs tackle. Around the legs tackle, sometimes your body doesnt even touch the grass like in the dump tackle where you grab around the hammies and lift. Thats around the legs tackle that you CANT call grass cutter cos your body doesnt even touch the grass.

 

[vvvrulz]

Banning tackling low round the legs?! Dude that's one of he dumbest things I've read this week. A good legs tackle is pure classic footy technique, although Gubb does go for them too often admittedly.

Let's ask Gavet about that.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

so cappy has come out and said tui needs to work n some areas of his game. is this why hes not getting a run at 6

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Let's ask Gavet about that.

That Gavet tackle you're thinking of was pretty clumsy, not what I'd call textbook stuff at all. Not worth a citation though.

 

[Meth]

ok- I am casting my vote for-

1- Fusitua
2- Maumalo
3- Ayshford
4- Kata
5- Vatuvei
6- Lolohea
7- Johnson/Robson
8- Matulino
9- Luke
10- Vete
11- Thompson
12- Hoffman
13- Mannering

Res- Tevaga, Lisone, Lillyman, Sipley

I am not sure whether Lolohea is a better fullback or half- but I am so sick of Leuluai, who is either tepid or cold. Stick Lolohea there- he can't do any worse. We're probably eventually moving towards Hingaro/Johnson, but I am not sure Hingaro is ready. Certainly, if Johnson is unfit, I would want Lolohea there, partnered with Robson. Fusitua is a better replacement for Lolohea/RTS than Leuluai is a half and I would rather have a small problem on the wing (Maumalo) then a big problem in the middle third, stifling our attack.

I am not sure why Tevaga was dropped in the first place. It's great that Luke is playing well, and Tevaga provides no backline cover- but at worst, he could rotate into the second row. Based on performances, he offers more (IMO) than Gubb or Roache.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

so cappy has come out and said tui needs to work n some areas of his game. is this why hes not getting a run at 6

Fair enough re not playing him at 6 but he's still good enough to command a spot at FB or wing.

 

[vvvrulz]

That Gavet tackle you're thinking of was pretty clumsy, not what I'd call textbook stuff at all. Not worth a citation though.

Yeah of course, just found any excuse to reference that tackle.
One of the stupidest (and amusing) piece of refereeing I've ever seen.

 

[vvvrulz]

but I am so sick of Leuluai, who is either tepid or cold.

It's almost to the point where he's the most overrated selection we've ever had.

When you think about his output vs selection ratio it has to rank as one of our worst, the likes of Plod Lowrie & Tyran Smith didn't last long for a reason. We've had plenty of crappier players of course but usually because we had no option, I can't think of another case where so much mediocrity was actively blocking better players.

He's a band-aid player you'd have around as injury cover, to come in and make a few tackles and don't make errors, that's it. Otherwise it's Vulcans, I don't even think he can add much off the bench.

... or maybe I'm missing something? Was chatting to a random guy a while ago who talked about how he really thought TL was good quality, he and Cappy must be onto something I'm blind to.

 

[Meth]

It's almost to the point where he's the most overrated selection we've ever had.

When you think about his output vs selection ratio it has to rank as one of our worst, the likes of Plod Lowrie & Tyran Smith didn't last long for a reason. We've had plenty of crappier players of course but usually because we had no option, I can't think of another case where so much mediocrity was actively blocking better players.

He's a band-aid player you'd have around as injury cover, to come in and make a few tackles and don't make errors, that's it. Otherwise it's Vulcans, I don't even think he can add much off the bench.

... or maybe I'm missing something? Was chatting to a random guy a while ago who talked about how he really thought TL was good quality, he and Cappy must be onto something I'm blind to.

Well, its not as if someone is necessarily banging down the door for the #6 jersey and continually being relegated to the Vulcans, so that's something. From memory, Nielsen and Lowrie's selections were made much worse by how easily their spots could have been filled.

 

[vvvrulz]

Well, its not as if someone is necessarily banging down the door for the #6 jersey and continually being relegated to the Vulcans, so that's something. From memory, Nielsen and Lowrie's selections were made much worse by how easily their spots could have been filled.

Not banging down the door perhaps, but Lolohea and Robson are politely knocking.
I don't know much about Hingano but the guys here seem to rate him.

All three, while carrying obvious limitations, offer genuine halves games where TL does not.
Lowrie didn't last long here anyway, but I'll give you Neilson, that was bad.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Two things I do not want to see this week: A back on the bench, and our best prop on the bench. Neither are replicated anywhere in the NRL. Does that make our coach ahead of the curve.

No, I don't think so.

No wonder Ben isn't producing his best form when you treat him like a rookie, a year after he was your POTY.

 

[JJ]

McFadden gave Lolohea the #6 jumper a while back, now decided he's not even a first grade starter?!?!

Agree 100% on Matulino - nobody else carries their best prop on the bench, if you're doing one thing and everyone else something different, chances are you're the stupid one. Kasiano is the only one I can think of, but he plays a different game and Dessie isn't starting rookies ahead of him...

Matulino is an elite NRL prop - he starts with Lillyman, trying to justify anything else is ludicrous...

Who knows what McFadden will do, but I want Lolohea playing 80, Matulino and Lillyman starting (Vete and Lisone on the bench).

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Agree 100% on Matulino - nobody else carries their best prop on the bench, if you're doing one thing and everyone else something different, chances are you're the stupid one. Kasiano is the only one I can think of, but he plays a different game and Dessie isn't starting rookies ahead of him...

Matulino is an elite NRL prop - he starts with Lillyman, trying to justify anything else is ludicrous...

The only sense I can make of it and this mightve crossed your mind as well, is that Cappy probably feels he needs to balance the on field props with one experienced one (Lilyman, Matulino) and one not so (Vete etc). Thats only reason I can think of Matulino coming into the game of the bench but I might be wrong if both Lilyman and Matulino are on at the same time this week but Im sure Ben comes on for Jacob.

Anyway Bens got an offload that hes busting to go toilet with. Last year it made him look great, this year his team arent expecting it and just expect him to settle like a prop. Maybe he wants to play 2nd row and get the ball of a set play from where he can go in to the tackle with an offload..

 

[Meth]

I don't necessarily think you have to start your best prop, but in the case of Matulino it doesn't make sense- especially since he opts to start Lillyman instead, who in my view is the sort of prop you start off the bench because of the impact his quick play the balls can make once there's a few tired defenders out there.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The only sense I can make of it and this mightve crossed your mind as well, is that Cappy probably feels he needs to balance the on field props with one experienced one (Lilyman, Matulino) and one not so (Vete etc). Thats only reason I can think of Matulino coming into the game of the bench but I might be wrong if both Lilyman and Matulino are on at the same time this week but Im sure Ben comes on for Jacob.

Anyway Bens got an offload that hes busting to go toilet with. Last year it made him look great, this year his team arent expecting it and just expect him to settle like a prop. Maybe he wants to play 2nd row and get the ball of a set play from where he can go in to the tackle with an offload..

Yeah, I guess that might be where he's going on Ben. I don't think Ben has bought into at all, however. I think that's crystal clear in his performances and the Red Bull incident. So maybe in a perfect world it's a decent strategy but it isn't getting the best out of a guy who in the past has been nigh-on the best prop in the world. And it's pretty handy having one of those. I dunno, I've put my hand up in the past and said I'm not a league expert, so maybe there is a way of starting them both, staggering interchanges and ensuring we get the best out of our asset. It's not happening.

As for Tui, anyone who selects him for the bench and decides 20 minutes of him on the flank is best for our team...not sure that guy has a clue. Our squad is not so absolutely flash that we can afford to have a guy of his talents riding pine. As I've said, Fus/Tui shits all over Fus/Jono Wrong

 

[Meth]

I think a Matulino/Vete starting combination goes great guns.

Bring Lillyman and Lisone off the bench. Inject Sipley around the 55th minute perhaps

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Whatever it is - for god's sake don't waste a bench spot on a back. It didn't work for NSW (I know Bird was good in his limited time but still, it's a shit tactic - Walker did nothing in game 1) and it hasn't worked for us. Didn't we carry Spud Wright on the bench at one stage this year? Melbourne?

 

[vvvrulz]

I don't necessarily think you have to start your best prop, but in the case of Matulino it doesn't make sense- especially since he opts to start Lillyman instead, who in my view is the sort of prop you start off the bench because of the impact his quick play the balls can make once there's a few tired defenders out there.

Agree, I have no problem with Lillyman or Mutts coming off the bench.

I do have a problem if they aren't getting minutes, as our frontline props they should not be getting 10-20 minute cameos we've seen McFad dish out.