I'll never forget when Rav snapped Jmoz in half and they deemed it a shoulder charge. Favouritism at its finest. He was never quite the same.
Today I rewatched the Rd 1 game vs Gold Coast. Three tries to Sloan. Very smooth. And his defense was good. Rava surprised me as he was fine under the high ball. Suli twice took kicks in two hands over his head and was very active. And Hunt's kicking was crap. Failed to make 10 meters on a line drop..Dropped the ball on a Gold Coast kickoff. Things look different a year later.I rewatched that Newcastle game recently where Rav brings the ball back and gets met by both Saifitis, Kurt Mann and Crossland (?). All 4 went in shoulder first and Rav hit them like a bowling ball scattering pins and knocked Mann out cold. Beautiful.
Rav weighs the same as Lawrie - 106kgs and could weather the storm in the forwards but you'd be worried about his defence. Sure he can hit but only if he's where he's supposed to be, not a good reader in defence old Rav. Taking some early hit ups though, he'd probably have more impact than Blake the fake.
There is a big difference defending and doing hit ups in the middle constantly moving and defending for a set of 6 V staying on the wing and taking one hit up in a set of 6. Bottom line is Rav is not a middle player and Lawrie would add more value there.I rewatched that Newcastle game recently where Rav brings the ball back and gets met by both Saifitis, Kurt Mann and Crossland (?). All 4 went in shoulder first and Rav hit them like a bowling ball scattering pins and knocked Mann out cold. Beautiful.
Rav weighs the same as Lawrie - 106kgs and could weather the storm in the forwards but you'd be worried about his defence. Sure he can hit but only if he's where he's supposed to be, not a good reader in defence old Rav. Taking some early hit ups though, he'd probably have more impact than Blake the fake.
There is a big difference defending and doing hit ups in the middle constantly moving and defending for a set of 6 V staying on the wing and taking one hit up in a set of 6. Bottom line is Rav is not a middle player and Lawrie would add more value there.
Lawrie's discipline lets him down, especially when he is fatigued. To me, the effort just is not there anymore these days. Maybe it has something to do with fitness.You're probably right. Players can be retrained but Rav in the middle is a big ask in attack or defence. We're short on middles but not that desperate.....yet. Lawrie at least is a reasonable defender if nothing else.