I watched him closely yesterday and he looked like he was struggling just minutes after he got out there, major plodding going on and he left a hole for a Penrith try scorer to stroll through. He looked like early Kerr, top heavy or just tired the way he was moving, slow loping strides. Maybe it was round 1 rust but he looked less than fit. I know he plays alright most weeks but I was a bit put off the way he played yesterday .
This is why it was always absurd to offer him 600k like some were suggesting. He's no where near worth that, and as has been stated previously 450k is still overs, just not huge overs. Caused the first penrith try because he couldn't get to marker, and then was slow to move to close the gap on Yeo who just went through and scored.
Constantly turned his back in defence. Not to mention the dumbest charge down I've ever seen. Early second half, Sharks are on top, and just completed a great defensive set. Panthers players all standing around the kicker, yet Hazleton bizzarely decides to try a charge down whilst the Sharks are on top and about to receive the ball in great field position. Unsurprisingly, Panthers get the ball from the charge down given there were 3 or 4 of them positioned around the kicker, and start a fresh set 40m out from their own line. They go on to receive a set restart in front of the posts and score that set. Panthers end up jumping out to a 14 point lead off the back of it when Sharks would've been on top otherwise. Dumb, dumb, dumb.