Thought I'd give my review of a few key players from the premier league match for those who couldn't make it down to Sydney.
Overall was very ordinary performance from the Knights. In the first half they were the better team and were winning the forward battle but just kept making errors (3 forward passes in 5 minutes at one stage!).
14-4 our way at half time but it probably should have been a bit more. Early in the second half Cutler scored a length of the field intercept try from Dureau to make it 14-10 and the momentum completely changed after that. We made a ridiculous number of silly errors that kept inviting the Dogs into our half, which they eventually took advantage of. We scored a late try, and the conversion would've levelled the scores but it went wide.
Hinton - was reasonably solid without being spectacular. Would love him to be just a bit quicker for his size. He threw a lovely cut-out pass for Uate's try.
Carmont - Looked every bit a reserve grader. Certainly not the performance of someone who has played that much first grade. Didn't do anything in attack, was ok defensively although got run over the top of from a kick off, Dog's forward made an embarrassing 20 metre break.
Uate - a pretty ordinary performance. Didn't get many chances in space to excel. He came up with some horrible, cringe-worthy mistakes, the highlights being: 1. a line drop out that went staight to him, he let it float over his head, then ran back only for it to roll into touch and the Dogs to get the scrum.
2. caught a bomb on our line then lay on the ground. The Dogs started screaming at the ref that it was a voluntary tackle, and Uate panicked and got to his feet and they smashed him over the sideline for another scrum feed 10 metres out. All he really had to do was start crawling along so that they would put a hand on him, the ref wasn't even looking, but turned around to see Uate going into touch.
Karawana - he played well. Not sure how he would go in first grade, but i think he would at least be solid based on that effort. He was a bit of a ball hog at times, but he does have the strength to get through the line and pop a nice one hand offload. At times he was getting involved on 2 or 3 plays in a set which was good to see. Defended strongly.
Dureau - very involved but not a great display. Still, there were some nice passes and short kicks in attack that proved he was really the only genuine playmaker on the field all day (in both grades).
Tupou - would have liked to see him get involved more but he ran with purpose and looked strong. Scored a nice try running an angle out wide at pace.
Sargent - solid effort, certainly not spectacular but he did always look to have the extra touch of class getting over the advantage line and occassionally creating some second phase play. Nothing to suggest he should be picked ahead of someone like Tolar though.
Royal - get rid off him. His hands aren't up to the next level. In th second half, at 16-16, he dropped a perfect pass from dummy half without a single defender near him. We managed to hold them out for 6 tackles, then from the first hit up 20 metres out he dropped it again playing the ball! He was solely responsible for consecutive sets on our line, and eventually they scored the match winning try.
Overall was very ordinary performance from the Knights. In the first half they were the better team and were winning the forward battle but just kept making errors (3 forward passes in 5 minutes at one stage!).
14-4 our way at half time but it probably should have been a bit more. Early in the second half Cutler scored a length of the field intercept try from Dureau to make it 14-10 and the momentum completely changed after that. We made a ridiculous number of silly errors that kept inviting the Dogs into our half, which they eventually took advantage of. We scored a late try, and the conversion would've levelled the scores but it went wide.
Hinton - was reasonably solid without being spectacular. Would love him to be just a bit quicker for his size. He threw a lovely cut-out pass for Uate's try.
Carmont - Looked every bit a reserve grader. Certainly not the performance of someone who has played that much first grade. Didn't do anything in attack, was ok defensively although got run over the top of from a kick off, Dog's forward made an embarrassing 20 metre break.
Uate - a pretty ordinary performance. Didn't get many chances in space to excel. He came up with some horrible, cringe-worthy mistakes, the highlights being: 1. a line drop out that went staight to him, he let it float over his head, then ran back only for it to roll into touch and the Dogs to get the scrum.
2. caught a bomb on our line then lay on the ground. The Dogs started screaming at the ref that it was a voluntary tackle, and Uate panicked and got to his feet and they smashed him over the sideline for another scrum feed 10 metres out. All he really had to do was start crawling along so that they would put a hand on him, the ref wasn't even looking, but turned around to see Uate going into touch.
Karawana - he played well. Not sure how he would go in first grade, but i think he would at least be solid based on that effort. He was a bit of a ball hog at times, but he does have the strength to get through the line and pop a nice one hand offload. At times he was getting involved on 2 or 3 plays in a set which was good to see. Defended strongly.
Dureau - very involved but not a great display. Still, there were some nice passes and short kicks in attack that proved he was really the only genuine playmaker on the field all day (in both grades).
Tupou - would have liked to see him get involved more but he ran with purpose and looked strong. Scored a nice try running an angle out wide at pace.
Sargent - solid effort, certainly not spectacular but he did always look to have the extra touch of class getting over the advantage line and occassionally creating some second phase play. Nothing to suggest he should be picked ahead of someone like Tolar though.
Royal - get rid off him. His hands aren't up to the next level. In th second half, at 16-16, he dropped a perfect pass from dummy half without a single defender near him. We managed to hold them out for 6 tackles, then from the first hit up 20 metres out he dropped it again playing the ball! He was solely responsible for consecutive sets on our line, and eventually they scored the match winning try.
