Trial Discussions

magpie4ever · Feb 7, 2015

Thought I would make a thread to discuss the trial games/selections.

I know it was only a trial but the NYC and NSW Cup sides got touched up by Parra/Wenty last night.

I didn't go but the scorelines don't read too good.

innsaneink · Feb 7, 2015

Quite a few new 20s players with 0 exp. in that grade playing state cup...

Dunno what parra had in their ranks - dont care

Defense can be worked on....kids playing up grades = lack of communiction in D

Just think back to previous years lower grade trial match scores......

magpie4ever · Feb 7, 2015

Yeah, that is what trials are for.

gronkathon · Feb 7, 2015

Very pleased with the effort shown.

Performed well in the first half against a side peppered with NRL talent.

Played 17 men for the 80.

In the end their fresh second half team did the damage.

Good on the edges for the most part, really got hurt with angled runners back to the ruck.

Good to get minutes in their legs

Perth Tiger · Feb 7, 2015

Apparently there were a couple of players who haven't even played 20s in the state cup side so it seems it was a pretty decent hit out

Forty20 · Feb 7, 2015

gronkathon said:
Very pleased with the effort shown.

Performed well in the first half against a side peppered with NRL talent.

Played 17 men for the 80.

In the end their fresh second half team did the damage.

Good on the edges for the most part, really got hurt with angled runners back to the ruck.

Good to get minutes in their legs

Pretty fair appraisal of it as a Parra fan. First half was our NSW Cup team with a couple of our better NYC players but also minus a few guys currently vying for NRL duties that will eventually be cut from the first grade seventeen. In the second half we fielded our Ron Massey Cup team but they had a big advantage coming in fresh. I think the first half score was 10-0 and the second half score 16-4.

Holden Cup was a bloodbath (13 tries to 3) but I understand you guys were missing a stack of first choice players between promotion/injury/resting.

innsaneink · Feb 14, 2015

sounds like last night defensively we were pretty good with our tryline effectively unbroken...their only try from a 1 on 1 ingoal strip..hopefully the new systems JT has introduced are proving succesful...

Tiger05 · Feb 14, 2015

Good to hear we won. Drinkwater was apparently really good. He also looked good in the 9's.

Tigers Tale · Feb 14, 2015

Tiger05 said:
Good to hear we won. Drinkwater was apparently really good. He also looked good in the 9's.

I know Drinkwater will not displace Brooks but again in the All Stars game Brooks looked bad in defence....lots of arm grabs.

Vic Mackey · Feb 14, 2015

Listened to it on the radio. Hard to know what to make if it as the commentators obviously weren't big league fans. We dropped lots of ball early and seemed to give away lots of penalties (JT did mention giving away penalaties doesn't bother him if it slows the ruck down, same as the roosters). Farah only played the first 20mins, so all our tries came without him which was pleasing.

Guys that got wraps were drinkwater (seemed to control everything), naquaima, Ava (they said he made massive meters every carry), cherrington, brown and Buchanan. Again hard to know though as they said Akauloa scored the Hoeter try.

Parra only had a handful of first graders so although you can't take a huge amount from it, it's obviously pleasing. Next week against the sharks will be more of an indicator IMO

gronkathon · Feb 15, 2015

Went to the two trials at Windsor yesterday.

Considering they were playing up a division each for the most part (ringe 20's playing NYC and many main NYC guys playing State Cup) it was a very solid hit out.

Most impressive was the defense. After hearing JT talk defensive strategy in the members info session and then seeing the finer points in practice it was very impressive.

Fullback depth is still a concern but Alofi seemed to improve a lot since his performances last season in NYC (Obviously heartening to hear McDonnell was so safe in Alice as well)

From the first trial Mark McCormack seems to have a big future. Reminds me so much of Dwyer at a similar stage in his career. Hasn't built the upper body yet but he has all the tools and the work ethic

magpie4ever · Feb 15, 2015

gronkathon said:
Went to the two trials at Windsor yesterday.

Considering they were playing up a division each for the most part (ringe 20's playing NYC and many main NYC guys playing State Cup) it was a very solid hit out.

Most impressive was the defense. After hearing JT talk defensive strategy in the members info session and then seeing the finer points in practice it was very impressive.

Fullback depth is still a concern but Alofi seemed to improve a lot since his performances last season in NYC (Obviously heartening to hear McDonnell was so safe in Alice as well)

From the first trial Mark McCormack seems to have a big future. Reminds me so much of Dwyer at a similar stage in his career. Hasn't built the upper body yet but he has all the tools and the work ethic

What were the scores in each game, even approximates if not official? Thanks

gronkathon · Feb 15, 2015

NYC 16 - 14

State Cup 22 - 8

Both WT's way

In the NYC trial they didn't take any conversion attempts except for Penrith who took one right in front.

State Cup all conversions were attempted

magpie4ever · Feb 15, 2015

gronkathon said:
NYC 16 - 14

State Cup 22 - 8

Both WT's way

In the NYC trial they didn't take any conversion attempts except for Penrith who took one right in front.

State Cup all conversions were attempted

Not bad given they both received touch ups last week from Parra.

Only trials so it is hard to tell what the season will be like. working on patterns and combinations etc.

gronkathon · Feb 15, 2015

Quality wise it was like night and day between the weeks.

Seems like the first hitout was strictly for fitness and starting to implement the systems JT bought in.

That said the NSW Cup trial last week was ok. They went up against 80% top line Wenty side and only let in a try in that half. They changed sides completely in the second half whilst WT stayed with the 17 man squad

Luani had some really nice touches at 5/8 as well

madunit · Feb 15, 2015

Luani would be better suited to a halves role than at hooker. He doesnt run straight enough out of dummy half

Tiger05 · Feb 17, 2015

Team for Sharks

1. Shannon McDonnell
2. Kevin Naiqama
3. Tim Simona
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Pat Richards
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah (capt.)
10. Keith Galloway
11. Curtis Sironen
12. Sauaso Sue
13. Dene Halatau
Interchange
14. Ava Seumanufagai
15. Matthew Lodge
16. Martin Taupau
17. Brenden Santi
18. James Tedesco
19. Delouise Hoeter

Coach: Jason Taylor

Tiger05 · Feb 17, 2015

I would definitely have Taupau over Halatau in the starting line-up. I don't really mind that team though assuming Tedesco comes in for McDonnell.

It'll be interesting how they go.

BrotherJim05 · Feb 17, 2015

If Halutau is 100% fit then he will go well at 13. Him and Santi are tackle monsters...looking forward to seeing their rotation.

What i am concerned about is Siro and Sue both playing 80 minutes. Perhaps JT is testing to see if they can do it.
If this were the round 1 team I would definitely include Akoula or Lioleve on the bench to rotate between Sue/Siro

gronkathon · Feb 18, 2015

JT said Sirro is capable of playing 80. I think he will be the only one.

He said that if you do not have a backrower capable of playing 80 it puts you to far behind and puts to much strain on the prop rotation

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