Trials are done!!! Round 1 v Raiders in Vegas

[SpaceMonkey]

How accurate are these weigh-ins? Demitric at 104? No way! I'm not heavier than that fooking younit!!
He's 110 at least, but i reckon a sneaky 115.

Connssidering how much player weights can vary over a season, I wouldn't expect them to be particularly accurate at all. Its not like player bios on team websites are updated all that regularly.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I don't put a lot of stock in the listed weights either and nor do I actually put a lot of stock in what guys currently weigh. Strength and conditioning and modern sports science are great but imo (and maybe I'm old fashioned in thinking this) there's a difference between a Big Guy, and an average sized guy who has lifted a lot of weights.

Vaimauga for example has clearly bulked up and none of us know what he really weighs right now, but he's only about 6' tall and he certainly isn't built like a Junior Paulo or an AFB. He's a pumped up backrower.

Likewise, Bunty at some point ate/pumped himself up to 110kg+ but he's just not a truly big guy like that.

Anyway, we have what we have and it's true that a lot of top forwards in the comp these days are around that sort of 6', 100kg mark. It's probably more that there are particular situations or match ups over recent years where we have been a bit helpless to stop bigger and more athletic opponents, but I'm probably focusing too much on specific scenarios.

Actually the "naturally" biggest guy we have at the moment is for sure Niukore

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Anyway back to the team selection....I find the non-selection of TMM bizarre. I'm not trying to overrate TMM, but he's by far the cleverest playmaker we have, particularly in the opposing 20, and yet in the post-SJ world we are going with essentially a speedy running half and a tough/robust running half?

Either Webster is confident that Metcalf has a whole suite of skills he hasn't shown yet, or we are just going all in on halves who threaten the line with their running games first and foremost.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, I don't completely get it either, although I don't understand the nuances of league. I imagine CHT's kicking game, being left footed and reasonably adept, has something to do with it?

Time will tell...

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Has Metcalf had some huge trial games ?
I’ve heard Andrew Voss tipping him for the Dally M Medal, and just listened to Levels and Josh Reynolds was talking him up big time too

I don’t really rate his passing or kicking games so he must have gone up some levels there

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Has Metcalf had some huge trial games ?
I’ve heard Andrew Voss tipping him for the Dally M Medal, and just listened to Levels and Josh Reynolds was talking him up big time too

I don’t really rate his passing or kicking games so he must have gone up some levels there

TBH I didnt see anything massively special myself but Cooper Cronk was another one talking him up and he's a pretty good judge. Maybe there's some cause for optimism after all... ?

 

[Izz]

He kicked a couple 40-20s so maybe that's got them all excited.

He did a decent job steering the ship. Should get better the more games he has

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Has Metcalf had some huge trial games ?
I’ve heard Andrew Voss tipping him for the Dally M Medal, and just listened to Levels and Josh Reynolds was talking him up big time too

I don’t really rate his passing or kicking games so he must have gone up some levels there

Yeah I wouldn't think huge is the word. He played the half where we dominated a very poor Storm side who couldn't defend the right, where he was. He's kicked a pair of 40/20s and no doubt ran things more than adequately well, but I would hardly say huge. One TA in that game, only had to make two tackles, could have played in a dinner suit.

Was pretty good against the Sharks, ran more and did the bulk of the field kicking.

 

[Big Marn]

Maybe

Yeah, I don't completely get it either, although I don't understand the nuances of league. I imagine CHT's kicking game, being left footed and reasonably adept, has something to do with it?

Time will tell...

A better defender too? Probably expecting Raiders to keep it tight and CHT can spell Egan when needed. Walker is the better sub for the halves

 

[Meth]

He kicked a couple 40-20s so maybe that's got them all excited.

He did a decent job steering the ship. Should get better the more games he has

40-20’s got me excited tbh

 

[Meth]

I definitely don’t get the TMM exclusion. Would rather have a Martin/Metcalf combination. I think Metcalf's kicking game in trials looked to have surpassed CHT's. Mind you, I only really sort-of watched the Trials.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

The 40/20s from Metcalf were definitely a surprise as was him taking the lead with the kicking game generally.

I still haven't seen anything to suggest he has the passing game or general cleverness/execution/option taking in the opposition 20 to actually lay tries on. Prior to this season he was notably bad at that and looked every bit a "run first" stand-off.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

The 40/20s from Metcalf were definitely a surprise as was him taking the lead with the kicking game generally.

I still haven't seen anything to suggest he has the passing game or general cleverness/execution/option taking in the opposition 20 to actually lay tries on. Prior to this season he was notably bad at that and looked every bit a "run first" stand-off.

Yea agree, definitely a run-first guy since he's been with us.

I do think much of that was SJ's almost overbearing presence as the key decision maker on the team for the last couple of years though.

Kinda saw that with TMM last year where he flourished when running the ship solo during the middle rounds, but almost immediately went back into his shell when SJ returned. And then when SJ was back out injured again, by all accounts TMM himself was carrying niggles.

Hopefully getting the keys sets Metcalf on his way.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Yea agree, definitely a run-first guy since he's been with us.

I do think much of that was SJ's almost overbearing presence as the key decision maker on the team for the last couple of years though.

Kinda saw that with TMM last year where he flourished when running the ship solo during the middle rounds, but almost immediately went back into his shell when SJ returned. And then when SJ was back out injured again, by all accounts TMM himself was carrying niggles.

Hopefully getting the keys sets Metcalf on his way.

This ^^

Totally pushed to the side for the broken SJ and Tohu. We will see his potential this season if he's doesn't get injured. This should be his breakout season for us or it will never happen.

Let's go Luke.