What do we hope to see from the trial?

[perverse]

It's interesting, Phythian did an interview last week where he was asked he would bring to the table as a fullback. His answer: "Ball playing and kicking game" (or something close to that effect). It's pretty clear he backs himself as a kicker, and with good reason from what we've seen so far.

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what else Dylan has got in his game. He looks composed and tough, which you couldn't say about Feeney at fullback early last year.

Yeah, cool head for a kid. I've no problem with him filling in at #1 until Ponga gets here. Wonder what we do in 2018 of Phythian actually kicks on?

 

[Frederick]

Gee, Barnett might have been best on field.

Gagai, buhrer, hokko and about 10 others could also lay claim to that

 

[Pedge1971]

We have been good but on the flip side u would think Sticky would be stripping paint off the walls in the other shed. Some of their stuff has been soft!

 

[Noname36]

Back row looks real good.

 

[Frederick]

Yeah, cool head for a kid. I've no problem with him filling in at #1 until Ponga gets here. Wonder what we do in 2018 of Phythian actually kicks on?

I'm sure there'd be a place for him somewhere in the back line...centre maybe

 

[Pedge1971]

Gagai is having a red hot go. Great to see. He looks a lot stronger as well.

 

[perverse]

Yeah, hard to choose, they're firing out there. Not many poor performances, very low error rate, great defence.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

But it's only a trial game -phfftttttt.
Amazing we have a fwd that can pass in Starling and it could be contagious.
I'm in Knights mode expecting us to stuff up in the 2nd half.

 

[Apey]

We're gunna win the (trial) league!

 

[slotmachine]

Gagai, buhrer, hokko and about 10 others could also lay claim to that

Levi, pythian, dan saifiti.

The starting middle forwards gave away nothing.

Edge defence was from a different planet. So good having pros like Buhrer and sio.

 

[perverse]

I'm sure there'd be a place for him somewhere in the back line...centre maybe

That could work. He just seems like a natural footy player, as Browny has said about him. His kicking today has been outstanding. He could push Lamb for 5/8th in 2018 if Lamb isn't careful.

 

[perverse]

Levi, pythian, dan saifiti.

The starting middle forwards gave away nothing.

Edge defence was from a different planet. So good having pros like Buhrer and sio.

The new recruits have really blended in well. I hope it isn't a false dawn and they carry this enthusiasm into the season, because they're playing out of their skins.

 

[perverse]

But it's only a trial game -phfftttttt.
Amazing we have a fwd that can pass in Starling and it could be contagious.
I'm in Knights mode expecting us to stuff up in the 2nd half.

The Raiders will put their B-team on, we should be ok - our B-team isn't drastically apart from our A-team.

I guess I might be getting really greedy, but concerning the title of the thread at this point, I'd like to see us keep going on with it and put on another 30 in the second half.

 

[Frederick]

How's the half time entertainment...almost as woeful as ours hahahaha

 

[slotmachine]

Contract year Gagai is best Gagai

 

[K-Man]

Very impressive performance. I like the way we're playing, using a bit of skill and second phase play and basically playing to our strengths with quite a few slightly smaller forwards who can play some footy.

Some of things I've noted so far:

1. Goal line defence is actually organised and doesn't look like a complete mess as soon as the opposition puts a play on. Too early to tell and it's not the Raiders' best out there, but gee it's pleasing at this stage.
2. Support play. It exists!! I don't think there was a game last year where we did better in this department than we're doing right now. Every time somebody has their arms free there's a player there to take advantage. When we make a break, somebody is looming up on the inside and turning it into points. We look hungry and energetic.
3. All the forwards are passing before the line and it's working. Plenty of off-loads too, but that's a bit more circumstantial, whereas the forwards doing a bit of ball playing is clearly a plan. Starling has done it well (and played well generally), and Barnett in the middle has done it heaps.
4. Gagai is playing like Justin Hodges. Hope this is a sign of what's to come.
5. Ross has defended on the wing and dropped back on the last, and come into the centres in attack as expected, and looks good.
6. Hodkinson is having a very solid game. I'm still not convinced, but I have to give credit where it's due here.
7. Buhrer is obviously awesome. Sione running great lines too means we actually have some strike power on the fringes. (Recalling Houston playing on the edge makes me even happier about this.)
8. Levi has been one of the best on the field. Hope he can go to a new level this season.

 

[perverse]

How's the half time entertainment...almost as woeful as ours hahahaha

Wonder if it's any better with sound, or just less funny.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Their B team is on the field doing warm-ups.
Hang on.That's the cheer squad or something.

 

[perverse]

Contract year Gagai is best Gagai

Yeah, keeping him playing like this is the trick. Been a f**king animal today though.

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

Wow I wasn't expecting that. Starling really surprised me he looks like a really good additon. Phythian looks very comfortable and cant believe how much stronger Gagai looks