Where has everyone improved?

[Yosh]

Just thought I'd see where everyone thinks the players have improved the most.

Faas: Not only has his hands gotten sticky he is our most improved player imo.

House: Penalty king last season but giving nothing away apart from great metres and punishing defence.

Aku Uate: Definately knows what he is doing much more this year, I dont understand why he runs sooooooo far crossfield before straghtening, is it planned? Well yeah his ariel ability also improved 10 fold.

MacDougall: He got 6 to 7 years younger?

Wicks: Definately much more involved and he is getting really good in defence, his lateral movement off the charts!

Marvin Karawana: Just overall seems a solid solid player, a poor man's Taia? Dunno maybe he was always decent but prevoiusly never really saw him on the field but this year some nice touches and is bending the line bit.

Who have I missed?

 

[Serc]

Not bad coverage there of those guys Yoshy I'd agree pretty much on all of them

I'd also give Lulia a mention in the improved stakes, a pretty well rounded player now.

Also Mark T has moved up another level this year, now combining his attack with the defence that has always been there.

 

[roopy]

Rogers is steadily improving as he learns to pace himself.

Mullen made a big step up in the off season, but injuries are killing him.

Taia is more consistant.

Wes' first game as a forward all game wasn't so bad, although i thought he was playing centre for half of it.

De Gois is getting better as he learns who wants the ball when, and fits in with the team better.

 

[Yosh]

I just watched a game from last year and seroiusly Wicks has become a stud compared to last year he was one big boy!!! Is that an improvement? Least in the looks department right?

 

[antonius]

I just watched a game from last year and seroiusly Wicks has become a stud compared to last year he was one big boy!!! Is that an improvement? Least in the looks department right?

What's doing here Yoshy? Do you want his number?

 

[Karmawave]

Taia has taken his game to another level completely, by far our most improved just based on the level he was at in 2008, and the level he is playing at now in 2009. He's game has gone from solid first grader, to rep class forward in the space of a season. His improvement is second to none.


Taufua has also improved in 2009 with the opportunity.


On the other end of the scale, Wes Naiqama has regressed. And dare I say it... but I think Junior Sau has regressed after his performances in 2008 as well. ( Or at least, failed to improve basic skills that you'd expect of a first grade centre ).

 

[antonius]

Taia has taken his game to another level completely, by far our most improved just based on the level he was at in 2008, and the level he is playing at now in 2009. He's game has gone from solid first grader, to rep class forward in the space of a season. His improvement is second to none.


Taufua has also improved in 2009 with the opportunity.


On the other end of the scale, Wes Naiqama has regressed. And dare I say it... but I think Junior Sau has regressed after his performances in 2008 as well. ( Or at least, failed to improve basic skills that you'd expect of a first grade centre ).

Sau needs to learn to pass the ball. I also think his sternum problem has affected the aggression he showed previously (which was a big part of his game) He was very much like Doogs, able to bust tackles with shear strength. Those sternum injuries can take a long time to heal, and I'll bet it's affecting him more than people realise. Like I said, if he wants to be a center then his passing game needs a lot of attention.

 

[chinorocks]

House has been a bit quiet the last few weeks, especially in attack. I think it would be worth swapping him and Simmo for a few weeks to get House running out a bit wider.

 

[Jono078]

Sau has been really good this year except for his last 3 games, they've been poor IMO.

Id say Simpson, Dureau and Paterson have gone backwards too.

The rest have improved, and not just by a little bit, a fair amount.

 

[Liam]

Mad Dog has been our best outside back by far, he's been playing like this since the Rabbitohs game last year but he's been outstanding, especially his defence and putting his winger into space.

 

[Pika]

Simpson has hardly gone backwards.

 

[aqua_duck]

Wes hasn't gone backwards, but he just crabs sideways...

 

[Jono078]

Simpson has hardly gone backwards.

Yes he has.

He was a beast last year (when playing) and this year he's been average IMO except for his 200th.

 

[Hanscholo]

Gidley - better hands this year, not nagging errors in his game as before.
McManus - tackle breaks, better in the air.
Sau - Leadership and effort, the guy really works for his team mates this year.
MacDougall - Less mistakes, better offloading, and his defence is better than at any point in his career.
Uate - defence has improved 100%
Rogers - Hard to say, but consistency is getting there.
Mullen - ball playing has improved a lot. the rest of his game is unchanged.
Hilder - Hasnt really improved, has always played like this from my exp.
Taia - Has improved every area of his game from where it was last year, and last year it was very good. Outstanding player at the moment.
Simpson - if i get to see him play more than once in a row ill let you know.
Houston - less penalties, better line penetration, less handling errors.
Degois - 10 times the player i saw play for the sharks last year.
Tafua - fitness is way better.

Karawana - the most improved in the club imo. dangerous with the ball and a strong worker in defence this year.
Lulia - starting to pass more, starting to break tackles more. His defence was always first rate.
Wicks - FAR leaner and fitter, bends the line back now, and is less likely to get caught out in a lateral defence.
Fa'aoso - HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! vastly improved handling and his defence is better too.

 

[Big Tim]

House has been a bit quiet the last few weeks, especially in attack. I think it would be worth swapping him and Simmo for a few weeks to get House running out a bit wider.

House had one really great hit-up on Saturday night, and that was when Simmo was at centre and Lulia was on the wing.

He took it up hard like a backrower and made plenty of metres and had a quick play the ball.

Cant wait till Tolar and Cross come back and we can have a backrow of:

11. Houston
12. Taia
13. Hilder

14. Simpson
15. Pato

 

[Joker's Wild]

Hilder - Hasnt really improved, has always played like this from my exp.

I have to add that Waltzing has had a lot more involvment in attack this year. He is hitting the ball up more than he ever did in '08

 

[Pika]

Yes he has.

He was a beast last year (when playing) and this year he's been average IMO except for his 200th.

He has had less time on the paddock, but when he is out there, he is as good as he was last year.

 

[Yosh]

Yeah Hilder is hitting the ball up much better than last year. Cant say he is taking the ball up more often but his hitups this year are pretty good, stepping before the line etc making some good metres and often straightens up the attack when we are kinda losing our way!

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Anyone else think the injuries will be a godsend to us? Teams must be crapping themselves at the prospect of a refreshed Crossy and Pato coming back. Add Tolar to that list. It will be like starting anew for the finals. Cross could be our x factor.

 

[roopy]

The guys i think have plenty of room to improve still are Lulia, Sau, Uate, Dureau, Pato, and Marv.