To be honest, high expectations meant that I was disappointed leaving the ground last night. Everyone looked very fit, the new and returning players were all there, everyone looked happy to be wearing red and blue.
What frustrated me was that I couldn't see the improvement or different style of play I was looking for. Mullen was really poor, costigan dropped a couple - as did fuss and defensively it all looked the same as always. Penrith were clearly targeting our halves in defense (It may have just been that all teams run a lot of their plays in that zone) And had some luck too with gidley in particular early on and then Mullen later in the game.
I think our halves could really be a problem this year if Mullen doesn't find the form that has been missing for too long. Luke Walsh looked to be in another class against our halves and we all know he's nothing special. It was a shame Tyrone went down as it looked like they were going to try him at half with mullen at 5/8 for a while.
Highlights were;
-Boyd showing a bit of ball playing, but in cruise mode on kick returns
- McManus looking a little more elusive than past seasons - still stumbled a lot though
- tahu looked fit but seems like his timing needs some work in attack and defense to fit in.
- gidley looked his best when he ran straight and hard with a bit of footwork close to defenders late in the second half.
- bedsy looked fit and sharp, I'd forgotten how well he brings forwards onto the ball with a couple of probing steps and then a flat ball as he meets the markers.
- hilder will be handy as a hooker / back rower again and had more opportunities to run than buderus due to the period of the game he played.
- snowden looked a lot better than in the allstars game. Very willing to take the ball up and aggressive in defense
- house was faultless and looks to have put that little bit of size back on that should make him more of a threat in attack again this year.
- zeb played ok but looked really tired at half time. With game time should come good
- costigan looked to be being used as a third prop and was running straight at the middle.
- Edwards looked fit and willing when he replaced costigan and showed we look like playing with a non ball playing lock this year. Stopped a few in their tracks and was filling a lot of gaps in our defense. Looks a little light and easy to stop in attack still though.
- kev played well but is no threat to McManus at this stage and young matautia that played quite well too.
- junior looked like he was trying really hard but didn't get too many opportunities - which you could say for tahu and Wes too.
- as was mentioned, kod made a good break - but I still don't think he's up to it yet. Didn't
Last long fitness wise and still a bit of a shirt grabber. Same for liki liki who looks big and fast but had poor hands.
Bit long winded there, but overall I think we really need to improve defensively (which we should but it may take longer than some of us hope) and in the halves, but our forwards and backs depth looked strong if they can be guided around the park.
