I made a comment earlier in the year, that I thought the one thing that Brad Arthur had to achieve this year was to get Sioasia Vave up to starting prop standard. My one recurring doubt about this side, has just been that we lacked that little bit of size and impact in the middle, to stop other teams rolling over us. Vave was obviously the guy in our side who could provide that, but he's been mostly unproven as a starting prop, being used predominantly throughout his career as a bench prop.
Forward packs, more so than anything else in Rugby League are a unit. You have to get the mix right ad each has a particular role. For as much as we lump props together, the reality is that you generally have a lead prop, who takes the first hit-up, and then a follow prop, who uses good leg-speed and power to take advantage of any progress the lead prop has made. You have forwards who give you line-speed and others who give you size to stop you getting rolled back. You want forwards of different sizes and attributes so opposition defences can't take a simple defensive game-plan against you, and they've always got multiple concerns to be worried about.
Vave is the big body in our squad, that helps makes the rest of the pack a far more effective unit. He's the guy that can stop another big body making those extra after-contact metres and creating a roll-on, and he's the hit-up that doesn't get dominated and lays a platform for our smaller forwards. All of these things are most critical at the opening of the game, because that's when the forward battle is at its more intense and when teams are looking to establish an advantage.
The last time our forwards were dominated, was the Dogs game, when we were pinned in our territory for sets on end, and only for the Dogs lack of attacking coherency were we able to hold on in that match. Since then our forwards have more than held their own, against some pretty imposing opposition packs and the consistent factor in that, has been Vave's inclusion as a starting prop.
Everyone of our forwards has been better since Vave has stepped up in that role. He complements Tim Mannah really well, and he allows Daniel Alvaro to come in when the match is really at a grind stage, and that's where he is far better suited than the more heated opening exchanges. You might not look at his stats and think, here's the guy that has made us so much better, but I reckon Vave is as important as any other player in our squad right now.
Replies
I just hope Vave continues the form he showed against the Broncos. He was outstanding that game. Doing it every week, I'm not convinced.
Fair call, both he and Matangi have stepped it up, starting to build some confidence in their own games, theyre going well.
Phil you've given him the kiss of death.
Please don't do a blog saying this is our year.
Starting Vave, you get him more motivated and fitter.
The rest of the pack follow with the tougher attitude and you see a re-invigorated effort displayed last round.
All our forwards were guns and I can only see what they produced continuing.
I think Bevan pretty much looked like a quasi forward when scoring that try.
With the French try right at the death I think Bevan saw that Mcquire was limping and deliberately targeted him. If you see the try again you will se him limp into his defensive position and Bevan run at him. Mcquire made first contact but due to the injury could not hang on
http://www.parraeels.com.au/team/profiles/siosaia_vave.html
He's listed as 115kg but he would be closer to 130kg
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