Bit of a rough game but 3 players that prob stood out to me,
3 Kautoga - Dangerous every touch and seems to be growing in confidence each game.
2. Kelma - one of his better games of the season but probably getting 4 weeks for that crusher. He's built into the season a little as it's gone on.
1. Sean Russell. - building a good combination with ado carr and seems to just be one of our more solid players lately. Can't really hate on him as much
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I think the MASTHEAD for one eyed eel pretty much sums up the team and whos putting in JR and Lomax .....fullstop
ABC 123 what ever
Dylan brown 🫣😂
Kelma crusher was only bad because JDB reacted to it. There was no intent. All accidental. But the MRC will obviously do anything to fuck us over.
I did not think Russel was good. Suli got on his outside way too often when Dragons shifted the ball. Russel is quick but acceleration is slow.
3. Kautoga
2. Kelma
1. Iongi
Fair call, I wasn't the biggest Russell fan but he does give it everything he's got. Iongi is a superstar in waiting another great game for him
Russel is a solid depth outside back no doubts. But he has played too many games than he should due to injuries/suspensions
Russell, this year in particular, has been the luckiest player due to injuries. Playing all but one game due to either JAC suspended, Lomax hurt or Simonsson hurt. Now Penisini suspended he will get Penrith and Canberra games even if Simonsson is back.
Not a fan either but Russell has been improving slowly. He'd make a decent back up as an Opacic style player - just needs to defend and set up his winger. Leave the flashy stuff to the better players.
Penisini has been a bigger disappointment so far in my opinion since he is our starter. Would still like us to recruit a strike centre to pair with Simmo instead.
Russell is your true blue toiler and quite frankly could be an Eel for a while as i doubt many teams would offer him better than Parra, maybe might get a spot at like PNG to start regularly but also could see him just staying with Parra past 2026 and being that mr fix it in backline. He is reliable without being nothing special.
Iongi was amazing and gets better and better. The offload to Russell was class.
Kautoga showed he is not finished product but when he is his potential is more than i thought. He looks like he can be a powerful whole runner. i thought he would be nice defensive edge with a decent offload, but now i see he can run hard and break the line. Give him another full preseason and he sees out the year playing 80 he could be a very good edge.
Papali'i though 6 tackles made and 4 misses, cannot have that we were just lucky Dragons were on back foot most of the time he was on the field in the middle so they didn't make too much of a dent. If Ryles wants a 2nd Hooker since Lussick cannot get through full 80 either just have Hopgood fill the role while Walker at Lock or just put Hands there and he can do a job for 15mins until Smith is back in RD20.
Cannot have Papali'i in the middle v Penrith around the 55min mark. Hands, though not great, can do a job for 10-15mins for Lussick.