Bombs away: Canberra set aerial target on Waqa Blake
The winger will spend the week catching high balls at training in preparation.
Unfortunately for Waqa Blake, it seems the Canberra Raiders must have tuned in for the Penrith-Parramatta qualifying final on Friday night.
The Eels' winger made four crucial errors during the match, the majority of which coming under the high ball, including the fumble that led to Brian To'o's opening try.
The centre-turned-winger has never been known for his handling, making 14 errors across Parramatta's last five games, and Raiders recruit Jamal Fogarty has certainly taken note.
“We have a kicking plan for myself and Jacko to get up a couple of spiral bombs or floaters at certain times. Sticky wants us to do that," Fogarty told The Daily Telegraph.
“If we can get a couple of floaters up that will be nice. We will kick to corners and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
While Blake will spend his week at training catching bombs from Jakob Arthur and Dylan Brown, Fogarty will spend the next five days putting them up in preparation for Friday night's semi-final.
Most notably, the torpedo.
“It is a unique kick and they are pretty hard. I tried to whack one up in the first half and shanked it. You have to hit it in the sweet spot and be nice and controlled," Fogarty said.
“If we can get a couple it’ll be perfect. Sticky gets up us if we’re not practising at training. You throw up a couple and he loves you.
“He doesn’t get his old footage out but he forgets how skilful and talented he was. He is arsey and he will kick it and it will go exactly where he wants it. You’ll try it and you want nail it but it’ll take me like 10 goes and he does it once and Ricky expects you to be like him.”
Brad Arthur could restructure the backline in order to get Blake away from the high balls, and drop Tom Opacic, move Blake to the centres and recall former Raider Bailey Simonsson on the right wing.
While it's yet to be seen if Blake can manage to catch a few of Canberra's towering bombs, there's little doubt the outside back will be stocking up on Griptec as Brad Arthur looks to avoid a two-from-eleven finals record.
Replies
Waqa should be dropped, simo has to be his replacement
I personally would pick sean russell there. Bailey rushes in on defence and waqa cant catch bombs. Sean russell atleast doesnt have any issues under the highball and seems sound defensively. Only issue is meterage out of the backfield is stronger with waqa and bailey which is greatly needed for finals footy.
Kick pressure will erradicate this
BULLSHIT- Re watch the game two of his drops there was massive pressure on Cleary and he just got the ball away.
No matter how much pressure you put on the kicker Waqa still must catch whatever goes up. Waqa dosnt magically catchethe ball beacuse someone pressured the kicker thats just stupid.
A first grader simply has to be better, I just cant see the Raiders before they kick the ball asking Waqa if hes ready, would he like it a bit lower perhaps, what if we just kick to the other side formhim. Fuck its first grade and its a final..... Catch the Ball.
Heres the first one 15m into the game Cleary has pressure on him. W...
Heres the second at the 33m mark with Mahoney nearly on top of Cleary as he kicks
Waqa dosnt even get a touch on that one.
Heres the third One 10minutes into the second halft two Eels race to get to Cleary but also had to go around the blockers, but they certainly tried. Cleary was also very very deep from the ruck as well.
This time Waqa tried sitting down to take the bomb. I guess anything is worth a try when you cant catch.
Talking about trys this dropped ball led directly to another try to Penrith.
And Whilist on it heres Waqa dropping the ball for a knock on from a pass. They dont even have to kick it and he drops it.
This one also directly leads to more Penrith points.
Watch it again, in the shot the ball is already about 10m in the air. Also, look where Gutherson is positioned when the ball goes up. He should of called the ball moving forward, not Waqa tracking backwards. Fullback play book 101.
what are we saying which kick and whats 10m in the air at which point.
My argument still stands that people were attempting to pressure the kicker, and no matter what Waqa must still be able to catch tha ball no matter how much pressure is on the kicker prior to kicking.
Surely your not arguing that Waqa played well.
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