Just a few observations from my perspective. It was a great win. Especially considering that our 2 starting wingers didn't finish the first half and Lorenzo didn't play the 2nd half.
Negatives
Penisini can't string back to back games together.
Positives
Mataele dominate. He scored 2 tries. I think being 24 the club is going to let him go and focus on the younger players, but he is a very good player at this level.
Lorenzo showed plenty of spark in the first half. He has to debut later this year.
Ryda played his first game of cup this year and didn't disappoint. He's physically ready and definitely starting to use that size and speed effectively.
Petrus just rises to whatever level he plays. On cup debut today he nearly scored a 30m solo try. Had to move out to centre which limited his impact. Showed good versatility and even had a handy kick on him. He's a physical beast and will be nrl ready within a year. Does have the odd error in him.
Lokeni is someone that is getting better and better. His stats last week were fantastic and this week he played close to 80 minutes. Busy forward he likes to have 2 carries in a set and can ball play. Rock in defence and can shift to an edge if required. Lock seems to be his spot.
Funa-Iuta isn't an explosive back rower. He's a bit of a worker. But at only 19 he is definitely holding his own in Cup. One thing of note was I thought he looked really good in his short stint in the middle today. Good leg drive and pcms. As EA and a few others have said I hope he gets more time in the middle.
Visconti has been an absolute find. A very astute signing. He started the year in the number 16 jersey in jersey flegg and is now starting prop in cup. More of the modern day prop. Not massive but works hard and runs a good line. Scored a great try today from about 30 metres out. He needs to have a full nrl pre season next year.
Sammrani was great on return. I think he has to play right wing next week over Kelly. A handful with the ball and constantly looking to offload.
Pezet was solid on his comeback game. Looked more comfortable at 7.
Definitely a few players that need to be locked up long term. I'm hoping Konia and Bamblett are not too far off a call up either.
Replies
Nice to see a lot of the stuff we have theorized on here (Jez being a future middle, Petrus/Ryda being guns, Lorenzo rising up to it) coming true.
I am curious about Lokeni. There is a log jam in that 13+prop energetic smallish forward type in our squad, and all young (Doorey, Guymer, Lokeni, Popo, Pryke, even Koina).
Yea there will be some middles that eventually leave for opportunity. Mataele has been great this year. Then all those young forwards you mentioned, eels2025 mentioned and when Jez moves to the middle too. Been calling for Jez to move to the middle for the past 2 years which is good to see I can see something right lol
Koina and Coinakis are the next in line to move into nsw cup followed by Popo when he returns from injury. However with players returning form injury in nrl, we will have players dropping back to JF rather than being promoted from JF to cup.
Bamblett should only be in nsw cup if he is at fullback. If they are adamant on developing him as a 6 then he needs to remain in JF for the rest of the year and learn how to defend. Plus he is no where near physically ready to defend against grown men. Plus he plays like a fullback and as an individual. Needs to develop other aspects before moving to cup.
Petrus sounds like the real deal EA
Honourable mention to Talagi & Talataina
Parra need outside backs badly.I'm almost ready to put the line through Richard Penisini he can't seem to beat the injury bug if he's getting it at lower level I don't see how he has a career in the nrl.
Did you watch the game?
Apparently Richie was dropped for attitude rather than injury. Just a rumour but yeah
Nah we don't get the game here and I've really only got time to watch nrl side with these grand kids that get dumped on me most weekends 😂
😂😂 fair enough. Hopefully eels get a game off nsw cup on fox soon so you can watch a game live or on replay to see some of these kids
If Kelly makes his usual errors, Samrani will take his spot next week. Samrani was strong