Not official and not mentioned anywhere else as of yet, though with Isaiah Iongi set miss 4 weeks, it is a blow to Parra's end of season and our challenge to avoid the spoon. Though it is doom and gloom make no mistake, is it as doom and gloom as many say? I think not. Ryles actually did the right thing in bringing in Joash Papali'i as an extra Fullback. A Fullback that many would have argued at the start of the year could have started Round 1 over Iongi.
Is Papali'i as good as Iongi? No, of course not, he would have started if that was the case. But what he did do was show he was too good to be in NSW Cup, but the issue is Papali'i is a Fullback through and through. We have tried to pidgeon hole him to fit him in somewhere and hope it works so he can play. So though Iongi is a loss, i feel we only lose a little bit with Papali'i at Fullback. If Moses was still out then yeah that is a loss, Moses is the biggest loss of this team overall. I am confident to say if Moses plays every game this year, we are more around 7-8 wins, not 5.
Now the big thing for fans is avoiding the spoon. Currently we are tied with Souths on F/A and they have a bye in hand. GC are only 8 points behind in F/A and we have a win in hand. Do we still avoid it without Iongi? Yeah i think we do. GC had their chance against Wests and couldn't do it. Now Tino is out, their leader, that's the nail in the coffin for them winning another game this year. Their best hope is Souths at CBUS but Souths are still at least trying.
Though Iongi could be on track to play Roosters in Round 25. Could we beat NQ and Souths, who experts expect us to beat, without Iongi? Yes we can as not only do we have Papali'i to replace Iongi, we have Brown to come in at 5/8.
Brown has not had a good season, however he is competent at least working along side Moses. Could be worse with Volkman coming into the 6 spot for the mean time. Brown alongside Moses this year is a better player. Games against Tigers, Sharks, Dolphins, Knights are games where Brown was running, making breaks, setting up tries and scorint tries. In those 4 matches he was averaging 162 metres per game as well. Plus, Brown might want a redemption type game, f-you to Ryles type form. Many here will blast that saying he doesn't care and frankly wouldn't surprise me as Brown could cure world hunger and people here would complain that the food he did that with is rubbish. But it is true, you have a 130+ game 5/8 coming back in, that is a plus no matter the form. Many saw last week Papali'i try too much, well it would probably be better having Brown be basic for this team moving forward. I am not a Brown apologist as i knocked him years ago saying he was overrated and not worth the hype. But the bloke can play, he is experienced and has played so much with Moses it will help us get wins.
Iongi will be back to finish the year and it is better than originally where he was expected to miss the rest of the season. He at least gets a few more game to finish the season.
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Be interesting to see what ryles does but if he's dead set on Joash learning at 6, my move would be Lomax to full back as his touches and work rate would go through the roof. Bailey to wing next to penisni and leave ado Russell on other edge.
Haha Russell we can't get rid of him!
He's not as bad as we make him sound 😂 solid player but just does a job lol
Though Eli, the type of squad we are at the moment Russell is not good enough. But you have him at Penrith, he would be seen as a very reliable member of the squad as they are doing well and he is not noticed.
it's good he's available every week, reliable but not a very high ceiling as a player.
Well sometimes you need those types of players. Sometimes in a team of superstars where some stars play 10/10 for a few weeks can play a 4/10 the next, it is nice to have someone play 7/10 week in week out. Tom Opacic was that player for us a few years ago.
Russell is between 6/10-7/10 but is consistent in that area and adapts.
He's been kissed on the dick the last few years this kid ....
LB, Fox/SMH have reported it too.
If true, you'd think Brown should return. Or will we bring in another young gun (Hunter, Twiddle, etc)?
Will Ryles continue Joash's development at six? Surely, he'd be tempted to continue with the "Future is Now" theme.
Or will Joash play one — or will Lomax, Simmo or a surprise?
We'll find out in a few hours. All eyes on TLT.
PS: Hawkins has been decent and gives us kicking options other than Moses. It's unlikely, but a left-field option is having him in the halves with Moses.
Realistically it would be a waste not to use brown if they are paying him still, but Ryles call
True, Eli. Bringing Back Brown probably increases the odds of winning.
Yet, if Ryles is sticking rigidly to the Future is Now ideology, with Moses-Joash in the halves, it opens up a world of possibilities. Or chaos?
He might keep it open — putting all the possibilities in the squad — and figure it out later in the week.
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