Unless changes have been made to his playing style, I do not believe so. At the time of his injury there were calls for him to be dropped as he was a liability in defence because of his consistent leaving of his wing and his attack had been nullified by the opposition to the point where he was easily contained in many tackles. He was not alone as all of our wingers and centres in recent times played a similar role in not marking their opposite number . This style of play has existed for several seasons through many different players so we can only assume that is coached into them. It does not work and it is obvious to me that we are sitting ducks out wide for any of the other 15 sides in this comp.
I could not believe that Manly came to play us last week with exactly the same game plan that they have used for the past couple of seasons against us.Just move the ball wide and the tries will come as the defence out wide does not exist.
The other shortcomings of our side is our attack and lack of penetration. It started with Waqa Blake and his style of dawdling up to the opposition and then stepping into them at half speed hoping to break the tackle. It drives me insane when our coaching staff cannot see players like Staggs and Suli for instance receive the ball and then dig their toes in and hit the opposition at full speed with much success in breaking through the tackle and continue on. Now we will have Sivo, Blake,Simonsonn,Perham and Opacic all dawdling up to the opposition line and making no impression. I wonder how much interest there would be from other NRL clubs if any of the above wanted to test the market.
You can watch any bottom feeder NRL game you like this week and you will see unknown players really stand out in either attack,defence or durability. We do not have one of these type of players brought into first grade quickly as Penrith do, yet we have around the same size pool of talent to choose from. Why???
I do not know what happened with the meeting with Bevan French when he was reportedly in talks with the club. He is ready to resume playing after his injury and is off contract at the end of the year. He has put on a couple of kilos for defence but has the brilliance and pace we are lacking at the moment. I was never a fan but one player I have noticed watching recent games is Dylan Walker. He carries some injuries but each time he comes on their attack picks up and his tackling has a lot of sting to it.He is able to cover many positions due to his speed and ball movement abilities and has enough mongrel in him to upset the opposition. Not that he is available as I recall he recently signed an extension but he is the type of all rounder that we need.
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Sivo is the biggest winger in the squad and regardless of your thoughts of him he is experienced and can score tries. Simonsson 1 try in 11 games, Dunster 4 in 14 games, Russell has scored 5 in 3 fair enough. But Sivo 54 tries in 68 games, he can find the line. Who knows, having the last 6-9 months off might kick him into gear with a rest to get over all his niggles and get some energy again, his tries in cup showed a player too good for the league and he was unfit too.
Sivo is looked down upon purely because people expect Semi, not everyone but some, i have even knocked him but he is better than what we have at the moment, looking forward to seeing him back.
Pretty much sums it up perfectly LB.
The fact Sivo has 54 tries in 68 games says it all.
Sivo doesn't have the speed of Radradra but is more powerful and I belive he is one of the best finishers in the game from 20 metres out.
The only other thing I will add is the defence plays to a structure they are coached to play.
If Alan Kay wants to blame someone for our poor defensive style over the last couple of years, he needs to look no further than amongst our coaching ranks.
As far as Bevan French goes, Simonsson is my 5th choice winger at the club and I would have him on the wing every time.e over French.
Agreed. They need to take a look at fergo. He hit the line for us at full speed.
Bevan was quick , elusive and had good anticipation for backing Many criticized his defence.What about our current mob with poor defensive reads. Speed is an issue as well as creating space for second phase play
Sivo, like all players, has his downside and things he needs to work on but when it comes to scoring tries he is up there with the best. Tell me of a better winger that is currently available?
No one player is the answer to any club, it is always going to be about the team and them utilising each players upside and minimizing thier downside. Until the Eels can get someone better, Im not sure there is anyone available out there, he is the best.
P.S. Bevan French isn't a winger anymore and is playing great football from fullback and five eight.
Need big, athletic, agressive and extremely fit wingers whoever they be.
If sivo ran out of the back field with the same power he does for a try he would be top shelf.
He has issues in defence but I believe that is a defensive system issue as we say the same thing about all our wingers.
Sivo needs better match awareness not sure if it's to late for that but he is slow to turn and chase on kicks.
That been said he will add something when he gets back I'm happy to see waqa back on the wing he was putting in some of the best performances I've seen from him before his injury we ha e missed his meters out of the backfield
I'd have Sivo for his try scoring ability alone but he definitely needs to show more urgency the other end. He waists too much time ambling to a kick, run FFS, pick the ball up and sprint back and get a quick play the ball and stop holding his head hoping for a penalty. That gives me the shits
Beven French was once asked to travel to Queensland to play on the wing he told BA he's not a winger anymore and chose to play reserve grade
That was right before he moved to Wigan he has played full back and 5/8 there but now he's on the wing on account of Jai Field absolutely carving it up at full back fast players eith some skill always excel in the UK
offside, your second sentence sums it all up perfectly. Jai Field carving it in ESL enough to push French out to the wing says so much about the game over there and proves again that French would not be up to NRL standard.
We all know how Field went here. He was ok but could never demand a first choice or bench spot outside of injuries.
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