I'm not going to rip into the kid I'll try be objective I have no doubt this blog will turn ugly.
I was all for him getting a shot I think 3 games in 1st grade will see benefits down the track.
We have to focus on the defence he made his 1 on 1 tackles and you can't fault his technique.
The other side of defence is how you make your defensive reads this let Jake down big time he reads the opposition defence like a dyslexic reads the dictionary, unfortunately for him he didn't have the players around him to compensate.
Attack he did some nice things 2 tries 2 try assists is not a bad output. He was guilty of overplaying his hand and failing to execute but over all I think he showed potential.
I think obviously he was brought in to soon he's a year or 2 away but he has potential.
I don't think things would of been any better with Rankin who has defensive issues of his own.
Moving forward I think Will Smith will be back and go into that back up role Jake may get called on again through injury and suspension and hopefully improves from this experience.
I think we have bigger issues as a team then our 3rd choice half.
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Really good signs from the young kid, a good season in Reggie's and being around the team will do him well. Last 2 weeks shows how far Brown has really come in attack and defence.
I think him making his debut will be the highlight of his fathers coaching carreer.
He gets a c- from me but to be fair to the kid he has been brought in too early but he didn't get a lot of help from the players around him either.
I hope we don't see him again this year in first grade but plays well in reserves and proves his up to it next time his chance comes around
Hopefully he doesn't carry any scars from the last 2 games
I agree JA's defensive reads were poor. He missed 1 tackle and 2 ineffective tackles by stats, but halves play 3rd man in their decisions about when to stick on a runner and when to slide out impact the timing of any outside in defensive moves by the centre wnd winger. And JA was indecisive all night.
A couple of his passes on right side blind side plays were atrocious.
Glad he got FG experience but if JA is the future of the Eels halves, the Eels are planning for average at best.
He put in a fantastic kick for the first try and also scored a magnificent try himself.
As I have said - if we start blaming JA then we are in real trouble.
I actually think because he isn't the dominant playmaker it's affecting his decison making.
Imagine how hard it would have been to put that kick through for Guthos try on the 3rd tackle considering the state of the game ? Would have taken some massive stones.
Fathead, that's pretty kind! JA's kick for Gutho's try benefitted from a freakily lucky bounce, and his second try was good heads up footy to realize Latrell was being lazy and had went for a walkabout up in the line with the game over.
The plays that stood out for me were JA's wayward passes in the attacking zone, his grubber right to Gagai when air was needed, and his poor defensive reads.
Obligatory hopes that the experience helps his development and I'm sure he's a good kid etc etc
That's fair.
For a young kid , he has got his taste of first grade, his defense needs a lot of work to get up to standard and his attacking stats puts him in good stead 3 games 2 tries, 2 try assists. Not bad numbers. Its up to him now, to go away for a couple of seasons and get himself ready.
I agree that Arthur jnr is not our concern because he is our 3rd choice half. My concern is the players who are in our 'top 17' and are playing horrible. Also some rub of the green would be good. The refs don't give us anything.
He is a good kid. Solid. He isn't like some of the other 18 year old freaks in the game. Not a natural ball player but a natural hard worker. Probably as good of a performance you'd expect from an 18 year old. Defence needs a lot of work. Good vision for his solo try.
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