Personally I don't really mind this..his a rocks and diamonds player.Liability in defence and to many errors a game.Just a backup player at best.with sua taking his spot this is what our 27 side will prob look like before future signings and what we know now.
1.Isiah iongi
2.Bailey simonsson
3.Will penisni
4.?
5.Josh addocarr
6.Lorenzo maybe if ready
7.Mitchell moses
8.Go to market
9.Ryley smith
10.Junior?(go to market)
11.Kitione kautoga
12.Jayden sua
13.Jmaine hopgood
14.Tayln da Silva
15.Dylan walker
16.Sam tuivati
17.Charlie guymer
18.Joash papalii
19.Jordan samrani
Replies
Imo Kelma is one of the laziest defenders we've ever had... honestly think he has been lucky with us to have had so many first grade games. Im actually surprised he gonna try his luck elsewhere, unless it's just us encouraging him to do so. Tata!
He has really bad technique, he plants his feet early and then leans (sometimes falls) in the direction the ball carrier runs using just his upper body to basically hug the ball carrier. This very poor technique (don't know how he made it past reserve grade with it) doesn't allow him to use any of his lower body strength which means first contact is weak and he falls off the tackle.
Isnt it great we already on to 2027 and we not even half way ....SMH....Sunday what an embarrasing day for the club with all the celebrations around the 86 team......they should postpone it.
Great news he may be leaving.
This quick game you can't carry turnstiles
Rocks and diamonds. He can go I reckon.
If we are to improve defensively we need to start planting our flag in the ground with regards to combinations especially on the edge.It's consistency in selection imo that we'll start seeing real improvement.This is where injury and depth has really hurt us.System and coaching regardless we just don't have it.This is why we are exposed right now.
Tuilagi yet another backrower who just hasn't reached his potential the tools for a player are there but the commitment to improve aren't.The guys been at the club for long enough if I'm honest I'm happy to see the back of him.
We have also had a lot of injury prone players that has been impacting our squad for a few years now. R. Penisini seems to have been injured for 3 years now, AMS, Haze Dunster, Bailey, Matterson. As you said it's no coincidence that Russell and JAC spent some time together and really grew defensively on that edge. In hindsight not offering Russell a decent contract is an epic failure. I know some players eventually come back from big injuries like Tedesco and Gutho but for everyone one of those comeback stories there's probably 6-7 Turbo stories. Gotta clear out injury prone players
How does it work, in terms of "contracted top 30", with those Eels lower graders who have been injury prone? Like AMS and Dunster? Dunster was turning out for Wendy until injured (again) in 2025?
Also, I wonder how they assess injury-prone? Do they call if bad luck or are there other metrics than can help assess unaddressed physical weaknesses etc?
The category that would be most interesting is the player that is routinely injured once actually in a game even if they routinely train the house down? Are some just unable to handle the contact and intensity of regular NRL games?
Haze Dunster was in our top 30 for at least a couple of years while AMS and RP might have been outside of top 30 they were probably taking up spots where we could have been recruiting quality talent in lowers grades readying them for 1st grade. For example we have been struggling for talent in outside backs for years yet you see quality talent like Makesini, Fletcher Hunt, Karapani, Marky Mark, McLean bros, Toia, and Jenkins just to name a few that we've overlooked for whatever reason. But I do see what you mean about it not necessarily being clear whether they are injury prone or not and how do you judge that. Our Recruiting has been average to say the least, we are not scouting far enough for the best talent. We've seen Canberra being successful with England, Newcastle picked up Dom Young, Roosters got Marky mark from rugby. Why we are not scouting from Fiji and 7s rugby is beyond me. Why not use Jarryd Hayne as a scout with his Fiji connection
The way the game is going at the moment, I just don't think it's working for these large rangy backrowers. Both Kitone and Kelma are poor defenders at this level, mainly due to their lateral defence and scrambling efforts and our opponents are taking advantage of this weakness and pulling us apart.
I'd be happy to keep both as depth, but then they're taking the place of younger contenders who could offer more first grade potential.
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