I didn't watch the game last night 1st time in 4 years I've not watched a game couldn't be bothered driving 90mins to watch it live and the kids wanted to watch a movie to be honest I didn't even think about watching the game.
Scoreboard doesn't look as bad as I had expected was there any positives?
I'll glance at the highlights later maybe just wanted the opinion of the group.
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Dylbaags had a dig played well. Again we matched them for the first 40min. Made some dumb errors for their first two tries.
Storm played in 1-2 gear all match with their heads in the bin for most of it. Their guns stood up when needed nothing more....
Again our defensive resolve as the game went deep died off. Dumb decisions cost us just before half time with a player in the sin bin.
Our team was bottom of NSW cup table standard. Feel bummed for Gutho his 200th ....but most of the players barely NSW cup standard. The poor kid that debuted had a stinker dropped it cold a few times . Lane had a stinker too in my opinion although Baz praised him in the presser ??
we limp on........... and with the Tigers having a bye in hand ...Round 26 looks like a battle for the spoon .....along with our WNRL which are pretty hopeless too .....right . I stand corrected they won their first match
1. Gutho - 7: He was fine, made some good tackles out the back as he does and made some nice decisions to save a try or two as he always does. Just was not the type of game for him to do what he does best. Let's hope his acceleration can return in 2025 and this season is just fatigue with other niggling injuries.
2. Tago - 6: Scored a good try, he is nothing special but doesn't do a lot wrong either. He has earned a one year deal in top 30 next year, having a player like him on minimum coin is handy as we know for a week or two he can definately do a job. He has shown he is up to the quality.
3. Talagi - 4: One of his worst games, just did not handle the physicality in defence. In attack had some alright runs and some average runs. The quicker he works out his contract, whether staying or going, the better. The kid showed if he is to be a Centre in the NRL he needs work. I think that would happen anyway in pre-season, building himself up to prepare his body for NRL since he would not of prepared to play as much as what he has this year.
4. Penisini - 5: Was ok, seems to be lacking confidence. Hopefully Ryles and staff can get more out of him, he is still very young, has his brother possibly playing alongside him, hopefully he can get some motivation.
5. Russell - 6: Played one his better games of the year. Was simple and did his job.
6. Brown - 6: Ran and defended well, seems to be breaking tackles more now. Did not take control when needed but at same time nobody else did either, his effort was definately there. He would definately be a player that would be counting down to the end of the year and to get started under Ryles.
7. Asi - 3: Didn't play the whole game. Dropped balls, threw average passes and kicked poorly.
8. RCG - 6: Was fine, looks tired.
9. Hands - 7: Could the MA news have boosted him? He was good i felt, simple but good.
10. Greig - 4: Only got 18 minutes, when he was on he was not lazy but he didn't make much impact either, when he should have shown something to keep his spot.
11. Lane - 4: He may have led the team in metres, but focus is his sole issues. Both attack and defensive lapses caused points against us. He is one that should be moved on, he looks to have lost the passion. If he stays, hopefully Ryles can get the love back in him.
12. Cartwright - 5.5: Was fine, threw a nice pass for Russell's 2nd try.
13. Matterson - 6: He was alright, just basic. He distributed well but people are knocking him and he has been tapped on the shoulder. He is not playing anywhere near the $600k value he is being paid but he is better than some players in this squad.
14. Lussick - 5: Was not on for long, had a nice play on Russell's 2nd try.
15. Ofahengaue - 5: He has been up and down ever since he signed with us mid last year. One year left, worth keeping for experience but last night was not great, got manhandled by Melbourne's middle most times.
16. Moretti - 6: Was good, he had intent in his runs, seems to have cut out the errors in his game. I mentioned last night that i reckon Ryles will love coaching Moretti. Just made as a cut snake type of player. Just needs to tidy up his technique work and get a bit more fitter, could snag a bench spot in future full-time.
22. Keir - 6: Got big minutes, seems Barrett wants the back-row/middle hybrid player on the bench. Had that with Guymer who could play edge, middle and Centre if needed. Keir is the same. He was ok, not the debut Guymer had and let's be fair had Guymer not got hurt Keir maybe never plays in the NRL, so he got an opportunity and could get a couple of games to finish the year and that helps his career moving forward. I do not see him being a massive squad player moving forward, nor getting a top 30 deal. Getting a 2nd tier contract and being a break glass option? Definately. Didn't embarrass himself but was basic, that is all we needed him to be.
Thanks that's a fair assement I think Blayze is over hyped for mine he is a winger that can covet fullback.
Our Depth is a joke just need the season to end.
I wouldn't say he is a Winger. He is a tweener, meaning he has no set position at this stage. I have no clue where his best spot is, but i do not think it will be on the Wing.
He has talent, as much as what media lets on? Remains to be seen. Only thing i will say that has not helped him is what i have said all this time, he has been stuffed around so much in his development, BA is too blame for it mostly.
Firstly, came through the grades mainly as a Centre, played Five-Eighth in school, played as a 14 earlier on in his HM days and was a 6 and Centre in SG Ball. Then got hurt, came back in Flegg and played Centre. Done. Thing is we went into 2024 with no clear back-up Fullback. Tracey was one player BA wanted, same with Blake Wilson. We wanted a player that could play Wing or Centre but fill in at Fullback in a pinch, since Russell showed he is a poor Fullback.
So with no signing for Fullback, BA saw Talagi and thought "Well, he wont be playing 6 with Brown here, unlikely to play Centre, lets train him up to be a Fullback so we have an option and he is happy he has a path to NRL, more likely with the intent of not playing much and if he did it would be late in the year. You could see early on, he was very raw at Fullback. Plus he was also learning how to physically play at an open age level for the first time. It is hard for a rookie at 19 to play at a high level, even harder when learning a new position also.
Played only 2 Cup games at Fullback, he was ok but had a lot of work to do, then got his debut at Centre, then thrown to the wolves at Five-eighth without having a proper Halfback next to him. He failed at that spot, got another game in Cup, then featured as a 14 twice, one game did not even get on the field and missed playing Cup too so 80mins he could have used to develop further. Then was put at Fullback for Gutho, then Wing when Gutho returned and then stayed in FG since all over the place.
The mismanagement of his development has been a farce. Right now, it is understandable he is playing due to our injuries, but earlier on, like playing him at 6 v Wests and Canberra or 14 against NQ and not getting on was just negligence.
2 try's off the run of play from storms and one from a blatant forward pass, minus those 18 points and it's more of an accurate representation of the game.
in saying that I can't recall storms playing worse and if it was a top 8 team they would've made them pay.