Let's start by saying the sky is not falling, there are no real concerns and season is not over. I think that is very fair to say. It is also fair to say i was pleased with our performance considering the circumstances. To lose a Winger, then to have a back-rower who 1) has never really played there before 2) never trained there with us and 3) defending in the hardest position on the field, it is far from ideal obviously. Added to that is moving your Centre who is primarily known for defence to the Wing where he offers hardly any attacking flair.
Stats: 51% to 49% possession which is deceiving for the amount of ball Penrith actually had and on our line. One stat that doesn't show is territory, at one stage late in the first half it was 75% territory for Penrith, yet we led. Our completions were better with 82% to 75%. Completing 34/41 to Penrith's 30/40. That is an area of our game we have improved on and is very important to maintain. Penrith had 6 more runs but had 447 more metres running. That is where we are lacking. Granted a lot of those metres can come from your backs and one of them was missing so it hampered our run totals. But we see it a fair bit, our players always seem to be pushed back a lot where we allow a lot more post contact metres to opposition teams. Not sure if a tactic, running style or sheer strength but it is irritating. Could be where having a look at Corey Oates could be worthwhile with his metres per match well over 150. Penrith had more line-breaks 9 to 3, most coming from our left edge. Penrith missed more tackles 36 to 35, while we tied offloads at 14 a piece. Penrith had 31 ineffective tackles while we only had 19, we also had less errors 10-13, conceaded more penalties 5-4 but led 6 again's 5-1.
Most Impressive:
Dylan Brown: He was our best, yet it was a great performance, it was not perfect. Overall, Brown had a nice composed game, his movement to straighten the attack just before throwing it to Hopgood was brilliant and his ball to Lane was also. Though we wanted to see more running from him, particularly when we are down by 8 and need him to take the game. But a step in the right direction for Brown and his season.
Ryan Matterson: Felt he was great off the bench, didn't really miss a beat. Even when shifted to the edge when Tuilagi was off due to injury. Probably should have went there in the first place but BA more likely wanted to keep that middle rotation, especially since it would've been a bench of Paulo, Tuilagi and Hands, needed that extra middle. He made 140 metres, including have the 3rd most post contact metres, 2nd of the forwards, 2 offloads also.
J'Maine Hopgood: This bloke is the future captain of the club and need to sign him up before November. 134 metres, 45 tackles, 5 tackle breaks, an offload and a try. He seems to have put the offload away for now, focusing on being that middle runner, but it is working for him as he looks fitter and stronger after a full NRL season in 2023. If not for Pat Carrigan, this bloke is the starting QLD Lock. BA brought him off for a stint mid 2nd half, but 10mins later he was back out there and you see the difference he makes in the momentum we have in attack and the strength in defence.
Honourable mentions: Gutherson, Penisini.
Most Disappointing:
Kelma Tuilagi: Ok let me preface this, as i mentioned above he was thrown into an awkward spot. Being put into what many consider the most difficult spot on the field to defend, added it is the side Cleary prefers; with Martin, Tago and Turuva. He is not a Centre, we know that but still thrown into that spot you do the best your can. That one on one attempt on Martin was abysmal. I understand not reading the defence that well and being beaten for speed but when you just miss a one on one tackle, or have them wrapped up and just fall off them? Not good enough overall. Last week he got a lot of minutes and he was OK but not phenomanal. Now i am considering is it just better to have Moretti there as a 4th forward or just leave Hands or have another player in 14 when Greig is back? Hopefully Tuilagi is a Cartwright type case in takes a year or two to get it.
Joe Ofahengaue: I defended the bloke, i said numerous times he was an astute signing for us since we play a power game it adds another dimension to our rotation. Last week i actually thought he was good. Got the start again, was very mixed bag. He offered no real punch compared to the likes of RCG, Paulo and Hopgood. 98 metres off 12 runs is not good enough. Wiremu Greig is more suited to that starting role and will have it once he is back, but it is more disappointing that Ofahengaue played on Friday like he did last year. Despite having a full off-season he still shows signs of similar play? I still think he was an astute signing, but my support is wavering bit by bit.
Russell under the high ball: He was solid overall tonight but, from who i considered Mr. Reliable, was suspect tonight on a few occasions. The high ball he was no confident with what so ever and that was something he also had issues with last year. As a Fullback coming through the grades i expected better from Russell. A player who is going to make a career in this league as solid, but if he cannot gain confidence to take those hard kicks, then it can be a case of finding someone better.
Bench rotation: Brendan Hands should not of been there in the first place. Neither should a back. Hindsight we all say it but let's be fair if BA named say Talagi or Dunster or hell Lumelume on the bench and didn't use them most would complain we wasted a bench spot. But Hands being used as an quote en quote Utility backfired when the chance to play your Utility who chose not to. The knock is not how BA used the bench overall as he was limited with one less player and two later on, more so the need of Hands. Hands is a dummy half only, BA wants his Hookers to play 80mins, why name another then? I would rather name either another forward or go with Blaize Talagi or Daejarn Asi if you are planning using the 14 as an emergency option. Yes, Hands can be considered that as if Lussick goes down and have no cover you are screwed but limited to only one position. We are in desperate need of a proper Utility yet have never chased one, yet Canterbury have more in their squad then we have had in about 15-20 years.
Bunker and reffereeing: Good lord it got worse, wont go on with Luai as enough has been said. But the Gutherson call was stupid as it seems they wont overrule unless you challenge that element. Like forward passes, can see some blatantly but just cannot rule on it so don't bother. The Hopgood face touch is ridiculous as a rule in the first place, but to have Edwards do the same and worse by pushing Cartwright's face into the ground and we get penalised by Lussick reacting? Just idiotic, the Luai charge just proved the issues involved.
Commentary: It could be a point where i prefer Dan Ginnane as a host of shows and on radio, on TV he is getting on my nerves. All night "This is the Penrith of old" Like he was losing sleep worrying "Are they going to be same this year????". Then the Luai trip Ginnane picks up, but Cronk gives a cop out "Oh i am still on the RCG JFH hit to think about it". Discuss it and discuss how dodgy it was. Turuva scores when Harper had a 3 on one since Tuilagi dislocated his shoulder from an unnecassary hit, they claim it is brilliant, like really? Ginnane is still my favourite Footy personality but man he is disappointing me in the commentary, even worse he tipped us for top 4. Cronk has great mindset but sounds like he needs a drink of water ASAP.
Ok that is it, overall was pleased with the effort and performance. Keeping it to only 8 points is quite good considering how long we were disadvantaged on that edge. It was hard but still think BA did a decent job getting us up for it and there were positive signs of not giving up. Parra of 2023 would have had mid 30's even 40 put on us.
As for team changes, Simonsson and Tuilagi obviously out. Greig in for Tuilagi. Though for Simonsson i think there are two candidates; Haze Dunster and Blaize Talagi. Dunster is the obvious choice and the favourite, but also Talagi could also get the nod. BA obviously likes Talagi, might want to start blooding to have him as backline depth incase we lose more backs. But then again he might prefer a little bit of experience with Dunster who has been there done that but has shown he takes weeks to get comfortable in FG. He is not a plug and play Winger, he needs time each time he is put back in. I think Dunster will be picked though. But maybe Talagi could get a bench spot, whether he is great or not in NSW Cup, the staff and club love him.
Enjoy your week, long turnaround and hard opposition with Manly, they use their edges well. God bless Parramatta.
Replies
Onething nobody has mentioned yet is DBs performance playing off the back foot.Halves are always judged when they are on the front foot but the true value of half is if he can swing games while his side is on the back foot.I saw enough from DB to suggest if we force feed this guy the ball more so than not after his Riff outing we have rocks in our heads.
Thats the first time really where I've seen either one of halves for our team being down possession and territory playing off the back foot single handedly for the most part bring the game back our way.
Special mention here goes to Jnr Paulo his impact off the bench he seriously got our middle 1/3 back on track.
The 2 tries he put on on that left side DB had Martin and Cleary beat both times with his deception and ball playing this needs to continue if we are to succeed as a team.
He is getting the ball progressively more and more the last fortnight. He has had to of late due to Moses' groin but still it is good to see him get more ball and have Lane back also. Soon he will have Sivo to throw those pass to also.
Fair assessment though I would add paulo as most impressive, panthers were all over us in the middle until he came on. He has a run first offload second mentality this year which is when he's at his best.
By extension fair point with bench rotation but it must also be said that paulo coming off the bench rather than starting has been great for us the opening 2 rounds. Once we have Grieg starting for some added punch rather than ofa we will be at our best.
I thought Junior Parlow was good the other night. However for 950k he should be playing like that as the absolute minimum week in week out if we are going to do anything this season. Certainly a good start to the season when we have 2 of our highest paid yet usually underperforming players in Rarlow and Brown playing on par with their cap space. If we can manage to get Moses playing to his salary we will certaily make a dent in this competition.
What makes you think Junior is on 950k Wiz?
It was listed in a Brent Reid richest 100 players column. But i think a bit of it is all over the place with how it is structured. It was never said when he re-signed how much he is on. Around 800k would be where i thought it would be.
That column by their own admission was based on what they thought the players was worth, not what they are actually getting! I do remember seeing those numbers and even then I would be surprised if Junior was listed at 950k. Moses was on 950 and I think DB around 850k.
Yeah that is more likely where people are getting the number from/
It's listed on multiple platforms Not just old mates guessing .
junior was 950 .
But here's zero tackle for one reference. .
https://www.zerotackle.com/players/junior-paulo/
but really it's semantics whether it's 950 or 850 . At the end of the day he's one of the highest paid players in the comp . Probably the highest paid prop . He should be on our highlights reel every single week as a stand out performer . Quiet weeks or cream puff games don't work for us
True, he added grunt in the middle when needed. He has really owned that bench impact player role. BA did say he wont be doing that everyweek, but next week i think he needs to do it again with Manly having a big pack, their bench rotation is not as good or big so Paulo going through that middle is crucial. Hopefully Wiremu Greig is back and he can start.
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