Most important thing to say after the game is it is a trial and also majority of our depth tonight were playing their first ever game against men, so of course they would be nervous and bit overmatched. They will grow and get better. I was there at Jubilee Oval, it is a nice ground. Though on the hill around the 20m line it did not make my view of the game that focused at times, so a bit of my observations changed after re-watching on KAYO. I watched the game but only a 75% i could make out in the first half, especially when Parra were in their own end as i was in that area. Overall did not bother me as it was a trial, though only having one tv screen at the ground being behind me was annoying. Anyway, overall it fell apart once players shifted left, right and centre, also when Flegg players came in, not blaming them but that is where issues came in.
Not going to bother with stats as it is irrelevant with trials.
Most Impressive:
Kelma Tuilagi: I said since we signed him that he will be in the 17 in Round 1. People were hesitant, i mentioned BA signed him for a reason and wants 4 forwards. This is proof enough he will be there, however i thought he would be a good addition as depth and doing a role. Though i saw Papali'i glimpses, not saying he will have impact like Papali'i, more so improve to a point where he starts and has people talking. If he continues, Cartwright and Tuilagi are going to have a wonderful battle. 162 metres and 8 tackle breaks shows Tuilagi is proving a point and is confident playing for a coach that wants him.
Sean Russell: Did he do anything amazing? No. Did he do anything freakish? No. But he was solid, reliable and did nothing wrong. Actually, his running showed he had more strength and bigger build aided his PCM. Now his stats weren't great compared to metres per run, but his chase on Savage alone showed the underrated speed he has and how beefing up has not effected him. Russell showed nice turn of foot and brushed off defenders. Had 6 tackle breaks, did not do anything wrong. Is he still a 7/10 constant player to me? Yes, but has upside to be better also.
Wiremu Greig: A full season of FG and confidence does wonders. Greig looked like a men playing boys, he dominated and when you are playing against a second string team in the forwards you should. Greig also show he can offload also, not so one dimensional as a player. He will play GC next week for sure and get much needed minutes. He is getting better and leaner. We may have our RCG replacement for 2026.
Harper & Simonsson competition: Both were good, both in attack and defence. Harper took a little time but had some really nice strong runs and had an assist for Russell. Simonsson had that habit of going sideways but had good runs mixed in. Overall it could be that both play round 1 and Russell misses out. But if i had to say who gets picked in Round 1, Simonsson gets the nod simply on the basis he is on that left side. Give Simonsson a full pre-season at Centre and he can develop, though needs to feed his winger a lot more, that is where Harper prevails in certain areas. I tell you though, Harper is bigger live than i thought.
Ofahiki Ogden: He has jumped Makatoa into being the 1st string middle replacement. Just looked comfortable, he has a nice turn of foot and has a nice angle about his running.
Brendan Hands: Upon rewatching the game, i saw he was better than i thought. He looks confident and more adapt to expectations of being an NRL Hooker.
Ky Rodwell: Give him credit, he was solid. 8 runs for 97 metres. Could truly overtake Makatoa in pecking order.
Most Disappointing:
Makahesi Makatoa: I should preface that his pre-season was staggered due to recovering from a Pec tear in off-season. But still was not good. He is 31 this year and in a contract year, i thought it would not be a bad thing to have him on one year deals from here on out as depth, but with kids coming through no point, he was not good yesterday. He looked lethargic and disinterested. His tackle attempt on Peter Taateo on the Canberra second try was dreadful, yes Matto's attempt was bad too but he at least made contact. Makatoa is heading down the path that Ogden and Rodwell did last year where a bad trial led to them moving down the pecking order.
Zac Cini: If there are any questions as to why Cini has not featured for us in FG, watch this match. Defensively was bad. He gave it a go but Talagi looked better in his 5 minute stint at Centre compared to Cini who got 1.5 quarters. I have stated before my thoughts on his top 30 spot and wont write it again but It is a waste as he will not be in FG this year unless completely desperate.
Ethan Sanders: He is a kid and first game against men. But the two kicks to start the 2nd half were piss poor, particular the kick for touch of a penalty, no excuse. The kid will be fine and not desparation as Asi will be 1st string half back-up so no rush for him. But year not a great second half for him at all.
Ryan Matterson: Expected a little more dominance. Only 107 metres off 13 runs, not that good for his standards. It could be just a light hit out and BA did not want him getting hurt, but Matto has also been a slow starter in all of his 4 seasons at the club.
Haze Dunster: Not himself still but he was ok but not great, including dropping a high ball after contact. He had a couple of ok runs but not to the standard where he can be trusted as the main back-up Winger.
Matt Arthur injury: Disappointed for the kid, first tackle. He needs as much time as he can get and last night was an opportunity, but was not meant to be.
Blaize Talagi experiment: Trying to force the kid to be a Fullback when he is really a Five-Eighth or Centre just made his senior debut even harder. He tried and was not awful but could tell was not overly comfortable in the position. Once he moved to Centre with Asi at Fullback, he looked more comfortable. Just hope he improves but hope they do not force it if it is not working.
Commentary team: Dan Ginnane is my favourite commentator and personality in the game. But every time he commentates with Ennis he falls into the habits that Ennis incorporates. The call from Ennis on the Simonsson try was embarrassing. Claiming Tuilagi cannot take out Schiller and doesn't matter if he is looking at the ball, while the bunker announced they were seeing if he was looking at the ball. That was embarrassing that he got that wrong. The Cotric no try, saw he lost it straight away but Ginnane just announced it was a try and sort of went about his business then was shocked he lost it. It is this Parramatta laid back attitude. It is a shame too as Ginnane rates us from time to time on his podcast, it just seems Ennis is a bad influence. Ennis loved Sanders but that would have been due to him going to Canberra in 2025. Ennis' call on the Simonsson try though was purely embarrassing in how confident he was and he was wrong based on what the bunker called.
So proper team next week v Gold Coast and i think 16 of the 17 spots are set; Gutherson, Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson/Harper, Russell, Brown, Moses, RCG, Lussick, Paulo, Lane, Cartwright, Hopgood, Tuilagi, Greig, Matterson, Ofahengaue. That is your team. With the likes of Moretti, Ogden, Hands, Doorey, Dunster and Makatoa to feature for minutes also.
See you all next week, 3 more weeks til Canterbury, god bless Parramatta.
Replies
Good summary LB
Great summary as usual LB. I thought kelma was very strong . He hits his line very direct and gets to his front well . He will be in the 17 I believe . Carty is one of the most improved defenders in the nrl. His work in plugging holes and cutting down raids is high quality stuff. Lane gives us the edge and some space .
I wasn't impressed with sanders . His kicking game was terrible . Elite pathways - nsw rep - schoolboy star - kicking is bread and butter and he has to nail it . I thought he was also trying to straighten the attack up without inviting any attention. He didn't dig into the line or expose his opposite so he was either giving early ball or crash balls . Can play just wasn't his day .
we are very very skinny in depth in outside backs . Harper played like a nrl 40 odd gamer . Gone are the little brain snaps or fades replaced by percentage play. Unfortunately he doesn't have the pod stuff like speed , or size or offload.
we will still go alright just need our top 17 on deck most of he year .
Harper looked like a conservative player 90% of the time and at times you need that. Simonsson can be rocks and diamonds but produce more plays, when he is on he is on.
Good call on Sanders, kid can play and will be a decent FG at minimum, but lights were a little to bright last night. I think we would have been better off signing another Halfback and have Sanders either come through Flegg and feature late or play 7 alonside that other player and Asi goes where needed in backline.
Though outside backs is a concern. Ethyn Martin did fine with limited time but did not really do anything to impress. He was good going for high ball late twice just not timing it well both times. Allow him time in Cup and he will get better. He was another who had his first hit out against men. Lumlume is fine too. But if either Sivo or Russell go down, we are in trouble. It even showed with Martin going to Centre to cover a spot.
What happened to Matt Arthur?
Knocked out cold and didn't come back on. Poor kid!
Got knocked out in his first tackle. Was a very sick boy.
Most impressive: Our forwards.
They ran hard and kept pushing up field and we still have Paulo, RCG and Hopgood to come in.
Most Disappointing: Our backs.
Other than Russell, the rest of the backs were average.
Our defence was also very disappointing but after ten years of BA's defensive coaching, I'm use to it.
Looking forward to going to the game next week and hopefully it's a better outcome with our stars playing.
P.S
Dan Ginnane is a fuckwit of the highest order and is one of the worst commentators in the NRL.
Agreed abt Ginane; yells like a fool.
I would've liked to have seen better defence and hope these guys can learn from it.
Can someone share the mins played by each player as NRL was not correct.
cheers
I think he is great plus he tells it like it is a times too, not afraid to go against status quo. But with Ennis he is annoying.
Warren Smith is one of the most one minded commentators i've seen in that he is not easily manipulated.
Great , constructive write up LB .
Good obsveravtion of the commentary as well , Ginnane is not one of mine . I enjoy Matt Russell`s style of the current crop .
Nobody beats Rabs in his Channel 10 stint 1974 - 86 . When he started at CH 9 full time his commentary changed and wasnt as good professionaly nor did he seem as passionate through the duration of a game compared to CH 10 .
He made comment years later that working with Fatty and Sterlo it was hard to take yourself seriously and he relaxed his style . So whom you work with does indeed effect your own performance .
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next