Very humorous!
The muppets on NRL360 were lauding the selection of JA this week. Riccio doubled down on his ludicrous nonsense that other teams wanted JA for the rest of the season. But they crapped on again about how 'hard' JA works on and off the field.
Whilst that may well be true, and his teammates seemingly only have praise for his work ethic, meanwhile, the video footage they showed in the background during the segment was all of JA's fuck-ups, including getting belted by little Kayln Ponga, kicking straight to the opposition when in the opposition's 20, and firing a pass straight into Ice's head.
Now, why is that? If these journos genuinely believed that JA is the rightful 'heir to the throne', why did we see, and only see, JA's poorest efforts? Surely, if they believed their own bullshit, they would have told the producers to show the footage of JA's three tries in first grade and some of his better work?
Seriously, outside the disgraceful booing of him, this kid is enjoying a charmed existence in his NRL career that other kids - who no doubt have the same dreams and probably work as hard as they can - don't enjoy.
Whilst I disagree with it, I understand his selection this week. What I don't understand is anyone who mounts an argument that his prior selection was not, in part, due to nepotisim.
And Brissy, before you start, you've called for Perham to be selected to cover the halves in the past so don't tell me that the nepotism argument has no legs.
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If it was Brown that was out I would want Haze at five eight before JA, as Haze is a running fullback / five eight and Moses would run the show and kick.
But with no Moses, Haze does not have a strong general play kicking game and Gutho does not either.
So we let Dyl do all the general play kicking??
He is a part time kicker when Moses is in the side and it would be an easy target for defenders to pressure him.
At least JA will help out with his kicking game.
I take that pont SJ, but, when JA has played first grade, his kicking has not been vastly superior to that of DB or RM.
Indeed, from what we've seen from both DB and RM this season, whilst we lose a lot without MM, we do not gain a deal with JA.
The question then becomes, other than a marginally better kicking game, what does JA bring to the team to justify his place at 7? I can't answer that at present. Hopefully, I'll have answer at 10pm on Friday night.
One thing I've learned over the years that, when a first grade player is struggling, the immediate thought to replace him with his commensurate in the reggies rarely works out. There's a reason reggies players play in the reggies and first graders player in the NRL.
Chris Lawler? Chris Thorman? Anybody?
JA is a quality Cup player - and at 19 - that is commendable in itself. But he's proven himself to be a ways off NRL standard and whilst Gutho is no long-term half - I suspect the players trust him way more than they do JA.
If I was coach, I'd take the path of least resistance and keep my best players running the team. That means, Gutho, DB and RM. I'd prefer Perham at fullback than JA at halfback.
Yes, he's been training as MM's understufy all year, but, I suspect his teammates (who probably quite like him as a person) don't trust him as the leader of the footy team. If that is the case, the other players will either play under their standard or try too hard - both outcomes will likely lead to a loss on Friday night.
I want to be wrong. I want JA to prove me wrong. I want JA to prove all the arsehholes that booed him wrong.
But I'd prefer our footy team to win! And I suspect we're a better shot at achieveing that goal if JA is nowhere near first grade!
Good points
Well written & well reasoned! Not saying that I agree or disagree with the situation but you have explained your opinion very well.
Totally agree mate and well said, these journo muppets have NFI.
Bourbon Man fair comments Bourbon; but i need to say that Perham probably does not have much FB play into him and i also would have liked to have seen more of him.
I get it and see your view- the question for me is how many other clubs have the luxury of a strong back up half when their main half goes down? Just asking mate.
Great post
You have a better sense of humour than I Coryn, I find it repetitively tiresome.
Coryn, it's not just us. Cameron Smith says the same thing. He thought the Eels were disappointing in the sense they lacked killer instinct in the 2nd half. Hate him if you must, but they've no denying he has a footy nous, pedigree, & comes from a winning culture.
Seriously, even the Eels themselves admit they're inconsistent. Not sure why we need to bury our head in the sand over it, or must all be positive red-roses about it.
First half, though was mostly an invested, and passionate Eels outfit. Kudos.
And there's no doubt we have some talent and potential.
But bottom line, it's rare we put two great halves together, let alone week to week. And our defence on the whole, is quite poor and vulnerable at critical times. And that's with Moses. Without Moses, we're even weaker; statistically worse than 2018 when JA takes over at 7 for 80. Fans are not without reason to be frustrated and concerned.
I've been tooing and froing about the second half and was wondering did we put the cue in the rack and get through unscathed. If we did do a number on them we would have been reminded again it was against 12 so doesn't count. The media would have had us as in the GF. This way we're still being underestimated by other teams and not the media darlings. We don't travel well as favourites.
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