I highlighted in the off season my concerns regarding our small pack, particularly our backrow and the week in week out grind of playing a smaller pack in the NRL. There was a glimmer of hope in the off season when the NRL stated there would be a new application of the rule for ruck speed, which would have suited our smaller mobile pack over the bigger packs. Unfortunately, there has been little change to the ruck speed with maybe the exception being Round 1 which seemed a little quicker then normal.
I was criticised black and blue from many of the regulars on this site for highlighting my concerns of playing a smaller pack. Many highlighted the size of Junior Paulo and Pauli who would make up the difference, but they have both been missing and it is showing. When we take out Moeroa and Edwards our pack looks smaller and smaller and my concern grows.
Yes, it is true that a smaller mobile pack can dominate bigger packs on occasion but a smaller pack will struggle with the weekly grind of playing against bigger and stronger packs. Inevitably we are now starting to see the effect in our results of having a smaller pack.
We are missing Junior Paulo in a massive way and we need Pauli (if fit) back in the NRL team quickly. Radradra will also help our forward pack when he returns with rucking the ball out of our 20.
In summary, our forward pack is not dominating on a regular basis due to lack of size in my opinion. We just don't have the punch in attack with our smaller pack.
** On a side note I am not liking the fact that our club is playing 19 year old Moeroa in any grade when he is clearly busted. Nerve damage can become permanent if not rehabbed or operated on early. Moeroa is clearly struggling to play with this injury even when needled up and to push such a young player to play with this type of injury is reckless. If he is not coping with this injury whilst playing in the NRL it is stupid to select him in the NSW Cup. At a minimum he needs rest, not to be playing in the NSW Cup. I wasn't happy last year when BA played Peats and Ma'u when they were busted. Now that Pauli has returned from injury he needs to be selected in first grade and Moeroa can now be rested.
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Got a second bucket Spanner?
in my view, coaches and players have worked out,if you kick high balls to hoppa coming down near the line or over,hes not running the ball back that far,and some times he spills it, then it take our forwards to runs wasted.
our wingers are not helping hoppa at all.
hoppas still a good player and no cat, he should be centre, then you will see hoppa back playing well, yesterday dirty bird, was trying to take hoppa out with big hits after long high bombs..
just watch the replays.
its a magor problem, hoppa just can't run the ball back and catch as well as hayne thats facts.
also hoppa up in the line far to much , he missed roberts times goz he was up with the play.
also it was proved we should start with gower and wicks ,, hit it up the middle in the first 20 mins, then spread the ball wider, on the 4th tackle,with sandow running wide.
hoppa just can't stay fullback,if he does he will get a bad injury too,as bird was trying yesterday to take him out.
also yesterday cory would not try to tackle taylor on the run,he just let him go, cory good in attack bad and to small in defence , at least yesterday.
maybe goodall or falou , should play fullback , part of the game, letting hoppa switch some of the game like the sharks are doing.. i know on thing,hoppa days at fullback should be over if brad arthur smart.
on joe paulo,and tim mannah who said after the game, the titans wanted that game more then the eels, that it amazing shit, drop both for saying it, send them to wenty..
Corey can tackle robert - letting Taylor run just shows how much heart he DOES NOT have.
I posted this here http://www.1eyedeel.com/xn/detail/500401:Comment:2250120
I highlighted in a blog in the off season that we have a Small Pack
I really enjoyed your post. I agree re size and esp when Mau, Peats and DeGois are all in the 17 - even worse, when Peats and DeGois are on the field at the same time.
Before anybody has a brain aneurism - I am a fan of ALL 3 players.
But in the modern POWER GAME - size is a factor esp when defending and esp when you are a dumb ass team like Parra that surrenders large chunks of possession (and time) through multiple mistakes (in a row).
If Parra did not subject themselves to having to defend for extended periods of time AND/OR was a far more disciplined outfit - maybe then having all 3 in your starting 17 could be justified.
Oh - since I am one of the ONLY WATMOUGH critics - did I mention that he is SMALL also
It makes ZERO sense to select smaller more vulnerable defenders when the Team is undisciplined and will have to defend for extended periods of play.
It is NOT those players fault that they are undersized and having ALL 4 in your 17 is ludicrous when the Parramatta lack of discipline and leadership allow for extended periods to defend. That is when being undersized DOES MATTER
Personally, I do not understand why Pauli Pauli has not been given the opportunity in 2015.
I would much rather take a chance with an obvious talent like Pauli and develop his game by selecting him within the 17.
- Sandow and Norman DO NOT HELP when Parra are under crisis - they do not apply a kicking game that pressures the opposition - Parra has NO COUNTER ATTACK - NO ANTIDOTE when when we get into that part of the game when we start to compound mistake after mistake.
Having dumb halves and small forwards only make it worse
And compounded by a slow backline. There are many Watmough critics and I blogged yesterday on him.
We must have the smallest pack running around each time we get beat I hear there pack was bigger not it say here but someone said there forwards are bigger
If I was an opposition forward I would not be intimidated when I looked up to run the ball and there was no Junior Paulo, Pauli, Moeroa or Edwards. Lussick is the only forward listed above 110kg that played yesterday.
Moeroa's injury is nerve damage to the left shoulder. Apparently it was pre-existing from last season and was aggravated in Round 1. He has been getting needles in the left shoulder to enable him to get on the field. It was stated that after Round 1 his shoulder was so bad he could not lift a cup to his mouth to drink. In Rounds 2 and 3 it was very obvious he was struggling with his shoulder and was often seen run with his left arm by his side whilst he was in the defensive line. Clearly a 6 month off season did not fix this injury. He should be operated on or rested, not playing in the NSW Cup.
I think the crisis started when Hayne left. Injuries/suspension to Edwards, Pauli, Moeroa, Junior, Tak, Champion & Radradra have compounded the issue.
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