Just some observations;
Junior playing for Samoa yesterday, I have never seen him so fit, also noticed that he was wearing the 13 so presumably playing lock.....not that there was much difference between locks and props not long ago.What really caught my attention was he was in many cases second receiver (yes that's like 5/8) and his passing was so selective he made space repeatedly and showed what a different style of player he can be if put into a difference position for a 120 kilo behemoth with a thinking and and passing game.
Moses on social media discussing drop kicks with Cleary? Some may remember me suggesting Cleary would not help Moses in a month of Sundays, I felt the body language still suggested that also that Reece Walsh would have liked to tell them both how to do it. Observation from afar is that Moses is not a good drop kicker and hopefully he managed to learn something, our goal line drops need some help. Gutho is as good as I have seen in doing them.
Lomax, on a different subject, some made mention of the fact of "is he still staying?" I have seen nothing to suggest otherwise...am I missing something? It further seems that this site reflected on this via R360 whereas there are at least 10 other players in the same boat with no such conjecture about them playing next year.
Finally on Lomax, you may have noticed how the "poms" effectively stopped Marky Mark with his areobatics, essentially this is what everyone did to lomax when playing this season gone....a little more subtlety needs to be advanced to make these moves more productive.
Summary....this is the craziest "orf seezun" I can remember, interesting what will happen post Nov1?
Replies
On Paulo, I've heard the commentators say multiple times over the last few years that Junior is a halfback and/or 5/8 in a forwards body. So theoretically say we do get NAS, or even another impact forward, I'd personally love to see Junior start at lock and have Walker come on to replace him after say twenty minutes or so.
What your seeing from Junior is no surprise he's always had ball skills and soft hands so what I'm seeing from him facilitating is far from a surprise.
His role is changing with age and he's adapting to what the game is now it's why they let RCG and alike walk because those JR in particular was looking for that skill set.It's why you move Hopgood into the front row and get a ball playing 13 as all three play in the middle and have that skill set.
Lomaxs most important skill set in my opinion is so key to resting fowards and getting sets started doubling up in alot of cases finding his front.You can't buy that and it was Fergo and Radradra before him.Stuff like that are irreplaceable and almost impossible to replace.Back 5 yardage is a gem in todays game.
Junior was a well-deserved POTM yesterday for Samoa. He's getting to show his full repertoire, which of course is made easier with Payne Haas, Josh Papalii, Terrell May and Francis Molo as props. He's not needed to hit the ball up as much because those guys will do all that work. Which means he's free to play at lock.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see more ball-playing out of him next year with JDB coming and hopefully a fully fit Moretti, Hopgood and Tuivaiti. There may be plenty of middles who can take the ball carrying load off him and allow him to ball play alongside Walker.
Good to see the vision emerging!
I noticed Paulo playing Lock for Samoa. Granted just a number but he seems to be playing that traditional Lock role well for Samoa. For someone like Paulo that could help prolong his career. Not having to take it up all the time he be that link man then go into the Prop role when Walker comes on.
He is playing exactly like Bob O'Reilly. 2 or 3 wide of the ruck then playing what is in front of him. Either charging it up or being a ball distributor.
Poppa, when you say that "Gutho is as good as I have seen in doing them", I assume you are meaning the short 10 metre drop outs because you would have seen Dick Thornett drop kick 60-70 metres regularly, including field goals from that distance.
You will recall PT that whenever Dick got the ball the crowd would chant "Field Goal Dick" even when running out from our goal line. very funny!
It is funny how R360 dominated headlines around NRL GF, now have seemed to died in the arse as quickly as it started.
The plan is for the forward pack to be essentially made up of 5 locks, (ball playing forwards) and a hooker.
And possibly NAS coming off the bench for impact.