Just some observations.
Junior was inspiring for Samoa yesterday. Have you ever seen him so fit? Of note, was he was also wearing the 13, presumably playing lock. The last time he wore a 13 in the NRL was...never. Not that long ago there was much not much difference between locks and props.
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. He embodied that ideal link-man role that Yeo turned into the modern day 13.
Despite having a prop's body, it puts a difference perspective onto a 120 kilo behemoth with a thinking and deft passing game; and perhaps the road ahead at the twilight of his career. Add his leadership skills, and the Eels still have a winner on their books. And Future Club Legend.
And what about 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.
Although the magnificient Fox replaced Lomax on the Kangaroo Tour, he's still at the forefront of my mind. Is he staying? I have seen nothing to suggest otherwise. Am I missing something? Or Did V'landy's threats of a career ban persuade him to reconsider R360? There are at least 10 other players in the same boat without much conjecture about them playing next year; contracts hardly stopped clubs or players doing what they want.
Finally, one more thing on Lomax. Did you notice how the "Poms" effectively stopped Marky Mark aerobatics wizardry like few have in the NRL this season? Essentially, that is what everyone did to Lomax this season; blunting this great aerial weapon. We just need a little more subtlety and nuance to counter the counter-defence.
In closing, add in the Pezet deal that unhinged most fans, and this might go down as one of the craziest "orf seezuns" I can remember not withstanding my youthful 78 years on a healthy diet of selective memory amnesia. I wonder, what drama will unfold post November 1st? One thing is for sure, if we can't find any drama, we'll create plenty to make up for it.
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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.
I think a rotating role with walker would be be a great idea for Juuuunzzz
Junior still has to be that physical presence in the middle for us that's his #1 job until we find another alpha.
The best thing I liked about Juniors season this year is how strong his second stints were after the first he was finishing games as strong as he started.
I look at the ball playing as cream on top make no mistake we still need hard running fowards to give our halves time and space so I'm not as excited as many are with Juniors ball playing.
Make no mistake Juniors number one job is to get us momentum over the ad line and tackle and work hard in the middle that's his #1 job for the team.
You recon this will help prolong Paulo's career. Keep him on the bench on a cheaper deal. Just need to ensure we have a proper alpha to start.
I'd keep Junior round for a couple more seasons.I think the shape he's in now he could handle that but you'd just have to monitor his minutes is all and I don't think he'd want to go anywhere else Parra's his home and we'd get the long service discount wouldn't we how longs Jnr been with us ?
If Jnr can still punch out the minutes I'd just keep using him as we are but if we do go long term I'd give him week or 2 off during the season if he needed it.He's key culturally round the team especially with all the young Polynesian players at the club we can't buy that sought of leadership.
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!
Good blog, Pops.
Ryles seems to have an additional plan of attack to compliment creative spine-lock-link-men like Walker/Paulo: more variety and nuance within the middle-third.
He mentioned on the Cooper–Matty Johns podcast that he wants more through the middle off the nine, giving Moses a stronger platform to use his speed and support play.
So, I'd expect more short passes off prop-locks like Paulo/Hoppy/JDB and more dummy-half running. I suppose it's utilizing our strengths and feeding support like Moses/ Iongi and hard runners one-pass wider such as Williams/Kelma/ Kautoga.
Ryles said he wants Moses' game to go to another level which includes using his speed, support play, and instincts more: unstructured play. Pezet could help here: by relieving some of Moses’ organizational and kicking load helping Moses instinctual game come to life.
But I feel NAS or a similar middle monster to help Big Sam and Moretti might be the missing ingredient in the plan though. We lack a bit of starting grunt; middle yardage.
Another missing piece is hyper dangerous attacking centres. But Penisini, Russell, and Simmo, and Lomax when he's one pass in just need to run hard. We'll just need to live with it.
It’ll be fascinating to see how all the pieces come together under Ryles’ “Team-First” Parra Pillars. He did mention there will be more focus on 'Team-First' next year. What does that mean? Not sure.
An early sign of any Pezet fallout (assuming the deal doesn't fall over) — which I don't expect and suspect has been over dramatized by fans — or mental drop out is how resilient the defence is early on and if we're continuing on where we left off in the last two months of this season.
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.
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