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 his 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 87 years on a healthy diet of selective memory amnesia. I wonder, what drama will unfold post November 1st?
Replies
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!
The story goes that at training he could kick field goals from under the posts at the other end of the ground. I think the 2 point field goal is under used today.
Hi Tragic, I thought of the O'Reilly comparison as well PT.....and yes I was referring to the short drop outs.
I was at Cumberland when Dick kicked that field goal, it was a wet day with a wet ball......he certainly could time a drop kick.....better than average goal kicker as well PT.
I wonder how many people on here realise he was a Triple International ??
PS Are you being served.....Mr Grace to Mr Humpries.....saw your text on saturday Mark LOL
I would have backed Young Mr Grace if I saw it earlier. Just as well I didn't. I do have the perfect name for a horse if I ever get into a syndicate. I had a search and its available and very surprised its never been used.
I think The Bear played with Dick?
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.
The try where May him and Haas combined is exactly how you eliminate numbers in the tackle.
Going to the line in numbers with potential short pass means defenses can't just jump the ball carrier.That's exactly the way to beat physical sides and you make the whole line work.even if they are only moving up n back.
They used to call it contact football years ago Coryn. Came back in for a while in the late 70's. I'm surprised it is not used as much now although Parra's champion backline used it as a version in the 80's. Just wasn't always big forwards, just gifted passing . Similar principle. Gibson coaching.
When Jack was asked why he was so defensive when he coached Newtown and Parra was so attacking.....Jack laconically said....."because these boys can run".
It's how we were taught to play no one goes alone everyone pushes up on a ball carrier everyone had ball skills everyone can be a decison maker.You run at holes not down the middle of people.
Now they use this stupid get to points on the field rubbish setup to the left or right post so they can run the same block plays.
Some of the best footy I've seen is by the 09 eels the consistent movement of the ball the continual support of the ball carrier offloads left right and centre and let talents like Hayne Inu and co murder teams off the back of it.As soon as any momentum was gained by Moimoi they were off.Daniel Andersen come on down.
Its why I bang on about Fijian players so much we went there and were playing in a tournament rugby 7s and warmed up with touch footy as you do we played with them and it's 1 touch footy if you can't do anything with it after one touch TOer none of this 6 touch stuff you see in touch footy one touch.You can see it when they play 7s there's no structure or tendency to it but it's just how they play the flair and there athleticism and skill come to the fore because of they train and it's the norm for them to throw the footy around.
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