Pciture: Bradman Bolt (Copyright Chief) in the clear without an Eels in sight for a double to seal the game after the Eels led 20-16 with 15 minutes to go
Whilst the post mortem's will continue when ever we lose and our defence is NOT GOOD, we need to ask a question: How many long distance tries have been scored against us this season?
No doubt some one will have stats but our last three games we were beaten by a lack of speed in our cover defence. Whilst I am talking about our back 5 as the immediate imperative, we do not have one cover defending forward. Lane may as well be a passenger, the chasers in the Best tries were Junior in the first along with a very "slow" Talagi and RCG in the second.
Just about every other club has someone capable of chasing down a player. Chricton got run down in Dog's/Sharks game. Roosters seem to find someone and the list goes on. Break Parra's line, unless it is Brown or Moses, no one else is a chance. Parra has no Pace or Chase. Hence the Title of the blog.
The reality is that two of our most promissing backs in Penisini and Talagi have no pace. They have ability but without pace you want to be something else of a very special nature, both these players are effected by another weakness - their inability to tackle. People are saying Talagi is not a winger, well he is not a full back either and if he is a centre he is not a good enough defender. Perhaps, he is a half and will end up as a back up to our existing halves. Realism need to be set in. If Sivo is out, I would put Penisini on the wing. God knows who goes in the centres, maybe its Guymer, given he can tackle.
Name me one player you could compare to Talagi that now plays in the NRL as an effective top class player.
Without Pace and Defence he is not going to make it, we have some very poor understanding of the type of players we need to bring through.
Where are our centres and edge forwards coming from and what are we doing to develop them. When Haynes and Holmes were trying out for NFL they had to do a minimum of 4.4 for 40 yardsjust to get a look-in. We need to have similar criteria.
God help us to get some SPEED from somewhere, anywhere!
Replies
Agree poppa and it's been a problem for a while now but and it s a combo of lack of speed and attitude ie you never ever see sivo chasing across to stop anything on the opposite side, even brown seems to have stopped chasing and this was one of his strengths.
what gets me is there were players on the market like xerri, wekes (who went to Canberra as a back up) and guys in reserve grade for several teams that have made their debut that would have helped in that area.
In addition to the speed problem players are playing out of position unnecessarily, barrett last night said blaize isn't a wingerr yet we keep playing him there, russell has played wing most of his first grade career yet we play him at centre, I really can't understand moves like that
its 2018 all over again and we know how that ended
Pace between the ears goes along way also.
Yeh! I was going on memory at the time, I really wouldn't know to be honest, but I did know there was a target to be met and that was the principle behind the comment.
We probably should have them for every position with an ongong monitoring by specialst staff. I suspect they do something already, but I am not sure what sort of driver it is?
It should be a must for identifying young players and their ongoing development.
Again it cannot be a "bible" Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk would not be quick but would probably surprise people. i.e I would not be surprised to see over about 60/80 metres that Guth would be running down a lot of players, he still has more stamina than most.
The broncos measure over 40 metres. Dean Mariner is the quickest at the club. I agree we need some metrics to direct our recruitment.
Speed- ask this bloke, he could help.
With that Honker I reckon you could suck up fair load Eddie, is that a before or after picture....LOL
Actually you seem to have a preety good handle on the game Eddie, you could go a long way with that Shnoz, put a metal tip on the end and it would be quiet a weapon, must also be handy when the rain comes, I reckon you could park a couple of buses in there!
Message to the Eels management- pull the Blaze contract, he's one of the slowest outside backs in the history of league. He's useless. Maybe he would make an ok five-eighth one day but we need fast outside backs now!
Poppa, just admit it, you've stolen a heap of content from my recent posts to create this blog like you always do -" Bradman Bolt " , cmon man 👨
. But that's OK because you nailed it because our biggest downfall atm is lack of speed. I don't know wtf Mon is doing but we have the slowest outside backs in any form of football ⚽️⚽️ worldwide.
And the lat thing this club needs is to bring in a yesman like the mild mannered .Hannay .
Bring in Madge to clean the joint up now !
Clean up all the bullshit Brad has left the club with.
Get the big farkun broom and slash the joint
Brad left this club in a great position - think again. because we need to start from scratch here.
"Poppa, just admit it, you've stolen a heap of content from my recent posts to create this blog like you always do -" Bradman Bolt " , cmon man 👨 "
I have to admit Chiefy I didnt see your Bradman Bolt article but to copy something is the highest form of flattery and I cannot remember the last time I flattered you.
Just the same I did write this on Thursday I think.
"Bradman Best is the main danger I see, our back 4 are so inherently weak (maybe Penisini aside), Best could over power us the same way Chrichton did when we played the dogs."
I was wrong about Penisini! LOL
Popps, why the fark are the Eels management offering slow Blaze something like 500k a season. This will totally ruin the club.
Jesh I wish we had someone like Gould running the show,. He knows what a football team should look like.
Interesting Michael, sounds like you have some inside info.
Back to your comment Chief, the question is, what makes you think they are paying/ going to pay 500k to Talago.
If they did this that means they have no proper recognition of 'the type of talent" we have or need. If Mons sells the board on our potential talent and the board believe's it, then we have real problems. What's worse the coach TB says he doesn't know his right position. That's another way of saying, he doesn't have one!
This is delusionary thinking and a shrink would tell you everyone is hiding behind shadows, he said so and so, so it must be right because so and so confirmed it.....this is classical Emporers New Clothes Syndrome.....untll someone turns around and says he is no where near the talent some think he is.They will stop in their tracks at that, but anyone who saw him drop that kick last night will be having second thoughts about it.
One final thing for the DB haters out there that doesn't think he is earning his money. Stop and think what he would do to our defence if he was playing for the opposition. You all will be so pissed off when he leaves (your forcing his hand) and becomes a greater player...... it will be an intriguing watch to see if he settles/accepts the new coach, because if it is one of the 2 rookies his football will not improve until he has a decent coach and decent player's to play with.
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