This is inspired by observations from another blog comparing the merits of Luca Moretti and Matt Doorey.
Let’s compare Luca Moretti, Kelma Tuilagi, Matt Doorey, and Kitione Kautoga.
Moretti is the standout. He could be anything.
With another full season in him, he would be a chance to make the Kangaroos given the exodus of players these days.
In comparison, Doorey and Kelma show more deficiencies. Kelma posts good contact metres but has an abysmal defensive record and tends to switch on and off during games. That is probably what stops him from being a regular starter. He needs a defensive coach and a sports psychologist in the off season if he is to reach any heights.
Doorey’s hit ups are solid with occasional gusto, but his overall focus is inconsistent. He is trying hard and has the size to play as a middle, but is he tough enough to play big minutes and stay fit?
Kautoga is a bit of a mystery. At times his concentration wavers, but he has excellent attacking instincts and off loading skills. He has improved but still makes too many errors. That said, he needs to lift his workload, just like his peers. His tackling reflects inconsistency, but he is a huge improver with plenty of potential.
Liam Martin. The model they all should follow. He brings everything. Application. Passion. A big engine. Grit. An enforcer. Our boys have the same skill sets. The question is, do they have the desire and consistency? For me, Moretti has the best chance of filling that role with controlled aggression. Still, all of them could add more of that edge to their game.
As for Charlie Guymer and Sam Tuivaiti, it is early days. Same with Talyn Da Silva. He needs a full off season and more time in our systems.
Talking about commitment and consistency: What happened to Bailey Simonsson? A head scratcher. He was in a similar position a while back. But he did all the hard work, and improved himself to be a good player only to then shat in his own nest! If his girlfriend (Fox Sport) was the reason behind this, he should come back to the fold and piss her off. He needs to understand that wives and girlfriends should not get involved with professional athetes, when it comes to career aspirations even if they try their best. He can't have his cake and eat it too.
All the forwards I have mentioned have the ability, they just need to look in the mirror to bring it out.
And let’s not forget Ryley Smith. In my eyes, he is already a star with future captaincy potential. Hard working. Calm head. Inspiring. Passionate. A glue type of player.
Will these forwards make it? The opportunity is there. There is some talent in that lot. We now have a coach and staff, and perhaps need a good sports psychologist to help raise their game and develop their potential. A lot depends on it.
Replies
Ciraldo's 1st yr where the Dogs regressed (15th, 2nd-worst attack, worst defence) was 2023 incl. the prior off-season. But it wasn't the 1st yr of Gus' rebuild that began mid-21. He even said he told Ciraldo to hold off coming as he was still rebuilding.
And the thing is the Dogs had plenty of help from a few sugar daddies like the Laundy Group and billionaire tycoon that became their chairman recently.
Dogs rebuild is quite fast. 3-4 years. Gus was aggressive. Panthers took a decade to build their 2019-24 dynasty, largely without billionaire sugar daddies. The hard way. From within. Probably a bit like Ryles has to as well as with value R&R, some from outside, to rebuilt culture. Pulling off bandaids quickly to quicken the process. He won't have ten years!
I don't disagree with the rhetotic EA but Ryles seems to have persevered with both, one of the reasons I summarised those players. Without actually do so consciously before I started I looked at who we had and maybe what they need to do if they go that extra step.
Awesome blog Poppa, thanks mate. You're dead right about Moretti. I recently posted on this site a prediction of him making the extended State of Origin squad next year. He's a beast.
This is an each to their own but i felt Kautoga before his injury was one of our most in form players. His defence was his strength and before his injury his attack got better. He was running with power more consistently.
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