So we all wondered and thought how de Belin was going to be used, seems not at all. I give credit to Ryles who doesn't much around. No matter how many games, contract status you are not in the 17 if you are not good enough. Kelly seems to be in the same boat. They have missed on recruitment so far this year and that will happen. de Belin and Kelly can still have an impact off the field with juniors however.
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Guymer should get a look in as Lock soon. He is off-contract and will go elsewhere if not given game time. Though surprised Perth haven't tried to nab him yet. Maybe they have.
Kelly i believe we all agreed would be nice depth incase of injury, maybe keep Penisini and Russell looking over their shoulder. But with Samrani practically jumping Kelly, it looks like a dud. Those happen, but good on Ryles for keeping standards despite your experience and salary.
de Belin who knows at the moment, maybe does it lead to a Shaun Lane type ordeal where gives him the hard talk and retirement? Who knows but i feel a tiny bit more optamistic for de Belin than Kelly at the moment.
always thought DeBelin was reserve grade ability and thought signing him at his age was a mistake, Kelly at the titians was a strange 1, thought surely we had juniors would of been promoted and given time.
Doesn't really matter Shane, they still maybe handy at a point in time and it is not that we missed anyone because of us grabbing them.....JDB for example maybe very good against a side like Penrith....Kelly I suspect was a gamble that failed, we all knew he had defensive issues but were hoping it was just the Titans......he had no idea when it came to systems, if he learns he could still be proven as a backup in the right circumstances.
NB I really believe that JDB is a victim of Pevit's poor defence, I think they picked Williams at lock to provide lateral cover for Pevitt.
Wouldn't give up on Kelly yet. He has some tekkers about him and some pace, can deputise Addo-Carr if JAC goes origin. When Kelly is on form in an attacking side he can be fun. Good option still.
Yeah he can be. He has experience and is a decent break glass option. But i believe everyone thought he would be over Samrani. Unless it is simple as Ryles prefers Kelly on the left and Samrani is needed on the right. But also they are professional and Kelly is experienced so he should play both sides.
We were desperate for a back with experience. Kelly presented himself as an option and we took a punt. Recruitment you never strike 100%. If anything i think the number is more 40% is the strike rate for decent teams.
I will say for Kelly, he had a disrupted pre-season where he came in after Christmas, played limited in the trials, given a chance in the blow out to Melbourne while learning a new system and club in about 6 weeks. He is 190+ experienced though also. But could it be he is like Paul Whatuira of the past playing only 1 NRL game for Parramatta?
I wonder if de Belin is also a victim to Ryles' defensive structure? Remember last year where players were running left and right with the structure? Soon they understood and it worked out. But Ryles has seen something he really didn't like and decided to keep Williams for his movement as you mentioned.
He was only signed for this year with a club option for the second. This is not surprising at all. We needed an old head to help lead the Juniors, he is only here for a year, we needed to spend the unused money in our cap for 2026. Serious nothing story and they just need something in the media this week to help fuel the Sunday game. Go next.
I do consider it surprising as it was so soon. Had this happened in Round 10? Maybe not as surprised.
Kelly was slow with system but should be rectified soon jdb will be shaved and greased
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