1. Isaiah Iongi
2. Brian Kelly
3. Jordan Samrani
4. Sean Russell
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Ronald Volkman
7. Mitchell Moses (c)
8. Luca Moretti
9. Tallyn Da Silva
10. Jack Williams
11. Kelma Tuilagi
12. Kitione Kautoga
13. Jack De Belin
Interchange:
14. Dylan Walker
15. Sam Tuivati
16. Teancum Brown
17. Harrison Edwards
18. Joash Papaili
19. Charlie Guymer
Reserves:
20. Apa Twiddle
21. Ryley Smith
22. Saxon Pryke
INs: Mitchell Moses, Ryley Smith, Saxon Pryke
OUTs: None
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Star playmaker Mitch Moses returns from Blues duty for the 250th game of his NRL career so Ronald Volkman switches to five-eighth and Joash Papalii slides to the interchange.
Replies
What has poor Ryley Smith done
Many here chose not to believe it, but Ryles was pretty clear.
He wants both Da Silva and Smith to get big minutes. If both are in NRL that cannot happen. Smith is getting 70+mins and Da Silva 60+ in NRL.
Edwards also, being able to play in the middle, allows Ryles to do that.
He probably feels the basic fundamentals of Edwards is enough for the first 15-20. And he prefers Da Silva's attacking upside over Smith.
I made a blog earlier in the year that Ryles soon would need to decide who his full-time Hooker will be. He has done that with Da Silva.
The problem I have with not starting Smith is we lose any sought of inside pressure on kickers and he led our linespeed and kick chase alot of the time.It's a big hole in our game at the moment.
Look I don't mind if Smith starts. But seems Ryles prefers giving more game time to Da Silva and doesn't want Smith only getting 20-25 a game.
I don't think Smith has the form he once had for us.
I would start Smith over Da Silva every day of the week. He leads the line speed, tackles like a machine (covering up the mistakes of others) and provides very good service to our halves. There was no need to bring in Edwards.
Well the fact Edwards can play other positions shows a need. Smith's defence this year has been a bit off and is getting knocked around more.
Edwards is a tackling machine. He very rarely misses a tackle a has stiffened up our middle defense since joining, something that we badly needed. You're right about Smith with line speed and inside pressure on the kicker, but his last few games in 1st grade he missed a few tackles and was a bit of a speed bump after he injured his sternum. From what I'm hearing, he isn't killing it in NSW cup.
I think this course of action makes sense, even if we may not all agree to the pecking order.
We need to have pressure on positions, and that means have a hooker in first grade and another in reserves both gunning for the top job. Ryles and co have obviously decided that the ceiling of TDS is higher than Ryley and so he's taken top spot. Doesn't mean Ryley can't force his way back in. Next man up mentality.
The reality of TDS is he's going to be rocks and diamonds for a while, that always happens with raw talent, and you have to make a bet that we can coach/mature the rocks out whilst keeping the diamonds (and then stick with the Eels when/if he becomes an all-diamonds player).
The theory is sound. Having one primary hooker and a genuine utility player to cover 20 mins and be serviceable. Sucks for Ryley because he always put 110% in, but professional sports is a brutal game.
I think it's more the versatility Edwards has is what the team needs more so than Riley's.
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