So I decided to actually watch the last 2 games for wenty especially last weeks game against top of the table Mounties. And there is pros and cons all of these players.
Ray Stone: From what I saw of stone he sadly disappointed me he certainly doesn't make much runs and when he does he doesn't get very far. He is pretty slow at playing the ball which is something our first grade side cant have as we need to be quicker in the play the ball. Although in say that he has a great tackling technique and is pretty solid in defence. I conclude by saying if/when he makes his debut it cant be when we are behind or in a game deciding couple of minutes so I expect BA to blood him very slowly off the bench in the next couple weeks. Only if injuries keep coming otherwise he should play out the rest of the season in reserve grade.
Jaeman Salmon: This guy should definitely be given a crack if we keep struggling to secure the 5/8 spot. He has a clever short kicking game, fast runner, strong & he can break the line (Unlike Norman). However parras biggest problem this year has been discipline & Salmon's isn't the greatest he can make silly errors & can give away a silly penalty plus his defence needs improving but for a half it satisfactory. I conclude by saying he is a great threat in attack and if we keep struggling to score points BA should definitely give him a go if he fixes his discipline this guy will be a star.
Reed Mahoney: The position parra have struggled to solve ever since Peats departure in 2016 is the hooker position. Mahoney is solid but he isn't going to blow anyone away if he debuts. Although with King being a load of crap & Kaysa's injury record Mahoney may become our main hooker in the coming seasons. Mahoney is pretty quick and he atleasts makes some runs from dummy half. He can break the line and is a good reciever in dummy half. He has a decent kick from dummy half, also he is good in defence not great but decent enough. Mahoney's main problem is that First Grade will be a big challenge for him he is quite small and will get ran over the top of by the big poppas in our league. Until he can bulk up a little Mahoney shouldn't be getting rushed into the side however if he does he will finally fix our problem in the hooker position.
Oregan Kaufusi: Kaufusi is definitely a man we should not let go of. at only 18 he has impressed me as a forward & with the impending reduction of the interchange will be an asset to the eels. He makes okay metres not much better than any of our current forwards however he is only 18 and has a very high ceiling. He is very agile and is really fit for a forward. His defence isnt out of this world however he gets the job done & with more mentoring he can become Parras best forward in the coming years.
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Oregon Kaufusi is a keeper for sure, i can see him in the top side in the next year or two. Oh thats right i forgot who's coach. he may get a game by 2024.
Particularly if the Norman to fullback doesn't work.
we don`t debut many players because we have none that are too good for reserve grade and demand to be(BY FORM ) picked in 1st grade . like that young centre at the sharks. signed with knights 2019 .very smart knights .they must have a recruitment mob who knows talent.in a couple of years the eels might offer 3-4 times what the knights paid . seems to be our policy. i know they paid decent money for ponga . what a bargain now. the broncos have got a kid named david fiffita who should debut soon. will be a superstar. and that young guy who debuted last week from wellington nsw.good work broncos talent scouts.
Mahoney is no smaller then cook who is about to become the NSW hooker, the toughest, physical most demanding game in our sport.
Mahoney is about 178, roughly the same size of cook. I know him personally and I’m 175 and he is a lot taller then I am.
All. the small talk is rubbish, what do you want a 195cm hooker that’s 101kgs? Not going to happen.
The kid will kill it. The only reason he isn’t shredding ISP is because BA has him working on individual things and he has been told to by the staff so he can play FG.
stone is a gun. Just need to not murder himself every week.
Salmon on will be a weapon, but he is still only young and has another year to develop at least and same with Kaufusi.
I like the look of Salmon and Kaufusi. Salmon plays direct and will be good for us eventually.
And don't discount Dylan Brown, Tuimavave Afualo and Faingaa making 1st grade one day.
Jarome Luai is an option he is stuck behind Maloney, Cleary & May.
A good read Trent. U at least strive for a balanced assessment & not drift off into Parra's cultural delusional state of "Juniors Utopian Land" that seem to infect a lot of our fans.