In attack they both seem to be on their wrong side to me - so long term seems to be the correct move. Sivo was considered in need of a good experienced defensive centre but the need seems to be more on the other side now. Short term you cannot have Jakob and Waqa together.
I know some want both JA and Waqa out. JA has done well considering but still has a lot of growing to do to be fit for purpose. Nethertheless I could understand if they think it worth getting a good look at him to get an idea of his potential so they can make retainment decisions. For JAs sake he should have returned to NSW cup after his perfect moment.
Waqa is a great athlete and seems to put in good effort. He often goes for the quick win option but he seems to be willing to put the effort in. We should be able to get a better performance out of him. Maybe wing is best option but for this year centre seems to be his spot unless Sivo can play centre inn attack, but unlikely defensively. Centre would suit Sivo in some ways as whenever he makes a line break far from the try line he looks like he hits the wall and needs an outside runner.
With the new head high rules Nuikore may have trouble as centre. Surprisingly he has held up reasonable well to defending fleet footed backs and obviously is strong in other aspects. But defending against often short backs he could make accidental contact with head and find himself on the sidelines too much.
I would at least swap Opacic and Waqa for the bunnies and the rest of the year and after that consider swapping Sivo and Waqa. Sivo often attracts multiple defenders and makes line breaks he can’t continue. Lots of opportunities if he could link with an outside runner. Just needs to be able to defend as a centre.
Replies
Maybe you are correct about shifting the deck chairs. But maybe the right side is just the wrong chemstry rather than capabilities and changing that will get the players doing better
"Short term you cannot have Jakob and Waqa together." We all know that. We're all hoping that's not the case on Saturday. But it'll also likely be the last time this season they're both on the field at the same time.
JA wasn't going to be sent back to NSW Cup after the Warriors game. He played too well and it would have just meant more reorganisation for the team. The three game stint will likely stand him in good stead for his development for the rest of the year. I wouldn't be moving Opacic. He seems to be striking up a good relationship with Sivo.
Waqa has and can be a good NRL player. Better to get the most out of him than dump him. Obviously his current position is not working. Obviously there needs to be a change. I was merely suggesting a possible change for discussion. Maybe when Dylan is back all will be fine on the right but then again maybe the right side defence and attack will still be sub par.
I've suggested on a few occassions in regard to the swap between Opi & Waqa, my only concern with it is how it would affect Sivo, however on reflection, I actually wonder how Sivo and Waqa would work, only because he seems to have lost some aspects of his attacking ability. I would prefer to see Fergs given a bench spot, Marata to 4 & Waqa to Fergs wing spot, Waqa generally tends to stay in his correct position, but Fergs is often the one that comes in & opens his side of the field/sideline up.
What was your reasons for suggesting the swap?
Primarilly, its something of an experiment, by seperating Qaqa from Fergs, they do not really work together, and while I accept the deficiancies in Waqa, I have seen him do ok at times, IIRC in the Souths game last year when we lost MJ, & Fergs, also & I could be wrong here but also Sivo was out. Dunster came to Left wing, & Waqa ended up by ? that game actually while we lost did show him in reasonable stead,
I am of the view that he is a better player than we are seeing, and its not working as he and Fergs are not working together. By swapping with Opi, I believe that Opi will strengthen that side like he has with the loss of MJ, don't think we have really lost anything in that area. Opi is not flashy, but he does a good job overall, and if he can work with Waqa, then its a win win situation.
I have noticed that too
Or speed...
but scrambled well v Warriors
when is Sivo going to hit full speed, remember when Guth put him in a gap and he fended and trampled the Warrior centre (2019) he then piss bolted down the side line, haven't seen that since really.
He has run out of gears, thinks his running is in top/4th gear but the cogs above 2 are broken.
There's something wrong here , don't know what but them calves and quads are not stretching out. I know Saab is quick but he had to turn and chase Sivo, which he did and caught him within 20m 🤦🏼♂️ Something wrong
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next