I have been a harsh critic of Joseph Paulo, Ryan Morgan and Ben Smith throughout the year on both selection and performance. But I must give credit where it is due.
Paulo IMO had his best game of the season. Didn't overplay his hand with the ball, no hospital or forward passes. I don't recall any long signature "crabbing" runs. Made most of his tackles and only involved in one dubious ruck penalty. I still had anxiety attacks with every play he was involved in but BA is not going to drop him so I just hope he can replicate Friday nights form for the remainder of the season. No contract offer for 2015 still applicable.
Morgan did his job to the best of his ability. Passing clearly does not come naturally to him and his lack of peripheral vision evident again on Friday night. (Hayne had words to him when a few set plays broke down but he is never going to have quick hands and pass like Hoppa or Hayne can in traffic) However, he made his tackles this week and made a couple of good metres with the ball even if a pass was the better option at times. IMO his game on Friday night is as good as it gets and you can't ask for more than that.
Smith was solid again and his performance did not leave me questioning why he was selected over another player in this game.
Well played Crab, Possum and Chicken Legs.
I am only too happy for you to make me eat my words and put pie all over my face for the rest of the season.
Replies
Bert, that title sounds a bit like a Beverly Hillbillies cook-up, but who cares as long as we keep winning eh?
Well said.
Semi was just as terrible, if not worse last year. I used to cringe every time he was named. I reckon. Vai is going to turn out alright. Still expect a shocker here and there from him for next 12 months though
Smith has proved the nockers wrong as is doing a good job and deserves his spot. Sefa is still crap and slows the attack when involved that even a tortise would have time to stop the attack and still runs like a powder puff and defence well we will leave it at that. Morgan is still just a back up as still can not pass, no vision, bad reads in defence and misses 1 on 1.
I agree mate. BA obviously really starting to to turn some players into better players. I noticed JP was more direct last week but even more so this week. He certainly done some hard yakka.
I thought Ben Smith was outstanding last week and still very solid this week. Based on those performance s his experience will be missed next year.
Morgan is a work in progress over there on the left. I think he far more comfortable on the right when it comes to his footwork and beating defence. His defence with Semi seems far less fluent than what it did with Tonga/Semi.
Toutai is the goose of the side.
So would have Semi if we made it last year. Look now. At the end of day I'd rather play Sio till he has gone but if not, I have far more faith in Vai than Bureta
Mate I dont think our 1st half was that bad, we had some pretty bad calls go against us which took away some momentum plus we defended the shit out of everything Manly through at us. Apart from some bad reads by our wingers we did really well to keep them to 2 tries.
We showed in the 2nd half what we are capable of doing when the game is reffed relatively fairly (apart from a shit video ref decision), we ripped in and pulled manly's pants down
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