- Iongi - I told you he was rated as the best fullback yet to make their NRL debut at the start of 2024. By the end of 2024, some people who watch a lot of NSW Cuo actually rated Iongi better than NRL fullbacks at other clubs. He is a pretty well rounded player. Great support play and showed his ball playing.
- R Penisni - I thought he was solid. At 20 years old, like his brother Will, he came through the juniors with great attack but a great defender which is very rare for a young centre. Was very physical and confident in defence why I love to see.
- D Brown - he may have not been the main attraction on the highlight reels after the first try. But his balling playing in the middle in straightening the attack was brilliant as usual. Once his normal edge comes back of Will and JAC he will be more dangerous.
- Volkman - as I said in the rookie report, he will be way to good in NSW Cup. His attack is amazing. But he has a lot of work to do on his defence. He is a small body and then he has poor defensive reads as well. Keeps his legs planted in defence as well which is a big no no against shape.
- Guymer - bloke was leading the line speed and folding blokes. I really hope he gets a spot in the NRL side over Katauga (too ill-discipline espcially with Tuilagi on the other edge).
- Tuilagi - bloody good ball and hole runner but needs to fix his errors still. Not trying to push offloads etc. Still fixing that discipline up.
- Papalii - that great acceleration. Will be fighting for a 14 spot. But I recon Ryles will keep him in NSW Cup fullback spot to start the year.
- Tuivita - I was really impressed with him. Some great runs and found his front. Good motor for someone his size as well.
- Mataele - Nice atheltic forward. A season in cup and he will be even better. Just hope for no injuries this year.
- Smith - Can see why he easily over took Lussick. Will be fighting for the 14 spot and 9 spot alll year. Could see him overtaking Hands by the end of the year.
- Twiddle - Mini Teddy. Good passing and running game.
- Latu - The next backrower we need to groom. IMO. My prediction for break out player in cup. Runs and tackles hard.
- Lynn - was actually impressed. He played his role well. But still a long way to go for him defensively.
- T Brown - Him, Tiwddle, Nanva will spend most of the year in Flegg. He is a big and atheltic boy. Player of the year in flegg. Will be pushing hard in a stacked nsw cup squad.
You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!
Replies
He had a bad defensive misread for the first try. He went for Fletcher and got caught out (fletcher was impressive at 5/8). Other than that he was good, strong in his carries, jacked a bit of lateral mobility.
Carried for 200+ metres in the centres.
I was most impressed by well tbh just about all of them! Samari was solid but I'm not sure I see the hype. I'm a little worried about our back rower if both Katauga and kelma start. As good as they can be in attack I can see a lot of errors coming from them. Geez I'm keen to see what the cup side looks like in a few weeks
Kautoga has worst hands I've ever seen
You can see DB is growing into the 1st reciever role he played a lot there last night.
His kicking game also who most seemingly missed was also pinpoint.
Tempo that try where he slow played to Volkman who straightened and put Tuilagi in the hole was exactly what we want to see from our playmakers.
Outisde of the drop ball when he got crushed in a cracker tackle and the stepover brain fade at dummy half Brown is on track for a big season.If I'm Ryles I'd continue to get Brown into first reciever as much as possible.
Please god have our playmakers playing to one another more ffs please.I been calling for this for years.
All this talk about Kautoga has the worst hands they have ever seen is a bit much. He literally is credited with 1 error. Yes he got away with one but it was a trial in hot and humid conditions and he was trying a bit too hard to impress in a new system.
He obviously needs to pay more attention to his detail, but I like what I saw on and off the ball to think there is a player in there. If that's the standard for him though then yes he won't be a regular nrl player until he fixes it.
Kelma looked a class above. Fit and ready for a big year, running off Moses.
Excellent post Eels95
He looks to be the type of player who loves to offload and put his supporting player in space. These types of players will always have an error or two in their game. However, they also have the ability to break a game wide open. As these types of players further their careers opposition's will defend differently by putting 3 defenders on them rather than 2. When this happens players need to alter their game slightly and pass just before the line rather than after contract. Either way, dangerous attacking players on the edge can provide plenty of headaches for defenders.
My opinion is that our attack is not an issue. So I rather consistency and solid defence over highlight reels. So Guymer wins that spot for me even though I believe he is more suited to the middle.
Attack can be an issue at times, especially in the opposition red zone - with Gutho gone both DB and Moses will take control, Iongi gives a point of difference especially on the right side - it's clear that the emphasis on skills and repetition will benefit all players, Iongi plays with nice subtlety and Volkmann for that matter as well.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 8 Next