Good win by Wenty, with youngsters dominating. Kaufusi 72mins, 33 tackles over 120 m running. Stone 26 tackles 141 m in 57 mins. 18 year old Stefano Utiokumanu 87 m and 18 tackles in 30 mins, Haze Dunster 90 m for a thin built winger.
However, one glaring stat that has made this bitter sweet. this is referenced to a player that I have loved and defended so much however it has dwindled very quickly, with this player with 46 NRL games of experience, public stating his intention to play fullback so goes to ISP a lower level and dominates? no, 57 m running. that is abysmal, pathetic and he needs an attitude and reality check quick smart. yes he scored a try but he should've dominated instead of 57 m, he had more in his NRL game to which he was hooked. Incase you haven't noticed, this person is Bevan French
Sorry Bev, I've defended you so much but after 40-4 win and that ISP performance NRL teams can try all they like to transform you into a 1
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Bevs a dead set pretender and show pony, seems most are starting to wake up to his nonsense.
We are such a better side without him its not funny.
Bevs never realised it takes more than a flashy try off others hard work to be a complete player.
Nice kid but no mongral, just another show pony who cant handle the tough stuff and is not a team player.
If we dont move past weak players like Bev we are doomed.
Surely even the poor judges who have backed the kid and wanted to keep him can now see hes a joke.
Tepai Moeroa and Daniel Alvaro should be next. Both have been bullied and bashed all year.
Haha funny joke
I think Bev could have been a great player, He certainly has alot of talent but he doesnt have the right attitude.
He plays alot on Instinct and he doesnt actually use his brain.
Its not because he is too small, Players who are smaller like Dufty show that you can excel with smaller size but playing smart.
Defencively we are better without him, returning kicks we are way better without him and Attack wise, he doesnt offer us that much when he isnt set up for a wingers try.
I was going to write a blog on Bev but I think I'll stick it here instead.
So Bev debuted in 2016, in a tough side that would've qualified for the finals were it not for the salary cap fiasco. He earned that spot on the wing after impressive showings at NYC and NSW Cup level. Now, in this side we had Michael Gordon at fullback and a winger by the name of Semi Radradra. Interestingly Michael Gordon is shorter than French but 6kg of muscle heavier.
IMO, our releasing of Gordon for the 2017 season wasn't the smartest decision. French still had a good year, and again we had Semi at the back.
The impact of Semi was probably hardest felt by Bevan. Semi's big runs out of the backfield meant when French scooted from dummy-half he faced a disorganised defensive line that allowed him to pinch quick metres. No Semi meant no strong starts to sets which meant a set line for Bev to run at.
I don't think booting Bev is the smartest move. On the flipside, Bev's got to prove he's an NRL player and do that by impressing at NSW Cup level. He's only 22 and he's going to get bigger. Hell he's actually bigger than Matt Dufty.
I think this season is Bev's second year syndrome. Last season was a long campaign for him and he was then hampered by injury at the start of this season which impacted his fitness.
Next year is Bev's chance to prove he's an NRL player. Why? With the addition of Blake Ferguson and now the likely re-signing of Jarryd Hayne as well as George Jennings seemingly cementing a spot in the side, Bev has a group of big bodies in the backfield and Ferguson in particular is known for his kick returns and early carries. We've also got Junior Paulo arriving whose big carries can provide the space in the middle for Bev to do his thing through the middle with a scattered defensive line.
Nothing scares defenders more than speed and you need that in your squad. My biggest fear is us booting Bev and him getting picked up by another club who turns him into a superstar. You'll then get a bunch of people saying "Why did we let him go?"
This season has been a testing one for Bevan and he'll have the off-season to show BA and the coaching staff that he is up to the top level. A big thing for him is gaining more physical size. Both Billy Slater and Michael Gordon are shorter than Bev but both have carved out long careers in first grade and both have gained size over time so they can't be manhandled.
Long term, Bev could become our version of Slater. He has the speed, ball skills and footballing talent to do it. It'll be about his physical development and mental application.
Sure, he could demand to play fullback and move clubs if he doesn't get his way. If he does that then he's taking the easy way out. But dumping him because of one poor season is a knee-jerk reaction that will bite us in the backside.
I can see a lot of Kris Inu in French. Inu was actually more talented that Hayne when they both appeared in first grade together, but Hayne improved from there - most likely determined to make it in the NRL. Inu just didn't seem to have that same determination. As you say, French needs to convince himself that he is determined to make it, if not he will languish and never reach his potential. At 22 he has a lot to learn before he takes up a fullback role. This is becoming a crucial position and you need to have one of your best players there. French needs to bide his time and look to see what Hayne, Norman (and Slater) and co can do from fullback - they have had years to perfect their skills in that position. He has a bit to consider over the offseason...
And Slater took his time to move there. He played a fair chunk of his early seasons on the wing and in the centres.
French doesnt want to play wing, he's already express interest to other clubs to play Fullback next season.
He wont bide his time and looking to move already.
I dont think he will ever make it in NRL, he doesnt have the right frame.
Speed - yes, Smarts - yes, Size - no.
People compare him to Addo-Carr. Same weight yes, but different body frame.
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