Arthur has admitted that the right edge is an issue, tried to change it by moving Waqa and it failed miserably. With Opacic, our best backline defender having a horrible game in misreading defence, doubt he would do that again.
So the question is, will there be a fix in that backline? or will Arthur weigh it out by letting it play out and fix itself with training and preparation? will he use Opacic on the right again and hope a second week there may help him improve? will he see if Dylan Brown is the missing piece to the right side defence and hopefully it will be sorted? will he test Dunster or even put Niukore or Penisini in there (doubtful)?
I think the team will be simple, with only forced changes: RGC in for Paulo, Lussick for Mahoney and perhaps Smith on the bench for Lussick or maybe Dunster.
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It's very simple, if BA dosnt force a change and we get done on the right edge again. I would think he is kissing his coaching career at the Eels goodbye.
Im predicting Waqa is gone and Nuikore or Penisini will be our new right centre. But I've been wrong before
The real reason , it's been happening on the right for two seasons, I'm assuming that in that time they have tried to rectify the problem, fix the problem, show faith , all of that, there must be an end date to showing faith and having your payday, to add to this point, it would appear the only time our right side in the last two seasons has been rock solid was when Nuikore was there.
Now I may be wrong, but I don't think so , why is it that during two seasons , with all the coaching, all the reviews , all the faith and waiting for the "payday" the only time our right edge has been solid under pressure was the period Waqa was out to lunch and a former junior representative centre in Nuikore was taking his place. Dosnt that show the coach the structure worked then but not with Waqa and certainly not with left side specialist Opacic. Opacic may come good on the right but everything he has known at left centre is now reversed even his shoulders and body faced to the left like it should in his normal position but prevents quick lateral movement when defending on the right.
One last thing with Waqa and awaiting the payday , Ferguson gets next to no ball in attack when Waqa is inside him, further Waqa himself in attack has scored the unimpressive total of 9 tries, 7 try assists and 10 line breaks in His 3 years with us. Not great stats for a strike centre.
Look at Stephen Crichton in less then half the time 1.5 years at centre has scored 22 tries 13 try assists 20Line breaks for the panthers and that's why "all of the above " me personally thinks BA should move on from Waqa Blake.
No just a comparison of what some centres are capable of, thats all.
Coryn Hughes so you believe the first 9 games we played with Nuikore at 4 was not a better performing defensive team than the one with Waqa Blake at 4? I offer you that 99% of fans with eye's would answer, YES, we were a better defensive outfit with Nuikore at 4, You ask "Why would BA move on from Blake why" Well I have just given you reason 1.
You ask "Why would you not continue on that ilk and show faith in a player whose not in great form", Why? because the NRL is about winning games not a reabilitation place for out of form players, NSW cup is a place for out of form NRL players to try and regain form and confidence.
You say "The pay off potentially is there why wouldn't you stick". Why? because by that time the season could be gone and the whole side down from a succession of losses such as the last two. I'm not sure what tangent you are on about an ex player but I and most supporters hope BA pulls his head out of his arse and dops Waqa Blake.
"I stick because 1 Nuikore isn't a centre and was always a stop gap".
1: Why stick to a ridgid definition of a player? Nuikore has performed brilliantly at centre (2 missed tackles in 8 games) He has been our best centre. You do know that he was a rep centre.
Again, this is ridgid thinking, like BA, not observing what is actually happening. You see Nuikore as a stop gap, he performs better than the other centres, but oh no, we must keep him boxed and defined as a stop gap. I can not understand this form of thinking / management, it is holding on to preconceived ideas despite the evidence showing otherwise.
Coryn, while the premise of what you are saying is correct, thing is that when Blake was out Marata filled in more than capably, that without doubt is owing to all his earlier games for the Warriors and early games with the eels were in the Centres. As he has beefed up and likely his pace is down a bit, he still has shown he can play in the centres still and quite ok, for a team that is handy to have a player capable in playing the way he has.
Also Marata was typically brought into the NRL squad slowly as is the case with many of the eels players. I have no issues with him going to the centres or to the forwards. Marata weighs in ant 106kgs, his speed may be down a bit as a result but he still has shown his abilities in both positions.
This week he's back in the pigs and playing as a prop as we seem to be down a bit there. I don't mind a player that can fill in, in different spots, something we had before with Stone, who is having a pretty much horror of a year so far.
Or could Fergo get ousted, come up with something like he has a niggle or had surgery to clean up his knee (which he has had numerous times since signing) but in fact they're letting Dunster gain his spot?
Doubt it but i think that is more plausible to happen than Waqa being dropped.
You might just be on the money LB.
I read that in all his time at Penrith, Waqa Blake was on the left side. I have no idea why BA moved him to the right but I suspect that it was to accommodate Jennings.
I say leave Waqa on the left in a position he knows.
Leave Opacic on the right and give Ferg the mighty see ya later.
Dyl, Opacic and whomever is picked on the wing to do some massive training this week.
The main problem is that you have two centres that are used to defending on the left side.
So one will have to make way.
Dont forget, there were still plenty of tries scored on Sivos wing because he came in and gave his opposite a mile of space.
There maybe some justification in throwing Opacic back to the left and putting Waqa on the right wing.
Either way we go - this shit should have been sorted a long time ago !!!
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