TEAM LIST Round 2 vs. Knights

[tony soprano]

Blore out is huge.

Our edge on that side will now be:
AD
Kepoa (with Seyfarth sharing mins)
Nofa

That is the side Ponga attacks...

I don't want to be negative, and I don't rate the Knights at all...but Ponga will absolutely slaughter that edge.

Surely we don't play AD, Kepoa, Nofa together?

Blore defence wasn't the best last week

 

[tony soprano]

Kepeoa to replace blore in starting

Tuki or matamua to fill in that bench role

Talk about naden missing too?

 

[tony soprano]

Sheens is sweating bullets. Wants to Matt Groat the poor boy Tumeth.
How long before Sheens murders him?

He looked excellent last week at cup scored a double. Can hold his own.

 

[earl]

Blore defence wasn't the best last week

It was poor and he wasn't out there for long. He was defending with AD and Talau and they are both beyond ordinary as well but it was still really poor.

 

[tony soprano]

It was poor and he wasn't out there for long. He was defending with AD and Talau and they are both beyond ordinary as well but it was still really poor.

Terrible technique for the tackle he hurt himself.

 

[Camel2281]

There is a huge argument. Each time we go after a [insert marquee playermaker] they run for the hills as they know that careers come to WT to die. Cronk would not play here. In some ways Brooks has been more courageous than his peers who all go and play at the big comfy clubs.

Has he ever actually been chased hard by any other club in contract negotiations previously. Newcastle rumours aside when he wasn't out of contract?

 

[Camel2281]

Kepaoa looks good this season but To'a handled basically everything last season. He is just out of favor I assume due to the coaching staff changes. I would have To'a as the first picked centre until someone else proves themselves better.

Naden is pretty good but he has mistakes in his game.

Talau might make it as well but talk about getting a spot without performing.

We need a gun Bateman on the park don't we. I have no idea what is happening there but a 4 year contract is looking pretty stupid right now. I hope this signing doesn't turn bad.

To'a is absolutely dreadful defensively. He cannot tackle

 

[old_man_tiger]

Terrible technique for the tackle he hurt himself.

In hindsight we overreacted to a good trial and played Blore and Talau in firsts when they were too long out of the game. Both seemed to have no timing and looked off the pace.

@Earl I hope you're right about Toa bud, like our spine barring Api, I have all our centres in one category and have labelled it "not quite good enough"

 

[tony soprano]

Looks like it will be wet weather football.

 

[happy_tiger]

Don’t think so, he finished the game with it.

Are we expecting Talau to play ??

 

[KingRobbie]

Are we expecting Talau to play ??

Yep.

Think it was just cramp and tightness he was dealing with during the game.

According to people who were at the training session yesterday, the only players named who didn’t train are Blore and Naden.

 

[happy_tiger]

Yep.

Think it was just cramp and tightness he was dealing with during the game.

According to people who were at the training session yesterday, the only players named who didn’t train are Blore and Naden.

Yeah had a feeling whne they left him out there it would probably either been cramp or soft tissue issues

 

[stevied]

There are two regular selections that really irk me. The first is Talau. For the life of me, I can't see why he's such a coach's favourite. Slow for a centre, can't beat a tackle, drops simple balls, misreads in defence, arm grabber.....Please tell me why, after a year out, he deserves to beat out either AJ or Toa for a centre position. Secondly, why can't the coaches see that Seyfarth is simply not first grade standard? Smashed in every hit up, slow as a wet weekend. Surely there are better options. I know Bateman's unavailable for God knows what reason but there must be a young gun who would be better value. Tumeth or James spring to mind.....
And on another point, I think Brooks should be given two more chances (Rounds 2 and 3) to see if he can play like a first grade half. Otherwise, there must be consequences. He provided absolutely zero direction during the periods the Tigers were camped in the Titans' quarter and this is precisely what he is selected to do.

 

[sparci]

Kepaoa looks good this season but To'a handled basically everything last season. He is just out of favor I assume due to the coaching staff changes. I would have To'a as the first picked centre until someone else proves themselves better.

Naden is pretty good but he has mistakes in his game.

Toa first picked based on what? I'd have atleast two blokes ahead of him that are better defensively and in attack.

 

[TillLindemann]

In hindsight we overreacted to a good trial and played Blore and Talau in firsts when they were too long out of the game. Both seemed to have no timing and looked off the pace.

@Earl I hope you're right about Toa bud, like our spine barring Api, I have all our centres in one category and have labelled it "not quite good enough"

AJ would make a centre spot his own, Tupou would make a wing spot his own, but instead they are looked over in favour of useless bludgers like Nofo and Talau.

 

[old_man_tiger]

AJ would make a centre spot his own, Tupou would make a wing spot his own, but instead they are looked over in favour of useless bludgers like Nofo and Talau.

I want to believe that I think time will prove you right, but atm I'd say they have more potential than the others, rather than already being at the standard you see other teams 3 quarters at.

 

[Todd Packer]

There are two regular selections that really irk me. The first is Talau. For the life of me, I can't see why he's such a coach's favourite. Slow for a centre, can't beat a tackle, drops simple balls, misreads in defence, arm grabber.....Please tell me why, after a year out, he deserves to beat out either AJ or Toa for a centre position. Secondly, why can't the coaches see that Seyfarth is simply not first grade standard? Smashed in every hit up, slow as a wet weekend. Surely there are better options. I know Bateman's unavailable for God knows what reason but there must be a young gun who would be better value. Tumeth or James spring to mind.....
And on another point, I think Brooks should be given two more chances (Rounds 2 and 3) to see if he can play like a first grade half. Otherwise, there must be consequences. He provided absolutely zero direction during the periods the Tigers were camped in the Titans' quarter and this is precisely what he is selected to do.

I saw Ronnie Palmer interviewed at a pre season SG Ball game and they won't be dropping Talau any time soon. He raved about Talau and I'm guessing the coaches share his opinion.

 

[stevied]

I saw Ronnie Palmer interviewed at a pre season SG Ball game and they won't be dropping Talau any time soon. He raved about Talau and I'm guessing the coaches share his opinion.

But why?

 

[Todd Packer]

But why?

Who knows.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Did you watch any of the trials or last weeks game? Kepoa will be massive.

I watched every min of every game...call me a masochist 🙂

I agree AJ played well. I am just not sure a converted center, with about 120 mins of gametime in the backrow, will be up to the task defensively v a player of Ponga's class.

Second row is 'the' key defensive position in the modern game. Big ask, but I hope you are right.