WT v Knights round 1 ‘25 predictions

Tucker said:
This may or may not be true. Remember he wasnt real reliable at Penrith either and their defence was rock solid. I do agree he has been misused here.
The point was though, I wouldnt be moving him to a new position based on his defence.
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I think it all depends on TDS and if he is deserving of the hooker role. I personally think Api would be great playing lock as he has plenty of skill with ball in hand and whilst he has some defensive issues he is already in the middle, thus lock will be no more than he has to deal with now however with less need to race to dummy half each play the ball giving him a spell or at the very least sharing it with TDS to quicken our ruck speed ( need to ensure no rolling the ball as we will be pinged ).
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Bit of a distorted stat for players like Api tuck who actually cut down a player with grass-cutting tackles quick off the line for other defenders to finish off the tackle after Api falls off them.

Not saying this is a great way of defence but he does bring linespeed and does most times bring the player to ground for others to finish off the tackle.
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Not distorted at all.
He has averaged 5+ missed tackles and 2+ ineffective tackles per game since he has been here. He has filled in playing halves occasionally and returned even worse results there.
The claim was he may be able to be moved to lock as he is a great defender.
I was commenting on that.
 
Sully said:
I think it all depends on TDS and if he is deserving of the hooker role. I personally think Api would be great playing lock as he has plenty of skill with ball in hand and whilst he has some defensive issues he is already in the middle, thus lock will be no more than he has to deal with now however with less need to race to dummy half each play the ball giving him a spell or at the very least sharing it with TDS to quicken our ruck speed ( need to ensure no rolling the ball as we will be pinged ).
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Api's job is to get TDS ready to start next year and run the ball near the tryline.
 
Tigerstigerstigers said:
Oh come on. Api only
Misses tackles cause he was the Lone Ranger in the middle and missing through sheer exhaustion. He needs a 20 minute break in the middle of every game and when we are well in command, let him have half a game
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No he wasnt.
I added stats from his Penrith days for context. He has always been an average defender.
Its undoubetdly the reason he was over looked for origin last year.
 
Tucker said:
Not distorted at all.
He has averaged 5+ missed tackles and 2+ ineffective tackles per game since he has been here. He has filled in playing halves occasionally and returned even worse results there.
The claim was he may be able to be moved to lock as he is a great defender.
I was commenting on that.
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Agree
Having 2 hookers on from the start of a game taking away another big body in defence for the softening up period doesn’t do much for me, flashbacks of being steamrolled by the Dragons last year.
API is one of the best hookers running around moving him to another position won’t do him any good.
Again only my thoughts.
 
Sully said:
I think it all depends on TDS and if he is deserving of the hooker role. I personally think Api would be great playing lock as he has plenty of skill with ball in hand and whilst he has some defensive issues he is already in the middle, thus lock will be no more than he has to deal with now however with less need to race to dummy half each play the ball giving him a spell or at the very least sharing it with TDS to quicken our ruck speed ( need to ensure no rolling the ball as we will be pinged ).
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We have two ballplyers that have ben earmarked for this role already; Bird and Matamua one in each grade. Bird also saves us having to carry a utility on the bench and will allow Latu time to develop his skills in an open grade in preparation for first grade in due course.

Api's greatest skill is his ability to commit or confuse the A and B defender to set up the play - something that TDS is learning. Api and TDS need to tag team as we prepare TDS to trasition to the lead. Could Api play there? Probably, but transitioning him to becoem a ball playing lock weakens our squad significantly.

Bird, I think, has been bought in to bring Matamua along in that role. If Matamua doesn't make the transition we buy in someone who can.
 
Speed2burn said:
Anyone else think Naden is in for a breakout year?

Instead of going off the rails, he’s come back and worked really hard this off season… been given a kick up the arse

I have a feeling he’s in for a big one
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A breakout year at 29? 🤣
 
bptiger 0 said:
This is just left field , but I wonder if it would work .

Play API at lock if young de Silva has a great game in round one , api is a great defender and his call skills around the ruck would be fantastic, BUT it would only happen if de Silva killed it in round one . Would also show the kid that he has a future at the club , we could also put latu in the 14 shirt , getting these gun kids into the side would only benefit the team .

It’s just a thought, but looking out side the box
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no thanks Api is not a lock, thumbs up to outside box thinking ,injury's etc ,maybe.He is to fragile long term
 
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