Debatable?
The bloke has been poor. So poor he lost his Origin jersey after starring last year and being a major factor in that series win.
His on field leadership has been a joke…often our most ill disciplined.
He has looked lost at sea and had zero answers when the boys looked to him.
He needs a big preseason, because in 2026, he owes us big time.
Yeah, you make some valid arguments. I don’t think you’re giving enough (any) weight to a lot of intangible and recruitment related stuff though.
JL certainly hasn't hit any many home runs with the ball in hand and his discipline is certainly something he needs improve - especially having the C beside his name. This was in his game at Penrith too; but they were better able to cope with the disadvantage. Here, in a leadership role, it is poor - but part of his competitve makeup. He needs to think more about the low percentage plays; but I wouldn't want him to get it completely out of his game.
While he hasn't been setting the world on fire there are some good signs. His (and Tito's) on field enthusiam is starting to permeate the team and I expect what he drives at training is starting to rub off as well.
In the outline game plan for the dogs I wrote how we needed to get his edge coming back against the grain to take advantage of Galvin's arm grabbing defence. Very easy to write - but difficult to do - espacially with Critta defending that edge. If we disregard the forward pass component of that play we can see what he is bringing to the team.
Critta and Luai know earch others games and for the most part they had the measure of each other on Saturday. The read by Critta to take the short kick for Bula was outstanding defence, but it was also the opportunity JL was looking for. This is the difference between JL and an average player in that position. JL identified that Critta had anticipated the kick. I mentioned in that post that deception is all about showing a player what they want to see and then doing something different. He knew Critta would anticipate the kick if he shaped for it a second time and then thew the no looker to Sam F, who crashed through Galvin and over for the try.
That was not off the cuff, Sam F had to know to run back on that line when JL was shaping for a kick to him (or Bula). The execution was off, but the the footy IQ to develop, and execute it was high. It is a pretty isolated incident, but one of several over the last few months.
We are playing a pretty simple game plan at the moment - while I would love to see more players in motion it is clear to me that we are focussed on bedding down the basics. So while it is slow growth it is quality growth. It would be very difficult for a side that has played such low IQ footy for several seasons to step up. We only have to go back to the fist season with Api - where he would take off with no support to see the low we are building from.
Long winded reply I know but I think that while JL hasn't flicked the switch and transformed the team's on field results; he is definitely having a postive effect. This next off season, with the support players now understanding how to play higher IQ footy, and some more punch in the pack and centres, we should be playing footy in September.
I think 2025 is the deposit; he needs to deliver in 2026.
