LIVE GAME Team v Roosters trial..LIVE game discussion

Live Game Discussion
Jolls said:
40th Wedding Anniversary over the weekend and was away up the Mountains so missed the game live. Got back this afternoon and just finished watching - having read through the comments I don't have anything new to add.

However, it was great to see Madden to perform as expected - organising, straightening the attack and kicking with smarts. I doubt that he will become a great half but he has all the skill we need to execute an eyes up gaem plan. I trust we get an opportunity to see AD at 7 for 20mins and then sepend 20 mins at 13 with Madden in the 7 against the same competition next week.

That would be well worth trialling.
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It would be nice if people got the players names right
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Some take-outs & observations after watching a 2nd time.

It was a very encouraging watch but always keeping in mind this was an NRL depth trial only and against a 2nd tier Roosters team. Still a good exhibit of our young talent & systems for '26.

- Great to see our players looking very fit and the profile of players across the park. For example, fast agile fullbacks, strong decision-making metre-eating centres, game-managing halfback, smaller high leg speed middles, big powerful backrowers with offloads etc etc.

- I thought we were the better team in the 1st half despite being down 16-0 at one stage. The tries against us can be put down to inexperience. 2 of their tries were from multiple repeat sets and the 3rd was started by poor effort from Javon Andrews in cleaning up a loose ball as we attacked.

- Makasini could have easily had 5 tries, knocking on after a low pass from Madden and then Roosters getting a finger-tip to the ball when Mak had an straight run to score. Made some good decisions & contact in defence.

- Madden's passing game was immense. Dug so deep into the line squaring up and then could throw bullets a decent width to a player moving onto the ball. The speed at which his passes travel is important.

- A lot's been said about his awesome kicking game but interesting that he kicked for yardage & grass. Last year we predominantly kicked for height allowing our chasers time to be on the catcher. Maybe it was a strategy due to the windy day on Saturday or that he possesses a long kick???

- Our tackling seemed focused on hit to hurt & win the collision rather than hit & hold like last year. Very refreshing & it resulted in handling errors a few times like the Sione Fainu tackle.

- Attard & Brookes both presented issues to the defence on their sweeps with their speed & footwork.

- Another observation was we had a middle quartet of Luke Jack, Mason, Murray & Haywood in the 10 min period before halftime when fatigue sets in - focused on line speed, leg speed, agility, effort & quick PTBs.

- Tino Tavana, not only his magical acrobatic try, his effort plays were first class. Twice he contested high kicks in the 2nd half, both resulting in Roosters errors because he made it a contest with his jumping ability. Produced some strong effort tackles from marker and despite not being a powerful winger, either hit the ball at speed from the dummy half in yardage using footwork to land on his front or could accelerate quickly from dummy half.

- Was not one player who did not play their role on Saturday, Benji would have been delighted. Saukuru was outstanding at left centre in the 2nd half in A&D, Broederlow was strong on the left edge, Mitch Taotua on the right edge (just looks a player this guy), twin bro Max Taotua has exquisite hands for a centre & strong in contact and yardage, Kit Laulilii's leg speed & power was encouraging, Havea Jr's hands in the middle brilliant, Lanyon's powerful runs from dummy half, Luke Jack's hustle & bone-jarring tackles, Haywood's deception, Andrews passing game, CTM's final 10 mins, Patrick Herbert's defensive reads on the right.

- Despite criticism in some circles, I thought Mason was good as a smaller fast middle for the 1st time (Bulldogs like), Sukkar did his job and was strong in contact and Hope's defence was solid despite his skills in attack out of dh not at the same level as Haywood.

Will be interesting if some tactics are continued in the 2nd trial ...

1 Kicking for grass & yardage rather than height & time.
2 Interchange of passes between middle forwards.
3 Depth & width of attack in the red zone.
4 Smaller middles leading into half-time
5 Tackling to hurt - win the collision or force an error.
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Excellent post. Agreed on every point and especially liked the hit and hurt observation as it has been my chief concern for 3 years or more… has made us easy to play and attack against as the opposition runners quickly become really confident and offload at will as they do not fear running the ball and the technique seems to actively assist them offloading in a tackle that y we sometimes have 3 players even tied up in… also the taotua bros are deadset first grade players of the future and I seriously hope we noticed that and have signed them up lomng term …tavana also is a player that needs to be in the team 17 our 19 long term just as he has the talent to play anywhere…kids a baller that could develop into a brilliant utility,, i see him as a lot like Craig wing
 
TigerNeddyK said:
Excellent post. Agreed on every point and especially liked the hit and hurt observation as it has been my chief concern for 3 years or more… has made us easy to play and attack against as the opposition runners quickly become really confident and offload at will as they do not fear running the ball and the technique seems to actively assist them offloading in a tackle that y we sometimes have 3 players even tied up in… also the taotua bros are deadset first grade players of the future and I seriously hope we noticed that and have signed them up lomng term …tavana also is a player that needs to be in the team 17 our 19 long term just as he has the talent to play anywhere…kids a baller that could develop into a brilliant utility,, i see him as a lot like Craig wing
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I hope so too TNK about the Taotua twins & Tavana. Lock em up now.
 
Jolls said:
40th Wedding Anniversary over the weekend and was away up the Mountains so missed the game live. Got back this afternoon and just finished watching - having read through the comments I don't have anything new to add.

However, it was great to see Madden to perform as expected - organising, straightening the attack and kicking with smarts. I doubt that he will become a great half but he has all the skill we need to execute an eyes up game plan. I trust we get an opportunity to see AD at 7 for 20mins and then spend 20 mins at 13 with Madden in the 7 against the same competition next week.

That would be well worth trialling.
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Go Jolls, 40 years. I almost remember 1986.
 
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