What a load of bullshit ….
Jahream Bula #269
- Thread starter tigersfan
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stevied
Well-known member
Definitely until he learns to take a game by the scruff of its neck. Look at Drinkwater yesterday. He can pass, set up the play, probe and create opportunities for his teammates. He can also score a long range try totally of his own making. Can or does Bula do any of these things REGULARLY? Does he EVER do all these things in a game? Yep, he's third tier and worth about 500k, no more.
He set up 2 tries last week …. Absolute nonsense . Adel said it in the podcast and I agree , we were so focused on shape that we forgot about where our strengths lie … pinching holes through the middle and creating second phase . The whole backline was guilty of setting up for the next play rather than being on the ball for the play happening . When it was clear the left edge was going to be a no go because wighton and humphries were on defensively , we should have concentrated our attack through the middle . You can say that’s coaching , but it’s the spine as a collective to recognise it. I think the brains trust failed … and I don’t think a guy who was trying out for the Sydney kings 4 years ago is going to be biggest voice in the room . Not yet anyway .
It looks like we are struggling to know when to push up , and when to set up for the next play . That’s the big problem with running block plays . You have to be deep so often 15-20m away from the play the ball . .
He can’t tackle and they let in 30 points a game because he’s lazy in defence . He was also playing the titans .
WATCH BOTH SIDES OF THE FOOTBALL FFS!!
So frustrating reading these comments … OoOOoOOoo tries, line breaks OoOoOo all or nothing plays … meanwhile every team that he play scores 30 plus points because defense is optional .
stevied
Well-known member
I agree with Drinkwater's laziness in defense. I think it's an issue in the Cowboys team as a whole. I was more making a comment on his attacking ability. Bula is way behind there.......in my opinion....Also, Bula's last line of defense can be quite fragile too.
All people blaming Bula for not getting there for skeltons air swing ? Give yourself a triple !!! He can’t teleport . He was at the tackle in the ruck . That was 100 million percent Skelton doing Skelton things , which is why a guy who should be first picked for QLD and knocking on the kangaroos door…. Is 28/29 and still borderline nrl starter quality . He does dumb shit too often. And he really shouldn’t at his age . That air swing was diabolical… hook worthy stuff! Literally lost us the game . I’m not putting that on him .. because shit happens .. but it’s definitely not Jahreem Bulas fault ffs … scapegoating at its finest
Betterdays22
Well-known member
Jahreem is the new whipping boy for sure
Ever since his shoulder surgery he’s been less kamikaze and unsure of himself when going into contact . It reads 2 ways to me . Someone has said your career will be short if you keep playing that way , or he doesn’t trust his body yet .
But either way at best a fullback is expected to make 50% of those tackles.if you’re relying on your fullback to save you , and blaming him for points … then you’ve got way bigger issues than that .
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
I ranked them the other day
First - Walsh, Edwards Tedesco
Second - Ponga, Turbo, Hammer, Drinkwater, Sua
Third - Tracy, Bula, Kennedy, Iongi, Kini, CNK, Weakes
Don’t think that’s far off the mark. If Ponga was consistent he’d be first tier. And I think Sua will be by the end of the year. I don’t see Bula as any better than the others in his tier. Does he have the potential? Maybe, but he’s getting to the point in his career where what you see is what you get. He definitely is not equal to anyone in the second tier.
Adam Doobie
Well-known member
Drinkwater defends like a turnstile. I'd take Bula every day over Drinky even if he glued his hands to the ball.
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
I so wish we went for Iongi....he is much beter than Bula and no doubt much cheaper too
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
Deservedly so...?
bigsiro
Well-known member
Totally agree with this.
Bula is fast and athletic, no doubt. But it's his 4th season and he still doesn't chime into the attack enough, doesn't give us another option to confuse defences, and can't be relied upon under the high ball.
Looking the part is one thing, actually playing it is another.
Sorry I misunderstood what you were referencing . I thought you saying he’s third tier … as in Ron Massey cup hyperbole . I agree with your assessment . Although Drinkwater and turbo are not 2nd tier in 2026 . Maybe 2022 . I’d honestly put them with Tracy as 4th tier by your list . Tracy for attack those 2 for defence . Turbo is too slow . AD would beat him comfortably in a foot race… and I’m sorry if your team is consistently having 30 put on them … then you at fullback are hugely responsible .
I’d have 2nd tier of Hammers and Ponga alone . Sua is horrendous in defence as well . He is 100 benefitting from playing with 30 year old halves. He’s Drinkwater 2.0 defensively . At the storm he can get by … but he will never be elite with that defense .
A lot of those fullbacks you have named are capable of absolute stinkers - and are probably hated by their own fans for their shortcomings too.
Bula is a very good player, he hasn't hit his ceiling yet - but I have no doubt he will.
His best game gets close to any of those players you've named, his worst game would be better than almost all of those players worst game.
Consistency, confidence + a team with a proper game plan might help unlock him.
I would prefer not to lose him, but at the same time I'm over the will he/won't he crap with any player.
weststigers
Well-known member
Yet against us Drinkwater did nothing. Players will not carve up every game.
Jahreem is still pretty raw which is why I agree, the salary being thrown around is overs for current ability and stature in the game. This is a pay for potential decision, which I don't agree with. Most, if not all of the guys that asked for potential money haven't lived up to it. Maybe they will, but you are paying for it before they've achieved it.
I'd like to see a more sensible salary for his current ability, but with 2 clubs coming into the comp, competition will be tight for anyone with a bit of talent.
I think your assessment under the high ball is completely wrong . What short memories we all have ? Remember Thompson , Daine Laurie ? Mbye ? Moltzen even at times ? Bula defensively is not the issue he’s great . In fact I’d put him much much higher in the “best fullback in the comp”
List defensively … I think it’s Edward’s…. Then daylight then Teddy … more daylight ..: then Weeks and Bula …. Then the rest however you want . Attack … well yea .its been a slow start … but he’s a good footy player he will come good .
I will agree re. The fullback production line. I think much like the running back in nfl it’s a vital position . But you can get yourself in all kinds of mischief if you overpay for the wrong player … especially with the production line , as most zippy fast halves who don’t have the size to defend in the line are converted to fullback by thier teens .
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TigerBurnsy
Well-known member
Yea Bula doesn’t save many tries but he sets up way less than drinkwater
Tom Shines
Well-known member
You’re entitled to your opinion ,… I don’t know why others would get angry about it ..personally I don’t agree with all your rankings but list 15 things about anything into three different groups and unlikely two people here will think the same across the board
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bigsiro
Well-known member
My issue with the Laurie/Mbye comparison isn't memory - it's relevance. We never rated those guys, so they're a low bar. IMO the gap between Bula and the better fullbacks right now in overall play is bigger than the gap between Bula and that group. That's the concern.
And look, I'll take your word that his defensive positioning is solid - but that actually cuts both ways. If you believe that his defense is already a strength, then the ceiling debate is really about his attack, and that's where year 4 starts to matter. Walsh, Tedesco, even Hammer - by this stage their attacking influence was already settled. With Bula we are all still waiting for it to click consistently.
Nobody is calling him a scapegoat either - fans were raising these questions even after we won our first game this year, so it's not just frustration talking.
He's clearly a talented player and he looks like he should be great - nobody is denying that. But potential doesn't win games today and as Tigers fans we probably know better than most how dangerous it is to let expectations run ahead of reality. Hopefully year 4 is where it all clicks for him - genuinely. But until it does, measured expectations seem reasonable.
