The_Patriot
Well-known member
I thought Big Ben really stepped up last night. Was a great response to all the speculation.
Happy to keep him around.
Happy to keep him around.
Ben Matulino - A key player.
- Thread starter WeHaveCheeKam
- Start date
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
He’s been good all year. Our best forward behind Matterson.
momo_amp_medo
Well-known member
@BalmainJnr Yes agree totally.
Tweed_Tiger
Well-known member
Love the way he consistently finds his front and gets fast play the balls. Cowboys were laying all over the ruck but big Ben still found a way.
tony soprano
Well-known member
Need some help tho. Mannah
Yep ever since his Kiwi mate got dropped he's pulled his finger out, funny how now his name has been on the shopping list he's started to have a go.
He'll go back to idle mode soon though, he's one of those players that just cruises through games, he doesn't have any gears.
Just once I want to see him fire up and run like a raging lunatic.
He'll go back to idle mode soon though, he's one of those players that just cruises through games, he doesn't have any gears.
Just once I want to see him fire up and run like a raging lunatic.
@Tweed_Tiger said in [Ben Matulino \- A key player\.](/post/1024089) said:
yep Benji mentioned on 360 not long ago how great is was following his play the balls because you are always on the front foot because he gets on his knees in the tackle.
I know we criticise our props but last night 3 times in the first 5 minutes he lined up to take the hit up and Robbie dummied and went to an outside back as Mats was left as a decoy. A prop can't make meters if his hooker doesen't give him the ball especially early.
I think our problem is that both Matulino and Twal are number 2 props at this stage in thier careers. Thats where we get our problems as we don't have that big body number 1 prop to charge through.
Cleary played a game where that didn't matter so much because the props were thier almost solely for defence but Madge wants to play a different game and the boys are starting to adjust and tbh with 6/9 against teams outside the top 4 we do it well enough but cant hold really big teams in Souths and Raiders and my worry is the Knights either
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
Matulino had a great game last night. Didn't we notice his absence and that of Twal when replaced.
upthetigers
Well-known member
@GNR4LIFE said in [Ben Matulino \- A key player\.](/post/1024073) said:
Better then Twal? Yeah nah.
AL The Tiger
Well-known member
Doesn't get enough minutes for mine
He's doing his job pretty consistently this year. We always look better defensively when he is on the field. What has happened to Twals hands? That's 2 weeks in a row he has dead-set just dropped the ball in the tackle. Not good. For a bloke who only made about 2 mistakes all of last year, it's a little concerning.
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
Cheekam was OP shop diamonds tonight
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
@upthetigers said in [Ben Matulino \- A key player\.](/post/1024164) said:
Yeah yeah
@jirskyr agree.
Mats changes our defensive line. I see it most in post contact meters conceded.
Watch when Garlic sauce and Thomas are on, it looks like we concede more post contact meters. Granted as a half wears on line speed drops so that messes up the comparison.
Mats seem to hit with more sting and go on to make more dominate tackles. Perhaps it’s as you say he gets to the right spot in the defensive structure sooner or is working from dummy half.
If minutes weren’t the point I would think the better combination would be:
Twal and Garlic sauce
Mats and Thomas
However I prefer Mats and Twal having the longer game time
Mats changes our defensive line. I see it most in post contact meters conceded.
Watch when Garlic sauce and Thomas are on, it looks like we concede more post contact meters. Granted as a half wears on line speed drops so that messes up the comparison.
Mats seem to hit with more sting and go on to make more dominate tackles. Perhaps it’s as you say he gets to the right spot in the defensive structure sooner or is working from dummy half.
If minutes weren’t the point I would think the better combination would be:
Twal and Garlic sauce
Mats and Thomas
However I prefer Mats and Twal having the longer game time
The_Patriot
Well-known member
I think our problem is that both Matulino and Twal are number 2 props at this stage in thier careers. Thats where we get our problems as we don't have that big body number 1 prop to charge through.
Thats a very good point. This is the trouble we are having. Just need that one off the leash forward and the pack would look great. Mikale still 12 months away from being that guy
hammertime
Well-known member
Should lead with his head more. Did an absolute number on Lawrence.
@hammertime said in [Ben Matulino \- A key player\.](/post/1024193) said:
That's not what actually happened both were making a tackle on the same guy and their heads clashed...
He was good last night..more please
Still only missed 8 tackles across 13 games. Twal has missed 10 (but in fairness he has also made almost 200 more tackles...). They're a solid combination in the middle but I think we probably need to break them up to balance out our performances over 80 minutes. Worth a try...
