Few Quick thoughts from the Trial

[TYGA]

Who in three quarters impressed? A few have wrapped Marsters, how did the others go?

Thompson and MWZ were really good. The last wing spot could very well be between them.

Thompsons name keeps popping up. Where did Kev play?

Centre..had some good charges was put into the clear by Brooks and then threw a forward pass at one stage..

I think we will see him and MWZ start RD 1..

Thompson was very good tho..

If Kev starts over Marsters or Milne in the centres we will have problems.

 

[TrueTiger]

Brooks needs to stop playing in his high heels….it makes kicking so much harder...might even run better...who knows...

:roll

Maybe he should borrow your boots that you like to slip in…

No GEO,they werent mine…I borrowed them from Happy... :astonished:

 

[bp_tiger]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

 

[hobbo]

I only got to watch the 2nd half last night but was very impressed with our forward pack .
Our weekness will be in the halves and hooker roles .

 

[king_sirro]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

Tui looked much better at fullback then he did at 6\. He's a runner, not a half.

 

[TYGA]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

If Tui fails he will not return he looks the goods at fullback though. Tui is not a 5/8 or NRL standard Reynolds is the last origin winning 5/8 he can play don’t listen to the nonsense about his passion being all he has he’s a very good running 5/8.

Our issue is Hooker, Halfback, Edge Backrow and goal kicker. If Liddle and Brooks don’t fire we will be bottom 4\. Our hookers are average and Brooks has to to improve his kicking game.

If somehow Cleary can manufacture a 80% Goal Kicker, Liddle plays all year at a high level and McQueen and Lawrence wins back the clock We will be competitive. Chances of that happening are why we are spoon favourites.

 

[The_Old_Fox]

On Tyson Gamble - I must say that I am a Tyson Gamble fan. I watched his development for Redcliffe last season and all up here in Queensland were impressed with his attitude, skill and temperament. He is a guinine 5/8 who takes the ball to the straight and challenges defenders and a good support player. He has beautiful soft hands like many good halves and can put players through a gap with precision. He has a good kicking game - both short and long and he was Redcliffe's goal kicker last year. In fact, I would say that he is our only genuine goal kicker.

Gamble is going to present Ivan with one big selection headache - I can guarantee you that. Last year he was playing in reggies for Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup and he replaced an injured player after only a few rounds and never looked back. Ivan picked him quickly only after a few games in the Queensland Cup.

Last night he essentially played on the short side. If Ivan gives him more space I can say that he will generate holes for our outside backs and he has the ability to turn the ball inside to someone like Rochow, JJ or Sue on a diagonal run. Ivan must use him and have some of our big players run off him.

I am going to stick my neck out here and suggest that our spine will look very different by midway into the season - Tui / Gamble / Benji and Reynolds at hooker. And that spine will end up taking us into the top eight and from there it will be the Benji show again. Gamble will also be a goalkicker going into the finals.

I agree, the other thing last night was he's covering smother defence of which forced two drop balls 1 of them leading to a try..him and renyolds offer rock solid defence something we have never had in the halves before. Brooks does miss a tackle here and there..his only blemish was a 60 metre punt to the sideline that missed by inches.. what we don't want to see is him moving on like Austin and Martin because we think Brooks is our future. We let Blake Austin go building a future around Moses and we know what happened there. We just may have to face it.. Brooks alias Peter Pan may never grow up to be the man? 3 kicks dead again.

 

[Harvey]

Gamble was good last night, but keep in mind that he was basically against a Qld cup/U20's side. All the cowboys big guns had been taken off when he came on. At that point, it was basically an ISP trial.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Sounds like a few pushing for spots had a decent crack. Good to hear.
Makes me excited for round 1

 

[Tacky]

Someone on the cows forum uploaded the full match if you want to watch it

 

[momo_amp_medo]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

Tui looked much better at fullback then he did at 6\. He's a runner, not a half.

I agree.

 

[innsaneink]

Someone on the cows forum uploaded the full match if you want to watch it

Can u post a link plz.

 

[Tacky]

Someone on the cows forum uploaded the full match if you want to watch it

Can u post a link plz.

http://www.cowboysstampede.com.au/index.php?threads/2018-trial-cowboys-v-tigers-teams-discussion.12971/page-13

 

[innsaneink]

Ta tack

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Few quick observations from the trial game. Keen to here what everyone else saw from the live stream.
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* The benefit of having a new side essentially was there for all to see. Everyone wanted to impress. Everyone is playing for spots. We ran there ball a lot harder then the Cowboys. We played with far more intent and energy.

* Our 2nd string pack was dominant. JJ Felise played like an animal getting over the advantage line and getting quick play the balls. Aloli was really really strong when he came on. Even Grant was getting over the advantage line and Eisentuth and even Lawrence played pretty strong.

*Cowboys were terrible. I reckon they gave away about 12 penalties, 4 or 5 when they had the ball. They struggled to compete a set in the first half.

* Brooks an Reynolds had their moments individually. Brooks running game is really dangerous. I think he gave up 3, 7 tackle sets thought so that is an ongoing concern. Reynolds looked very busy. I much prefer him at 6\. He throws too many off passes too be eve a half decent hooker. Gamble looks a strong boy and scored a really nice try taking the line on. All our halves took the line on.

* Our goal kicking looks bad. Real bad.

pretty much agree with most of that… The quick PTB really had an effect & the Cowboys were pretty bad in the first half.

I liked what I saw from Lolohea in attack as Fullback. I would love to get some feedback on him from someone who was at the game, as 70% of a Fullbacks work is done off the ball and not seen on TV.

Interesting battle between Thompson & MWZ for the open Wing spot. I'd call it a draw for now.

I dont think anyone played poorly last night.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

Tui looked much better at fullback then he did at 6\. He's a runner, not a half.

I have to agree that Tui is better at the back than at 5/8\. Also, I think those critising Reynolds and questioning his signing are underestimating just what he brings to the team as a whole. Mark my words, he will be a huge asset to us as the season rolls on.

 

[TYGA]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

Tui looked much better at fullback then he did at 6\. He's a runner, not a half.

I have to agree that Tui is better at the back than at 5/8\. Also, I think those critising Reynolds and questioning his signing are underestimating just what he brings to the team as a whole. Mark my words, he will be a huge asset to us as the season rolls on.

Agree with this. Tui has shredded kilos from last year with match fitness he could be a difference maker. Huge question mark but a good start. Reynolds will be close to NSW 5/8 this year.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

this just me thinking out loud, i wish we had not signed Reynolds, thought tui was playing well at 5/8 last year and we have a few who can slot into fullback. so if tui fails at fullback does Ivan drop josh and play tui or does he just get pumped from spot to spot. his running game at 5/8 is so much better than josh's.

Tui looked much better at fullback then he did at 6\. He's a runner, not a half.

I have to agree that Tui is better at the back than at 5/8\. Also, I think those critising Reynolds and questioning his signing are underestimating just what he brings to the team as a whole. Mark my words, he will be a huge asset to us as the season rolls on.

Agree with this. Tui has shredded kilos from last year with match fitness he could be a difference maker. Huge question mark but a good start. Reynolds will be close to NSW 5/8 this year.

I’ll be happy if he’s even adequate for us, but I admire your trial season optimism

 

[simonthetigerrrr]

My thoughts on the game…..

Very impressed with our centres......Milne and Masters are big boys and have nice offloads......for the first time in years we are big and dangerous.

Tui is better running than passing.....

We have some big boys up front.....we looked bigger than the cowboys and it showed how easily we went up their middle.

Loved Reynolds......that energy is infectious,hunted down JT all day and looked dangerous with ball in hand.....set up two tries.

Pleasantly surprised with Corey Thompson,very good footwork.he might just get a wing spot.

And Rochow wasn't bad either,I never realized how big he is......hes a monster!!

And we didn't see much of Fonua but I liked what I saw......took a power of stopping and got super quick play the balls.

 

[TSupps05]

A few years ago Rochow was one of the best 2nd rowers in the game and Newcastle were throwing everything at him to stay with them, but he got a few injuries changed clubs and had gone oof the radar. Personally i really like him and he is a REAL smokey for round 1.