OFFICIAL Harold Matthews Cup

[Vicious]

West Politics at its very best.

@Bellend I know you are much more on the pulse than I am on these type of subjects, but wasn’t it just as simple as a disagreement over the playing ability ex players sons which I think still might be happening to a certain extent ?

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon]

@Bellend I know you are much more on the pulse than I am on these type of subjects, but was t it just as simple as a disagreement over the playing ability ex players sons which I think still might be happening to a certain extent ?

Reminds me of when Leo Clarke went from Wests SG Ball coaching staff across to Penrith.
Before anyone could blink - Zak had signed with Penrith & Melbourne had nabbed Cooper.

 

[Bellend]

Reminds me of when Leo Clarke went from Wests SG Ball coaching staff across to Penrith.
Before anyone could blink - Zak had signed with Penrith & Melbourne had nabbed Cooper.

Problem has been a in clique and if you are not your future is not long term. I know Benji is trying to change, but still the same in other areas of the club.

 

[balmain boy]

Wests Ms are such a frustrating side.
They have zero finesse.
It’s either a forward one off the ruck, followed by another forward one off the ruck, then a side to side shift with no decoys, no deception until it finally gets to the opposite side where someone gets buried (invariably dropping the ball given how much pressure he’s under).
The other play is - throw it to Isdale to see if he can dance his way through (which thankfully he occasionally does)
Uggghhh ... 🥴

They're a very poorly coached side. As are all Wests sides. It's not good enough. The spine just aren't good enough to compete at any level either. Poor coaching and poor halves is a guaranteed recipe for failure.

 

[batboy]

Please, Mears was big average. Wasn’t he in charge of state cup the last few years??
How did they go??

What?
State cup side was garbage - Mears never coached them.
Mears was coaching Matts, and they won the comp.
Now he’s left his local area (and a club he played for) and been recruited by the best pathways system the game has seen in 100 years.

Seems he might have been worth keeping around to me…
Maybe they should have put him in charge of ressies?

 

[lathami]

What?
State cup side was garbage - Mears never coached them.
Mears was coaching Matts, and they won the comp.
Now he’s left his local area (and a club he played for) and been recruited by the best pathways system the game has seen in 100 years.

Seems he might have been worth keeping around to me…
Maybe they should have put him in charge of ressies?

I have already been corrected it was that Payne from north qld I meant.

 

[BinChicken]

Balmain 20 def. Manly 10.

Strong win, especially with the injury toll they’re carrying. Good to see them starting to play to their potential, they’re clearly a better side than the early rounds suggested.

 

[balmain boy]

Balmain were the better side and deserved to win by more, much like last week. Just a no frills footy team, trying hard, all effort. Nice to see them get 2 wins in a row.

The big rampaging ranga on the wing will be one to watch out for in the coming years. Some solid forwards and backs, few standouts but a team that plays hard, even if they make some crazy mistakes

Wests

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

The Tigers will be looking to maintain their momentum with a third consecutive win this weekend.
Fans should be on the lookout for a range of prolific try scorers, including winger Sione Maea who has crossed the stripe three times in his last three outings.
The starting line-up is largely unchanged, with Sosaia Unga coming in at prop.

Round 8 vs Bulldogs

1. Thomas Aroyan
2. Sione Maea
3. Maleko Mateni
4. Zac Bechara
5. James Kerr
6. Mateo Reupena-Dunn
7. Marcus Cesaro
8. Sosaia Unga
9. Levi Ellis (c)
10. Sioeli Iongi
11. Darby Fotheringham
12. Hinodeshima Teaupa
13. Hamish Malone

Interchange:
14. Charley Burey
15. Abraham Tohme
16. Kody Baxter

Reserves:
18. Beau Rootsey

 

[BinChicken]

Balmain 30 def Bulldogs 8

Another hard-fought win and thoroughly deserved. Despite missing half their starting forward pack, they took control early against the Dogs and set the tone from the outset.

James Kerr was outstanding, as was Thomas Aroyan.

 

[Vicious]

Balmain 30 def Bulldogs 8

Another hard-fought win and thoroughly deserved. Despite missing half their starting forward pack, they took control early against the Dogs and set the tone from the outset.

James Kerr was outstanding, as was Thomas Aroyan.

Both look like very good prospects.

 

[balmain boy]

Balmain 30 def Bulldogs 8

Another hard-fought win and thoroughly deserved. Despite missing half their starting forward pack, they took control early against the Dogs and set the tone from the outset.

James Kerr was outstanding, as was Thomas Aroyan.

Kerr is a beast on the wing. Malone is also promising. Given they lost the entire starting front row they were outstanding. Outside chance of squeezing into the finals if they win big and dogs and Canberra lose

 

[balmain boy]

Wests were getting smashed up but then the warriors ill discipline blew them up. Magpies got the win but the Wahs have the first grade prospects.

 

[Dr_Ice]

Kerr is a beast on the wing. Malone is also promising. Given they lost the entire starting front row they were outstanding. Outside chance of squeezing into the finals if they win big and dogs and Canberra lose

I was watching Malone play five eighth for the St Pats first XV on Saturday afternoon. Also a very handy cricketer

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Kerr is a beast on the wing. Malone is also promising. Given they lost the entire starting front row they were outstanding. Outside chance of squeezing into the finals if they win big and dogs and Canberra lose

You always seem to be compliementary of the Balmain kids but always rip into the Wests ones.

 

[balmain boy]

You always seem to be compliementary of the Balmain kids but always rip into the Wests ones.

Maybe it's just that this team is the only one that still has a chance of playing finals and has several promising players with traits that can translate to first grade whom are hitting form...

 

[balmain boy]

I was watching Malone play five eighth for the St Pats first XV on Saturday afternoon. Also a very handy cricketer

He plays 5/8 as well? That's an effort for a big boy

 

[Dr_Ice]

He plays 5/8 as well? That's an effort for a big boy

Number 10 is influential in rugby, so I think for this school side it is playing the most skilful/best player there. Not like other private schools who can have multiple scholarships for key positions

 

[Dr_Ice]

Malone also has a younger brother who I would expect to be in the junior reps over the next couple of years. Another talented multi sport kid who started playing in the school first XI cricket team at the end of Year 8. Their older brother made debut in Sydney First grade cricket while still at school.

 

[Vicious]

Disappointing finish to the season from Balmain, flogged 0-52.
In saying this there is certainly a few players within the team with plenty of potential, the main ones being Thomas Aroyan and James Kerr, but the little halfback shows good potential as does the hard working 13, 14 looks decent and a few of the big forwards have plenty is size and aggression.
The fullback Aroyan is probably the most highly rated at the moment and there is a lot to like about him, a real competitor who plays with high energy has has good speed, he’s one to watch moving forward.
The big red headed winger Kerr already has the height, size, strength and speed that most young players could only dream of. He has not yet quite worked out how to best use it to his advantage, but good coaching could really help develop him into an elite up and coming winger.