Heamasi Makasini #303

[Milky]

I can't believe all the noise about dropping him. I am as filthy as anyone about the loss, however, ball handling aside

At 18 years-old, less than 10 games in first grade

TWENTY ONE runs for 190 running metres, 57 post contact.

Nerves and ball handling are expected at that age and youth.

He will be better for it after this experience.

 

[mtd#2]

I can't believe all the noise about dropping him. I am as filthy as anyone about the loss, however, ball handling aside

At 18 years-old, less than 10 games in first grade

TWENTY ONE runs for 190 running metres, 57 post contact.

Nerves and ball handling are expected at that age and youth.

He will be better for it after this experience.

Context is important. He dropped it twice when the game was on the line. I am not sure how dropping those balls makes him a better player. It gives him opportunity to go away and develop further - NSW cup is a great place to do that for an 18 year old. Not in the NRL when every 2 points count.

 

[wstigers11]

I can't believe all the noise about dropping him. I am as filthy as anyone about the loss, however, ball handling aside

At 18 years-old, less than 10 games in first grade

TWENTY ONE runs for 190 running metres, 57 post contact.

Nerves and ball handling are expected at that age and youth.

He will be better for it after this experience.

He just needs to watch Montoya’s game for the dogs on the weekend to feel better. Montoya’s a seasoned first grader and cost them the game. Masi’s a rookie he will make mistakes

 

[Odessa]

I can't believe all the noise about dropping him. I am as filthy as anyone about the loss, however, ball handling aside

At 18 years-old, less than 10 games in first grade

TWENTY ONE runs for 190 running metres, 57 post contact.

Nerves and ball handling are expected at that age and youth.

He will be better for it after this experience.

So he can get away with mistakes but Skelton has to pay for his


But I think a week off will help him don't want to burn him out and so many rookies get rested to not burn them out

If I was Benji I would give a week off and tell him he is already selected in two weeks time

 

[mtd#2]

So he can get away with mistakes but Skelton has to pay for his


But I think a week off will help him don't want to burn him out and so many rookies get rested to not burn them out

If I was Benji I would give a week off and tell him he is already selected in two weeks time

To be fair Luke made quite a few mistakes and kept being selected. I dont know whether that was because of injury or not though.. or whether skelton wasnt knocking on the door hard enoufh

 

[supercoach]

when on song the Raiders backline can cause havoc so who ever plays on the wing will get tested defensively. Personally I think Big Mac offers more than the other names thrown up even if has struggled a bit in recent times.

 

[stevied]

His biggest problem is that he does not know how to beat a player without physical dominance. He has grown up his whole life being the most impressive athlete on the field and has become reliant on winning initial contact. He has been physically matched or beaten consistently this season and he doesn’t have the other feathers to his bow ie catch/pass, footwork, aerial skills and defensive structure that are at first grade standard right now.

I think he really needs to go to reserve grade and develop these attributes. He is physically ready for first grade, I don’t think his skills are at first grade level. Tavana and Laulilii are better all around players right now.

Great all round comment. Agree completely.

 

[Moh]

I don't see Benji dropping him - he and the club have made it clear he's our future. Dropping him after a horror game won't do much good for his confidence.

Never forget Manu Vatuvei vs the Eels at the beginning of his career.

 

[orange&black]

I beg to differ I think he’s beginning to struggle physically with week in week out NRL. He is not bouncing up from a tackle or running with the same aggression. He looks hurt often and is being dominated a lot. All very understandable but he needs a rest at this level.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

I trust benji to make the right call. I am sure he will have a good convo with him to see how he is going. Personally if he is in the right mindset he should play.

 

[You Know Who]

One of the worst performances by a winger in our colours is certainly a stretch. Other then the two errors he made what else did he do to constitute it being one of the worst performances in our colours? Compared to games i've seen guys like Brent Naden, Asu Kepaoa, Junior Pauga, Nofoaluma bloody Jordank Rankin have for us Makasini had a fine game Lol.

Completely out of position for the Broncos second try to Mariner, trying to rundown the sideline and getting taken over the sideline by Staggs in the last two minutes on 4th tackle and robbing us of a chance to get a field goal (he doesn’t deserve all the blame for that, he shouldn't have got the ball in the first place)

All those guys had some pretty terrible games (don’t get me started on Naden) but I can’t recall one from them one where we were winning against the premiers, had all the momentum but then nearly all of their mistakes single-handedly lead to the other team winning. With those guys, you usually had at least 3 or 4 other muppets making similar mistakes in the team at the time.

Like I said, he’s allowed to make mistakes as a rookie. I didn’t give him shit at the time for being out of position for the Mariner try but dropping a simple pass, then an uncontested bomb, then trying to rundown the sideline when we needed a field goal are amateur errors and not nearly as forgivable.

 

[lathami]

I trust benji to make the right call. I am sure he will have a good convo with him to see how he is going. Personally if he is in the right mindset he should play.

To be fair Skelton has been dropped for similar things. Although I agree with his moral is important, but team first. We need to win this game!

 

[TheEnz]

DIfferent rules for players that are first picked, skelton was promoted, crapped the bed in souths game and was dropped. Luke made a number of errors and only missed out when he was suspended.

 

[Tiger Woods]

Maka should be sponsored by Specsavers
🥸

 

[tigerman80]

Repectfully, I couldn't diagree more Tigerman. I know everyone's an invidual and a young player's confidence can be fragile but, but coaches have to be fair and consistent by dropping any player after repeated poor performances. Benji is a good man manager and will do it carefully but, really, the team and Maka, himself, will benefit from having a stint in Cup. There shouldn't be preferential treatment. Heamasi cost us the game last night and has made countless defensive and offensive errors in the previous games. As a parallel, Skelton was dropped after one substandard performance.

You make valid points, can’t really argue with any of it.

 

[tigerman80]

Bula was carrying a shoulder injury, he absolutely should have passed it for Maka to take the run. Bula stuffed up by not passing it sooner, he looked like he was gonna run it then all of a sudden passed it. I was yelling, "pass it mate, protect your shoulder"...then bang...game over haha, so blame me for the loss I reckon

lol it’s all your fault!!!!! On a serious note , Bula you either pass straight away or you take the tackle. I think the two tries before halftime cost us that game more then makisini.

 

[tigerman80]

Bula dogged a pass? It was a sitter for makasini? What planet are some of you on?

It’s not a sitter when you’re not expecting it. Why would any player in their right mind pass the ball a metre before the defence to a player not expecting it. I agree makisini should have still caught it but I put more blame on bula.