Probably resting them, no need to put their bodies though it every week when they are already playing up a couple years
Very hard to work out.
Jamie Lawler has been good off the bench as a replacement number 9, so not sure why we would re-sign the much older Cherrington ?
Ghantous has been highly rated throughout the juniors while with the Bulldogs, but as you say, why would we sign someone who will take away the development of some of our own home grown talent in the same position ?
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
Just because we’ve identified him for the future doesn’t mean he should get a rails run. Needs to work hard. For years we’ve had a lot of players that think they better than what they are imo.
Ahem, we signed Papalili, Bateman. We lost Kautoga and O'Kane. That's footy, you can't have it both ways.
The jump in standard from Matt's to Ball to Flegg to Cup to NRL gets steeper with each step. More don't make the final step than you realise. Statistically, mostfall away after Ball. Flegg to Cup really sorts the men from the boys, so to speak.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Cayne Nicholas is a more than capable hooker in Flegg too and playing him for part of the game at 9 gives a chance for the team to play another middle at 13 out of Herman/Tuipolotu/Owen/Kit/Lomi/Miller/ Fa'agutu.
It's just strange when you look at the depth we have. Halves and outside backs for Flegg and Cup is where our priorities should be. The Tony Pellow signing on a Cup deal makes sense and is worth a shot (don't know how high is ceiling is, but definitely need more in our Cup team backline). Hooker and middles seem stocked.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
I get that logic, particularly as the SG Ball season started so early. But I would of thought a few games of Flegg to get some consistency first before resting them. Particularly after a successful debut last week.
Unless of course, they do have niggling injuries this week and are playing it safe, which is fair enough.
Haha, I loved it.
Superstar style.
Buttface
Well-known member
Confidence, self belief, and a little bit cocky, I like that, and he’s been scoring a few so he’s probably feeling like he’s on a roll. Ride the wave young man.
Kautoga is lazy and has a poor attitude, O’Kane is far too soft for a man of his size, speed and talent.
This is a totally different scenario as we have signed a number 9 for Flegg in Ghantous who looks to be a quality young player who is lightning fast off the mark, but hoping it doesn’t block the development of an up and coming star in Da Silva.
The Manaia Cherrington signing for KOE Cup is more puzzling. We have Rua as the starting 9, Jake Simpkin who will be pushed back to this grade on occasions, Jamie Lawler who has been very solid off the bench and being an ex halfback gives us versatility and also James Valevatu who was very good in his couple of games before getting injured. Signing a 27y.o Cherrington does not make us any better, so not sure why he has been signed for the remainder of this 2023 season ?
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Maybe.
Do you remember the story of when JAC first arrived in Melbourne? Bellamy sat him down to watch replays of his try celebrations which were all about him and not the team. It's a little thing, but lots of little things are what a good culture is about.
Time will tell with the 2 not here.
I get your point. They have stock piled an awful lot of good hookers. Da Silver is a star, no doubt, but that Doggies hooker is a star too, just an older version.
Yeah, Bellamy is a class act.
Utmost professionalism...
I see where he's coming from - but I also think the young lads should enjoy what they're doing. Too quickly things in life become serious and lose their shine.
Everything becomes a chore.
I think that's what we're seeing from Luke Brooks - no enjoyment in what he does and it reflects each game.
Excitement and passion is what’s currently lacking within our NRL team environment, nothing wrong with Da Silvia’s try celebration, we need more of it.
weststigerman
Well-known member
I hope with all these hooker signings there is plan try give Tannous a chance in the halves. He was a quality 6 at schoolboy level. From what I’ve seen he’s never played outside of hooked at WT.
Played hooker from the bench for Lebanon in the world cup.
He's bulked up a fair bit too.
Tigerstigerstigers
Well-known member
Any score updates
Game is tomorrow.
Tigerstigerstigers
Well-known member
Thanks mate
