OFFICIAL Jersey Flegg Cup

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BlackWhiteGold said:
From memory Mitch Taotua changed edge this week to the right edge (accommodating Feledy's dropping back to his favoured left edge) so maybe the communication & trust with Broederlow, Tannous & Tavana on that side was lacking this week. Will be interesting if twin Max Taotua returns next week as he was very strong at right centre beforehand.
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As you know BWG I’ve been a fan of Mitch Taotua, more so as an edge back row prospect, but he was very disappointing at right centre last night, his defence was woeful to put it nicely.
In saying that the defence of our entire right edge was paper thin, Matc Tannous is a million miles away with his defence at the moment
and I think we have both touched on Broederlow’s defence being a concern. He throws in a strong game every few weeks, but then seems to revert back to rubbish defending, I’m not sure how or why big, strong, mobile athletes such as Mitch Taotua and Lachlan Broederlow regularly defend so badly ?
Getting back to a few posts about our middles getting dominated and Elijah Mataele not playing as well as what BWG and myself have commented on, well one player cannot cover for the lack of intent from all the others around him. I maintain Elijah Mataele was the most dominant middle forward on the field, including the Bulldogs players. He was punishing with his defence in almost every tackle and ran the ball strong with intent in every carry, I was highly impressed and I believe it’s even more impressive when individuals stand up and stand out amongst a team getting pumped.
Time will tell, but I believe Mataele could play NSW Cup tomorrow and would be confident he has what it takes to put in and do the job required.
As for Sol Saukuru and Feledy, they both showed glimpses of their class, but also demonstrated extremely poor defence at times and were not real willing to stand up and be counted in times of need, they were both disappointing.
Haywood was energetic and is probably our only other player to get a pass mark other than Mataele.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I certainly agree the Bulldogs defence was way better drilled, disciplined & structured. That club seems to have its playing style embedded down through the grades which is something our club needs to get to.

We'll agree to disagree on Mataale, it's not a few highlights I'm going off. I want to see him maintain the rage consistently for the rest of the season. If so, IMO it'll put him in the frame as a keeper next season when he's outside of Flegg
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He's played against Fiji and then a flu depleted Cronulla team.More then him in this pack that don't have the work rate to compete against the top teams.Three easier games coming up then Canberra, Auckland, Penrith in round 18,19,20, let's look at these games before we make him an immortal.
 
Dr_Ice said:
Unfortunately, in the games I have seen and those I have read about Mitch Taotua stands out for his poor defence.

Has all the talent and aggression in attack and defence but consistently leaks points on his edge.
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Agree, both him and his twin have size, speed but don't do enough on the field, Would have thought by now their fitness level would be at peak and they'd be tearing up but unfortunately work rate is about same as beginning of season.
 
We do have to remember that Sukkar, Sam Fainu are still Flegg eligible this year and Kit, Tallyn, Mason for this yr and next and Luke still eligible for 26 and 27.

Your best Flegg eligible players usually aren't playing Flegg unless they are 18
 
IronFist said:
Point is BWG, he was also very highly touted here for some strong runs, and aggressive defence. WT paid him out/moved him on, reportedly very disappointed in him like Miller. The Dogs throw him a bone through his connections with Crichton, and he didn't even see out a pathways pre season.

Strong runs and aggression just doesn't cut it as a middle in 2025. There are more attributes that need to be considered. If folks really want to analyse football, watch what happens off the ball. Marker movements, line tie-in, inside pressure, rip and line speed, pressure on the kicker, lateral movements, etc. Faagatu was awful with all of this. Just lazy. So was Miller. If Maataale was any good at it, he would still be at Canterbury because he was there last season under the eye of Gould and Ciraldo.

It's this type of poor talent ID that leads a club like WT to select a Broederlow over a Zak Clarke. I dare say you might be falling into the same trap with Maataale. Like Broederlow, he's standing out with some strong runs and defence, but that's moot if they're lazy, lose the ruck, miss their assignment, and put the rest of the team under pressure. The NRL squad already has a Royce Hunt.
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They had a forward that had all these attributes for the first 6 rounds, got dropped then played big minutes against Penrith had a big game then gets dropped again.Watched all his games and was consistently solid, huge work rate.
The Dogs coach did his homework that's for sure, this Tigers team has got worse can't match it with the better teams.
This Mataale is a Penrith junior, played junior football with St Marys, then at Nth Sydney , then Balmain SG Ball then Canterbury now someone thought it a good idea to bring him into the Tigers Flegg team.Everyone has assessed him and moved him on , you got to have a big engine or you will not compete.
 
West's Rule said:
They had a forward that had all these attributes for the first 6 rounds, got dropped then played big minutes against Penrith had a big game then gets dropped again.Watched all his games and was consistently solid, huge work rate.
The Dogs coach did his homework that's for sure, this Tigers team has got worse can't match it with the better teams.
This Mataale is a Penrith junior, played junior football with St Marys, then at Nth Sydney , then Balmain SG Ball then Canterbury now someone thought it a good idea to bring him into the Tigers Flegg team.Everyone has assessed him and moved him on , you got to have a big engine or you will not compete.
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Which forward are your referring to that played well for the first 6 rounds and then got dropped ?
As for where players were 2-3 years ago and have been let go by other clubs or by us previously, it doesn’t define who they are now.
Rugby league very much has constant sliding doors moments, particularly for young players who quite often just need a kick up the backside and a coach to show a bit of confidence in them to allow them to turn it all around and start producing their best.
The saying you are only as good as your last game often rings true.
 
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Does anyone think there is value in securing Alex Conti back to the Tigers? His path would seem to be blocked with Galvin, Woods, Cassius even Burton. He seems to bring a different skillset and reminds me a little of Jamal Fogarty. He organised the Dogs well and scored a nice try. Could develop as a handy backup to Latu or a 14.
 
bbobb said:
Does anyone think there is value in securing Alex Conti back to the Tigers? His path would seem to be blocked with Galvin, Woods, Cassius even Burton. He seems to bring a different skillset and reminds me a little of Jamal Fogarty. He organised the Dogs well and scored a nice try. Could develop as a handy backup to Latu or a 14.
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Not a bad option at all.
You would think he would be interested if we offer him a top 30 contract to be our starting NSW Cup halfback and back up NRL halfback, he looks ready.
 
The common theme that stands out about West lower grades is the lack of coaching and development in current and past players this is a area Conti and Clarke said was the biggest difference between tigers and their respective clubs. We seem in such a rush to promote and pass it off as we are developing players who will improve once they gain that experience in first grade. Well guess what it has not work to a great extent over the last 3 years. This is why we have not seen improvement in Mitch Taotua and Lachlan Broederlow for a example same mistakes and same inconsistent performances. The club needs to change philosophy.
 
Bellend said:
The common theme that stands out about West lower grades is the lack of coaching and development in current and past players this is a area Conti and Clarke said was the biggest difference between tigers and their respective clubs. We seem in such a rush to promote and pass it off as we are developing players who will improve once they gain that experience in first grade. Well guess what it has not work to a great extent over the last 3 years. This is why we have not seen improvement in Mitch Taotua and Lachlan Broederlow for a example same mistakes and same inconsistent performances. The club needs to change philosophy.
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Richo said lower grades need to be flushed , rebuilt . There has been improvement since
 
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West's Rule said:
They had a forward that had all these attributes for the first 6 rounds, got dropped then played big minutes against Penrith had a big game then gets dropped again.Watched all his games and was consistently solid, huge work rate.
The Dogs coach did his homework that's for sure, this Tigers team has got worse can't match it with the better teams.
This Mataale is a Penrith junior, played junior football with St Marys, then at Nth Sydney , then Balmain SG Ball then Canterbury now someone thought it a good idea to bring him into the Tigers Flegg team.Everyone has assessed him and moved him on , you got to have a big engine or you will not compete.
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I'll be sure to watch Mataale in those effort areas the next few rounds. I do know he was highly rated in the Balmain system by one of his coaches who was here then Gavan Sheehan, not sure why he left.

But on the eye test at the very least, he has brought ingredients lacking in our pack in the 2 games he has played (strong carries, post contact metres, good leg speed, strong contact, few missed tackles & someone who can be an enforcer).

Maybe he is playing with a point to prove, maybe he realises this is a final opportunity to impress before moving out of juniors ... I won't write him off because he was moved on from the Bulldogs. We don't even know the circumstances and how he has matured mentally & physically since then.

Fingers crossed the kid ticks those effort boxes over the rest of this season & displays consistency in his performance because we need a middle like him to flourish in pathways as we don't have too many.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I

I'll be sure to watch Mataale in those effort areas the next few rounds. I do know he was highly rated in the Balmain system by one of his coaches who was here then Gavan Sheehan, not sure why he left.

But on the eye test at the very least, he has brought ingredients lacking in our pack in the 2 games he has played (strong carries, post contact metres, good leg speed, strong contact, few missed tackles & someone who can be an enforcer).

Maybe he is playing with a point to prove, maybe he realises this is a final opportunity to impress before moving out of juniors ... I won't write him off because he was moved on from the Bulldogs. We don't even know the circumstances and how he has matured mentally & physically since then.

Fingers crossed the kid ticks those effort boxes over the rest of this season & displays consistency in his performance because we need a middle like him to flourish in pathways as we don't have too many.
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You can watch the replay on Bar TV , count the Tackles and Hitups.
Then compare with the Dogs Props , it will give you a better inside to why the big score line.It could have been worse, Dogs missed five conversions.
 
West's Rule said:
You can watch the replay on Bar TV , count the Tackles and Hitups.
Then compare with the Dogs Props , it will give you a better inside to why the big score line.It could have been worse, Dogs missed five conversions.
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Our edge defence was a lot worse than our middle defence, that was the biggest problem.
 
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