John Bateman #268

Tucker said:
I think our pack as a unit underperformed this year.
They showed glimpses of their class that were not converted into wins by our backline, but over the whole season they were not great.
Was it Fox who rated them a C+?
They only won 4 games. It’s hard to argue against it.
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Yeah, only 4 wins and we fell away by the end, but our forward pack generally created opportunities and looked competitive. I've never seen a side squander so many dominant field position performances.

You say they underperformed but I didn't see that from pole, Stefano, twal, blore and even seyfarth, all of whom performed better than they have. They may not be the best pack in the league but those players improved rather than underperformed last year. Despite falling away at the end of the season, Klemmer was also very good for us. I'm happy with our pack.

I get people being critical of papalii and Bateman, but our edge defence was solid last year, where for years it's been woeful. I also agree Bateman hasn't yet hit his stride, but to me he's at least defensively reliable and makes decent impact there. Major step up from the likes of Garner and other weak defenders we've had out there. I was not impressed with his signing, he's much better than I expected, despite being erratic in attack.
 
watersider said:
Yeah, only 4 wins and we fell away by the end, but our forward pack generally created opportunities and looked competitive. I've never seen a side squander so many dominant field position performances.

You say they underperformed but I didn't see that from pole, Stefano, twal, blore and even seyfarth, all of whom performed better than they have. They may not be the best pack in the league but those players improved rather than underperformed last year. Despite falling away at the end of the season, Klemmer was also very good for us. I'm happy with our pack.

I get people being critical of papalii and Bateman, but our edge defence was solid last year, where for years it's been woeful. I also agree Bateman hasn't yet hit his stride, but to me he's at least defensively reliable and makes decent impact there. Major step up from the likes of Garner and other weak defenders we've had out there. I was not impressed with his signing, he's much better than I expected, despite being erratic in attack.
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I’m not necessarily referring to individual performances.
I’m referring to the unit. As a group, including the bench, it was beaten way more than I thought they would have been given the upgrades that it received.
 
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Tucker said:
I’m not necessarily referring to individual performances.
I’m referring to the unit. As a group, including the bench, they were beaten way more than I thought they would have been given the upgrades that it received.
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Bateman will be 10 times better having Sezer in our team and probably Bud as well , we were absolutely hopeless in attack last year and both players who should have led us to many winnable games are gone , Johnny boy will be a gun this season and so will Ipap , Bulla , Staines , Pole , Klemmer , Twally , and the new Kiwi Kid from union is my Smokey
 
426Tlgerland said:
Bateman will be 10 times better having Sezer in our team and probably Bud as well , we were absolutely hopeless in attack last year and both players who should have led us to many winnable games are gone , Johnny boy will be a gun this season and so will Ipap , Bulla , Staines , Pole , Klemmer , Twally , and the new Kiwi Kid from union is my Smokey
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Ok.
 
426Tlgerland said:
Bateman will be 10 times better having Sezer in our team and probably Bud as well , we were absolutely hopeless in attack last year and both players who should have led us to many winnable games are gone , Johnny boy will be a gun this season and so will Ipap , Bulla , Staines , Pole , Klemmer , Twally , and the new Kiwi Kid from union is my Smokey
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Sezer having no after effects of the concussion that had him miss the 22 SL Grand Final?
 
watersider said:
Yeah, only 4 wins and we fell away by the end, but our forward pack generally created opportunities and looked competitive. I've never seen a side squander so many dominant field position performances.

You say they underperformed but I didn't see that from pole, Stefano, twal, blore and even seyfarth, all of whom performed better than they have. They may not be the best pack in the league but those players improved rather than underperformed last year. Despite falling away at the end of the season, Klemmer was also very good for us. I'm happy with our pack.

I get people being critical of papalii and Bateman, but our edge defence was solid last year, where for years it's been woeful. I also agree Bateman hasn't yet hit his stride, but to me he's at least defensively reliable and makes decent impact there. Major step up from the likes of Garner and other weak defenders we've had out there. I was not impressed with his signing, he's much better than I expected, despite being erratic in attack.
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I thought our defence coach was doing a great job, but he was collateral damage in another sacking frenzy, so I guess we’re back to opening a new box of chocolate all sorts?
 
twentyforty said:
I thought our defence coach was doing a great job, but he was collateral damage in another sacking frenzy, so I guess we’re back to opening a new box of chocolate all sorts?
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Very hard to get on top of Farah when at the tigers
Even though Taylor only just won he was a shot duck and required no effort to finish him off
😂😂😂
 
twentyforty said:
I thought our defence coach was doing a great job, but he was collateral damage in another sacking frenzy, so I guess we’re back to opening a new box of chocolate all sorts?
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Can't agree sorry. I thought I defence looked horribly coached. This is supported by the numbers.

Most our forwards defended well as individuals but as a unit they were far to easily compressed by the opposition. The result being massive overlaps.
On the right these overlaps were then made all the easier with Wakeham sitting back regardless of what was coming at him giving all the more time for the opposition to execute.
The outside backs on both sides rarely defended together but would just try to solve the problem on their own and be exposed.
These are all coachable issues.

Only the poor individual misses on the goal line, even with numbers around the ball, is more on the players than the coaching In my opinion.
 
KLEMMER was like all the forwards that sheens had , he wanted them to shed weight and be mobile, hope benji gets him to bulk up then we might see the best of him , as for Bateman , he didn’t turn the world on fire last season but he is one player I would want in my team , hard for backrowers to hit gaps with crap 1/2s we had last year , judge him on this year
 
426Tlgerland said:
Bateman will be 10 times better having Sezer in our team and probably Bud as well , we were absolutely hopeless in attack last year and both players who should have led us to many winnable games are gone , Johnny boy will be a gun this season and so will Ipap , Bulla , Staines , Pole , Klemmer , Twally , and the new Kiwi Kid from union is my Smokey
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Jesus that reads like we should be top 4 material... Good to be confident or at least hopeful & positive

I really am expecting more from Bateman this year, I was fairly disappointed with him last year despite him doing some good things in offense... It wasn't often enough and the same could be said for the team as a whole I guess
The most irritating thing though I saw was him walking in defense... Often... A real lack of urgency at times, we really need the attitude he's renowned for in defense which is dogged,.hard, brick wall like and never give up to be on display and leading the rest of the boys... He's a senior player... He needs to lead us I know he can but he got lazy at times last year
I want tough I want hard and I want the opposition looking out for him, and if he can in still this in his team mates it will put us in great stead.
 
hank37w said:
Bateman will probably get much better ball to run sideways with, having said that, I think we can expect better things From Isaiah Papali'i.
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Papali'i had a gun half at Parra feeding him great ball. He barely got put in space last season. The few times he did he was able to burst down field by himself. The guy is a wrecking ball, you just need to know how to use him.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
A lot of hard markers on poor old Johnny. I’ve always liked him and thought he was fine this year. I will say though, four years seems a tad ambitious. Think he’ll fly the coup well before.
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I think if we move up the ladder well to say 8/9 th hel go around next season ( 25 ) if we fail I think he goes
 
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