Justin Olam #281

Demps said:
Kept going to Samuela or Ice when close to the goal line, same as the past few weeks.

Should've been hitting the gap with Olam.
He's likely every time but has been ignored.

Not sure of the logic behind this, but needs to be added to the arsenal when attacking.
Click to expand...

Not a shot at Twal,
But he is still getting the ball for a 'settler' on the 3/4th in the Red Zone!!
It's driving me nuts!!

He's either too stupid to see it's not working, Or it's coached into the team...
I'm starting to think it's the latter.

Reminds me of Heigno's dumb runs to the the middle defenders from 15yrs ago,
a coaching ploy that basically plateaued his career here....

Even Ennis stopped dribbling about the dummy halves yesterday long enough to call it out.
 
crazycat said:
Yes, and mix it up.

Olam can cross the line. He can also give a good pass to his wing.

We need to make the defense Guess at what we will do next. Throw to your Samuela or Ice one time, then Olam next.. Have Olam run it, or pass it.

Benji should know this, he was outstanding at confusing defenders in their ability to read what happens next.
Click to expand...
He was also outstanding at times confusing his own team mates about what happens next.
 
Tigers should know by now...in the opposition 20. One of the weapons they have to utilise - is to give early ball to a full speed olam with at least 5 metres before contact.....either he will score, create, or a try will be scored in the next tackle as hes left the opposition line bent and in dissarray.

So many dummy passes to him in yestedays game. Just give him to ball for a few early runs...then dummy all you want
 
RLEvangelist said:
Tigers should know by now...in the opposition 20. One of the weapons they have to utilise - is to give early ball to a full speed olam with at least 5 metres before contact.....either he will score, create, or a try will be scored in the next tackle as hes left the opposition line bent and in dissarray.

So many dummy passes to him in yestedays game. Just give him to ball for a few early runs...then dummy all you want
Click to expand...
It's a bit like an NFL coach calling a passing play on 4th and goal (in the final play of a Superbowl) - when you have Marshawn Lynch at running back...

1713698783857.png1713699334226.png

EXCEPT - the coach is not directly calling the plays and the ability to adjust our attack in situe with new halves and a player who only joined the club late in the pre-season remains a work in progress...

Olam was flat footed for many of those dummies - and that reflected the predominant issue with our timing/cohesion in the backline that ultimately ruined all the opportunities we created...

We should also be looking at using Sam Fainu in a similar capacity in their red-zone - as Manly use Haumole - but that will come with time.

The potential for improvement is there!
 
Snidest 0 said:
It's a bit like an NFL coach calling a passing play on 4th and goal (in the final play of a Superbowl) - when you have Marshawn Lynch at running back...

View attachment 11614View attachment 11615

EXCEPT - the coach is not directly calling the plays and the ability to adjust our attack in situe with new halves and a player who only joined the club late in the pre-season remains a work in progress...

Olam was flat footed for many of those dummies - and that reflected the predominant issue with our timing/cohesion in the backline that ultimately ruined all the opportunities we created...

We should also be looking at using Sam Fainu in a similar capacity in their red-zone - as Manly use Haumole - but that will come with time.

The potential for improvement is there!
Click to expand...
absolutely...thats the silver lining. We have the keys players in place they just have to get repetition done so that its seamless. Im quite confident we will make the 8 once it all comes together.
 
RLEvangelist said:
Tigers should know by now...in the opposition 20. One of the weapons they have to utilise - is to give early ball to a full speed olam with at least 5 metres before contact.....either he will score, create, or a try will be scored in the next tackle as hes left the opposition line bent and in dissarray.

So many dummy passes to him in yestedays game. Just give him to ball for a few early runs...then dummy all you want
Click to expand...
Spot on, people need to remember, we are dummies.
 
Snidest 0 said:
It's a bit like an NFL coach calling a passing play on 4th and goal (in the final play of a Superbowl) - when you have Marshawn Lynch at running back...

View attachment 11614View attachment 11615

EXCEPT - the coach is not directly calling the plays and the ability to adjust our attack in situe with new halves and a player who only joined the club late in the pre-season remains a work in progress...

Olam was flat footed for many of those dummies - and that reflected the predominant issue with our timing/cohesion in the backline that ultimately ruined all the opportunities we created...

We should also be looking at using Sam Fainu in a similar capacity in their red-zone - as Manly use Haumole - but that will come with time.

The potential for improvement is there!
Click to expand...
Go Hawks!!!
 
Just watched a replay of the Titans game …

Olam was magnificent yesterday … ran it as hard as he could and absolutely belted the other guys in defence …

I gave it to him after the Dragons game, but I think he was their best player yesterday…hope his knee holds out the rest of the year ….looks like it’s still giving him grief …
 
Tom Shines said:
Just watched a replay of the Titans game …

Olam was magnificent yesterday … ran it as hard as he could and absolutely belted the other guys in defence …

I gave it to him after the Dragons game, but I think he was their best player yesterday…hope his knee holds out the rest of the year ….looks like it’s still giving him grief …
Click to expand...
He should inject stem cells into that knee, fixes everything
 
Tom Shines said:
Just watched a replay of the Titans game …

Olam was magnificent yesterday … ran it as hard as he could and absolutely belted the other guys in defence …

I gave it to him after the Dragons game, but I think he was their best player yesterday…hope his knee holds out the rest of the year ….looks like it’s still giving him grief …
Click to expand...

I was dirty on him early. Blamed him for the poor defence on that side which resulted in 2 early line breaks and a try. However after watching it again, the first break was Sezer charging in, the 2nd was an obstruction taking Olam out. The 3rd one which resulted in the try was Olams mistake. So not as bad as I first thought.

He benefited yesterday from having a half who can play straight. He hit holes confidently. IMO it important to keep Sezer on the left and play Galvin on the right. It's where he will play next year, so I'm confused as to why Benji has had him on the left all year.
 
unpopular opinion here but at some point i think tigers need to rest olam early (if tigers wont make the top 8) and allow him mmore time to recover from that knee/calf injury to bring him back to 100% fitness. Blood another centre in there.

He played great yesterday but was doing so with basically one knee. That 3rd (almost) try by olam. If the other knee was ok he would have powered through. Theres a reason hes called the wrecking ball.

Rest him to recover and give 2025 a red hot go!!
 
A few have complained about signing guys at the back end of their careers, and to a degree- fair enough.

But guys like Olam are competing. Not just coming here to edge toward retirement. He's not the player he was- AND THAT IS OK.

In Moneyball- he's David Justice. We aren't paying Olam to be peak Olam. We are paying him to be the guy he is now- smart, aggressive & good effort. He might not be the superstar you think of in his prime, but he knows how to find the line & his defence still causes the opposition some doubt & concern running his way.

I think he's been a great signing, and if we can get another 2 years out of him- I think he is the perfect transitional player for this club. Paul Whatuira Mark 2.
 
Watching a replay of the Storm game now …

Olam brings some much needed physicality..but his knee is shot and it is hampering his play …

someone posted an article recently that apparently there is an option of surgery to fix this problem … given where they are at present …surely they should explore this option …let him then have a full offseason after the surgery recovery to prepare for next season..

Of course it doesn’t help that the centre depth is so bare
 
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