My thoughts on each player individually during the comp
Sitaleki Akauola: Didn't get many minutes in the two games that he did play but gave his usual whole- hearted charges which were good to see, made good ground. A few wayward offloads though which can be worked on. 6/10.
Nathan Brown: Again didn't see too much game time but was okay charging the ball in attack and decent in defence when on too. 5/10.
Jack Buchanan: Good comp for Jack, scored a try and was good in both attack and defense. Seems to have added a bit of grunt to his lackluster impact in previous years. 7/10.
Manaia Cherrington: Probably the find of the tournament for us. Dynamic, diminutive, speedy little hooker. We won't miss Farah too much if they persist with Cherrington over Luani through origin. 8/10
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Josh Drinkwater: Support play was good, kicking game was okay, passing game was poor, running game was quite poor as well, but can't expect too much from the backup half. Was okay for the only playmaker in our squad. Didn't do too much wrong. 6/10.
Asipeli Fine: A tad slower than I expected (chased down by Dave Taylor) but otherwise a solid attacker and defender, did his hopes of NRL gametime no harm. 7/10.
Salesi Funaki: Like the look of this bloke, big, strong and quite fast for a back rower. One of our best. 7.5/10.
Delouise Hoeter: Solid in defense, showed nothing in attack, can't see a future for him at the club tbh. 5/10.
Chris Lawrence: Same old, same old, was okay but showed nothing to suggest he will be any better than previous years in our side - a liability. 5/10.
Lamar Liolevave: See Funaki. 7.5/10
Kyle Lovett: Was good in our 2nd game but I see Funaki and Liolevave despite being younger, ahead of him in terms of the pecking order for NRL positions, those two were more impressive. 6/10
Joel Luani: Provided nothing much, was okay in defense. 4/10
Kevin Naiqama: Another good find, won't be missing much if Nofoaluma can't be right for round one. 7.5/10.
Pat Richards: Honestly besides his kickoffs/conversions which are both pretty critical, doesn't provide much else these days, may be his last season in the NRL. 7/10, still for conversions and kickoffs when he did play.
Brenden Santi: See Lovett. I see more in Funaki/Liolevave. 6/10.
Ava Seumanufagai: Solid in attack and defense, will be useful this season off the bench helping Woodsy/Keefy/Marty.
Tim Simona: Was class during the games that he played, in for a big season, though looked a tad slower than I expected when he made a bust vs the warriors and was chased down?? 7/10.
Sauaso Sue: Powerful leg drive and solid in attack and defense, will be a real weapon I believe this year in the NRL. 7/10.
All in all a successful tournament as we came off relatively injury free despite Richards minor concern and despite sending over a fairly weak side. We take it a bit more seriously next season and who knows we might win. Good signs for the 2015 season ahead though. I sense we will see Cherrington, Liolevave and Funaki debut.
