Round 1 2017

[Masterton]

I wouldn't bench Lawrence. His value is in his minutes and workrate. Fully fit, Lawrence goes 80 minutes, which means one less interchange back rower we have to carry. If he's in the side, he has to start.

I agree, but he does seem to wear down over the year. I know it was his first full season in the forwards, but maybe he should be spelled every now and again?

 

[TCL]

I wouldn't bench Lawrence. His value is in his minutes and workrate. Fully fit, Lawrence goes 80 minutes, which means one less interchange back rower we have to carry. If he's in the side, he has to start.

I agree, but he does seem to wear down over the year. I know it was his first full season in the forwards, but maybe he should be spelled every now and again?

I agree, I said it before Lawrence looked worn after his first full year. The guy is not a back rower he has done an honest job but that's not his role if anything you would consider him as a lock but not sure of his passing game.

 

[Tony33]

I know Naqaima has been a liability in defence out there in the centres but i reckon he offers enough in attack to give him an off season to work on his defence. We have to remember that this was only his first season in the centres (he's originally a winger/fullback). I would give him an off season there to work on his defensive reads and then 2 games next season to assess whether we can persist with him in the centres. If the same defensive deficiencies are still evident after 2 games then I'd move him to the wing and stick a new specialist centre out there until the end of 2017, when we can enter the market for a strike centre.

The good thing heading into this off season is that our on field issues are glaringly obvious and are easily solvable by a good coach. If we can fix the defensive combinations out on that right edge, that relieves alot of pressure off our attack which is one of the better attacking stuctures in the comp. We also need to work on our goal kicking so we go up in 6's not 4's and with another off season for Moses and Brooks to mature and work on their own combination in the top grade, I think JT has a real opportunity to make us a consistent, top 8 team next season. The ball is in his court now, no more excuses..

 

[Kavi]

Teddy
Nofo
Chee-Kam
Helata
Simona

Moses
Littlejohn

Woods
Ballin
Felise
Sue
Lawrence
Taylor

Liddle
Ava
Grant
Masters

I assume we can only afford to resign taylor

 

[ragedmachine]

Well here we are, heading into another off season. Except this time is different to any other in the last few years. The way we ended the year, the return of Teddy and the end of the Robbie Farah saga (finally!!) means we head into this off season with what should be a renewed sense of confidence.

A strong off season is really needed as I seriously think 2017 is going to be the toughest and most competitive season ever.
The cowboys, broncos, melbourne will continue to fly high whilst the sharks, raiders, panthers and titans will improve even more. Clubs like the roosters, manly, warriors and souths will also improve and challenge for the 8\. We need alot to go right for us to make the 8 next year but im pretty confident we can make the 8 just from the last 2 months of our season and the obvious cultural change on and off the field.

My 17 for next season:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Simona
4\. Naqaima
5\. Rankin
6\. Moses
7\. Brooks
8\. Woods (C)
9\. Ballin
10\. Sue
11\. Ailoai
12\. Lawerence
13\. Taylor

14\. Grant
15\. Ava
16\. Felise
17\. Chee-Kam

Absolute priorities this off season if we are to make the top 8:

- fix the defensive deficiencies on that right hand side (Moses, Naqaima and Nofo)
- figure out away to limit Simona's brain dead plays
- figure out a way for Brooks to complement Moses more effectively and get him more in the game.
- fix Brooks' and Moses' one on one tackling.
- practice goal kicking every bloody day !!
- work on earning repeat sets (short kicking game)

If we can improve these facets by at least 50% heading into round 1 2017, the top 8 beckons.

Honestly, I look at that team sheet and my first reaction is:


 

[GNR4LIFE]

**And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season** and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

That's like saying just get Brooks to watch footage of Thurston. It doesn't work like that. You either have it in you or you don't. You don't gain ability by watching video.

 

[VanillaThunder]

**And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season** and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

That's like saying just get Brooks to watch footage of Thurston. It doesn't work like that. You either have it in you or you don't. You don't gain ability by watching video.

So you're saying Brooks wouldn't watch video of Thurston? Every person who's ever wanted to play half should watch JT play; how he takes the ball to the line, the control in his kicking game, his effort in getting back on defence and doing it all game long. It's not automatically going to turn Brooks in to him but if he can start getting those in to his game then he'll improve out of sight. Marsters isn't too different build or skill wise to Leilua. There's a lot to gain from watching video, that's undeniable.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

**And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season** and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

That's like saying just get Brooks to watch footage of Thurston. It doesn't work like that. You either have it in you or you don't. You don't gain ability by watching video.

So you're saying Brooks wouldn't watch video of Thurston? Every person who's ever wanted to play half should watch JT play; how he takes the ball to the line, the control in his kicking game, his effort in getting back on defence and doing it all game long. It's not automatically going to turn Brooks in to him but if he can start getting those in to his game then he'll improve out of sight. Marsters isn't too different build or skill wise to Leilua. There's a lot to gain from watching video, that's undeniable.

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

 

[tiger05premier]

1 Tedesco
2 Nofoaluma
3 Simona
4 Heleta
5 Papenhuyzen
6 Moses
7 Brooks
8 Woods
9 Ballin
10 Grant
11 Aloiai
12 Sue
13 Taylor
14 Liddle
15 Felise
16 Seumanufagai
17 Masters
18 MCK

 

[VanillaThunder]

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

I'm not suggesting he'll become a JT clone, but if he becomes half the player or even only adds those effort on effort plays then he'll be great for us. I don't think BJ has outlandish skill - he has great hands but he's playing with a lot of confidence and a license to express himself, we never saw anything even close to what he's producing now at any other club. From what little I've seen of Marsters he has good touch for a big man and he's not afraid to push an offload, now I know there's always that discussion over whether our players are coached out of an offload, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that he could be a player like him.
That pass yesterday was amazing but I think it's more a case of players not wanting to throw that pass rather than not being able to.

 

[Newtown]

And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

There are plenty of opportunities in 2017 to transition up and coming players from within our own ranks. If they kick on and the club buys a couple of much needed hard head forward/centres there will be much to look forward to,

 

[magpiecol]

Teddy
Nofo
Chee-Kam
Helata
Simona

Moses
Littlejohn

Woods
Ballin
Felise
Sue
Lawrence
Taylor

Liddle
Ava
Grant
Masters

I assume we can only afford to resign taylor

Not a bad side. We do however, need a goalkicker.

Anderson to the wing and maybe Hunt to the halves?

 

[851]

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

I'm not suggesting he'll become a JT clone, but if he becomes half the player or even only adds those effort on effort plays then he'll be great for us. I don't think BJ has outlandish skill - he has great hands but he's playing with a lot of confidence and a license to express himself, we never saw anything even close to what he's producing now at any other club. From what little I've seen of Marsters he has good touch for a big man and he's not afraid to push an offload, now I know there's always that discussion over whether our players are coached out of an offload, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that he could be a player like him.
That pass yesterday was amazing but I think it's more a case of players not wanting to throw that pass rather than not being able to.

You are right, when Ricky signed BJ the raiders supporters were spewing the knights supporters were cheering, an over weight over priced lazy player was the reaction, Ricky over hauled him as a player and look what happened.

 

[Doc_Tiger]

**And honestly, worst case scenario have Marsters watching tape of BJ Leilua all off season** and groom him to play centre. He'd be a big, creative body who would pose a lot of questions, (hopefully) be better in defence and help our halves, while also being a better option than Cassel or Milone straight off the bat.
If Paseka comes on like expected he could play a role similar to Aloiai and that would ease the transition for Esan.

The more I write about it the more I like it, anyone have JT's number?

That's like saying just get Brooks to watch footage of Thurston. It doesn't work like that. You either have it in you or you don't. You don't gain ability by watching video.

So you're saying Brooks wouldn't watch video of Thurston? Every person who's ever wanted to play half should watch JT play; how he takes the ball to the line, the control in his kicking game, his effort in getting back on defence and doing it all game long. It's not automatically going to turn Brooks in to him but if he can start getting those in to his game then he'll improve out of sight. Marsters isn't too different build or skill wise to Leilua. There's a lot to gain from watching video, that's undeniable.

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

And to be honest, he was almost nothing until he went to Ricky. Newcastle fans must be spewing.

 

[Spartan117]

Sorry Guys

Without a serious injection of talent that can Stop Tries we will be lucky to go near the 8.

Lets face it so many teams imploded in 2016 and the Eels lost points. This years result was artificial.

To many games were we getting whipped is alarm bells.

 

[Kavi]

That's like saying just get Brooks to watch footage of Thurston. It doesn't work like that. You either have it in you or you don't. You don't gain ability by watching video.

So you're saying Brooks wouldn't watch video of Thurston? Every person who's ever wanted to play half should watch JT play; how he takes the ball to the line, the control in his kicking game, his effort in getting back on defence and doing it all game long. It's not automatically going to turn Brooks in to him but if he can start getting those in to his game then he'll improve out of sight. Marsters isn't too different build or skill wise to Leilua. There's a lot to gain from watching video, that's undeniable.

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

And to be honest, he was almost nothing until he went to Ricky. Newcastle fans must be spewing.

i disagree he was almost nothing but he has taken his game to a whole new level

 

[Doc_Tiger]

So you're saying Brooks wouldn't watch video of Thurston? Every person who's ever wanted to play half should watch JT play; how he takes the ball to the line, the control in his kicking game, his effort in getting back on defence and doing it all game long. It's not automatically going to turn Brooks in to him but if he can start getting those in to his game then he'll improve out of sight. Marsters isn't too different build or skill wise to Leilua. There's a lot to gain from watching video, that's undeniable.

But to think he'll become a JT clone is ridiculous. BJ is a cannon ball with freakish skills. Not a lot you're going to learn from watching a video. Sure you can take it on board, but executing things like his flick pass yesterday is a whole different beast.

And to be honest, he was almost nothing until he went to Ricky. Newcastle fans must be spewing.

i disagree he was almost nothing but he has taken his game to a whole new level

He sure has. Amazing. He is a blue right??? :righton:

 

[Tiger_Watto]

5\. Simona

Now you can see it Sirro?

We need 2 new Centres & a Hard Head Prop/Backrower. [said the same last year]

I'd take a punt on Tautau Moga. Cows cant keep him as they are heavily invested into a few young guns. He has had some bad runs with injury, and is due for a good clear run injury-free. Big & Strong!

 

[Masterton]

1 Tedesco
2 Nofoaluma
3 Simona
4 Heleta
5 Papenhuyzen
6 Moses
7 Brooks
8 Woods
9 Ballin
10 Grant
11 Aloiai
12 Sue
13 Taylor
14 Liddle
15 Felise
16 Seumanufagai
17 Masters
18 MCK

This is the team that most intrigues me, but I haven't seen enough to know how close Marsters, Heleta & Pappy are to first grade.

 

[Sabre]

March 2017 is too far away but I'd like to see guys like JJ Felise and Jordan Grant given a go at some stage.