BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
A read somewhere he's been on minutes restrictions during his first month back (20 - 30 mins per game) so this week may be an extension of that now. Hopefully plays a full game or close to that in Cup.
TEAM LIST Round 8 vs Raiders
- Thread starter Tiger_Fanatic3
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Team List
Tired Tiger
Well-known member
I clearly remember stating I think Benji is trending in the right direction as a coach.
I don't agree with the choice of halves at all and AD / Luai combination has always sucked !!!
Persisting with something that doesn't work just to not upset egos is crazy.
I want nothing more than sustained success for the tigers but as I also said earlier persisting with a manufactured half back when we clearly have alternative options will see us struggle to make the 8....but hey AD will be happy that's the main thing ......
A few of you look at this week-to-week, and totally disregard the big picture of what Benji and the club has to manage.
Luai is not going to come off the bench or play in reserve grade at reportedly $1.2m and 10% of the cap. Likewise, To'a is about 5% of the cap. You can't have guys on this money sitting on the pine or in reserve grade. They're signed on that money because they're your starters, particularly if they're fit in Round 8! Luai and To'a have to go out and earn their wage over lowly paid Madden and Herbert at this stage of the season.
Those of you saying Madden at 7 and shift Doobs to centre or 13 - Doobs and Luai have taken a considerable proportion of the first team team reps as halves in prep. Whether we think they're the most effective combo is moot. It's Round 8, they've only played 3 games together this season, Benji has had conversations with these two as the generals - he can't simply dump it so soon, and then have the team disrespect his decision-making.
So easy to list teams on a forum, without being privy to status and conversations that happen within a professional sports team.
Luai is not going to come off the bench or play in reserve grade at reportedly $1.2m and 10% of the cap. Likewise, To'a is about 5% of the cap. You can't have guys on this money sitting on the pine or in reserve grade. They're signed on that money because they're your starters, particularly if they're fit in Round 8! Luai and To'a have to go out and earn their wage over lowly paid Madden and Herbert at this stage of the season.
Those of you saying Madden at 7 and shift Doobs to centre or 13 - Doobs and Luai have taken a considerable proportion of the first team team reps as halves in prep. Whether we think they're the most effective combo is moot. It's Round 8, they've only played 3 games together this season, Benji has had conversations with these two as the generals - he can't simply dump it so soon, and then have the team disrespect his decision-making.
So easy to list teams on a forum, without being privy to status and conversations that happen within a professional sports team.
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Oh ok hopefully it’s just something to do with injury because he has been great for us out wide. A good defender and he has a bit of xfactor in attack as well. I’m really not looking forward to seeing Toa back in the team. I’ve only ever seen him play one good game.
Tired Tiger
Well-known member
You do what works and what works as we have seen is one 5/8 and one proper half back.
Repeating things just because we did them that way in the off season is a recipe for failure, also take the byes out and we a 1/3 of the way through the season.
When would you like to change things ? Round 25 ?
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
he can run at 13 too it's a win win
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Isn't there a team first mentality across the whole squad now for the sake of more wins.
Bellyache, Madge and Bennett would play a monkey's A hole at 7 if it was producing wins and stick with it to the horror of the crowd.
Difference running as a ball playing 13 is straight of the dummy half where as a 6/7 he receives it from the ball playing 13 wider of the ruck.
Just my observation of it.
I did like the idea of having latu coming on and playing that 13 role later in the game, but now that can’t happen for this week unfortunately.
wstigers11
Well-known member
I understand the sentiment but Bellsa & Bennett haven’t got natural 7’s playing 7 either lol
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Surely it's just about getting some minutes into him in ressies.
The nice thing is that To'a has to bring his best game. We have decent depth in the centres - so pressure is there to keep the spot.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Well said @IronFist! IMO you are spot on!
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
When steam starts piping out our ears if the loses stack up because the halves aren't working everyone will be screaming for Madden at 7, even you B.
Tigerdazz2
Well-known member
We got special dispensation to play Tino with May, Toa & Skelton at the time all out .
I think we can't play him again until R11??
IDK I don't know what the rules are now our outside backs have returned from injury.
How do you know it works or it doesn't at this stage? Because of wins and loses? That's a very shallow way of looking it at.
The Eels lost Russell, Simonsson, and Pezet, they needed to rearrange their whole backline and the game went to golden point, won on a dubious offside penalty. Hardly jerk-off worthy. Newcastle - well they've been pumped two weeks in a row now so you have to ask questions about their defence at the moment. Warriors was a great win, the boys smashed them through the middle and it gave the edges lots of space to operate. Likewise the Cowboys game. The Broncos game was awful, Tiny and Luai were new additions after lay-offs, and young Masi isn't a first-grader just yet.
There have been several changes on the edges over the past few weeks. Definitely need consistency here going forward. The backline v Canberra is most likely the one Benji penned as his 1st choice at the beginning of the season. If all goes well injury wise, they'll get several weeks to bed in. Depending on how that goes over the next month, then we'll see moves if any. Going off script at 4-2 and first choice backline has had little game time together is panic stations in the extreme.
The Eels lost Russell, Simonsson, and Pezet, they needed to rearrange their whole backline and the game went to golden point, won on a dubious offside penalty. Hardly jerk-off worthy. Newcastle - well they've been pumped two weeks in a row now so you have to ask questions about their defence at the moment. Warriors was a great win, the boys smashed them through the middle and it gave the edges lots of space to operate. Likewise the Cowboys game. The Broncos game was awful, Tiny and Luai were new additions after lay-offs, and young Masi isn't a first-grader just yet.
There have been several changes on the edges over the past few weeks. Definitely need consistency here going forward. The backline v Canberra is most likely the one Benji penned as his 1st choice at the beginning of the season. If all goes well injury wise, they'll get several weeks to bed in. Depending on how that goes over the next month, then we'll see moves if any. Going off script at 4-2 and first choice backline has had little game time together is panic stations in the extreme.
Tigerdazz2
Well-known member
Does anyone know the fitness of Api at the moment, the guys on the "Claws Out" podcast said Api left the training on Monday with a noticable limp??
Has seen talking in depth with Hope??
Has seen talking in depth with Hope??
WesternSuburbsBoy
Well-known member
So why does Bellamy instantly put back in Munster or Hughes whenever they're coming back from injury even tho they'll be winning games? I'd be pretty shocked if any other coach didn't do what Benji did & put Luai straight back into the team I mean Webster did the same thing instantly putting Metcalf back in the side (returning from an ACL injury) did he not?
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
im not too fussed about Latu as a 13. I thought we dropped a bit when he has come on in some of those games.
he will be a good 7 though in time
Jolls
Well-known member
To follow on from what @IronFist! has stated; we need to look at what is happening around the team as much as what is happening with it. We aren't privvy to the infomation Benji and his staff have - but if you look at what is happening when the team travels you see familiar faces in the background even if they are injured. Toa, Hope, L.L., Tino, Herbert and Madden to name a few. This is all about the culture, bond and team first attitude people speak about (but some possibly don't fully understand)
The FG and KoE squad is being managed in the right manner IMHO. There will be ins and outs, rotations and discussions between Benji, the coaching staff and the leadership team. I'm sure the management decision regarding Makasini and Toa have been discussed at this level and a decision has been made that this is what is best for the team. It is also pretty obvious what benefits Jock brings to the party over AD in the 7; however, Benji and the leadership group think that a power running game brings more to the team, at this point in time, than the organisational skills of Jock.
Benji and his staff have turned the team around in a very short space of time - they have got us very much on the up; and now, after one loss, they no longer understand what is required to win games. Really?
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BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
If and when RHS.
It's a long season and seasons are built on the pre-season & culture (leadership, trust, connection etc). Our 1st team would have trained most of pre-season with AD & Luai as our halves (and Madden as back-up) so our game plan that the coaches have instilled is based on them calling the shots with Api.
You don't just throw that out the window after 2 very close losses (Souths & Broncos).
We all have to remember, Luai is 1 game back from injury so will be much better for the run and AD has been playing with a niggly groin.
As @IronFist! said we don't know what is going on behind closed doors ... i.e. AD may be back to full fitness so can resume normal kicking duties etc.
Plus only 6 or 7 games in, we wouldn't have showed our full hand in attack yet, it is gradually developed & honed through the season so I wouldn't expect Api, Luai & AD (and Bula) to fully ignite our attack until the 2nd half of the season.
Plus ... Luai & AD are 2 of our team's main leaders & voices on and off the field. Benji is big on trust & empowering from what I have gathered so he will do that.
Yes Madden has been excellent & proven to be a great replacement if required and offers many benefits but at this point in the season, there is no reason (apart from injury) to change what we have rehearsed for the past 5 months.
