OFFICIAL SG Ball Cup

[Tucker]

I doubt any team letting in 26 points per game is going to have a great season even though it would be extremely demanding in the heat of summer

Neither the Balmain HM's nor the SG Ball sides won a single game last year.
The fact that Balmain SG Ball are 2 & 0 to start season 25 is a testiment to the hard work obviously put in over the off season.
In a short season, winning your first two will take you a long way towards having a good to great season.

 

[jadtiger]

Neither the Balmain HM's nor the SG Ball sides won a single game last year.
The fact that Balmain SG Ball are 2 & 0 to start season 25 is a testiment to the hard work obviously put in over the off season.
In a short season, winning your first two will take you a long way towards having a good to great season.

It is a big improvement probably due to the removal of the faction that was running Balmain junior league teams and selections last year.Hopefully never to return

 

[finnzo]

I doubt any team letting in 26 points per game is going to have a great season even though it would be extremely demanding in the heat of summer

There kids there learning as they go. They will have learnt a valuable lesson today do not take your foot of the throat no matter what the score is

 

[balmain boy]

Both our sg Ball teens were tiny compared to the rivals. The dragons pack ran over the top of Balmain, and Wests were blown to pieces by the dogs. If you weighed both sides I'd say the dogs had 200-300kgs more weight than Wests, they might be young but this side is just too small to play sg ball. With their spine they'll be lucky to win a game. If they had Conti they'd probably have won though. Wests halves are atrocious but they're honey goes alright. The stoppedeball by Duncombe on the first tackle when on their line with Conti in the bin was the changer. They scored 12 points in 4 mins after that. Just too small, too slow, too dumb.

Why is there no forward planning with our youth teams? How are Wests in a state where they have no halves whatsoever. Conti would be a walk up start for us at SG Ball and flegg level, yet he went to a club where's equally log jammed. Dogs have quality halves in every single grade and it shows. You just can't win without halves.

 

[Vicious]

Both are sg Ball teens were tiny compared to the rivals. The dragons pack ran over the top of Balmain, and Wests were blown to pieces by the dogs. If you weighed both sides I'd say the dogs had 200-300kgs more weight than Wests, they might be young but this side is just too small to play sg ball. With their spine they'll be lucky to win a game. If they had Conti they'd probably have won though. Wests halves are atrocious but they're honey goes alright. The stoppedeball by Duncombe on the first tackle when on their line with Conti in the bin was the changer. They scored 12 points in 4 mins after that. Just too small, too slow, too dumb.

Why is there no forward planning with our youth teams? How are Wests in a state where they have no halves whatsoever. Conti would be a walk up start for us at SG Ball and flegg level, yet he went to a club where's equally log jammed. Dogs have quality halves in every single grade and it shows. You just can't win without halves.

Lucas Rossi who is starting at prop for the Panthers SG Ball team was a big loss, not sure how they let him go either.

 

[Lestronge]

Both are sg Ball teens were tiny compared to the rivals. The dragons pack ran over the top of Balmain, and Wests were blown to pieces by the dogs. If you weighed both sides I'd say the dogs had 200-300kgs more weight than Wests, they might be young but this side is just too small to play sg ball. With their spine they'll be lucky to win a game. If they had Conti they'd probably have won though. Wests halves are atrocious but they're honey goes alright. The stoppedeball by Duncombe on the first tackle when on their line with Conti in the bin was the changer. They scored 12 points in 4 mins after that. Just too small, too slow, too dumb.

Why is there no forward planning with our youth teams? How are Wests in a state where they have no halves whatsoever. Conti would be a walk up start for us at SG Ball and flegg level, yet he went to a club where's equally log jammed. Dogs have quality halves in every single grade and it shows. You just can't win without halves.

Because Conti saw no pathway to nrl . And knew he was behind a lot of people , both externally and internally .
In the time he was promised a pathway to nrl , they’ve since signed sexton and others in Various grades that are creating that logjam you’re talking about .
If anything it’s not that wests tigers have messed up with him , but more that the bulldogs have pivoted away from the clear pathway that once laid in front of Conti .
It’s the same thing with Large at manly . If they don’t see what they want real early they will got to the market as well .
Both the bulldogs and manly are recruitment clubs , who recruit at all levels . There’s really not much anyone can do about half truth promises .
And Isedale moved his own son onto another team because of these pathways that are blocked .
Plus just on a side note , kids develop at different rates especially at 15 /16 so maybe the club developed on skill level in the hope that the kids bodies filled out . The NRL is moving away from massive kids coming through with low engines ( Payne Hass types excluded) .
So who knows what the wests tigers strategy is in regard to player development .
Shannon Gallant has said that winning the comp especially at Flegg level is a low second in priority to player development , so it’s jumping at shadows a bit .
And finally there’s 2 development clubs , one with a great spine , the other great backs and solid edges . So in some ways , sure , if we wanted to win the comp we stscknone team or the other . But really allowing more players to get exposure at a higher level is only a good thing , despite the results .

 

[jrtiger]

Both are sg Ball teens were tiny compared to the rivals. The dragons pack ran over the top of Balmain, and Wests were blown to pieces by the dogs. If you weighed both sides I'd say the dogs had 200-300kgs more weight than Wests, they might be young but this side is just too small to play sg ball. With their spine they'll be lucky to win a game. If they had Conti they'd probably have won though. Wests halves are atrocious but they're honey goes alright. The stoppedeball by Duncombe on the first tackle when on their line with Conti in the bin was the changer. They scored 12 points in 4 mins after that. Just too small, too slow, too dumb.

Why is there no forward planning with our youth teams? How are Wests in a state where they have no halves whatsoever. Conti would be a walk up start for us at SG Ball and flegg level, yet he went to a club where's equally log jammed. Dogs have quality halves in every single grade and it shows. You just can't win without halves.

the size difference was on show between the Dogs and Magpies in the Harold Matts fixture and it wasn't an issue there. Wests counteracted the size and strength of the Dogs beautifully.

it comes down to the lack of direction of the halves at the minute for Wests. problem is, as you say, it's not something they can fix immediately.

 

[balmain boy]

Because Conti saw no pathway to nrl . And knew he was behind a lot of people , both externally and internally .
In the time he was promised a pathway to nrl , they’ve since signed sexton and others in Various grades that are creating that logjam you’re talking about .
If anything it’s not that wests tigers have messed up with him , but more that the bulldogs have pivoted away from the clear pathway that once laid in front of Conti .
It’s the same thing with Large at manly . If they don’t see what they want real early they will got to the market as well .
Both the bulldogs and manly are recruitment clubs , who recruit at all levels . There’s really not much anyone can do about half truth promises .
And Isedale moved his own son onto another team because of these pathways that are blocked .
Plus just on a side note , kids develop at different rates especially at 15 /16 so maybe the club developed on skill level in the hope that the kids bodies filled out . The NRL is moving away from massive kids coming through with low engines ( Payne Hass types excluded) .
So who knows what the wests tigers strategy is in regard to player development .
Shannon Gallant has said that winning the comp especially at Flegg level is a low second in priority to player development , so it’s jumping at shadows a bit .
And finally there’s 2 development clubs , one with a great spine , the other great backs and solid edges . So in some ways , sure , if we wanted to win the comp we stscknone team or the other . But really allowing more players to get exposure at a higher level is only a good thing , despite the results .

Actually the Dogs had O'Neil, Teupau, Tia and Woods all ahead of him on the pecking order as juniors, when he signed.
With the likes of Sextonamd Burton already ahead of him at NRL level. There was no pathway for him at the dogs, probably the worst club for him in pathways to first grade.
He won't be there next season.

Yes the NRL is moving away from massive slow players with no stamina, but it's certainly not moving away from large players. Backs are bigger than ever, forwards are slimming down a tad for endurance.
We're playing guys a year young, but we should have a balance of 17-19 year old in there top make them more competitive.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Hey guys, this season with the Bar TV coverage of all games & just for shits'n giggles, I'm going to do my own POY points for Magpies & Tigers. It'll be a 7 down to 1 point for players if their team wins & 5 down to 1 if their team loses.

Round 1 - Balmain
7 Marc Tannous
6 Logan Brookes
5 Zane Farr-McKay
4 Xavier Tauaifaiga
3 Jared Haywood
2 Will Stone
1 Jordan Bunt

Round 1 - Wests
5 Riley Oitmann
4 Archie Duncombe
3 Kohan Lewis
2 Tye Bursill
1 Pheonix Godinet

I'm endeavouring to watch each game twice and using some of the great player reviews on here for validation each week as well as some good analysts on Instagram like @theshortball

On 2nd watch of this game, Tigers were the dominant team in general play. Impressed by their line speed in D and fast ruck play and play-the-balls to have them on the front foot which really allowed Tannous, Brookes & De Vries to excel around the ruck.

Amazingly Wests should have levelled the scores with Jack Nicholas going himself when in the clear and had 3-4 support players inside. Logan Brookes did pull off an impressive cover tackle which was a big turning point. But really Balmain won this game in the 10 mins after HT.

Easily could have had other Balmain players in the points as most of their players had really good games. For Wests, Riley Oitmann (despite one dropped ball off a kick) was great. Scored one Papenhuyzen-esque try backing up, saved 2-3 tries with his cover defence, made some strong carries from the wing with his leg speed in the 1st half & was generally safe at fullback in the 2nd including try-savers on Logan Brookes & holding up Joseph Partch in the 2nd.

Archie was strong in the 1st half and was noticeable to difference he made around the middle when he was off. Same with Kohan Lewis. Godinet made a couple of handling errors but produced some strong carries & contact in defence.

I'd give Makasini the benefit of the doubt in this game. He actually made some strong carries out of his end, took a good contested bomb from a drop-out, put his winger away with good hands which should have led to a try and didn't do much wrong in defence. He's probably a victim in this game from non-dominant halves and a forward pack that didn't often get on top to provide space & time for the halves, and credit also to Moughan, Tannous, Haywood who were often up on him in D.

I'll try to do the same for Harold Matts over the coming days. Have watched once but want to watch again.

My Round 2 points for POY. Winning team players from 7 points down to 1. Losing team players 5 to 1 although I found it hard to find 5 players from the Magpies to give points this week.

Balmain
7 Brookes (now on 13) - wow
6 De Vries - linespeed, effort, backing up, defies his size
5 Haywood (8)
4 Meslemani
3 Moughan
2 Cooper Young
1 Bunt (3)

Wests
5 Godinet (6)
4 Laupepa
3 Dupond
2 Tuifua - the only middle who packed a punch against the big Doggies pack
1 Makasini - quality not quantity

I didn't get a 2nd watch of the Magpies game as Bar TV took this game down. Must have been due to the Peter Ta'ai incident. Anyone heard how he is doing? @jrtiger have you heard through your Magpies contacts mate?

Big match for Wests this Saturday against the undefeated Rabbitohs!

 

[Vicious]

My Round 2 points for POY. Winning team players from 7 points down to 1. Losing team players 5 to 1 although I found it hard to find 5 players from the Magpies to give points this week.

Balmain
7 Brookes (now on 13) - wow
6 De Vries - linespeed, effort, backing up, defies his size
5 Haywood (8)
4 Meslemani
3 Moughan
2 Cooper Young
1 Bunt (3)

Wests
5 Godinet (6)
4 Laupepa
3 Dupond
2 Tuifua - the only middle who packed a punch against the big Doggies pack
1 Makasini - quality not quantity

I didn't get a 2nd watch of the Magpies game as Bar TV took this game down. Must have been due to the Peter Ta'ai incident. Anyone heard how he is doing? @jrtiger have you heard through your Magpies contacts mate?

Big match for Wests this Saturday against the undefeated Rabbitohs!

I like the look of De Vries also. As you say he probably lacks a bit of size, but more than makes up for it with his high energy and all action approach.
I thought the big number 17 Tuifua for Wests SG Ball played well, often carrying 2-3 defenders with his strong ball carries.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I like the look of De Vries also. As you say he probably lacks a bit of size, but more than makes up for it with his high energy and all action approach.
I thought the big number 17 Tuifua for Wests SG Ball played well, often carrying 2-3 defenders with his strong ball carries.

Did someone mention last week that Luani Tuifua is Mavoni's brother who was one of our best in Jersey Flegg a few seasons ago before off-field stuff curtailed his progress?

 

[Lestronge]

Actually the Dogs had O'Neil, Teupau, Tia and Woods all ahead of him on the pecking order as juniors, when he signed.
With the likes of Sextonamd Burton already ahead of him at NRL level. There was no pathway for him at the dogs, probably the worst club for him in pathways to first grade.
He won't be there next season.

Yes the NRL is moving away from massive slow players with no stamina, but it's certainly not moving away from large players. Backs are bigger than ever, forwards are slimming down a tad for endurance.
We're playing guys a year young, but we should have a balance of 17-19 year old in there top make them more competitive.

Yea , but really only woods was a higher rated prospect , and I’m sure his parents would have backed him to beat the others out . Even woods to a smaller degree .
Conti had just made NSW , and Bwaith was pushing his client . It’s in the end his choice where he wants to go , but it was very clear for a while that either Galvin or Large , and with the signing of Fainu , that Conti was going to just be a placeholder at best .
And there’s no way even the most rational person would have placed Conti anywhere near Fainu or Galvin . So that means he’s a fill in for KOE or even stuck in SG ball.
My guess is that’s exactly how his parents saw it , he was 💯 only ever going to be a backup here , whereas at the dogs , he’s now fighting to beat similar talented kids.
And I’d argue outside of Woods , who’s only marginally better , that that’s still probably the case . I don’t think anyone saw Sexton leading the dogs to the success they had last year , which is another person he has to beat out . .
He probably should have gone to the rabbits to be honest or even the roosters .
I don’t think there’s a magic pathway like Ilias or Saunders or Fainu for Conti to first grade . He might only be at that Jock Madden level . Maybe they wanted the opportunity for more ?

 

[jrtiger]

My Round 2 points for POY. Winning team players from 7 points down to 1. Losing team players 5 to 1 although I found it hard to find 5 players from the Magpies to give points this week.

Balmain
7 Brookes (now on 13) - wow
6 De Vries - linespeed, effort, backing up, defies his size
5 Haywood (8)
4 Meslemani
3 Moughan
2 Cooper Young
1 Bunt (3)

Wests
5 Godinet (6)
4 Laupepa
3 Dupond
2 Tuifua - the only middle who packed a punch against the big Doggies pack
1 Makasini - quality not quantity

I didn't get a 2nd watch of the Magpies game as Bar TV took this game down. Must have been due to the Peter Ta'ai incident. Anyone heard how he is doing? @jrtiger have you heard through your Magpies contacts mate?

Big match for Wests this Saturday against the undefeated Rabbitohs!

not as yet re: Taai mate but the commentator mentioned he was doing better at half time. disappointed to see him go off as I thought we looked much better with him at 13.

I'd say Denzel will take the jersey this week. he looked like his old self to me and I would've given him points to be honest.. keen to see how he goes. huge game this week as you say, and one Wests realistically should win, irrespective of Souths' win record.

 

[Rowdy12]

Big game for Balmain this week against Manly who were belted by a very strong Steelers side last week. In the last 6 weeks they play teams in the top 9 who will all finish in or around the finals. To be any chance of making the semis they need beat the Eagles (and hopefully smash Large in the process)

 

[Blocker1963]

Watched the highlights, the young fullback Logan looks impressive. Still early in the season though

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

not as yet re: Taai mate but the commentator mentioned he was doing better at half time. disappointed to see him go off as I thought we looked much better with him at 13.

I'd say Denzel will take the jersey this week. he looked like his old self to me and I would've given him points to be honest.. keen to see how he goes. huge game this week as you say, and one Wests realistically should win, irrespective of Souths' win record.

I reckon the Wests boys will be ready to rip'n tear this week. Look forward to Taupau-Moors against Maddax Fui up front.

 

[jrtiger]

I reckon the Wests boys will be ready to rip'n tear this week. Look forward to Taupau-Moors against Maddax Fui up front.

there's a player that has not performed to expectation whatsoever. I was very bullish on Taupau-Moors going into this year, but he's been anonymous. I really hope he stands up.

 

[jojo]

I was disappointed with Makasini again, There are some improvements, but the lack of urgency at times is concerning. The try the Dogs scored on the cross-field kick to his edge was evidence of it. He had a 10 metre start on the dogs winger yet just casually jogged back. The Wests winger was out lept and they scored. Pretty sure Benji would have been getting his centres to get back to provide support at the contest at NRL training. Feels like the NRL exposure hasn't been a good thing from a motivation perspective for him

 

[balmain boy]

there's a player that has not performed to expectation whatsoever. I was very bullish on Taupau-Moors going into this year, but he's been anonymous. I really hope he stands up.

Put another 5-10kgs on him and he'll be right. Should ideally still be on the bench at his age. He's been quiet yes, the back rowers have been fairly quiet too, but at least they've had occasional moments of promise. Playing in a team getting dominated doesn't help

 

[pawsandclaws1]

It is a big improvement probably due to the removal of the faction that was running Balmain junior league teams and selections last year.Hopefully never to return

Isn't Bronson Harrison now involved with the Balmain juniors? If so a really good appointment.