Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
I agree that Papali’i is trying hard and going ok, but it looks like he’s lost a bit of the explosive speed he once had and may now be better suited as a middle forward because of it.
Sounds like a broken down record, but nearly all NRL teams have now identified that good edge forwards are explosive athletes that regularly challenge the defence, bust tackles, make line breaks, line breaks assists and score tries.
For one reason or another this is barely happening for us, so it’s obvious there is a problem of some sort.
Fullbacks and edge forwards nearly always involved in good attack for rival clubs, very rarely for us yet many believe we have great players in these positions ?
Plenty of experts on here, can one of them explain why this is the case ?
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There was an earlier post about Papalii. How can you expect him to be the explosive hole runner when he is making 40+ tackles a game. Why he is making so many tackles should be analysed, be it one or a combination of the reasons put forth already; lazy middles, Papallii designated defensive role, being targeted by opposition in order to blunt his attack etc.
Additionally, many have identified slow play the balls/not winning the ruck. It matters. Halves need the time to execute their play and the ball runner needs that front foot footy to overpower an equally strong defender.
Finally, Sezer (previously Wakeham) is not a running threat. Defenders can aim up on Papallii knowing that Sezer is unlikely to burn them if he dummies and goes himself.
Similar can be said for Bateman with defensive workload and slow play the balls. You are right that he is not the explosive athlete of other clubs. But he still offers something different. How many backrowers could have created the try he did for Tupou yesterday?
 
The Chad said:
Don't know.

How many players suffer 3 knee reconstructions?

List the guys that have suffered this fate & let's see how they went.
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Kyle Stanley retired after his 5th. He did comeback and make it into the Samoan team (admittedly that team wasn't what it is now) after his 4th. Sam Mckendry, Tatau Moga, Slade Giffin i think all would have had 3 and made it back to first grade. Not sure any returned to be the player they once were but none were ever really superstars.
 
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gregjm87 said:
Kyle Stanley retired after his 5th. He did comeback and make it into the Samoan team (admittedly that team wasn't what it is now) after his 4th. Sam Mckendry, Tatau Moga, Slade Giffin i think all would have had 3 and made it back to first grade. Not sure any returned to be the player they once were but none were ever really superstars.
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Moga could have been anything without the injuries.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Moga could have been anything without the injuries.
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maybe. He was certainly far more agile before his injuries but he was also much lighter as he was still developing. Would he have lost that agility anyway?
Many years ago i read a journal article about the injury rate of young power athletes (American article that spoke of NFL, la Cross and Rugby). The premise was that developing bodies build muscle before it builds the ligament, tendon and bone structure to accommodate the forces of the extra muscle and too much stress during this intermediary phase was leading to higher injury rates.
It was basically pushing for limitation in playing/training time for younger athletes. Probably not possible to limit this in Australia (not that i believe they do in US) as there is no collegial system between school and professional levels. But i have watched with interest how many superstar juniors have been labelled as injury prone early in their careers to then come out the other side and have stellar first grade careers. It is why i always believed Blore would come good.
Sorry, a little off topic but i found the article fascinating and certainly believe it applies to NRL.
 
gregjm87 said:
There was an earlier post about Papalii. How can you expect him to be the explosive hole runner when he is making 40+ tackles a game. Why he is making so many tackles should be analysed, be it one or a combination of the reasons put forth already; lazy middles, Papallii designated defensive role, being targeted by opposition in order to blunt his attack etc.
Additionally, many have identified slow play the balls/not winning the ruck. It matters. Halves need the time to execute their play and the ball runner needs that front foot footy to overpower an equally strong defender.
Finally, Sezer (previously Wakeham) is not a running threat. Defenders can aim up on Papallii knowing that Sezer is unlikely to burn them if he dummies and goes himself.
Similar can be said for Bateman with defensive workload and slow play the balls. You are right that he is not the explosive athlete of other clubs. But he still offers something different. How many backrowers could have created the try he did for Tupou yesterday?
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That is some good constructive analysis 👍
I believe a player who plays on an edge and earns 750k per season or more, should be coming up with at least one line break and/or line break assist every game.
So I agree Bateman finally met that criteria yesterday for virtually the first time this season, now needs to limit his mistakes and missed tackles that come with it.
 
Vicious said:
That is some good constructive analysis 👍
I believe a player who plays on an edge and earns 750k per season or more, should be coming up with at least one line break and/or line break assist every game.
So I agree Bateman finally met that criteria yesterday for virtually the first time this season, now needs to limit his mistakes and missed tackles that come with it.
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fair but i dont believe either is earning 750k+ per season?
 
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Demps said:
Nick Cotric is off contract.
Must be for an immediate switch.

He's out of form but at his best, very capable.
I'd like to see him return to his best and help us out.
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I have my doubts....
The last out of form OB we got from the Raiders didn't work out so well...

I think it seem easy to forget his 'Best' was 5 Seasons ago....
Better to sign Rapana
 
The Chad said:
Don't know.

How many players suffer 3 knee reconstructions?

List the guys that have suffered this fate & let's see how they went.
Click to expand...
You don't know because most don't get to any heights after them...
Billy Smith is on his 3rd (Maybe 2nd) and is still 50/50/
Didn't Ryan James do a few as well before retiring early?
Tim Moltzen had 2...
The Stanley Kid from the Dragons vanished into nothingness after his 2-3-4th
Sam McKendry went from International to RM Cup for St Marys after his 2/3rd.

I hope Doueihi has more luck....
He'll get a gig somewhere if not here,
I'd hold him.... Could fill a few positions from the Bench.
Hope he's learnt to tackle in his downtime, He's not got much of a future in the NRL unless he sharpens his defence.
 
batboy said:
I have my doubts....
The last out of form OB we got from the Raiders didn't work out so well...

I think it seem easy to forget his 'Best' was 5 Seasons ago....
Better to sign Rapana
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Everyone should have their doubts.
The cupboard is bare though.

If Cotric can come good, he's worth a punt.
With everyone though, there's always a risk involved.
 
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