Team v Roosters trial

The players I’m most looking forward to seeing are Pheonix Godinet, Javon Andrews and Jack Attard. Because I haven’t seen them play before. Would prefer to Attard start at fullback over Mason.
Also looking forward to seeing how players like Makasini, Haywood, Sukkar are progressing.
 
king_sirro said:
No Egan. Egan played 6 and 13 as a junior and IMO hasn't been allowed to show any skill in the NRL at the Roosters
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Can confirm with you mate. One of my sons played SG Ball with Egan at the chooks. He played 6, 13 & 12. Was an outstanding 13. He got knocked out twice in one season. A couple of games he played 6 he didn’t look out of place.
 
Our 2 wings will be killed by the high ball. Has to be the smallest back 3 since 1979. They don’t even have elite speed either. Hopefully we have a few taller or faster backline prospects on the way or we better get recruiting
 
I don't know about the whole speed argument. I think it gets overstated. During the Panthers dynasty, for example, you couldn't really class any of their regular backline players as having elite speed and they seemed to do just fine without it. By contrast, both the Titans and Manly have had pretty electric backlines over the last few years and they've been average or worse. Not saying speed isn't a nice thing to have, I just think it's a fair way down the list of factors that determine whether a team is good or not.
 
Airport05 said:
I don't know about the whole speed argument. I think it gets overstated. During the Panthers dynasty, for example, you couldn't really class any of their regular backline players as having elite speed and they seemed to do just fine without it. By contrast, both the Titans and Manly have had pretty electric backlines over the last few years and they've been average or worse. Not saying speed isn't a nice thing to have, I just think it's a fair way down the list of factors that determine whether a team is good or not.
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This is spot on - speed helps when you are put in a gap or need to chase someone down so it can't be discounted. However, of more importance is the creation of gaps or breaking the defensive line. I hear too much of the run at spaces not faces rubbish - this is a rugby union idiom. The good teams create space and that is having runners in the right place to take advantage of the the defence reaction. So of more importance, to me, is the creativity/strength of the inside backs and edges.
 
Jimmy said:
Our 2 wings will be killed by the high ball. Has to be the smallest back 3 since 1979. They don’t even have elite speed either. Hopefully we have a few taller or faster backline prospects on the way or we better get recruiting
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It's a trial. Doubt there won't be much kicking to test the back-up players.
If our open day training display is any indication it will be bash 'n barge for a stamina, endurance test.
If individual performances stand out it will be a bonus! Here's hoping there are some standouts.
 
Tiger_claws said:
Can confirm with you mate. One of my sons played SG Ball with Egan at the chooks. He played 6, 13 & 12. Was an outstanding 13. He got knocked out twice in one season. A couple of games he played 6 he didn’t look out of place.
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Yeah I watched a SG Ball semi final, Roosters /Tigers, Egan played up an age at 6. Seyfarth was backrow for the Tigers. I think he may have been playing up an age too. Big mistake IMO for Egan to stay at the Chooks. He could go to a few clubs and be used the most appropriate way for his skillset.
 
Airport05 said:
I don't know about the whole speed argument. I think it gets overstated. During the Panthers dynasty, for example, you couldn't really class any of their regular backline players as having elite speed and they seemed to do just fine without it. By contrast, both the Titans and Manly have had pretty electric backlines over the last few years and they've been average or worse. Not saying speed isn't a nice thing to have, I just think it's a fair way down the list of factors that determine whether a team is good or not.
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Good point you make regarding the Panthers not really having anyone with electric speed during their premiership reign.
However they certainly had a lot more strike power in way of genuine x-factor than what we currently have and therefore I think the speed element becomes much more important for a team like ours.
The threat of being able to score regular long range tries is a big weapon and aside from Jahream’s try at Leichhardt I cannot think of any other long distance tries we scored last season.
I just think a 2-5 consisting of Turuva, May, To’a and Skelton is solid and tradesman like depending on whether or not To’a is 💯 fit and playing his best much more regularly, but aside from the aggression and class of Taylan May it doesn’t offer much x-factor at all.
To go to a higher level our team desperately needs more x-factor and game breaking ability which can hopefully be achieved by a combination of adding KPP along with natural improvement from all our team with more cohesion, but it would be nice to have one more outside back capable of burning the opposition with sheer speed.
 
Jolls said:
This is spot on - speed helps when you are put in a gap or need to chase someone down so it can't be discounted. However, of more importance is the creation of gaps or breaking the defensive line. I hear too much of the run at spaces not faces rubbish - this is a rugby union idiom. The good teams create space and that is having runners in the right place to take advantage of the the defence reaction. So of more importance, to me, is the creativity/strength of the inside backs and edges.
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I liked this analysis champion @Jolls 👌
 
Jolls said:
This is spot on - speed helps when you are put in a gap or need to chase someone down so it can't be discounted. However, of more importance is the creation of gaps or breaking the defensive line. I hear too much of the run at spaces not faces rubbish - this is a rugby union idiom. The good teams create space and that is having runners in the right place to take advantage of the the defence reaction. So of more importance, to me, is the creativity/strength of the inside backs and edges.
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So true Jolls, probably comes back to a balanced backline, we have Bula who is able to finish off a break and by reports is faster after his sprint training this summer, looking forward to seeing that in action.

For me one more fast outside back with some size would round off the backline perfectly, they don't all have to be express you need some with strength/footwork to breach the defense and one of the 2 quick men following through.
Something we all would like to see more of, has been sadly lacking in recent seasons not enough backing up.
 
Vicious said:
Good point you make regarding the Panthers not really having anyone with electric speed during their premiership reign.
However they certainly had a lot more strike power in way of genuine x-factor than what we currently have and therefore I think the speed element becomes much more important for a team like ours.
The threat of being able to score regular long range tries is a big weapon and aside from Jahream’s try at Leichhardt I cannot think of any other long distance tries we scored last season.
I just think a 2-5 consisting of Turuva, May, To’a and Skelton is solid and tradesman like depending on whether or not To’a is 💯 fit and playing his best much more regularly, but aside from the aggression and class of Taylan May it doesn’t offer much x-factor at all.
To go to a higher level our team desperately needs more x-factor and game breaking ability which can hopefully be achieved by a combination of adding KPP along with natural improvement from all our team with more cohesion, but it would be nice to have one more outside back capable of burning the opposition with sheer speed.
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The term x-factor gets thrown around a lot but by definition it's pretty hard to define. I know I struggle with it. I mean I could point pretty comfortably to Reece Walsh having it, but beyond him, I start to get less certain of saying who has it and who doesn't. Even speed isn't a straightforward one. Like are they fast off the mark or do they take a while to wind up and become untouchable over a distance? What I do know is that both Turuva and Skelton are good out of yardage and quality finishers, Tiny and Toa both have the ability to break tackles pretty regularly (provided Toa is fit), and Bula seems to have been gifted a pretty rare level of natural athleticism that could help him become an elite football if the other aspects of his game develop. Are they the best backline in the comp? No. But if the forwards get the sets rolling and the halves perform, do they have a lot of points in them? I reckon they do. And like everyone else here, I'm hoping we see that this season.
 
Airport05 said:
The term x-factor gets thrown around a lot but by definition it's pretty hard to define. I know I struggle with it. I mean I could point pretty comfortably to Reece Walsh having it, but beyond him, I start to get less certain of saying who has it and who doesn't. Even speed isn't a straightforward one. Like are they fast off the mark or do they take a while to wind up and become untouchable over a distance? What I do know is that both Turuva and Skelton are good out of yardage and quality finishers, Tiny and Toa both have the ability to break tackles pretty regularly (provided Toa is fit), and Bula seems to have been gifted a pretty rare level of natural athleticism that could help him become an elite football if the other aspects of his game develop. Are they the best backline in the comp? No. But if the forwards get the sets rolling and the halves perform, do they have a lot of points in them? I reckon they do. And like everyone else here, I'm hoping we see that this season.
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The way I see it there are tradesman like players who build good stats with metres gained, tackles made etc and there are players with x-factor.
On the balance a good team needs more tradesman like players, but it’s near impossible to be top class without at least a few players who offer genuine x-factor.
Players with x-factor should ideally be elite at a few of these qualities;
Line break assist
Try assist
Tackle bust
Line break
Try scoring

Genuine speed is definitely a quality that assists in being elite in some of the above categories.
We are desperately hoping a young up and comer such as Heamasi Makasini uses his size and speed to demonstrate x-factor similar to what someone like Israel Folau done quite a few years back, or what Stephen Crichton and Casey McLean have demonstrated much more recently.
But Mak is still only 18, are we expecting too much from him too soon ?
That’s the million dollar question, but geez it would be nice to see him do a couple of special things against the Roosters on Saturday.
 
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king_sirro said:
Yeah I watched a SG Ball semi final, Roosters /Tigers, Egan played up an age at 6. Seyfarth was backrow for the Tigers. I think he may have been playing up an age too. Big mistake IMO for Egan to stay at the Chooks. He could go to a few clubs and be used the most appropriate way for his skillset.
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Very good player and as you say doesn’t get to showcase his ball skills. I think he would tick a lot of boxes as a 13 if given some time there.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
It's a trial. Doubt there won't be much kicking to test the back-up players.
If our open day training display is any indication it will be bash 'n barge for a stamina, endurance test.
If individual performances stand out it will be a bonus! Here's hoping there are some standouts.
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You got it right at the start Tiger Stripes
It’s a trial
 
Airport05 said:
I don't know about the whole speed argument. I think it gets overstated. During the Panthers dynasty, for example, you couldn't really class any of their regular backline players as having elite speed and they seemed to do just fine without it. By contrast, both the Titans and Manly have had pretty electric backlines over the last few years and they've been average or worse. Not saying speed isn't a nice thing to have, I just think it's a fair way down the list of factors that determine whether a team is good or not.
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Agree Doesnt really matter if guy can run sub-11 hundred (although its nice to have). Power, physicality, acceleration and fitness all probably more important in the modern game. Penrith backline had the above in spades. As do most of the rep backlines
 
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