Steve Naughton and Braith Anasta

[Johnny Tobin]

Braith was having a good game until injuries forced him wide.

[TheBigFella]

I reckon Naughton did alright. Hard to impress with the crap the rest of the side showed.. I'd be giving him another go

[Guest]

You're off your head for even questioning Naughton...He made his debut in a struggling side.

I must be a die hard. I saw a shit Roosters side today that could beat whoever we meet next week.

I put 20 on the Raiders this week, and next week I'll put the the same on the Roosters.

Get on them

I tipped the Raiders too, but only because The Storm is one of the teams I can't bear to take. It's why I never do well in tipping comps.
I thought Naughton did well in a difficult situation...injuries which made changes necessary.
It should have been a closer game....we played as well as Cronulla but didn't get any assistance re penalties when they would have made a difference.

[Vasco]

I was down at Shark Park standing with the penners at the North End

Naughton is about 2 years away, currently looks like Skinny Byrne...and we all know how well that ended!

During the warm up I thought it was Graham.

[Guest]

I know a few people on here have been championing naughton as some sort of prodigy but the reality is that he is not that x-factor, superstar type player. what we saw from him today was a pretty good indication of his ability. I thought he had a good debut on the whole. The only problem i have with his game is his apparent ineptitude when defending the cross field bomb. he failed to properly challenge for the ball in the two or three he was charged with diffusing which is a little disappointing especially considering his height. He has a lot of todd byrne and a young phil graham about him but not in a negative sense. what he provides is a very stable option. he has good pace and is a good finisher, he rarely makes mistakes and best of all, he has an excellent understanding of his position and the game in general. on two or three occassions the sharks raided our left edge and he and linnett defended a couple of very precarious situations quite well. he came up with one or two fantastic try savers thanks to a couple of good reads so in that respect i think he is useful.

what we have to understand is that especially considering there is a salary cap, not every player in the backline can be greg inglis or jarryd hayne. guys like naughton who make very few mistakes and have good footy brains/understanding of positioning and are good decision makers when it comes to coming in off the wing or staying out are just as important to a team. if naughton can work hard on his cross field bomb work in attack and defence, i think we may well have found ourself an excellent left wing prospect.

linnetts injury is very disappointing but the silver lining to my mind is that it could potentially provide naughton with the best part of half a season to play some consistent first grade and develop giving us a good idea of whether or not there is any point in picking up a winger from another club. it should also mean that leilua moves to the centres which is his best position imo. if we can go the rest of the season now with a backline of:
1. Miniciello
2. Naughton
3. Leilua
4. SKD
5. Perrett
6. Carney
7. Pearce

I think it will have many long term benefits

[Guest]

It seems very obvious to everyone except Brian Smith that BJ should be moved into the centres. Smithy is one stubborn son of a bitch though. Once he makes a decision it seems to take him months longer than anyone else to see that he has made a wrong decision.

[melon....]

I know a few people on here have been championing naughton as some sort of prodigy but the reality is that he is not that x-factor, superstar type player. what we saw from him today was a pretty good indication of his ability. I thought he had a good debut on the whole. The only problem i have with his game is his apparent ineptitude when defending the cross field bomb. he failed to properly challenge for the ball in the two or three he was charged with diffusing which is a little disappointing especially considering his height. He has a lot of todd byrne and a young phil graham about him but not in a negative sense. what he provides is a very stable option. he has good pace and is a good finisher, he rarely makes mistakes and best of all, he has an excellent understanding of his position and the game in general. on two or three occassions the sharks raided our left edge and he and linnett defended a couple of very precarious situations quite well. he came up with one or two fantastic try savers thanks to a couple of good reads so in that respect i think he is useful.

what we have to understand is that especially considering there is a salary cap, not every player in the backline can be greg inglis or jarryd hayne. guys like naughton who make very few mistakes and have good footy brains/understanding of positioning and are good decision makers when it comes to coming in off the wing or staying out are just as important to a team. if naughton can work hard on his cross field bomb work in attack and defence, i think we may well have found ourself an excellent left wing prospect.

linnetts injury is very disappointing but the silver lining to my mind is that it could potentially provide naughton with the best part of half a season to play some consistent first grade and develop giving us a good idea of whether or not there is any point in picking up a winger from another club. it should also mean that leilua moves to the centres which is his best position imo. if we can go the rest of the season now with a backline of:
1. Miniciello
2. Naughton
3. Leilua
4. SKD
5. Perrett
6. Carney
7. Pearce

I think it will have many long term benefits

minichiello does not belong in that backline.

[Guest]

BJ has fked his hammy right?

So right now we need a Centre and a winger (along with our permanent need for a fullback)

[Guest]

I think Naughton did OK for his debut, but I think he is just far too small for the top grade... Just never made an impact all game. Not to mention he looked all at sea under the high ball.. which led to points.. Maybe a little harsh as it was his debut, but I think we should be going with Pritchard or Mataka in the backline if Perrett is still injured.. Rhys Pritchard has scored doubles in his last 2 games for Newtown, is big and has speed to burn. Willie Mataka is also big and would be a great centre who can also play in the back row - very strong ball runner and would be great running on the fringes. I believe he will be named in the centres next week due to our injuries.. Anasta won't play centres.. Look for him to again have the 12 on his back.

[Guest]

I think Naughton did OK for his debut, but I think he is just far too small for the top grade... Just never made an impact all game. Not to mention he looked all at sea under the high ball.. which led to points.. Maybe a little harsh as it was his debut, but I think we should be going with Pritchard or Mataka in the backline if Perrett is still injured.. Rhys Pritchard has scored doubles in his last 2 games for Newtown, is big and has speed to burn. Willie Mataka is also big and would be a great centre who can also play in the back row - very strong ball runner and would be great running on the fringes. I believe he will be named in the centres next week due to our injuries.. Anasta won't play centres.. Look for him to again have the 12 on his back.

Who will replace Pearce then?

[Guest]

Who will replace Pearce then?

You're right... Carney 7 Anasta 6.

After this game however, Anasta won't play centres... it will be 6 or 2nd row.

[melon....]

You're right... Carney 7 Anasta 6.

After this game however, Anasta won't play centres... it will be 6 or 2nd row.

Carney 6, Friend 7, Anasta newtown.

The question is what do we do when Carney replaces Soward for origin 2?

[Guest]

Carney 6, Friend 7, Anasta newtown.

The question is what do we do when Carney replaces Soward for origin 2?

Would this mean Piggy is our no. 9? God save us

[Guest]

Carney 6, Friend 7, Anasta newtown.

The question is what do we do when Carney replaces Soward for origin 2?

Easy dude

6.Anasta
7.Riddell

or

6.Mini
7.Anasta

lol

[John Corey]

minichiello does not belong in that backline.

No arguement here. He is a liabilty, but because he managed to do on Sunday, what he should have been doing all year, some think he is once again the answer. And thats even with him dropping that offload in a try scoring situation, something he has done his whole career.