Latrell is a freak

[The Brain]

Chooks have to becareful with latrell his copping a lot of punishment his body aint ready for it

[Monaco's Fan Club]

I agree, I don't remember GI getting bashed on the wing for Melbourne

[Big Red]

He's a freak, but isn't fit enough for 80 mins of NRL yet. Hopefully a few more games at FB kicks him into shape... not saying he's unfit, but 80 mins at FB (particularly when we're playing like we are right now) requires a looooot of fitness.



I'm still unconvinced by him but we'll see I guess. IMO allowing nepotism to trump giving Maloney some deserving coin has really hurt us. We lack structure, and Hastings just tries to wing it on the last play every time. If he kicks another grubber dead, I'm gonna kick his arse so hard that he wishes it were dead!!

I am the same and I am not convinced with Mitchell and the other 2 halves either. They are key positions vital in a game especially for first grade. Nikorima to me looks too small, probably why Bennett let him go. Mitchell looks like he will always have problems with fitness and could be worse as he get older with his type of heavy build. He Is talented but I don't see any superstar status with him at the moment

[mightyrooster]

He's a freak, but isn't fit enough for 80 mins of NRL yet. Hopefully a few more games at FB kicks him into shape... not saying he's unfit, but 80 mins at FB (particularly when we're playing like we are right now) requires a looooot of fitness.



I'm still unconvinced by him but we'll see I guess. IMO allowing nepotism to trump giving Maloney some deserving coin has really hurt us. We lack structure, and Hastings just tries to wing it on the last play every time. If he kicks another grubber dead, I'm gonna kick his arse so hard that he wishes it were dead!!

Are you suggesting we miss Pearce?

[Game Fowl]

I am the same and I am not convinced with Mitchell and the other 2 halves either. They are key positions vital in a game especially for first grade. Nikorima to me looks too small, probably why Bennett let him go. Mitchell looks like he will always have problems with fitness and could be worse as he get older with his type of heavy build. He Is talented but I don't see any superstar status with him at the moment

Big Red I am with you we are putting too much pressure on these young guys, but what other option do we have until JuJu gets back ??

Lattrel seems to lack commitment and urgency with Line defense although he was injured last night and wanted off but our casualty ward was already in chaos and had too play through.

Nickers is too small and not suited to a 80 min game in FG ( other sides have worked that out ages ago ) , but will definitely make has mark as an impact player.

Jacko may develop with time but I watched him closely last night and is only pretending to lead the Team out there at the moment but it will come.

[Pass the Ball]

Did you see his eyes light up when he thought he was one on one with Thurston 10 out from the try line...

Then boom, the bodyguard Cooper just smashed him..

Welcome to first-grade

Looks like he could be better than RTS in a couple of years

[Mickie Lane]

If he stays mostly injury free & commits to training hard all the time he probably will make it but if he gets injured & puts on weight he will then have to get over his injury & then train extra hard to lose all the weight he will put on.
Nikorima is an impact player & should be brought on when the team is on the front foot or when it's close. He is just to small in the front line & Guerra & Fergusson have no confidence in his defence which in turn is causing teams to expose that edge & score plenty of points against us. If Connor Watson is fit I would play him at 5/8 & start Niko off the bench.

[Danish]

I understand, he's young. The fullback position is not only about attacking but also desperate defending and in those first tries, he had nothing to offer. It all became cloudy for me after that that I don't recall their other tries. He's no fullback today. I don't understand how Fergo was groomed for the position all summer and after 1 game he's removed. Couldn't they see this was going to be a problem?

I don't know who taught you how to play fullback but they aren't supposed to be in a position to make tackles on wingers at the end of sweeping backline movements from 10 metres out. They are taught to stay about 1 man inside the ball to account for the ball being turned back in and protect the grabber, but not so far so as to be able to protect the overlap if the line is breached. That close to the line though there is no fullback in the game who'll be able to get there fast enough (unless they are deliberately out of position trying to predict the play, in which case a man like Thurston will identify and simply dribble the ball into the unprotected in goal for an easy try.

Those first 2 tries were entirely ferguson's fault for rushing up like a complete goon and leaving the winger with 2 men to defend.

[Guest]

Ferguson has been playing like he is on crack.

[TDK]

If he stays mostly injury free & commits to training hard all the time he probably will make it but if he gets injured & puts on weight he will then have to get over his injury & then train extra hard to lose all the weight he will put on.
Nikorima is an impact player & should be brought on when the team is on the front foot or when it's close. He is just to small in the front line & Guerra & Fergusson have no confidence in his defence which in turn is causing teams to expose that edge & score plenty of points against us. If Connor Watson is fit I would play him at 5/8 & start Niko off the bench.

There is no question that the kid has talent however his major asset as a junior was his size and speed. He looked like a young Inglis with the step, swerve and speed he showed over the past few years. But Robbo decided to fast track him into NRL and made the decision to bulk him up to handle the rigors of NRL. I just hope his young body will withstand it's new weight and size so his muscles, ligaments and tendons have time to develop. I'd prefer to see him come up through the NSW cup for another season so he has more time to develop his body and game without the pressure and expectation but Robbo obviously doesn't have this luxury and has been forced to promote him earlier than planned.

[Game Fowl]

Those first 2 tries were entirely ferguson's fault for rushing up like a complete goon and leaving the winger with 2 men to defend.

Danish , you should have a closer look at what happen in these 2 instances JT runs straight for Nickers with another 2 Cowboys Big boppers also bearing in at him , JT double pumps at the line, Nickers and Fergo get caught flat footed and bang it is all over, this happened not once but throughout the game.

Perfect execution by a master , even the 3 rd try at the 39 min mark unfolded the same way JT again runs at Nickers and gets hammered by Frei, but hits Cooper running at Nickers outside shoulder , changes back spearing in at Nickers inside , Guerra hits Cooper who drops of to 14, quick hands to Coote again hitting the inside - Nickers doesn't get a hand on any of them.

It is easy to rattle up high tackle counts when everyone targets you.

[Guest]

Tell me More tell me More

You must be a Footy Einstein to have come to that conclusion lol

Just a bit of shared insight fore those like yourself.

[ROC181]

I don't know who taught you how to play fullback but they aren't supposed to be in a position to make tackles on wingers at the end of sweeping backline movements from 10 metres out. They are taught to stay about 1 man inside the ball to account for the ball being turned back in and protect the grabber, but not so far so as to be able to protect the overlap if the line is breached. That close to the line though there is no fullback in the game who'll be able to get there fast enough (unless they are deliberately out of position trying to predict the play, in which case a man like Thurston will identify and simply dribble the ball into the unprotected in goal for an easy try.

Those first 2 tries were entirely ferguson's fault for rushing up like a complete goon and leaving the winger with 2 men to defend.

Mini would have somehow been there. That's all I need to know. My point is that he is not ready to be fullback. It's not his fault. If he is the best we have, then we're in trouble. I hope I'm wrong.