North Sydney Last Night

[Thirteen]

Saluka-Fafita was excellent. Ran straight and hard and made a very good impact. Atoni looked good too.

Kevin Naiqama played centre and was an absolute turnstile in defence. I’d put our other turnstile Sitlli in the centres before this bloke.

Sualli got no quality call which is usually the case in reserves. He’s gotten rid of the headgear. Had little impact.

[A Country Member]

Was there anyone ‘knocking on the door’ of first grade?

And does it fit with someone you’d replace?

[Thirteen]

Was there anyone ‘knocking on the door’ of first grade?

And does it fit with someone you’d replace?

Fafita should replace Baker I reckon. Was awesome in the trials and pretty dominant last night.

[King Salvo]

Saluka-Fafita was excellent. Ran straight and hard and made a very good impact. Atoni looked good too.

Kevin Naiqama played centre and was an absolute turnstile in defence. I’d put our other turnstile Sitlli in the centres before this bloke.

Sualli got no quality call which is usually the case in reserves. He’s gotten rid of the headgear. Had little impact.

How did Sandon Smith the Ronald Volkman go

[fletch]

Saluka-Fafita was excellent. Ran straight and hard and made a very good impact. Atoni looked good too.

Kevin Naiqama played centre and was an absolute turnstile in defence. I’d put our other turnstile Sitlli in the centres before this bloke.

Sualli got no quality call which is usually the case in reserves. He’s gotten rid of the headgear. Had little impact.

DSF has looked probably the most powerful pure go forward guy all the way back to the first trial this season, at some point he will need to be considered for first grade if the current forward pack continued to underperform.

[Thirteen]

How did Sandon Smith the Ronald Volkman go

I thought they both played well. Smith is better than I expected.

[Rooster_6]

I wonder if Collins wouldn't benefit from playing some long minutes in reserve grade and giving DSF the opportunity over the next couple of weeks to prove himself.

Very similar players in terms of what they offer, seemingly one in form and one struggling for form coming back from a pretty serious injury.

[Rooster_6]

Fifita with 270 run metres last night.. HUGE!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I wonder if Collins wouldn't benefit from playing some long minutes in reserve grade and giving DSF the opportunity over the next couple of weeks to prove himself.

Very similar players in terms of what they offer, seemingly one in form and one struggling for form coming back from a pretty serious injury.

Not that similar....ones an Origin player the other NSW Cup.

Hope DSF is as good as some predict, but not there yet.

[Roosterfarian]

Baker has been very disappointing in all the games so far this season (including trials).

[Thirteen]

Fifita with 270 run metres last night.. HUGE!

I didn’t know the stats but from watching the game I can tell you he was most dominant on field by a mile.

[King Salvo]

Baker has been very disappointing in all the games so far this season (including trials).

To be fair Baker's hardly had the minutes though - 22/14/15 in the three games -something that needs to be looked at is the usage of the bench - usually they have 4 front rowers- 2 starting and 2 on the bench - Chooks 4 front rowers last night - Collins 44 Minutes/ SST 51 Minutes/ JWH 29 Minutes and Baker 15 minutes .

Not going to be 40 minutes game time for each of the 4 props I assume always and some have 2 stints on the field but it will be about maximising their impact in games and not playing them longer minutes which reduces the impact the team needs

A possible usage would be starting props the first 25 minutes or so then the two bench props the last 15 or so of the first half and the first 15 or so of the second half then the two starting props the last 25 minutes or so of the second half.

[Roosterfarian]

I don’t to that theory about lack of minutes Sal. If you’re not making an impact in the first ten minutes you are on, you aren’t going to make it ten or twenty minutes later.

[Rooster_6]

Not that similar....ones an Origin player the other NSW Cup.

Hope DSF is as good as some predict, but not there yet.

Similar in terms of style, both big bodies who run up and down and typically your early set carry who can bend the line and create room for the more mobile or ball playing forwards to take advantage of.

No doubting Collins is light years ahead as a player. Just think he might benefit from playing a few 60min games in reserve grade to build back his fitness and then try to get back up to the pace of first grade instead of struggling through 30mins a game in first grade. Recovering from ACL injuries always seem to hit forwards harder than it does backs or halves.

[King Salvo]

I don’t to that theory about lack of minutes Sal. If you’re not making an impact in the first ten minutes you are on, you aren’t going to make it ten or twenty minutes later.

I think JWH/Collins are behind in the required match fitness level for a variety of reasons so having both play off the bench is the better option - 15 minutes before and after half time and increase it as the their match fitness improves- not sure that both will be starters once they have reached the required match fitness levels.