Aus vs Tonga

[SeaEagleRock8]

Alamoti had a great season but wasn't good in attack last night, there was a moment when he was given an overlap but spilled the ball. Koula would have scored from that opportunity and in such a close game it was a massive moment.

The game really showed how the international gap is closing, that was a close game from go to whoa.

Great to see Turbo play so well, I think Kangaroos will be good for him (unelss he gets hurt next week!)
Haumole was a dominating presence throughout and Lehi continues to impress. From fullback he gets really involved, bit like Dylan Edwards style.

Felt a bit sorry for Collins getting smashed - again - his brain must have rattled around with that hit. He could be in for a tough year next year.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Alamoti is just another average first grader excelling in the best system. Watch Turuva at the Tigers next year. He’ll be lucky to keep his place in FG.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Of note last night was Tom’s speed for his intercept try. Either he is still really quick or Hoppa is slower than he appears at times. He did not make an impression on Tom, who is clearly hampered by injury.

 

[manlyfan76]

Alamoti had a great season but wasn't good in attack last night, there was a moment when he was given an overlap but spilled the ball. Koula would have scored from that opportunity and in such a close game it was a massive moment.

The game really showed how the international gap is closing, that was a close game from go to whoa.

Great to see Turbo play so well, I think Kangaroos will be good for him (unelss he gets hurt next week!)
Haumole was a dominating presence throughout and Lehi continues to impress. From fullback he gets really involved, bit like Dylan Edwards style.

Felt a bit sorry for Collins getting smashed - again - his brain must have rattled around with that hit. He could be in for a tough year next year.

"Brain"
First person I've heard imply he has one.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

"Brain"
First person I've heard imply he has one.

Lol!
I heard him interviewed once and he sounded quite reasonable. With so much media these days, and so common for players to change club affiliations, it occurs to me its a bit harder to just automatically dislike all opposition players nowadays.
(plus everyone has a brain and I don't really want to see anyone's get turned to jelly)

 

[Carl]

This has to be the worst thrown together Aussie side I've ever seen.
Go Tonga 🇹🇴

Yeah, change for the sake of change.

Teddy was best fb this year (not true last year).

DCE is the best available 7.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Thought the halves for both sides very pretty ordinary last night. Katoa looked the most lively, but lacking some polish in his game with too many errors. Lolohea was garbage. Moses was wallpaper. Dearden ok. Thought the Manly boys had outstanding games, bar Paseka who was a little quiet.

 

[HoldenV8]

Just thinking about it, I would hazard a guess and say that last night's 70 metre intercept was the longest and fastest Turbo has run in one piece of play in any game since 2021.

Alamoti may have made some ground on the angle, but Turbo actually ran away from Lehi Hopoate, and Daniel Tupou truth be told.

TBH, it surprised me. But its good to see he's finally binned the Philly running style that slowed him down and he's just gone back to basics. As we saw last night ... Turbo can still be Turbo, not Turbo with a speed restricting pop-off valve.

 

[The '47ers]

Just thinking about it, I would hazard a guess and say that last night's 70 metre intercept was the longest and fastest Turbo has run in one piece of play in any game since 2021.

Alomoti may have made some ground on the angle, but Turbo actually ran away from Lehi Hopoate, and Daniel Tupou truth be told.

TBH, it surprised me. But its good to see he's finally binned the Philly running style that slowed him down and he's just gone back to basics. As we saw last night ... Turbo can still be Turbo, not Turbo with a pop-off valve restricting speed.

I could barely watch the run, hands over my eyes, fretting and carrying on!
Had fingers and toes crossed!

 

[HoldenV8]

For anyone interested, this is where today's games are being played. The HFC Bank Stadium (National Stadium) in Suva, Fiji.

 

[StuBoot]

Thought the halves for both sides very pretty ordinary last night. Katoa looked the most lively, but lacking some polish in his game with too many errors. Lolohea was garbage. Moses was wallpaper. Dearden ok. Thought the Manly boys had outstanding games, bar Paseka who was a little quiet.

Agree.
I think Katoa was unlucky with two big plays - the 40/20 and the grubber for Guac, both conceding seven tackle sets, both game changers if they go his way.
Whilst his inexperience showed, he never stopped trying especially as Lolohea was very underwhelming, surely they've got a better option there?

Deardon went okay on debut and tried hard but l thought Moses was not existent to an extent, especially for a "running halfback", all he seemed to do was catch and pass or put up bombs.
Is that on him or Meninga's coaching?

I couldn't believe the commentary making excuses for our performance, putting it down to lack of time together, new spine etc.
Apart from Turbo, Hammer and Yeo l thought we were very ordinary.

Katoa ices those two kicks and maybe things are different.

 

[The Who]

To hold the powerful Tongan side to nil was a mighty defensive effort.
This Australian side looks relative weak on paper but they are obviously committed.

 

[HoldenV8]

Agree.
I think Katoa was unlucky with two big plays - the 40/20 and the grubber for Guac, both conceding seven tackle sets, both game changers if they go his way.
Whilst his inexperience showed, he never stopped trying especially as Lolohea was very underwhelming, surely they've got a better option there?

Deardon went okay on debut and tried hard but l thought Moses was not existent to an extent, especially for a "running halfback", all he seemed to do was catch and pass or put up bombs.
Is that on him or Meninga's coaching?

I couldn't believe the commentary making excuses for our performance, putting it down to lack of time together, new spine etc.
Apart from Turbo, Hammer and Yeo l thought we were very ordinary.

Katoa ices those two kicks and maybe things are different.

Can't believe I'm going to stick up for Moses here, but I am.

TBF it was his first game in 93 days. I dare say he probably did exactly what Meninga would have wanted him to do. Go out there and ease himself into it instead of going like a bull at a gate and be sucking in the big ones only 5 minutes in. We had others who were more than capable of picking up the play making slack like Dearden, Grant, Turbo and even Edwards.

 

[HoldenV8]

I could barely watch the run, hands over my eyes, fretting and carrying on!
Had fingers and toes crossed!

I think we all did TBH lol.

Its funny you know. We spent years cringing every time Snake went on a long run or got tackled just hoping he wouldn't pull up lame or get up limping. Then along came Turbo and for a while, our constant injury fears subsided. They never went away completely though because in a full contact sport its inevitable to get some injuries.

Now of course its come full circle on us. Like with Snake, with Turbo we're back to the cringing and hoping.

 

[HoldenV8]

Friday night's run by Turbo and chase by Hopoate really was a case of the Master and the Apprentice. And in this case the Master showed his young Apprentice that there's still a lot of life left in those older, rebuilt legs.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Lol!
I heard him interviewed once and he sounded quite reasonable. With so much media these days, and so common for players to change club affiliations, it occurs to me its a bit harder to just automatically dislike all opposition players nowadays.
(plus everyone has a brain and I don't really want to see anyone's get turned to jelly)

Here's another one.

https://foxsportspmd-a.akamaihd.net/free/nogeoblock/2024/10/22/dvu_221024_nrl_kangaroos_v_NZ_202410220909/dvu_221024_nrl_kangaroos_v_NZ_202410220909_2628.mp4

Yeah I know he's a Rooster and I hate the Roosters but I quite like Collins. Same with Keary.
However I was very pleased that Haumole doesn't like him

 

[HoldenV8]

Like Tim Tszyu ... Lindsay Collins didn't know what hit him.