Happy Api

[eaglebuzz]

I didn't get the chance to watch last night, but unless he has somehow improved his passing 1000% since I saw him play last he is simply not a first grade 9.

He's a bench utility / halves depth. But given the mess our salary cap is in at the moment he will have to do.

 

[nightster]

@Turbo1 while Api was good tonight, just remember this is only one game. The time to get excited is when he starts doing it consistently.

I have been a fan of Api too but his service has been his only weak point ... he has had a lot more than one good game ... he has grit and enthusiasm and like Tooves puts his body on the line to stop dudes much bigger than himself ... he brings more positives than negatives imho

 

[1969]

I didn't get the chance to watch last night, but unless he has somehow improved his passing 1000% since I saw him play last he is simply not a first grade 9.

He's a bench utility / halves depth. But given the mess our salary cap is in at the moment he will have to do.

You didn't get to watch the game, and say he not a first grade 9. Lol, that's just gold, are you serious man?

 

[Lyonstomenzies]

API played awesome, but I watched the replay today and a lot of his passes still are at the head of the player running onto the ball.
This puts the player in a position where they are lifting there arms above there heads to catch the ball instead of getting ready for the impact of the defence.
Last night it didn't cost us as the cows were not moving off their line.
More enthusiastic sides will put slot of pressure on our forwards.

Hats off to API though, he was in everything and gives his all. With some more training hopefully he masters the hookers craft.

 

[HoldenV8]

I have been a fan of Api too but his service has been his only weak point ... he has had a lot more than one good game ... he has grit and enthusiasm and like Tooves puts his body on the line to stop dudes much bigger than himself ... he brings more positives than negatives imho

It was his dummy half service I was referring to. I have no issue with his heart or enthusiasm or his commitment to defense.

 

[eaglebuzz]

You didn't get to watch the game, and say he not a first grade 9. Lol, that's just gold, are you serious man?

It's almost like I've formed the opinion by watching a bunch of other games...

 

[bringbackbeaver]

e

@Turbo1 while Api was good tonight, just remember this is only one game. The time to get excited is when he starts doing it consistently.

exactly! One hot day doesn't make a summer! Let's see consistant performances week to week like every 1st grader gets paid to do

 

[Holmsey]

e

exactly! One hot day doesn't make a summer! Let's see consistant performances week to week like every 1st grader gets paid to do

He's not going to put on a dally m performance every week no one does.

 

[brad]

Ive always thought api was a good player , but id still bring him off the bench and hastings to 9 . Api could prove very dangerous against tiring defense at the backend of halves. Hasings was awesome in 15 replacing pearce and i still think they made a massive mistake dropping him when pearce came back.

 

[bringbackbeaver]

He's not going to put on a dally m performance every week no one does.

wasn't suggesting that @Turbo1 was suggesting that he, like all good first graders, need to be consistant. Can't have one blinder and then play below par for the next few weeks. If he lifts his consistancy, he can be a good hooker. Big IF!

 

[Holmsey]

wasn't suggesting that @Turbo1 was suggesting that he, like all good first graders, need to be consistant. Can't have one blinder and then play below par for the next few weeks. If he lifts his consistancy, he can be a good hooker. Big IF!

I think he's been consistent this year last year of course not but from the 3 first games he was pretty consistent. Last night he had more impact with the pack going forward. But he's been fairly consistent in 2017.

 

[HoldenV8]

API played awesome, but I watched the replay today and a lot of his passes still are at the head of the player running onto the ball.
This puts the player in a position where they are lifting there arms above there heads to catch the ball instead of getting ready for the impact of the defence.
Last night it didn't cost us as the cows were not moving off their line.
More enthusiastic sides will put slot of pressure on our forwards.

Hats off to API though, he was in everything and gives his all. With some more training hopefully he masters the hookers craft.

I just watched a replay as well as you are 100% correct. Api's passes were still looping or off the mark a fair bit of the time.

If Api could learn to pass well from dummy half and do it consistently I wouldn't have a drama with him being our #9. But right now I do think along the same lines as others here, Hastings and Api could work as well as Ballin and L'Estrange did for us.....but Hastings has to be the one who starts with Api off the bench.

 

[Holmsey]

I just watched a replay as well as you are 100% correct. Api's passes were still looping or off the mark a fair bit of the time.

If Api could learn to pass well from dummy half and do it consistently I wouldn't have a drama with him being our #9. But right now I do think along the same lines as others here, Hastings and Api could work as well as Ballin and L'Estrange did for us.....but Hastings has to be the one who starts with Api off the bench.

I agree with everything but Api is a better defender and defence is our strong point this year and Api is leading it. Hastings can come on when Api needs a break but Koroisau is way too valuable this year to have not starting and not playing majority minutes.

 

[HoldenV8]

@Turbo1 was Api the only player who would sign your jumper after a game or something?

 

[Holmsey]

@Turbo1 was Api the only player who would sign your jumper after a game or something?

Grow up

 

[HoldenV8]

I'll try, but there is not much chance of that I'm afraid 😛

 

[susan]

Playing a hooker based on the sole fact he can tackle is absolutely ludicrous.Its not park football.

(he misses more tackles than any 9 anyway, the odd big hit hides it)

About as ludicrous as saying someone is consistent after 3 games, one of which was an embarrassing flogging.These guys are (with the 7 )the most important blokes on the field.
Watch Smith, Friend and Hodgson play. They are the standard.

Ennis has left the Dogs and Sharks and the difference is palpable.

 

[Wombat Legacy]

They sure are, but your weekly Api bashing is becoming a bore!
He may not be the best hooker in the comp, but that is where the coach picks him.
Start a rant thread against Barrett if it bothers you so much and leave happy little Api alone...he will get a complex and has enough negativity from the fans to deal with

 

[susan]

Fair enough. I think you will find Im not generally a player bagger unless they are in vital positions and are not up to it. Enthusiasm alone doesn't cut it in NRL.Was never on the Trent bashing bandwagon either.

I want a team that takes us forward. And it's so damn obvious he won't it is frustrating to me. Each to his own. Ride the little bloke home

 

[Wombat Legacy]

Fair enough. I think you will find Im not generally a player bagger unless they are in vital positions and are not up to it. Enthusiasm alone doesn't cut it in NRL.Was never on the Trent bashing bandwagon either.

I want a team that takes us forward. And it's so damn obvious he won't it is frustrating to me. Each to his own. Ride the little bloke home

I share your frustration as well, jury is out big time on Api as full time hooker moving forward. But he is not hopeless and should improve under decent coaching.
If he doesn't, off to market we go! Who is to say we have not already done that...these days you would not know