Hi SER8 , I hope all is Great in your nestSome here want to see him angry, but there's no need to be angry if no-one's ever mean to you.
I keep on saying Speed Kills. I can't fathom how our lack of pace in the forwards was our biggest problem
I have been told by a good contact Laiafi has backrow potential also Joe, how do you see that as a possibility, or is it prop only....you would know more about him then anyone here, what's your take on him and is the potential there to break in 2026 ?It is all opinions Maxta,did not say he has reached his ceiling.
The coaching staff and club obviously believe he is doing a good job and I agree with them.
My point was not that the others are props but are underperforming.
My opinion is that I would not swap him for any prop out there.
Not sure I would say that Laiafi is Haas like either,far from it.
He played second row in the schoolboys carnival and made the Aus team on the bench from his performances.I have been told by a good contact Laiafi has backrow potential also Joe, how do you see that as a possibility, or is it prop only....you would know more about him then anyone here, what's your take on him and is the potential there to break in 2026 ?
It does feel we have been saying this for years now...
Definitely, very hard going through the middle with a one punch forward, needs that dominant type front row partner to go at the opposition.He cant do it on his own. We need another alpha prop.
Hard not to agree on the summary, Tent and Bully I rate as the best two middle forwards at the club.Honestly, we can't go into 2025 with as many slow-motion forwards as we've had for a very long time. The more explosive, agile teams tear us apart. I can't fathom how our lack of pace in the forwards was our biggest problem in 2024, and we've exacerbated that by downgrading from Lawton to Tevaga. I just don't see us improving, unless we turnover some players (and I'm talking fan favorites like Croker, Burbo, Jurbo, Condon, James, Brown, Sipley, Lodge, Aloiai). Our recruitment strategy is Tevaga? Seriously?
In my opinion, you can carry a few power forwards, but they need different tools in their kit. Paseka and Olakau'atu fit the bill. Bullemor and Waddell offer some leg speed and pace (a different perspective, that's needed). Navale looks the goods. You could then probably carry two logs (say Aloiai & Brown) - but for me, to get into a top 4 position, the rest need to move on.
08. Taniela Paseka
09. Jake Simpkin
10. Ethan Bullemor
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12.
13. Caleb Navale
14. Jake Arthur
15. Josh Aloiai
16.
17. Nathan Brown
Those final two positions need to be Liam Martin, Spencer Leniu types.
If we've got no cap space available with as many ineffective forwards as we have, then we'll continue to be almost rans, rather than contenders. Recruitment needed to step up the last few years. They've done an excellent job with Talau & Brooks. Our development staff have done extremely well with Hoppa / Navale. As an entire club, we've dropped the ball correcting / fixing our biggest and glaring problem. Lawton to the log formally known as Tevaga isn't improving us. It's another Jake Trbojevic physique, and literally just as, if not slower at the same time 🙁
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Not insulted with you at all mate and just to let you know, really appreciate your insightful posts and especially on the youngsters coming through....adds so much to the Silvertail site 🙌He played second row in the schoolboys carnival and made the Aus team on the bench from his performances.
He could play both,I don't think he has the workrate of a Haas,he still needs to work on his fitness and focus,he has an error or two from lack of concentration at the moment.
Sorry mate,no disrespect,I value your opinion on here,was not having a direct go at you before.
I guess I just have a high opinion of Taniela and think he has taken his game to another level under Seibold.
Des had him and the other props one week starting,the next in Reggie's,the next on the bench and it was a joke for our consistency and performance.
Seibold put the number 8 on his back from day one and made him a starter and he has blossomed since then in my opinion.
Just my opinion....maybe back end of 26 is more realistic to be blooded,chances are he may even start 2025 in Ball before moving to Flegg.
Likely to follow other young tyros like Tuivaiti from Eels and Tonga from Dragons who are moving into NRL contracts this year and both maybe get a shot sometime this year after a year on supplementary contract.
Maybe depends who his manager is.... 🙂
Hey Phoby , I hope all is well in you Eagle nestI love Croker, and particularly his creativity and defence,
Fair points, in 2024 he was considerably less creative.Hey Phoby , I hope all is well in you Eagle nest
Please explain this Great Creativity that you love in Croker
Because I dont see any Creativity in this Predictable and Pedestrian player
All I see is a hard work ethic in defence
Fair points, in 2024 he was considerably less creative.
I was more so referring to 2022 and to an extent 2023, where he would come up with the occasional good play or kick. Not particularly in the sense of hooker play, but odd off-the-cuff plays as an individual player. He didn't kick a 40/20 this year, but last year he was tied first for most 40/20's in the comp. That was an asset. Don't know what happened to it this year.
Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 4 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 2 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | -30 | 2 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -6 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 0 |
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2 | 0 | 2 | -16 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -30 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -38 | 0 |