Strong Bench...and depth....lookin good

[eaglebuzz]

I know I shouldn't say it but here goes.

Do any of you think the best ever thing for Turbos hammy was that the comp moved to QLD?

Looking at the tracks we have played the majority of the year on and they have been flat, fast and with stable short grass.

even before we left for the sunshine state we played in Mudgee which looked immaculate. Bank west v the eels and tigers. we took a home game to Suncorp.

he didn't play at home against the raiders or the cows at home due to SOO.

In fact the only game he played at home this year was against the Warriors.

we all love Brookie but let's be honest the track has had a bad rep for injuries for a long time.

perhaps the planets are aligning this year after all?

Yep I'm pretty sure the boggy track at Brookie is a huge factor in our year on year injury woes. I wish they would tear up all the turf and start again.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Yep I'm pretty sure the boggy track at Brookie is a huge factor in our year on year injury woes. I wish they would tear up all the turf and start again.

Totally agree. It needs 1m taking out. Drainage added at the sub-base level. Sand and then a top layer of super fast turf. Make 4 pines Park the best surface in the league.

 

[Remy]

No way! We need Lawton on that bench. Covers injuries for 9 and the second row.

That's what I legit wrote, he covers injuries which is good but other than that how do we use him? It's pretty much a 3 man bench. You really want to roll in against Melbourne or Penrith with a 3 man bench when we can have Sipley part of such a strong prop rotation and counter the size other large packs like Melbourne and Penrith have? See how Penrith and Rabbits all have only 1 utility player so they can use everyone on that bench and maximised their value. Melbourne will most likely be like that come finals, can't seem them carrying both Hynes and Grant, and even if they do, they still use all four players on the bench whereas I still don't know how we use Lawton at all for our gameplan.

 

[The better Robbo]

Interesting the concerns with lack of size on our bench.
Storms bench recently has carried both Grant and Hynes, so hardly conventional.

Des rarely stretches the bench even with injuries.
He's only just recently just started subbing Croker and Sirro/Sipley/KDL don't get big minutes generally.

Walker has grown into his new role at roving 13 and provides cover for 1-6 if needed.
Jake covers that extra big man sub.
Lawton covers backrow and hooker.

Second rowers are now 80 minute men as well as Jake so having an extra big man might be a thing of the past with the "new NRL".

Injuries to key personnel in the forward is the killer - eg Jake going down may then be an issue

Weren't we named the biggest (both tallest and heaviest) team in the comp? Absolutely nothing wrong with the size of our team/bench!

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

Lawton is listed at 94 kgs, and plays 'bigger' than that - noting his stints in the 2nd row covering Schuster when he was injured.

Walker is listed at 98 kgs, and it wouldn't surprise me if he's not 100 kgs at the moment - his tackle to drag a 110kg Bulldogs prop back into the in-goal showed strength.

The strength and speed (and versatility) of both will serve us well in the finals.

yes the Walker haters conveniently overlooked that superb effort - and that was all enthusiasm, effort and as you say strength but then also tried to pin him for the "miss" on the inside ball on half way which in fact was not his man at all and was the markers job to pick up.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Totally agree. It needs 1m taking out. Drainage added at the sub-base level. Sand and then a top layer of super fast turf. Make 4 pines Park the best surface in the league.

Brookie probably contributes to our injury toll, but with Turbo I think him getting off the booze and doubling down on strengthening, conditioning, and special preparation for his hammy every day has played a bigger part.

I don’t know his full routine but it’s been reported that he does extras every training before they get going to prep his hammy. It involves sprinting at 80%+. He also gets on an exercise bike at halftime during games so it doesn’t cool off and ices both hammies after the game. There’s a strict process he’s following.

 

[Eagle 1]

I cannot believe it. We are at absolute full strength heading into finals (touch wood)

What a change from the last 3 years, heck last 6-7 years was probably the last time we finished the year full strength and every player available.

It's good to see, the only one I would add if he was available is Finiu, but he's been out for so long now. Croker has made this position his own and his defence around the ruck has been so reliable.

 

[Briza]

i don't get the love for walker as a bench player, he does some good things but seems to kill the play or take the wrong option.
i think Josh has been a little inaffective when Walkers on also.

 

[Eagle 1]

The speed of the game now demands smaller men on the bench.
I for one like both Walker and Lawton with their speed around the ruck.

Wasn't a fan of this to start with, but you are right the new rules have made our game so fast now. Players like Lawton and Walker really come into their own against tiring forwards.

 

[Eagle 1]

Agree, Tent and Aoli start. I would have Slippers on the bench for finals games in place of Walker. We will see.

 

[Eagle 1]

Aoli has been a revelation, so impressed with his intensity and commitment since he's been back. He deserves his starting spot alongside Marty, with Paseka and Keppie as follow ups, we are looking so strong now.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Aoli has been a revelation, so impressed with his intensity and commitment since he's been back. He deserves his starting spot alongside Marty, with Paseka and Keppie as follow ups, we are looking so strong now.

The team is looking fantastic coming into the finals. This week gives us an opportunity to focus on the basics such as set completion and error reduction. We got this.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Marty, Aloio, Paseka and Keppie. That is quite an engine room. Add the back row of Big O, Schuster and Jake and that is a awesome pack.

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

I know I shouldn't say it but here goes.

Do any of you think the best ever thing for Turbos hammy was that the comp moved to QLD?

Looking at the tracks we have played the majority of the year on and they have been flat, fast and with stable short grass.

even before we left for the sunshine state we played in Mudgee which looked immaculate. Bank west v the eels and tigers. we took a home game to Suncorp.

he didn't play at home against the raiders or the cows at home due to SOO.

In fact the only game he played at home this year was against the Warriors.

we all love Brookie but let's be honest the track has had a bad rep for injuries for a long time.

perhaps the planets are aligning this year after all?

For those with a better memory than mine 🍷
On which grounds has Tom previously torn his hammies?

 

[globaleagle]

For those with a better memory than mine 🍷
On which grounds has Tom previously torn his hammies?

first in with 'the corso'

 

[maxta]

For those with a better memory than mine 🍷
On which grounds has Tom previously torn his hammies?

The shower ?

 

[globaleagle]

For those with a better memory than mine 🍷
On which grounds has Tom previously torn his hammies?

brookie was one against souths in 2019, also hurt it in a trial game against cronulla the same year...

and I have things to do so that's it from me. Google is your friend.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

For those with a better memory than mine 🍷
On which grounds has Tom previously torn his hammies?

First major tear was v souths at brookvale 2019. Last year v Canberra it was at Campbeltown which wasn't a great surface.

 

[TokyoEagle]

It involves sprinting at 80%+.

That would explain the loss to Harry down the Corso. 🙄