[Resurrected] Taupau being shopped?

HK_Eagle said:
Timing from dummy half is out. Ball is arriving to flat-footed forwards who were forced to stop their run and adjust. There is zero momentum amongst our forwards. The occasional hard run, but no numbers supporting him, just one-off efforts. Defense rush and pick us off way too easily.
Click to expand...
I think that’s a big part of the problem the Croker has been very ordinary. Instead of improving he has regressed significantly. 🤦‍♂️
 
Hope the front rowers leave their dresses in the sheds next week. But definitely a need to refresh the front row. Back row is good and when the tigers lad comes it will improve again.
I also thought Davey looked good - needs more game time but was bending the line.

For mine I would be

Letting Marty and pasaka go
Moving jake to front row and have him concentrate on a quick play the ball. He will never get 10m plus per run.
Buying a new lock and two new front rowers.
Hopefully get our little hooker back and look to buy a strike centre and put another 5-10kg on Saab. Speed is great but we start out sets on tackle one by being dominated.
 
I can no longer stand the talk fest from Marty & Co. Will come out in the media this week saying "they got taught a lesson - have learnt from it blah blah". "Insert next teams name" has a good pack and we will be looking to match that' almost sounds like a politician now a days... no mongrel & no action!
 
HK_Eagle said:
Timing from dummy half is out. Ball is arriving to flat-footed forwards who were forced to stop their run and adjust. There is zero momentum amongst our forwards. The occasional hard run, but no numbers supporting him, just one-off efforts. Defense rush and pick us off way too easily.
Click to expand...
Yep. There’s little to no fluency around the ruck. I think it’s a bit of no confidence in Crokers service from hooker, and also Croker trying too hard, and evidently over plays his hand. Eg. That forward pass to Tommy. Just shovel the ball straight to Tommy, he’ll do the rest.
And our second phase play is gone. At one stage there in the second half, Keppie ran thru the gutz, turned for support, and there’s no one. Marty used to get the ball away, but he seems to be flat out just making the advantage line atm…offers no threat at all.
 
Stick Lawtown at 9 to control the ruck speed, putting players on the front foot with service (and selection), support so Marty can have his offload licence back with that alone watch the second phase flow. When we're making as many handling errors as we are, what's to lose?
 
KNUCKLES said:
Ki
The kid is 22 and let's say has had a pretty rough introduction in to the club. Blame anyone but bully at this point.
Click to expand...
My only concern was that JWH ran straight at him and his whole body language was saying... I want no part of this and instead of relishing the collision he backed away. That says a lot to me of what type of player he is.
 
I'LL go against the grain here and ask a genuine question ..

Do you think our game patterns and plans prioritize the work of front towers.. do we play a power pack game. ?

My gut and eyes and the reserve bench tell me that they aren't and we don't.
 
Woodsie said:
I'LL go against the grain here and ask a genuine question ..

Do you think our game patterns and plans prioritize the work of front towers.. do we play a power pack game. ?

My gut and eyes and the reserve bench tell me that they aren't and we don't.
Click to expand...
As I say we have cookie cutter props - all essentially the same - little bend of the line.....no real consistent defensive effort... no offloading. Keppie and Aloiai can hit, Marty and Aloiai can offload, Paseka can bend the line, sometimes Sipley can as well but gee they are similar styles of player. We need to put a mongrel dog pack out there... something like Aloiai Lawton Paseka Big O Davey Jake. Paseka purely because he does bend the line and consistently when he has a dig
 
KNUCKLES said:
Ki
The kid is 22 and let's say has had a pretty rough introduction in to the club. Blame anyone but bully at this point.
Click to expand...
This is 1st grade Knuckles, what's age got to do with it. If he can't cut it, there's plenty who would jump at a chance to prove themselves worthy of being first grade standard.
 
Woodsie said:
I'LL go against the grain here and ask a genuine question ..

Do you think our game patterns and plans prioritize the work of front towers.. do we play a power pack game. ?

My gut and eyes and the reserve bench tell me that they aren't and we don't.
Click to expand...

Nope.

We are starting to play the way The Bulldogs did (guys like Tolman and co. ball playing), in the years leading up to Des demise there. Des Hasler let Damien Cook go at Canterbury in favour of a defensive number 9. What's that tell you? Moronic if you ask me to be honest.

I don't like our current attacking or defensive system. It doesn't create momentum. It's easy to defend against. It'd hard to make metres with. It appears a prehistoric game plan that is very simple to play against, and one Dessie won't move from and adapt / change.

Again, it's not the players. It's the team make-up (recruitment) and Des game plan.
 
When Al and Shoe return I'd suggest we rest Kapow and (dare I say it) DCE. He's my left-field selection:
1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koala
4. Parker
5. Sandwich
6. The Shoe
7. Foran
8. Keppie
9. The Lawman
10. Al
11. Guaca
12. Davey
13. Jurbo (c)
14. Walker
15. Bully
16. Tent
17. Sippers

I'd like to see quicker service, and linking, from the halfback to our classy backline. Foran could do this. The Shoe offers much more in attack than defence so why use him as a forward? Bully is an attacker and needs to be used once the game opens up. Davey can handle the tough stuff. Al and Keppie can be our enforcers. Tent needs to continue to run hard, and Guacca is simply outstanding.
I hope the club doesn't feel it should have to play Kapow and DCE simply because of their large salaries. Everybody should be selected on form, and being dropped may just be the spark both need to realise they need to lift if they want to keep playing NRL.
 
Eagle 1 said:
This is 1st grade Knuckles, what's age got to do with it. If he can't cut it, there's plenty who would jump at a chance to prove themselves worthy of being first grade standard.
Click to expand...
Lol the guy has played like 7 first grade games. It takes time to adjust. Ok like who?? He is obviously ahead of them. hence why he was picked to start. Panthers first up followed by a roosters pack. I'd like to see how other debutants would fair in that situation. Especially in a team that couldn't organise a root in a brothel at the moment
 
Last edited:
I'm happy if we can get a trade for him now tbh.

He just doesn't have 'it' anymore since he got concussed. I think he's genuinely scared to do the hard work as he fears post life footy concussion effects.

He'll always get some decent stats because of his size, but the guy who scared Aust in that test a few years back is long gone.

Keppie will throw a stinging tackle or 10 but not Marty anymore.

He gets replaced by walker (which should embarrass taupau btw)..!

Marty only came 'to life' after Manly's first try.

I've always liked him, but he's devoid of mongrel now.

It's disappointing but he's in self preservation mode.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Members online

Total: 123 (members: 4, guests: 119)

Latest posts

Team P W L PD Pts
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0

Online statistics

Members online
4
Guests online
119
Total visitors
123
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Latest posts

Newest members

Stay Connected

Back
Top Bottom