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Reserve Grader
Welcome to the weekly "The Good, the bad and the ugly report" - rd 6:
The Good:
Plenty to like about the performance over the Warriors. Our defence was absolutely superb only letting in one very early try and one very late try after an understandably exhaustive set of repeat sets when the game was well won. The fact that the scoreline wasn't more like 30-10 was probably down to the conditions more than any shortcomings. In terms of player performances there wasn't a weak link anywhere, but in particular Hoppa was absolutely superb filling in at fullback again, and fully deserved to be MOM. Strong in attack, set up a key try, and solid as a rock in defence including a classic Brett Stewart try saving cover tackle that had the crowd on their feet. Can you believe he's only a teenager? Robbo also really excellent with his keen as mustard aggressive kick returns, and Matai again all over the opposition. Foran? What can I say, he's now become our most important player, our Carney and more. This guy WILL win us a premiership. I just love the way he runs hard and straight to not only send the defence back pedalling but his incredibly mouth watering ability to slip the perfect short ball time and again. Every time the ball is in his hands you sense excitement. DCE kicking game was also superb. For years I've been shaking my head at players (ok yes Orford) who barely find the touch line and 10m from a penalty. Finally we have a kicker prepared to smack the ball 40m plus downfield and what a difference it makes putting us on the major attack. Couldn't fault any of the forwards, Kitey was obviously bolstered by leading out the team for his 150th (cute kids in tow) and running with much more purpose (tho I still have one niggle see below). Guluvao again proved he's been our most damaging ball runner this season, Choc was extremely solid tho not spectacular (and that's not a bad thing), Ballin again proved why we don't need to waste a bench spot with Seu Seu, and our 3 main bench forwards were fantasitc. How good is the kid Buhrer, I just love his enthusiasm, and George and Mauro both hit it up with incredible intensity. T Rex? The very good (ie relieving) news is that Dessie now realises his days as a starting back are only for emergencies. Yes yes yes he scored a stack of tries but don't make me go back to the defence thing again we all know you can't reverse a bus without a 3 point turn. And the very best part of "the good" last night? Our depth. To think that Brett, Shane Rodney, Wolfman and the very impressive new forwards Tim Robinson and Harrison were all in the dugout is incredible. If/when everyone is available it's going to be a nightmare decision to somehow whittle down Robbo, Hoppa, Wolfman and the extremely impressive Oldfield to just 2 wing spots. But injuries are inevitable (eg as shown already with Brett) so it's a wonderful problem.
The Bad:
I really like DCE, in just 6 games I think he's well ahead of where Hodkinson was this time last year. But with his hands on the ball when we are set to attack, he's making me groan. I'm talking about the sideways, left, right, start, stop, jink, freeze, go thing. It does my head in. We don't need a new Orford. Hopefully Dessie or Joey Johns will sort it out. And yes he's only played 6 games and will only improve. T Rex playing 9 min off the bench at the end of the game? Sure we won comfortably, sure the game was over, but I just don't like the under 12's style 'ok give him a run at the end' thing. No real damage and at the of the day he'll be very handy in the no 17 especially given we don't need Seu Seu. Kitey's bizarre 5/8 obsession. What is going on there? At one stage last night he was so confused about what to do with the ball that he froze, the game froze and we all froze. Odd.
The Ugly:
The weather = the crowd. Again it screams why we need a Gosford style stadium at Brookie, and fast. Clearly very few are going to brave the hill in that weather and it's just plain depressing to see such an empty ground. And that bloody ground announcer. Please is he the dullest guy in history or what. "Where are you Manly fans?" Trying to avoid you thanks for asking. Call the score and shut up. Zorba please please please can we have the legend Goldie back?
See you at Brookie on Good Fri night. Can't wait.
The Good:
Plenty to like about the performance over the Warriors. Our defence was absolutely superb only letting in one very early try and one very late try after an understandably exhaustive set of repeat sets when the game was well won. The fact that the scoreline wasn't more like 30-10 was probably down to the conditions more than any shortcomings. In terms of player performances there wasn't a weak link anywhere, but in particular Hoppa was absolutely superb filling in at fullback again, and fully deserved to be MOM. Strong in attack, set up a key try, and solid as a rock in defence including a classic Brett Stewart try saving cover tackle that had the crowd on their feet. Can you believe he's only a teenager? Robbo also really excellent with his keen as mustard aggressive kick returns, and Matai again all over the opposition. Foran? What can I say, he's now become our most important player, our Carney and more. This guy WILL win us a premiership. I just love the way he runs hard and straight to not only send the defence back pedalling but his incredibly mouth watering ability to slip the perfect short ball time and again. Every time the ball is in his hands you sense excitement. DCE kicking game was also superb. For years I've been shaking my head at players (ok yes Orford) who barely find the touch line and 10m from a penalty. Finally we have a kicker prepared to smack the ball 40m plus downfield and what a difference it makes putting us on the major attack. Couldn't fault any of the forwards, Kitey was obviously bolstered by leading out the team for his 150th (cute kids in tow) and running with much more purpose (tho I still have one niggle see below). Guluvao again proved he's been our most damaging ball runner this season, Choc was extremely solid tho not spectacular (and that's not a bad thing), Ballin again proved why we don't need to waste a bench spot with Seu Seu, and our 3 main bench forwards were fantasitc. How good is the kid Buhrer, I just love his enthusiasm, and George and Mauro both hit it up with incredible intensity. T Rex? The very good (ie relieving) news is that Dessie now realises his days as a starting back are only for emergencies. Yes yes yes he scored a stack of tries but don't make me go back to the defence thing again we all know you can't reverse a bus without a 3 point turn. And the very best part of "the good" last night? Our depth. To think that Brett, Shane Rodney, Wolfman and the very impressive new forwards Tim Robinson and Harrison were all in the dugout is incredible. If/when everyone is available it's going to be a nightmare decision to somehow whittle down Robbo, Hoppa, Wolfman and the extremely impressive Oldfield to just 2 wing spots. But injuries are inevitable (eg as shown already with Brett) so it's a wonderful problem.
The Bad:
I really like DCE, in just 6 games I think he's well ahead of where Hodkinson was this time last year. But with his hands on the ball when we are set to attack, he's making me groan. I'm talking about the sideways, left, right, start, stop, jink, freeze, go thing. It does my head in. We don't need a new Orford. Hopefully Dessie or Joey Johns will sort it out. And yes he's only played 6 games and will only improve. T Rex playing 9 min off the bench at the end of the game? Sure we won comfortably, sure the game was over, but I just don't like the under 12's style 'ok give him a run at the end' thing. No real damage and at the of the day he'll be very handy in the no 17 especially given we don't need Seu Seu. Kitey's bizarre 5/8 obsession. What is going on there? At one stage last night he was so confused about what to do with the ball that he froze, the game froze and we all froze. Odd.
The Ugly:
The weather = the crowd. Again it screams why we need a Gosford style stadium at Brookie, and fast. Clearly very few are going to brave the hill in that weather and it's just plain depressing to see such an empty ground. And that bloody ground announcer. Please is he the dullest guy in history or what. "Where are you Manly fans?" Trying to avoid you thanks for asking. Call the score and shut up. Zorba please please please can we have the legend Goldie back?
See you at Brookie on Good Fri night. Can't wait.
