What I got from the 2 trials yesterday..
Nikorimas kicking game has been near perfect so far, long-medium and short kicks
Milf looks switched on and bossy on the field
Milf looked bigger then last year, but in a very healthy-athletic way actually
Thaiday as a hooker if Macca can't play a full game initially gives our team a better balance and he isn't bad BUT Murphy looks very good there. Our depth at hooker is much better then last year with Turpin as well
I like the idea of Oates coming on for 20 at 2nd row then finishing the game on the wing-it'll make sure his fitness builds and gives other teams a bit of a different angle to deal with late in the game
McGuire looked a bit rusty
Lodge has continued to impress, along with sims and ofa
Sua is a classy young talent, if Oates didn't make his change Sua would have nabbed a bench spot for 15+ games his year easily-he may get 10 instead now pending injuries
I am still expecting TPJ to kick on this year but I do hope the media drama didn't effect him too much as he hasn't outshone the others in the trials
Pearson played really well but he still didn't get involved like I want him too, but I wouldn't be unhappy if he got picked over isaako-although still isaako for me, I think he has shown enough to justify not going to the market for a fullback if he continues to improve and sticks around-it may benefit to get him on the wing for first grade exposure too
On the reserves trial:
Haas didn't have a great game and may have had the dropsies early but he pushed a grown man forward back 20 metres and made 15+ metres on numerous runs with 2-3 players on or with him-there is more then media hype to him. He will play more then 1 or 2 games this year
Tagatese took it easy. He will teach he young players well-it takes more then physical potential to be a top notch nrl player, he still looked like a decent-ish back up though, especially defensively
Burns looked good, may be worth investing time in him as a bench utility for the future-he looked good in both trials and impressed me previously
Shibasaki has talent but is like Pearson and Allan, lacks involvement. Our backs aren't brimming with exciting talent like the forwards
Paix looked good against a more senior team, for a halfback that young he certainly looked the goods and he called the shots
Nona has definetly dissapointed. He passes too deep, players always having to reach behind them and slow themselves down
Just my thoughts....hurry up round 1!