Tesi Niu

winslow_wong

winslow_wong

International Captain
May 27, 2013
22,041
20,933
Are other fullbacks still defending in the line near their red zone? How many times will teams score off grubbers for us to realise it doesn’t work if your fullback jogs on the spot to get to a loose ball?
 
Sproj

Sproj

Immortal
Senior Staff
Sep 6, 2013
51,755
62,738
Are other fullbacks still defending in the line near their red zone? How many times will teams score off grabbers for us to realise it doesn’t work if your fullback jogs on the spot to get to a loose ball?

Thus us where you’d hope coaches would be picking this up and working with him.
 
Wolfie

Wolfie

International Captain
Jan 14, 2015
22,243
35,469
He was no worse in defence than Drinkwater, that’s for sure.

I think Drinkwater was a lot more dangerous that Tesi and his defence wasnt that bad, cant say i really saw any major errors for him that led to tries. They will be kidding themselves though if they think Drinkwater can take the role currently. He has been training in the halves and basing his game around that. He is going to have to adjust again if he plays fullback. Kind of like when we moved Milf back there. I thought he faded in the last 15 mins or so, his cardio for fullback just isnt there yet.

I still cant get over that stat you posted. How the hell can you make no tackles in a game, and still miss 4 🤷‍♂️
 
NSW stables

NSW stables

NRL Player
May 3, 2019
2,541
6,725
I think Drinkwater was a lot more dangerous that Tesi and his defence wasnt that bad, cant say i really saw any major errors for him that led to tries. They will be kidding themselves though if they think Drinkwater can take the role currently. He has been training in the halves and basing his game around that. He is going to have to adjust again if he plays fullback. Kind of like when we moved Milf back there. I thought he faded in the last 15 mins or so, his cardio for fullback just isnt there yet.

I still cant get over that stat you posted. How the hell can you make no tackles in a game, and still miss 4 🤷‍♂️
Drinkwater got caught out on kodi's try. He got caught on the blindside of the ruck and when the ball was played started running to follow the ball, opening a hole for kodi. This was the major defensive error I saw in his game, otherwise he did quite well including the capacity to catch balls on the full.

The fact that our #1 fullback had a comparable game to a player who has been playing in the halves for at least 2 years and is currently in Qcup should be an indicator of the poor position we a currently in.
 
Wolfie

Wolfie

International Captain
Jan 14, 2015
22,243
35,469
Drinkwater got caught out on kodi's try. He got caught on the blindside of the ruck and when the ball was played started running to follow the ball, opening a hole for kodi. This was the major defensive error I saw in his game, otherwise he did quite well including the capacity to catch balls on the full.

The fact that our #1 fullback had a comparable game to a player who has been playing in the halves for at least 2 years and is currently in Qcup should be an indicator of the poor position we a currently in.

He was probably a little unsighted by Curran but you are right, he should have done a bit better with that one.
 
Mister Wright

Mister Wright

NRL Captain
Jun 8, 2009
4,724
3,085
Meh. I see a lot of upside in Tesi, I'm definitely in the minority, but I reckon he's worth persisting with. The problem is we have so many young talented players who if they were the only inexperienced player in the backline would be allowed to grow into their role around more experienced players. Just think how Inglis and Mitchell were allowed to develop their games in experienced teams on the wing or in the centres. They're all learning and making mistakes together, which emphasises their mistakes even more.
 
1

1910

International Rep
Apr 14, 2013
14,913
18,278
Are other fullbacks still defending in the line near their red zone? How many times will teams score off grubbers for us to realise it doesn’t work if your fullback jogs on the spot to get to a loose ball?

Lots do it but the key is communication, if the fullback makes the tackles he goes to A but then communicates once the ball has gone that he's gone and he follows it behind the defence line- he always should go where the ball goes.

If you just go back to A and stand there well you're terrible at defence, fullback, tracking and working.
 
Wolfie

Wolfie

International Captain
Jan 14, 2015
22,243
35,469
Meh. I see a lot of upside in Tesi, I'm definitely in the minority, but I reckon he's worth persisting with. The problem is we have so many young talented players who if they were the only inexperienced player in the backline would be allowed to grow into their role around more experienced players. Just think how Inglis and Mitchell were allowed to develop their games in experienced teams on the wing or in the centres. They're all learning and making mistakes together, which emphasises their mistakes even more.

Probably the big difference is Inglis played Qcup for a couple of years and killed it there. We are throwing kids into the team who arent even playing that great at that level.
 
Mister Wright

Mister Wright

NRL Captain
Jun 8, 2009
4,724
3,085
Probably the big difference is Inglis played Qcup for a couple of years and killed it there. We are throwing kids into the team who arent even playing that great at that level.
Yep. Unfortunately when you're a struggling team you can't develop the players the 'traditional' way anymore or they'll be off to the next club who offer them a contract. Circa Walsh.
 
L

Locky888

QCup Player
Aug 28, 2015
757
1,304
Download
 
ningnangnong

ningnangnong

HACK THE PLANET!!!
Forum Staff
Mar 5, 2008
29,462
18,076
I don't want to completely write off Tesi - I think with the ball in hand, he's quite a handy player. He's very lively and has some excellent footwork.

The stats UB posted earlier show that he's more than capable when we're in possession.

It's his off-the-ball play that really needs a lot of work put into it. He seems to possess no game smarts whatsoever. Yes, lack of experience plays a part, but when you've reached this level of footy, you're expected to be able to do the basics. I only ever played in the forwards when I was growing up (despite my pining to be a half or a centre haha), but I still had an understanding of each role in the team and the requirements of every position. You don't necessarily get taught that, it's just innate from playing and watching the game, taking an interest, etc. Do players coming through these days not learn like that?

Tesi is far too much of a liability at fullback at the moment. If he needs to learn to play the position, he needs to do it in Queensland Cup. I wouldn't mind seeing him continuing in the team at centre, with Herbie going to fullback. As I said, he's a good runner of the ball and quick on his feet, with a knack for breaking tackles, so I think he'd fill the centre role quite nicely.
 
Mr Fourex

Mr Fourex

State of Origin Captain
Contributor
Apr 9, 2012
11,452
12,607
It's his off-the-ball play that really needs a lot of work put into it. He seems to possess no game smarts whatsoever. Yes, lack of experience plays a part, but when you've reached this level of footy, you're expected to be able to do the basics. I only ever played in the forwards when I was growing up (despite my pining to be a half or a centre haha), but I still had an understanding of each role in the team and the requirements of every position. You don't necessarily get taught that, it's just innate from playing and watching the game, taking an interest, etc. Do players coming through these days not learn like that?

Exactly...its staggering to try and understand.
How do you get to this level and not know the very fucken basics of not only your position, but the rest of the team as well.....
Its not fucken brain surgery....?
 
Sproj

Sproj

Immortal
Senior Staff
Sep 6, 2013
51,755
62,738
Might be very controversial for a few people but I thought he had a blinder. He was 2nd best behind Staggs and I would keep him there the rest of the year if he can improve on that.

I wouldn't have him that high because he definitely had some brain fades but I agree, he was good.
 
Big Del

Big Del

NRL Captain
Apr 22, 2017
4,424
5,247
Problem is, its the other things he did that contributed to us losing the game thats the issue. Plus his fear of competing and catching bombs. As i said earlier, you cant carry a fullback who is so timid and fearful when it comes to catching bombs.

I agree .
I thought he improved his catching and was blocked off one bomb .Getting in front of the ball carrier when supporting a break is bad play . If he can turn all those tackle breaks he makes into some thing more he will be an asset . His goal line D def needs work though .
 

Active Now

  • Lostboy
  • Allo
  • broncsgoat
  • Foordy
  • azza.79
  • broncoscope
  • 1910
  • Johnny92
  • Big Del
  • KateBroncos1812
  • Browny
  • LittleDavey
  • Old Mate
  • ChewThePhatt
  • Aldo
  • bb_gun
... and 3 more.
Top
  AdBlock Message
Please consider adding BHQ to your Adblock Whitelist. We do our best to make sure it doesn't affect your experience on the website, and the funds help us pay server and software costs.