- Sep 6, 2013
- 55,900
- 68,162
Ok so I can finally get around to it:
1. Boyd - Once the dust settles, probably not quite as good as the week before but back to back decent games bodes well. He bombed a couple of passes but he did a lot of clean up work at the back he wasn't doing a couple of weeks ago. Looked like a captain to me finally. 8
2. Oates - He didn't really get many opportunities but he did what he always does with huge run metres and some really good reads in defense. He really scrambled well and seems to trust Staggs as his centre. A lot to like about the left side now. 7
3. Staggs - He just looks so dangerous every time he has the ball in hand and one of these games, he is going to break out. He has all the skills and is just so calm on the field. His defense has come on in leaps and bounds, he is going to be something special. He shut Manu down pretty well. 8
4. Shibasaki - I'm still not sold, particularly in attack but loved his defense! He shut Mitchell down well and really read plays well. It was a shame he had that ball knocked out but I LOVED seeing him attack it like that, it shows confidence and that is what I want to see. He reminds me a lot of Moga but he showed he has a pass. 7
5. Isaako - THAT is the Isaako we want to see! He was strong all night in both attack and defense, that is how he made his name. He looked good with the boot too, the dropping might have been the wake up call he needed, a lot to like. 7
6. Milford - He is THRIVING with such markedly better service from 9 and having such a calm and cool 7 to work with. He looked dangerous all night and his defense seemed to pick up too. He is going to love being behind this pack for the next few years. 8
7. Dearden - He is just so calm and collected. There is so much Lockyer in what he does, so promising. It is such a shame Gillett dropped that ball because it was beautiful. He has fantastic game awareness and the ability to read what is in front of him. This kid has it all. 7
8. Haas - What else needs to be said? What a try! He has an offload too, how super exciting! He is going to take forward play to a new level. 9
9. Turpin - What a little gem! Sorry Macca, you've been you but time to move on. Who cares if he is a long-term solution (which I think he might well be) because he is better NOW, much better. The direction and width he provides his forwards is excellent. The support play is great and he hits hard. The only thing Macca does different is make more tackles but then Turpin makes them matterm ore even though they are less. Yes, he threw an intercept but remember, it is his fourth or fifth game and just looks at what he has done for the side's direction. It is no coincidence how much more threatening Milf looks. 8
10. Lodge - He probably got over looked a bit in the wash up because of how good Haas and the entire pack were but he was once again excellent. It is often easy to forget how comparatively inexperienced he is. Another rock solid game and he made it his mission to take it to JWH...and he did, repeatedly. 9
11. Glenn - He was great again in a winning side and that is what you get from Glenn. He isn't the type of player who can turn a match but he is the type of player who can help ram home an advantage. That is what he did once again. Very good game. 8
12. Gillett - He was very good defensively and as someone else mentioned, because he can be missed due to his comparative lack of grunt in attack. He, Dearden and Shibasaki made the right edge as tight as it has been since 2015, noice. He did drop that beauty from Dearden though and that takes his score down a little. 6
16. TPJ - He was due and he delivered. THAT is how he should play every week. It is wonderful when he can do what he did against the Cows but that should happen organically. This should be his base level and he should be encouraged to keep popping those offloads, they are a MASSIVE advantage and point of difference. Sometimes they won't work but who cares, you need to take risks to go up a few levels. 8
13. Flegler - There is obviously the thought that he will need a rest at some point...but this isn't that point yet. He continues to give his all and I absolutely love his aggression and the fact he rarely gets put on his back. He is getting more consistent in his defensive hitting too. 7
15. Fifita - He should be getting more minutes but that is not a criticism for this week because he was used perfectly according to the conditions. His ability coming on the back of the bruising the starters had sustained for such a long period worked a treat. The breaking of Latrell's attempted big hit was inspiring. This kid is being overshadowed a bit by Haas at the moment but his future is just as bright. 8
17. Joffa - That shouldn't have been a penalty, it was great kick pressure. The second one I maintain made sense because it stopped momentum on the back of a stupid penalty to start with. I loved the fact he kept pressuring the kickers thereafter as well. He is a lot better than he gets credit for at times. 7
18. Segs - Nice start. Rusty but certainly can see the Cronulla grubbiness in his play, something this side unfortunately needs to be modern. Lovely first up try. 7
1. Boyd - Once the dust settles, probably not quite as good as the week before but back to back decent games bodes well. He bombed a couple of passes but he did a lot of clean up work at the back he wasn't doing a couple of weeks ago. Looked like a captain to me finally. 8
2. Oates - He didn't really get many opportunities but he did what he always does with huge run metres and some really good reads in defense. He really scrambled well and seems to trust Staggs as his centre. A lot to like about the left side now. 7
3. Staggs - He just looks so dangerous every time he has the ball in hand and one of these games, he is going to break out. He has all the skills and is just so calm on the field. His defense has come on in leaps and bounds, he is going to be something special. He shut Manu down pretty well. 8
4. Shibasaki - I'm still not sold, particularly in attack but loved his defense! He shut Mitchell down well and really read plays well. It was a shame he had that ball knocked out but I LOVED seeing him attack it like that, it shows confidence and that is what I want to see. He reminds me a lot of Moga but he showed he has a pass. 7
5. Isaako - THAT is the Isaako we want to see! He was strong all night in both attack and defense, that is how he made his name. He looked good with the boot too, the dropping might have been the wake up call he needed, a lot to like. 7
6. Milford - He is THRIVING with such markedly better service from 9 and having such a calm and cool 7 to work with. He looked dangerous all night and his defense seemed to pick up too. He is going to love being behind this pack for the next few years. 8
7. Dearden - He is just so calm and collected. There is so much Lockyer in what he does, so promising. It is such a shame Gillett dropped that ball because it was beautiful. He has fantastic game awareness and the ability to read what is in front of him. This kid has it all. 7
8. Haas - What else needs to be said? What a try! He has an offload too, how super exciting! He is going to take forward play to a new level. 9
9. Turpin - What a little gem! Sorry Macca, you've been you but time to move on. Who cares if he is a long-term solution (which I think he might well be) because he is better NOW, much better. The direction and width he provides his forwards is excellent. The support play is great and he hits hard. The only thing Macca does different is make more tackles but then Turpin makes them matterm ore even though they are less. Yes, he threw an intercept but remember, it is his fourth or fifth game and just looks at what he has done for the side's direction. It is no coincidence how much more threatening Milf looks. 8
10. Lodge - He probably got over looked a bit in the wash up because of how good Haas and the entire pack were but he was once again excellent. It is often easy to forget how comparatively inexperienced he is. Another rock solid game and he made it his mission to take it to JWH...and he did, repeatedly. 9
11. Glenn - He was great again in a winning side and that is what you get from Glenn. He isn't the type of player who can turn a match but he is the type of player who can help ram home an advantage. That is what he did once again. Very good game. 8
12. Gillett - He was very good defensively and as someone else mentioned, because he can be missed due to his comparative lack of grunt in attack. He, Dearden and Shibasaki made the right edge as tight as it has been since 2015, noice. He did drop that beauty from Dearden though and that takes his score down a little. 6
16. TPJ - He was due and he delivered. THAT is how he should play every week. It is wonderful when he can do what he did against the Cows but that should happen organically. This should be his base level and he should be encouraged to keep popping those offloads, they are a MASSIVE advantage and point of difference. Sometimes they won't work but who cares, you need to take risks to go up a few levels. 8
13. Flegler - There is obviously the thought that he will need a rest at some point...but this isn't that point yet. He continues to give his all and I absolutely love his aggression and the fact he rarely gets put on his back. He is getting more consistent in his defensive hitting too. 7
15. Fifita - He should be getting more minutes but that is not a criticism for this week because he was used perfectly according to the conditions. His ability coming on the back of the bruising the starters had sustained for such a long period worked a treat. The breaking of Latrell's attempted big hit was inspiring. This kid is being overshadowed a bit by Haas at the moment but his future is just as bright. 8
17. Joffa - That shouldn't have been a penalty, it was great kick pressure. The second one I maintain made sense because it stopped momentum on the back of a stupid penalty to start with. I loved the fact he kept pressuring the kickers thereafter as well. He is a lot better than he gets credit for at times. 7
18. Segs - Nice start. Rusty but certainly can see the Cronulla grubbiness in his play, something this side unfortunately needs to be modern. Lovely first up try. 7
