Caleb Navale

[LeonardCohen]

The sad reality is Navale is the type of forward that Canterbury have in abundance; whereas he’s our only middle of this kind and struggles to get game time and minutes. We’d be a much better side with more players in the Navale mould and less of the Lodge prototype.

You can see the impact that a bit of leg speed has in the modern game. If you watch the Eels win over the Chooks, look at how much faster they run all their plays. I’m happy we won yesterday, but the Dolphins were ordinary. A big win does not paper over the cracks in our middle rotation.

 

[MissKate]

Especially as Waddell was pants yesterday

 

[lsz]

You can never have enough of those

Who else is going to take up a bench spot?

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Navale played well yesterday & was way better than Waddell. He should be in the team in front of him for the last 2 games of the season.

 

[Woodsie]

Navale goes ok .. handy player, useful squad member ...

But ... I think he would have to play for a whole season to get a 3 minute highlight reel ...

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Come on you guys!
Caleb admitted himself he was gassed after 10 min when he got a run earlier on. Adapting to the pace of NRL game can't be easy, surely? When you're just coming in you probably can't sleep the night before and burn up masses of nervous energy before your even out on the field.
Anyway. He's here now and here to stay, I reckon. I too thought he'd be picked earlier but what do I know!

The excuses for poor team selections and below par recruitment never stop for some.

 

[manlyfan76]

Navale goes ok .. handy player, useful squad member ...

But ... I think he would have to play for a whole season to get a 3 minute highlight reel ...

Yes much better to be a keppie clone and make six errors a game.
...
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[SeaEagleRock8]

The sad reality is Navale is the type of forward that Canterbury have in abundance

Yes and no. They have several who are
1) smaller (which Navale is)
2) fit and speedy and terriers in defence (Navale can be)
3) aggro (Navale?)
4) seasoned at NRL level (Navale not yet)
5) can pass the ball (Yep Navale seems OK at this)
6) versatile (Navale not yet anyway

 

[Coops manly]

Here we go again . Navale has a great game. Shows he has a motor yesterday and had great glimpses.
Yet we still have the ones that told us he looked like he can't keep up with the speed after seeing 10min stints in denial hahaha
When a kid debuts and has tiny minutes he will get overawed and gas himself initially trying to do everything and make an impact.
Watch his game for both Fiji and in nsw cup regularly playing huge minutes he certainly doesn't look like a guy that has no motor . How do you think he can't keep up with the speed of nrl based on a couple of 10min games of nrl . Gobsmacked yet the couple of experts will still find a negative 😅

 

[double hoops]

Right now Navale is a Lock. Better leg speed, more hit ups, hit the line hard, quick play of the balls. But you all know the hard decision won't be made and Jake the 1.2 million dollar man next year will continue to keep Navale out of the teams link man role.

 

[mave]

Navale goes ok .. handy player, useful squad member ...

But ... I think he would have to play for a whole season to get a 3 minute highlight reel ...

At least hes doing everything at a quicker pace than most of our other middles, even if he was to be doing it at a similar standard

Leg speed is King in V'Landysball.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Here we go again . Navale has a great game. Shows he has a motor yesterday and had great glimpses.
Yet we still have the ones that told us he looked like he can't keep up with the speed after seeing 10min stints in denial hahaha
When a kid debuts and has tiny minutes he will get overawed and gas himself initially trying to do everything and make an impact.
Watch his game for both Fiji and in nsw cup regularly playing huge minutes he certainly doesn't look like a guy that has no motor . How do you think he can't keep up with the speed of nrl based on a couple of 10min games of nrl . Gobsmacked yet the couple of experts will still find a negative 😅

People, organisations and businesses who aspire to be the best will always compare where they sit in landscape by measuring themselves against the best. In a professional sports club this occurs from the fans all the way to the CEO. A participation mentality infects great organisations when you get enough weak people signed up who are satisfied with mediocre results. Excuses, excuses, excuses.

/* Yay six teams finished lower than us */

 

[Phobia]

Right now Navale is a Lock. Better leg speed, more hit ups, hit the line hard, quick play of the balls. But you all know the hard decision won't be made and Jake the 1.2 million dollar man next year will continue to keep Navale out of the teams link man role.

Jake's concussions will surely change things. It's poor technique, stemming from low stamina, that has resulted in his concussions.

If they don't give him less minutes, especially now that Navale looks like he can play the Jake role well, they'd be knowingly shortening his career.

 

[manlyfan76]

Come on you guys!
Caleb admitted himself he was gassed after 10 min when he got a run earlier on. Adapting to the pace of NRL game can't be easy, surely? When you're just coming in you probably can't sleep the night before and burn up masses of nervous energy before your even out on the field.
Anyway. He's here now and here to stay, I reckon. I too thought he'd be picked earlier but what do I know!

RE being gassed, maybe:
1) maybe adrenaline wore off (first game of the year)
2) just being modest (didn't want to showboat)

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I suspect part of the problem will be Jake himself wanting to play more minutes. But less minutes is the only realtstic option. Jake’s long term health is the priority.

 

[nightster]

Really stood out by just running hard and straight, which says something about the rest.

And when he jumped into dummy half a few times when Simpkin was tackled his service was outstanding - great player, should automatically replace Jaz next year

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Come on you guys!
Caleb admitted himself he was gassed after 10 min when he got a run earlier on. Adapting to the pace of NRL game can't be easy, surely? When you're just coming in you probably can't sleep the night before and burn up masses of nervous energy before your even out on the field.
Anyway. He's here now and here to stay, I reckon. I too thought he'd be picked earlier but what do I know!

Also, Navale debuted last year and he played big minutes in one of those games. The "after ten minutes I was gassed" comment seemed like a throwaway response to a question. Considering he plays in the middle for long stretches in both International games and Nsw Cup.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Yes and no. They have several who are
1) smaller (which Navale is)
2) fit and speedy and terriers in defence (Navale can be)
3) aggro (Navale?)
4) seasoned at NRL level (Navale not yet)
5) can pass the ball (Yep Navale seems OK at this)
6) versatile (Navale not yet anyway

I'm just talking about a bit of mobility and leg speed over the ad line. I guess Bullemor has the leg speed too but does play with more of a bump than an attempt to use mobility to get between defenders and find his front.

 

[ManlyTragic]

Come on you guys!
Caleb admitted himself he was gassed after 10 min when he got a run earlier on. Adapting to the pace of NRL game can't be easy, surely? When you're just coming in you probably can't sleep the night before and burn up masses of nervous energy before your even out on the field.
Anyway. He's here now and here to stay, I reckon. I too thought he'd be picked earlier but what do I know!

… that’s because he moves …. The other forwards rarely move!

Just sayin’

 

[Tvesikula]

Also, Navale debuted last year and he played big minutes in one of those games. The "after ten minutes I was gassed" comment seemed like a throwaway response to a question. Considering he plays in the middle for long stretches in both International games and Nsw Cup.

Fiji rugby follower here.
Navale played big minutes against PNG last year and also ran down Derby (yes a winger)