Matabele
Journey Man
If you want to understand why we’ve deservedly earned the reputation as flat-track bullies, incapable of beating sides worthy of a finals berth, the secret is out. When we play the better sides our forwards have consistently shown they lack ticker. DCE, Foz and Tom can’t work miracles when our pack are doing their best interpretation of shrinking violets, no wonder there’s so many muffed passes and ineffectual runs when there’s no platform laid.
Take a look at last night’s stats. The humiliation of our entire starting pack earning as many run metres as a washed up winger in a 2nd rower’s body, Oates who lacks pace and nearly had his career ended by Saab just 12 months ago. 6 forwards with less than 300 metres off the bench, and the bench adding nothing too. Compare our forwards with the Broncos, who rolled up their sleeves and rolled through our middle. Little wonder the Courier Mail concluded their match summary with this gem: “Brisbane’s line speed reeks of a hungry team that is breaking teams with their spirit in defence”. Every time Manly plays a better side out forwards look disinterested and listless. It’s not good enough.
Keppie: Has not provided anything to suggest he is first grade material. Struggles to hold onto the ball and provides no impetus in attack. Once a fortnight he provides a turnover with a good tackle, negated by dumb penalties and dropped ball. How many times do you see him falling off a goal line tackle to concede a try?
Crocker: Placed in an unenviable situation of interim hooker, he must be feeling his position is under threat from both Segeyaro and possibly a soon-to-be-cleared Fainu.
Aloiai: A disappointing signing, more off the field than on. Has his moments against weak sides but can’t reproduce it against quality opposition.
Olakau’atu: The one shining light in our pack at the moment. Probably playing above criticism at this stage, which is a credit given he’s one of the youngest there.
Bullemore: Proving to be something of a mystery. His highlight reel is great and he’s said to be intelligent. But drifts in and out of games and fails to seize initiative. Should have been fired up to prove the Broncos wrong last night, but went out with a whimper.
Jake: Another player hard to criticise, though it seems this year his primary inspiration is coming from long, ranty speeches, rather than leading from the front on the field.
Walker: It’s hard for a utility forward to impose themselves on the game when there is no platform laid, but as the season continues it’s hard to discern any commitment to the club he’s exiting.
Davey: A feel good story who has shown something on the field, but one wonders if he’s not better off starting because he adds little off the bench.
Taupau: Is there anyone out there who thinks he’s doing anything other than punching his paycheque each week now? Cost us the game against Souths with dumb penalities and errors at critical times, and ineffectual last night. Our so called enforcer is anything but against quality opposition.
Sipley: Given the amount he’s picked and minutes he’s played, doesn’t seem to have Des’ confidence. Another player prone to dumb errors and penalties. Looked good in the trials but perhaps doesn’t have the fitness to play appropriate minutes in first grade.
Only forwards to come back into this side are gentle-giant Paseka and Schuster, who admittedly looked good against Souths. But if this forward group don’t find any intensity or commitment over the next fortnight, we will be 5-7 and sitting at a point on the table which probably reflects our true position in this league, with this pack which shows no ticker. 10th to 12th.
Take a look at last night’s stats. The humiliation of our entire starting pack earning as many run metres as a washed up winger in a 2nd rower’s body, Oates who lacks pace and nearly had his career ended by Saab just 12 months ago. 6 forwards with less than 300 metres off the bench, and the bench adding nothing too. Compare our forwards with the Broncos, who rolled up their sleeves and rolled through our middle. Little wonder the Courier Mail concluded their match summary with this gem: “Brisbane’s line speed reeks of a hungry team that is breaking teams with their spirit in defence”. Every time Manly plays a better side out forwards look disinterested and listless. It’s not good enough.
Keppie: Has not provided anything to suggest he is first grade material. Struggles to hold onto the ball and provides no impetus in attack. Once a fortnight he provides a turnover with a good tackle, negated by dumb penalties and dropped ball. How many times do you see him falling off a goal line tackle to concede a try?
Crocker: Placed in an unenviable situation of interim hooker, he must be feeling his position is under threat from both Segeyaro and possibly a soon-to-be-cleared Fainu.
Aloiai: A disappointing signing, more off the field than on. Has his moments against weak sides but can’t reproduce it against quality opposition.
Olakau’atu: The one shining light in our pack at the moment. Probably playing above criticism at this stage, which is a credit given he’s one of the youngest there.
Bullemore: Proving to be something of a mystery. His highlight reel is great and he’s said to be intelligent. But drifts in and out of games and fails to seize initiative. Should have been fired up to prove the Broncos wrong last night, but went out with a whimper.
Jake: Another player hard to criticise, though it seems this year his primary inspiration is coming from long, ranty speeches, rather than leading from the front on the field.
Walker: It’s hard for a utility forward to impose themselves on the game when there is no platform laid, but as the season continues it’s hard to discern any commitment to the club he’s exiting.
Davey: A feel good story who has shown something on the field, but one wonders if he’s not better off starting because he adds little off the bench.
Taupau: Is there anyone out there who thinks he’s doing anything other than punching his paycheque each week now? Cost us the game against Souths with dumb penalities and errors at critical times, and ineffectual last night. Our so called enforcer is anything but against quality opposition.
Sipley: Given the amount he’s picked and minutes he’s played, doesn’t seem to have Des’ confidence. Another player prone to dumb errors and penalties. Looked good in the trials but perhaps doesn’t have the fitness to play appropriate minutes in first grade.
Only forwards to come back into this side are gentle-giant Paseka and Schuster, who admittedly looked good against Souths. But if this forward group don’t find any intensity or commitment over the next fortnight, we will be 5-7 and sitting at a point on the table which probably reflects our true position in this league, with this pack which shows no ticker. 10th to 12th.