Patty Weisner

[Smokin Joe]

They are 0-5 and it is not time for heads to roll and I hope Workers stick by him through this,but it will be interesting to see if he makes any changes this week or if he feels that they are not far from turning things around and keeps the status quo.For me I think that Kaveinga and Schuster need to swap,Kaveinga is a specialist winger and Schuster has ability under high ball,good positioning,good at backing up and good hands.Lane needs to be moved into prop or lock and play in the middle,he is just faffing about out wide and needs to be forced into doing more work.If he can handle the switch it may keep his career going,if not his time here may not be a long one.The bench needs some beefing up,at the moment it is a bit of a lightweight,powderpuff bench.2 players in the lower grades who could fill the role are Andy Fiagatusa and Sione Masima.Weisner stated that he was playing second rowers up front as injuries forced him to but the injuries are to Manly props,the only Workers prop injured is Faingaa.Fiagatusa has been injured but has been back the last 2 weeks and Masima is a later addition to their squad,both are a bit short of fitness but should be there.Pat Mataele at centre should be dropped for Jerry Key and Sione Tanginoa(a Taufua type winger) should be added,Matt Place I think should be added at 5/8 if Hastings is not dropped for Lussick this week and Cullen/Godinet moved to the bench.Thoughts from anyone who has seen the matches live or on tv?Sorry for the length of post.....

 

[Ryan]

You're my insight into workers mate - appreciate it.

 

[Danly Manly]

Yep, Schuster to fullback most definitely.
And they could do with some more size on the bench.
I wonder how Hopoate would go in the centers?
Tom Wright would be a welcome addition to the team.

 

[maxta]

Thought the game was there for the taking on Sunday and only dropped balls/forced passes/bad decisions cost Blacktown the match.
Cullen was a handful, but failed to be that cool head when the heat was on, though again, loved his energy in defence often lifting Manly to attack in defence.
The halves with Godinet also, a bit erratic when in great attacking positions.
Lane looked dangerous, but had sloppy hands and Lloyd Perrett was a real handful with great metres and offloads at will.
The Wrights showed this is about their grade and young Amone - front rower, proved a willing worker who plays above his weight.
The young Hooker off the bench (Parada?) looks dangerous and has an eye when to scoot.
All in all, a game they easily could have won, just need confidence and decision making at crunch times.

 

[tookey]

Bring back Willo

 

[Smokin Joe]

Cheers for your thoughts @maxta ,agree with you but still think they need some size/impact off the bench.Most of the Workers guys are not NRL conditioned and are 2nd and in some cases 3rd level guys and their conditioning reflects that and they tire faster.Having some bigger impact/power players coming off the bench instead of tacklers might help the side to stop fading in matches by maintaining or creating fading momentum.A big run or hit in the forwards later in a game can be inspirational/demoralising to fatigued players,a lot of the opposition teams will have many similar type players(2nd level) and big guys utilised against a tiring side can be decisive.Glad to see Perrett and Amone going so well,think Amone might be better suited to lock at NRL,do you think?

 

[maxta]

Cheers for your thoughts @maxta ,agree with you but still think they need some size/impact off the bench.Most of the Workers guys are not NRL conditioned and are 2nd and in some cases 3rd level guys and their conditioning reflects that and they tire faster.Having some bigger impact/power players coming off the bench instead of tacklers might help the side to stop fading in matches by maintaining or creating fading momentum.A big run or hit in the forwards later in a game can be inspirational/demoralising to fatigued players,a lot of the opposition teams will have many similar type players(2nd level) and big guys utilised against a tiring side can be decisive.Glad to see Perrett and Amone going so well,think Amone might be better suited to lock at NRL,do you think?

Hey Smokin - Actually think Amone was a ball playing lock who could play through and before the line earlier in his career ??
If not - 100% valid - has a big motor and leg drive after contact - heads up looking for 2nd phase.
Perrett and Amone were let down with a lack of punch from the other forwards....a few edge forwards trying to play pretty, rather than smash through with authority, had the outside men kind of sideways at times also.
Think your spot on with the fitness levels also - mid each half so vulnerable, and can see how some games blow out around this time mate....playing off some direct energetic subs would create havoc.....

 

[Freagle]

Yes, very much agree about the lack of front rowers. If you think about it, over the past couple of years we had Luke Burgess, Josh Starling, Siosaia Vave, Jesse Sene-Lefao and the like playing in reggies. All first-grade standard or close enough to it. Now we have Amone, who is 100kg and more of a lock, and the only other props are around the 105kg mark as well, except for the absent Faingaa and the 'probably more first grade than reserves' Lloyd Perrett. Definitely need a couple of seasoned front rowers to keep them moving forward.

 

[double hoops]

They don't look that far away. A prop or two would help. Id question the commitment of some players. Not all, it's a minority, may just be the increase in level.

Hopoate continues to be the one that stands out to me as a grade material.

 

[Top End Eagle]

To be fair they have had Cullen Hastings Kennedy Lane mucking around with the firsts during this period. no real stable platform there. They will sort it soon.

 

[Bird Up]

This really frustrates me with NRL and the immediate lower grade feeder teams! No player is held accountable for their performances and their positions are pretty much guaranteed every week unless they're injured! Drop players for poor performance, poor attitude or lack of commitment regardless of who they are or how much of the salary cap they occupy and promote those who deserve it and give them an opportunity to prove themselves! Create some healthy competition across all 3 grades and keep all the players 'honest' on and off the field! I bet we would see a peak in performance by all players then!! Besides at 0-5 what harm is it going to do to give some other players a crack!!

 

[Bearfax]

Is Hopoate still on the nose with the NRL. He doesnt seem to get any press in discussions regarding first grade. just wondering if he is still serving penance.

 

[maxta]

Is Hopoate still on the nose with the NRL. He doesnt seem to get any press in discussions regarding first grade. just wondering if he is still serving penance.

Still not available for NRL

 

[Woodsie]

Is Hopoate still on the nose with the NRL. He doesnt seem to get any press in discussions regarding first grade. just wondering if he is still serving penance.

Still not available for NRL

Starting to be a concern, it seems to be taking a long time considering they were hopeful of getting clearance late last year.

 

[Bearfax]

Starting to be a concern, it seems to be taking a long time considering they were hopeful of getting clearance late last year.

He might need to get a transfer to Parramatta, so he can get the clearance.

 

[Woodsie]

He might need to get a transfer to Parramatta, so he can get the clearance.

I thought that was funny but the sad fact is it's probably true.