TagMonster
Reserve Grader
Just throwing my opinion out there on how each player has performed over the course of the year so far. I am sure that many will disagree on some points but hey, that's what this place is for after all. Running through the team list:
1. T. Trbojevic - Tom is brilliant. He didn't have his best game but it seems to be because he was trying to do too much and win the game by himself. He is still very young and has heart in spades. He has been brilliant for us this year
2. J. Taufua - Taufua was his destructive self again on Saturday. If he can stay healthy he will continue to have a good year.
3. B. Kelly - Kelly has shown a lot of promise this year and I would suggest his struggles were similar to Toms. Trying to do too much and the lack of go forward hurt him. Still, shows huge promise and will only get better.
4. D. Walker - Walker was solid but went missing at times. This still happens to often. He is better now that he is in his natural position. When the forwards get moving and he has space he is very destructive.
5. A. Uate - Uate has been very good this year and should walk straight back into the starting team.
6. B. Green - He has been very rocks and diamonds thus far. When the forwards are going he seems to go well but struggles when on the back foot. His defensive effort was definitely lacking on Saturday. Needs to improve soon or I'd give Hastings the job.
7. D. Cherry-Evans - DCE has been much improved on last season. He is attacking a lot better and even when killed in attack has racked up bulk defensive work. He still needs to be more consistent to justify his salary but he has been playing much better footy.
8. B. Lawrence - BJ has been solid all year. BJ is always solid. He is consistent week in week out but isn't going to blow you off the park. He is doing his job which is all you can ask.
9. A. Koroisau - Api is not a good hooker. His service is suspect and he misses a lot of tackles. He also does not have the high work rate that top line hookers have.
10. M. Taupau - Kapow has been good this year. He is a big metre eater and seems to be adjusting well to the front row. I prefer him there as he just has to run hard and straight. Hopefully his rib injury isn't much and he can get back on the field.
11. F. Winterstein - Winterstein had an average game and made some poor defensive reads, including one that lead to a very soft try in the first half. He is not a bad player but also doesn't give us anything that other younger players would.
12. C. Sironen - Sironen is similar to Winterstein but has shown that he has that special x-factor that can break games open. If he can improve his consistency he is well worth a starting spot.
13. J. Trbojevic - Jake is the heart and sole of the team and has been getting better with every game. These two brother are unreal and we need to keep them long term. They are the future of the club.
14. L. Brown - Brown is not a good utility. He is average at best as a hooker, second row and centre. He is not worth a bench spot when there are other ways to fill gaps if they present themselves. A bench utility should have X-factor. He is a non-factor.
15. N. Myles - Myles has improved his effort compared to last year. He still is slow to the line and for some reason turns in the tackle and always ends on his back. Not going to get a lot of quick play the balls from him but he is solid and his defensive effort is there.
16. A. Fonua-Blake - AFB is an impact forward. He struggled at times this year when doing bigger minutes which slows his run speed at the time. If he is able to come on for short sharp bursts he is very destructive. Unlucky to be robbed of a try on Saturday.
17. D. Lussick - Lussick was average in his return. His energy was there but he was rusty. I felt like he was trying to do too much and lost control at times. He will be better for the hit out and should return to form.
18. J. Hastings - Hastings is knocking on the door for a starting position at either 9 or 6. He offers a lot more as a utility off the bench as he is a spark and that added X-factor that Brown doesn't have. I'd love to see him in the 6 or 9 moving forward.
19. C. Cullen - If you were to drop both Api and Green I'd suggest Cullen would make a good Half partner for DCE. With a spine of Tom, DCE, Cullen and Hastings we have a lot of spark and attacking power. Cullen seems to be to light weight to be a hooker for mine.
20. L. Perrett - Haven't seen enough of him to have a true indication of ability. Is a big body that provides good depth
21. S. Lane - Had one very powerful run early in the season. Due to injury has been a bit of a non-factor. Has potential and needs to take opportunity when it is presented.
22. B. Bainbridge - Still super young but in limited opportunity has shown potential. Will get his chance in 2018.
23. J. Kennedy - Is depth and nothing more.
24. M. Wright - Wright, I have to give credit for toughness. The bloke would have been gassed Saturday. Didn't light it up and was targeted. Hard to blame the bloke for his mistakes as he had to back up so soon after playing. Is simply outside back depth at this point.
Coach - Trent has improved the teams defensive effort. At times the team looks a little lost in attack but has shown sparks and improvement. His team selection has baffled me at times and his insistence on playing Brown in particular has been questioning his decision making. He has got the team playing for each other and at this point his job is safe. The performance next weekend against the Storm will be important. He needs to improve the teams performance at home.
Overall, most players are playing well, albeit inconsistent. Api needs to sort out his service from dummy otherwise the club needs to punt him. Brown needs to be better in almost all aspects. At this point Hastings offers much more as a utility. Tom needs to settle and play his role. The team is young and you could tell when they went down 16-0 early on Saturday. Panic set in and players started trying to play for the miracle play rather than grind back the game. I think we will win roughly 50% of our games this year and will be fighting to get into the 8 at the end of the year. Unfortunately we are 1-2 injuries in the backline away from disaster which is not a nice place to be.
1. T. Trbojevic - Tom is brilliant. He didn't have his best game but it seems to be because he was trying to do too much and win the game by himself. He is still very young and has heart in spades. He has been brilliant for us this year
2. J. Taufua - Taufua was his destructive self again on Saturday. If he can stay healthy he will continue to have a good year.
3. B. Kelly - Kelly has shown a lot of promise this year and I would suggest his struggles were similar to Toms. Trying to do too much and the lack of go forward hurt him. Still, shows huge promise and will only get better.
4. D. Walker - Walker was solid but went missing at times. This still happens to often. He is better now that he is in his natural position. When the forwards get moving and he has space he is very destructive.
5. A. Uate - Uate has been very good this year and should walk straight back into the starting team.
6. B. Green - He has been very rocks and diamonds thus far. When the forwards are going he seems to go well but struggles when on the back foot. His defensive effort was definitely lacking on Saturday. Needs to improve soon or I'd give Hastings the job.
7. D. Cherry-Evans - DCE has been much improved on last season. He is attacking a lot better and even when killed in attack has racked up bulk defensive work. He still needs to be more consistent to justify his salary but he has been playing much better footy.
8. B. Lawrence - BJ has been solid all year. BJ is always solid. He is consistent week in week out but isn't going to blow you off the park. He is doing his job which is all you can ask.
9. A. Koroisau - Api is not a good hooker. His service is suspect and he misses a lot of tackles. He also does not have the high work rate that top line hookers have.
10. M. Taupau - Kapow has been good this year. He is a big metre eater and seems to be adjusting well to the front row. I prefer him there as he just has to run hard and straight. Hopefully his rib injury isn't much and he can get back on the field.
11. F. Winterstein - Winterstein had an average game and made some poor defensive reads, including one that lead to a very soft try in the first half. He is not a bad player but also doesn't give us anything that other younger players would.
12. C. Sironen - Sironen is similar to Winterstein but has shown that he has that special x-factor that can break games open. If he can improve his consistency he is well worth a starting spot.
13. J. Trbojevic - Jake is the heart and sole of the team and has been getting better with every game. These two brother are unreal and we need to keep them long term. They are the future of the club.
14. L. Brown - Brown is not a good utility. He is average at best as a hooker, second row and centre. He is not worth a bench spot when there are other ways to fill gaps if they present themselves. A bench utility should have X-factor. He is a non-factor.
15. N. Myles - Myles has improved his effort compared to last year. He still is slow to the line and for some reason turns in the tackle and always ends on his back. Not going to get a lot of quick play the balls from him but he is solid and his defensive effort is there.
16. A. Fonua-Blake - AFB is an impact forward. He struggled at times this year when doing bigger minutes which slows his run speed at the time. If he is able to come on for short sharp bursts he is very destructive. Unlucky to be robbed of a try on Saturday.
17. D. Lussick - Lussick was average in his return. His energy was there but he was rusty. I felt like he was trying to do too much and lost control at times. He will be better for the hit out and should return to form.
18. J. Hastings - Hastings is knocking on the door for a starting position at either 9 or 6. He offers a lot more as a utility off the bench as he is a spark and that added X-factor that Brown doesn't have. I'd love to see him in the 6 or 9 moving forward.
19. C. Cullen - If you were to drop both Api and Green I'd suggest Cullen would make a good Half partner for DCE. With a spine of Tom, DCE, Cullen and Hastings we have a lot of spark and attacking power. Cullen seems to be to light weight to be a hooker for mine.
20. L. Perrett - Haven't seen enough of him to have a true indication of ability. Is a big body that provides good depth
21. S. Lane - Had one very powerful run early in the season. Due to injury has been a bit of a non-factor. Has potential and needs to take opportunity when it is presented.
22. B. Bainbridge - Still super young but in limited opportunity has shown potential. Will get his chance in 2018.
23. J. Kennedy - Is depth and nothing more.
24. M. Wright - Wright, I have to give credit for toughness. The bloke would have been gassed Saturday. Didn't light it up and was targeted. Hard to blame the bloke for his mistakes as he had to back up so soon after playing. Is simply outside back depth at this point.
Coach - Trent has improved the teams defensive effort. At times the team looks a little lost in attack but has shown sparks and improvement. His team selection has baffled me at times and his insistence on playing Brown in particular has been questioning his decision making. He has got the team playing for each other and at this point his job is safe. The performance next weekend against the Storm will be important. He needs to improve the teams performance at home.
Overall, most players are playing well, albeit inconsistent. Api needs to sort out his service from dummy otherwise the club needs to punt him. Brown needs to be better in almost all aspects. At this point Hastings offers much more as a utility. Tom needs to settle and play his role. The team is young and you could tell when they went down 16-0 early on Saturday. Panic set in and players started trying to play for the miracle play rather than grind back the game. I think we will win roughly 50% of our games this year and will be fighting to get into the 8 at the end of the year. Unfortunately we are 1-2 injuries in the backline away from disaster which is not a nice place to be.
