Gameday 2024 Trial 2 - Warriors vs Dolphins

[Ref]

He couldn’t Escape it due to the Anglia he was running.

We were in good Territory at the time too.

 

[John Nick]

Ford was Laser Focused for the Falcon.

Yet to reach his Everest

 

[francis]

Maybe cause the call went against us but this ref has a really punchable face

i feel that way with most of the refs lol

 

[Cces]

Ali is not going to learn anything in the lower grades.

Sure he is. The NSW Cup side play the Jets in RD1 & he would have a good challenge up against someone like Iro or Hiroti. He has just 13 starts as a Reserve grade Centre (+ x2 on the Wing & x1 Five-Eight) & was playing as a Fullback prior to 2022. Undoubtedly good enough for the NRL but still plenty to learn about the position.

 

[John Nick]

Sure he is. The NSW Cup side play the Jets in RD1 & he would have a good challenge up against someone like Iro or Hiroti. He has just 13 starts as a Reserve grade Centre (+ x2 on the Wing & x1 Five-Eight) & was playing as a Fullback prior to 2022. Undoubtedly good enough for the NRL but still plenty to learn about the position.

Not going to bully anyone in FG like he can do in Cup.
Surely we have seen that over the past few years with Ackland led teams.
FG anywhere is a major step up.
Other grades are practice.

 

[Inruin]

Sure he is. The NSW Cup side play the Jets in RD1 & he would have a good challenge up against someone like Iro or Hiroti. He has just 13 starts as a Reserve grade Centre (+ x2 on the Wing & x1 Five-Eight) & was playing as a Fullback prior to 2022. Undoubtedly good enough for the NRL but still plenty to learn about the position.

Exactly. Absolute nonsense to say he will learn nothing in cup. He has a lot to learn. Undoubted potential and wouldn't surprise me to see him end up in the second row at some point in his career. And who do you drop from the first grade team for him? If he is good enough he forces his way in.

 

[John Nick]

Exactly. Absolute nonsense to say he will learn nothing in cup. He has a lot to learn. Undoubted potential and wouldn't surprise me to see him end up in the second row at some point in his career. And who do you drop from the first grade team for him? If he is good enough he forces his way in.

Fair enough but last night you suggested that Metcalf was better as a centre with his speed.
Far too early to be talking about second row.
First grade continued contact training and learning with injury backup.
Sure play a game in Cup but only to keep him ontrack.
Too greater a difference in standard.
His size and aggressive style is much too good for Cup

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Sure he is. The NSW Cup side play the Jets in RD1 & he would have a good challenge up against someone like Iro or Hiroti. He has just 13 starts as a Reserve grade Centre (+ x2 on the Wing & x1 Five-Eight) & was playing as a Fullback prior to 2022. Undoubtedly good enough for the NRL but still plenty to learn about the position.

He’s got heaps to learn at centre. RTS just put on a fucking clinic of what it takes to be truely elite. The numbers he put were outrageous.

 

[John Nick]

He’s got heaps to learn at centre. RTS just put on a fucking clinic of what it takes to be truely elite. The numbers he put were outrageous.

My point was he isn't going to improve his game in Cup.
Still has a lot to learn obviously he's only a beginner. Maybe I should have used a better terminology.
Needs the strength and structure of FG.
He will find Cup too easy.
Years ago our juniors bullied teams but when they got to FG they simply weren't ready.
Boys against men.
Different fkn story

 

[Inruin]

He’s got heaps to learn at centre. RTS just put on a fucking clinic of what it takes to be truely elite. The numbers he put were outrageous.

I thought RTS was going to be good. I didn't think he would be this awesome this early. Shows a lot about his professionalism.

With Ali he gas a lot to learn to improve his game. If some injuries occur in the first grade team he may get some runs in the team but he isn't going to displace the current centres and wings we have just yet.

 

[Noitall]

Pompey could be good for the eels. I just don't think he get renewed and could be gone before if another club needs a centre. I absolutely love what pompey has done for this club and hope he gets the best deal at another club.

RTS, Berry, and Leiataua are not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. The club could bring in Moi Moi or even this Quinton kid at cup?

Pompey is debatably the only centre we have that can fill centre both sides and wing at the moment. Others have mentioned they see a second rower there also and when I look at a player like Connelly Lemuelu I can see a player like Pompey transitioning to second row and when you look at players like Capewell and Niukore it shows how valuable a second row/centre is. He’s got good utility value in him and personally would be in my starting team in the first 3 rounds with RTS at fullback until CNK returns.

 

[John Nick]

I thought RTS was going to be good. I didn't think he would be this awesome this early. Shows a lot about his professionalism.

With Ali he gas a lot to learn to improve his game. If some injuries occur in the first grade team he may get some runs in the team but he isn't going to displace the current centres and wings we have just yet.

Roger was awesome
Berry was very good.
Ali showed raw ability.
Ali is obviously the next man up for injury cover in the centres.
Not Pompey but I am not knocking him.
Played every minute of every game 2024 great achievement.
Not Metcalf who is our No 1, 6 for the first round.

 

[Cces]

Years ago our juniors bullied teams but when they got to FG they simply weren't ready.
Boys against men.
Different fkn story

While this is true are there actually many examples of genuine stand out NSW Cup guys who then struggled immensely in first grade? Plenty of NYC guys got a shock when they went up against men at Cup/NRL level but I can't think of too many who dominated Cup then hit the wall.
For reference this is the lineup we had for the NSW Cup GF in 2011

 

[Beastmode]

My point was he isn't going to improve his game in Cup.
Still has a lot to learn obviously he's only a beginner. Maybe I should have used a better terminology.
Needs the strength and structure of FG.
He will find Cup too easy.
Years ago our juniors bullied teams but when they got to FG they simply weren't ready.
Boys against men.
Different fkn story

I’m conflicted

I don’t think he’s the finished product

He’ll be under the microscope in FG. Cup he can make mistakes, learn, grow and develop. No time for this in FG. This is our year to win it all. Can’t afford to blood someone in like we did with Berry.

I think a few cameos this season is enough. Keep him hungry and not get complacent. I don’t want another Carlos “ Daley” train hype that under delivers. That train wreck story is too common at this club

 

[John Nick]

I’m conflicted

I don’t think he’s the finished product

He’ll be under the microscope in FG. Cup he can make mistakes, learn, grow and develop. No time for this in FG. This is our year to win it all. Can’t afford to blood someone in like we did with Berry.

I think a few cameos this season is enough. Keep him hungry and not get complacent. I don’t want another Carlos “ Daley” train hype that under delivers. That train wreck story is too common at this club

Exactly. Keep him in the FG environment. Could easily become complacent in the cup grade

 

[Wrighty]

While this is true are there actually many examples of genuine stand out NSW Cup guys who then struggled immensely in first grade?

Per my previous post Chris Satae and Also Ligi Sao would get as much as 200 metres plus as props in NSW cup and couldn't cut the mustard at NRL level. Both doing well in ESL last I heard.

 

[Beastmode]

Exactly. Keep him in the FG environment. Could easily become complacent in the cup grade

Interesting point

I wonder how often the Cup and FG teams train together etc . Imagine at least once a week so it’s one club one dream. That’s the only way to ensure the culture resonates top to bottom.

I trust the coaches know what they’re doing this time

 

[John Nick]

Per my previous post Chris Satae and Also Ligi Sao would get as much as 200 metres plus as props in NSW cup and couldn't cut the mustard at NRL level. Both doing well in ESL last I heard.

That's so true.
Inexperienced rugby league people who post on here don't realize how huge the gap is between first grade and reserve grade regardless of what it's called.
Faster tougher is just the beginning .

 

[Noitall]

I’m conflicted

I don’t think he’s the finished product

He’ll be under the microscope in FG. Cup he can make mistakes, learn, grow and develop. No time for this in FG. This is our year to win it all. Can’t afford to blood someone in like we did with Berry.

I think a few cameos this season is enough. Keep him hungry and not get complacent. I don’t want another Carlos “ Daley” train hype that under delivers. That train wreck story is too common at this club

It’s a credit to Berry and his progression that he’s held his spot after being behind Williame and Vailea to start last season and at the moment is holding Pompey out who has played 80 games in his career to date. I personally see it closer between the two than others being that Berry offers a bit better tackle efficiency than Pompey but Pompey averages 101m per game to Berry’s 75m but there’s no doubt that Berry is deserving of his position being what he’s building with DWZ. Reminds me of Bostock from the dolphins in relation to his frame and looks to be a tough proposition for opponents with his strength.

 

[Wrighty]

9 days until Our round one tuesday team list naming.

Here is what the trials seemed to resolve for me. y'all may have reached different conclusions,, so these are just where I landed.

1) Metcalf showed well in the second trial and gets the nod at 6
2) Niukore will be an impact middle this year who plays in somewhat of a hybrid way where he runs lines like an edge forward does in the red zone.
3) Jazz played his way out of contention and will get his chances again when injuries strike which knowing the NRL he won't have to wait long.
4) Lussick was the only other player given minutes at hooker apart from Egan. Seems a hint that Lussick may find his way on to the bench. But then again CHT was injured for the 2nd trial so he is still in the mixer. But things looking like Lussick.
5) I personally think TMM warmed up as he went along in the 2nd trial but I think he did his brand some damage in the all stars match so badly did he play that night, that I think he will find himself ranked third behind CHT for the halves.
6) Pompey did good and did enough to retain his pecking order as the 3rd ranked centre ahead of Ali.
7) Ali not ready yet.
8) Bunty for me was better than Ale although the forum seems divided on this.
9) Our edge defence continues to leak tries in 2024 although not when RTS and Berry were out there
10) Egan seems to have gone up a level from last year. Some talk of him being a smokie for Origin other talk on the forum that he is in the top 3 of the team with AFB and SJ.
11) Capewell looked like he should be picked for Australia and not just origin.
13) The number of bandages on Tohu's body worried me.
14) DWZ was attrocious with the number of turnovers he did. But who cares I guess just a trial and he was guaranteed a starting position so probably didn't care about the trial.
15) Ali L has future star written all over him
16) Rocco was solid and staked his name to a centre position in round one.