2024 pre-season discussion: Pre-season Premiers

[McHunt]

Haas isn't a debutant.

Yes, he came off the bench in both these internationals:

Australia v New Zealand

Australia versus New Zealand match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

www.nrl.com

Tonga Invitational v Australia

Tonga Invitational versus Australia match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

www.nrl.com

 

[McHunt]

Deflecting much ?

As if support play wasn't something we've been sorely lacking for years. Ezra is exactly what we needed.

 

[Big Del]

Oh yeah agreed .
What I`m talkin about is your assesment of Ezra`s season .
He was ordinary mid season . Shone in the semis and GF .

I was on the Ezra Mam train during last seasons trials .
I think he is an inspiration to a generation of kids . That flick pass to Captain Coach Reynolds was timeless . Just want to see more .

 

[McHunt]

Oh yeah agreed .
What I`m talkin about is your assesment of Ezra`s season .
Just want to see more .

You will see more. A whole lot more.
Tune in next year. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

 

[BRC088]

Few things for next year:
- I'd like to see Adam peel a bit of bulk off.
- Keeping the pedal down and turn the screws, 20pts per game at absolute min. (not avg, MIN).

 

[Sproj]

I reckon it just comes down to fitness and we were pretty seriously good in that department this year but I worry with the stupid disrupted pre / early season, coupled with origin, we might well be underdone for the whole year through no fault of our own.

 

[BRC088]

Oh, and hopefully Penrith are made to actually make an attempt to play the ball properly next year.

 

[Morkel]

Oh, and hopefully Penrith are made to actually make an attempt to play the ball properly next year.

View attachment 24601

Just like they were made to not deliberately move in to the path of our kick-pressure defenders? Or how, when jumping early off their line to pin the opposition, instead of 6-agains they'd get full penalties blown against them?

 

[McHunt]

I reckon it just comes down to fitness and we were pretty seriously good in that department this year but I worry with the stupid disrupted pre / early season, coupled with origin, we might well be underdone for the whole year through no fault of our own.

Penrith's superpower is coming back from the dead. In case you've forgotten the 2020 Grand Final, they nearly pulled it off there too:

 

[McHunt]

Tallis on extending Reynolds:

“I would wait till halfway through next year. There is no doubt as you get older, it gets harder. I would till halfway through the year because that gives you time. Reynolds is at the club, he is there and they can monitor how his body is going. He is ageing and everyone has a use-by date.”​

Reynolds:

​

“As long as the club wants me there and I’m feeling good, and it’s mutual, I’m more than happy to keep playing for this club. I’m extremely confident I can play on. I’ve missed a few games this year with concussion, but there hasn’t been anything major with the body aside from a few niggles here and there. Every player that has played the game during the finals would have a few niggles. It’s a long season. But that’s my plan to extend and go another season. The club is building towards something special and I want to be a part of it.”​

​

“It would have been nice to get the result. I don’t think you have to lose a grand final to win one. If you’ve got the team to do it, you’ve got the team to do it. We certainly had the team to do it. We just weren’t clinical at the end. You’ve got to give them credit. They are a champion team and play to their strengths. Nathan Cleary was probably the difference in the end.”​

 

[McHunt]

 

[Mr Fourex]

I watched the last 10 minutes again. Man there were so many opportunities to hold on. If Walsh grounds the ball before getting pushed in touch instead of just laying on his back. If Reynolds kicks deep on either his clearing kick or drop out. If someone actually tried to attack the ball when Cleary kicked instead of 5 broncos standing flat footed watching it come down. If Staggs comes down in the field of play after Crichton kicks. If Walsh and Riki paid attention to Cleary being on the left and Walsh not just standing still when he realises the ball is going the other way.

Could torture yourself playing this type of thought exercise all day. It all just comes down to we were entirely exhausted

I've tried watching a replay.......

10 mins in
I've switched off the TV and thrown the remote across the room and said what the **** am I doing!!

Its too soon.........

 

[Dexter]

We have to improve in a few areas.

Unforced errors have to be fixed.
Mam needs to create space for his outside men.
If he can improve here it gives us an option for Walsh to play wider and that's gives an option to hit the centre flat.
What we're doing is working but it's a bit same same and will be worked out by the better sides.
Cobbo has to get fit if he wants to take Herbies place.
Billy has to improve again from his big strides this year.
So much strike in our backline, if we get it right, we'll be watching games.that are over by halftime.

 

[Mr Fourex]

No he hasn`t .
There was a time mid season when other options were discussed .

He improved in the last month . I made a post a cpl of weeks back saying Ezra was under orders to keep it simple . Focus on defence and backing up . And that the next cpl of seasons he would show his full bag of tricks .

I'm not sure about other options being discussed, but I do tend to agree with you. I thought he was a bit quiet with the ball in hand early-mid season. Certainly has showed us what he can do in the back end of the season.

He has a huge ceiling it appears.......

 

[McHunt]

TC can finally be named:

 

[Mr Fourex]

Not sure what I was doing wrong all those years ago, but I could never talk a chick into stepping into the dunnies at a nightclub for a bit of stink finger....lord knows I certainly gave it a good try.

Must have been the lack of $$profile$$ I had compared to footy players.......

 

[1910]

​

Toa Samoa squad​

Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm)
Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks)
Luciana Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys)
Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)
Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys)
Grey Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)
Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers)
Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)
Karl Oloapu (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Keenan Palasia (Brisbane Broncos)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)
Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm)
Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)

 

[Sproj]

That’s a strong side, shame they don’t have anyone to steer them around. Was Taulagi overlooked for Aus or did he choose Samoa? Surely he would have got in ahead of JAC and Holmes.