My takeaways from the trials
Negatives
- Middle Forwards: The really alarming problem was the middle of the field. There is a real lack of go forward, we struggle to build momentum. Our forward pack isn't the biggest especially with TPJ out; King, Sutton and Thompson are all decent workhorses but they don't make a stack of metres, break the line or offer much in terms of offloads. Our outside backs have heart and they make an effort to take runs but they are all pretty small. Compare that to Cronulla who have big forwards like Rudolf, Hamlin-Uele, Finucane and they were missing Hunt. Plus their outside backs help; Talakai, Mulitalo, Katoa.
- Flanagan: I think it's very obvious that Flanagan is not a first grade halfback. He constantly fumbles the last tackle, doesn't have a kicking game, doesn't goalkick anymore, no running game or creatvitiy. I am not trying to pile up on the guy, but i genuinely don't know why he still gets picked. We let go of better players than him, dunno why he's still there.
- Perham: full of errors, doesn't have any type of passing game, pretty small. He has heart and goes for runs but geez its gonna be a long season if he doesn't improve.
- Defence: you wouldn't believe Ciraldo was a defensive minded coach by watching those matches. Our defence on the edges in particular was horrible, Sharks were throwing basic plays and getting us caught from numbers regularly. The fact it was that bad 1 week from the beginning of the seaosn is alarming.
Positives
- Promising Juniors: Alamoti and Preston in particular look good. Still a long way to go but i can see the signs that they will improve and become players worth investing in. Pele showed glipses of his potential and with TPJ out until round 4, we will need explosiveness from the bench.
- Bench Options: Nu Brown looked good coming off the bench, will be interesting to see how he is used. Reynolds was better than i thought and at this stage i'd rather him to Flanagan at 7, i just don't think he can play 80 minutes for 26 rounds. Skelton looks like he can make an impact too, perhaps as a second rower.