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I had $10 on it. Paid $13 on Sportsbet

….the smallest bench in the NRL.

Small bench eh!

Patola didn’t look comfortable in that first carry

This presents as the smallest bench in the NRL - Tafe or Hayward had to give way for another forward.

He won’t be on the Patola and King start. The bench is Hayward, Hushes, Faumassilli, and Morrin. Taffe is out

He is identified as a long term prospect

He just got a fine - which hurts more than a suspension.

WE LOST BUT IT WAS A GREAT SPECTACLE - EVERYONE IN OUR HOUSE HAS LIST VOICES SHOUTING AT THE TV. GOOD PERFORMANCE.

Very credible effort by the boys tonight. We lost but a lot of positives. King would have been handy but our forwards tonight more than matched them. Not sure about Ciraldo putting Kautonga on for last 10 in the front row and putting the kid under pressure when he is a back rower. But...

If the club wanted to prove a point (presumably with legal advice) then the club should pick up the fine.

He’s just been found guilty - fine now $1500

Confirmed

It would appear CC has one game plan. Agree, better placed to have a back on the bench if the game plan was to play Knight and Hughes for 28 minutes combined. Knight didn’t do anything too wrong - why didn’t he get another 15 mins.

Morrin just lost the game.

Mate, you didn’t analyse the game close enough. The 20 minutes that he was on was our most destructive period off the back of quick play the balls. None of the Titans players could bring him to ground and hence play is quicker and spreads to the strike zones more efficiently. Look at the Mahoney...

If we don’t hold the ball and complete sets all of our middles will fatigue. We need a reasonable percentage of the ball - if not the juice required in defence will kill us.

Hughes needs more consistent involvement. 2 minutes at the end of the first half and again 2 minutes at end of second half. Solid 20 minutes on n second half. But no ball.

Big over reaction - Flanagan would not have made a difference. We will continue to progress each year - 3 years away form finals football.

Agree - the defence was admirable based on the continued defence set after set. We defended straight for the first 40 minutes. No juice to turn it around. The Parra performance was top line - they chocked us. They will be top 4 this year.

Like that team. While I like Skelton I’m not convinced his defence is up to it just yet. Samuel Luiwezy put 5 tries on him down that edge in NSW Cup. And Brad Arthur would never pick that kid for first grade.

You can’t expect anything from the middles when we just defended for the first 40 minutes. Way too many mistakes and Parra were almost perfect.

take 4-5% off those reference weights. That is what some of the props have lost due to the increased pre-season demands. That might be a good thing for our game plan.

That’s what I’m thinking.

He’s not for round 1 - but he will have plenty to offer as the season progresses. I thought he did well last year.

Enough said - you can’t coach pace. And you need to be able to turn quicker than the QE2.

I’ll be interested to see how it turns out this year for him. He might just surprise a few.

I have been watching Salmon off and on since he was a kid playing for DeLa Salle in the shire. No question the boy can play. Natural footballer - this more than likely will be a big year for him given the chance. Gus would have seen a lot of his junior football also given he has a son roughly...

Yes - you’re right. Was going to come back on but club Dr. didn’t give him the green light. No need to take risks in trial. Hazzletom didn’t get up quickly after the clash but seemed ok.

Fun fact - he has the same manager as Finucane.

Hughes won’t start / he will come off the bench

The boys really enjoyed it - some were star struck.

F***k - Sam Hughes made the all star team at 7. The hype must be true.

Cheer up you grumpy ****

Wow - why so positive and uplifting.

Played junior football for Sharks and De La Salle - can he still play - anywhere. Sam Hughes also played junior footie at De La Salle but first started at Taren Point Titans.

While Alamoti has some positives we have far better cattle in that position now. Alamoti was way too slow and you can’t coach that. He will have limited opportunity at Penrith.

If you have got Fox go to on demand and watch the NSW Cup game between us and North Sydney Bears. We lost but the game featured Hughes and Patola against May and Baker. It’s a good match with Hughes getting into a blue at the end after obviously being frustrated. Good watch.

How did he not impress that much. He made Is debut against South’s on Good Friday and didn’t put a foot wrong and not looking out of place in the NRL. He did likewise in another 4 appearances facing some of the best props in the game. He’s got a long way to go - he needs 25 NRL games before...

Met Claude and Robbie a few times outside the stadium a few years back - good value

You would have to think Gus has this covered. I wasn’t too concerned about our forward sticks last week. Now we have lost Ray, Sutton has just had knee surgery and Patola hasn’t even had a run this preseason.. Whilst the younger props show promise they need 25 games behind them to be able to...

Yes, best of luck to him. He was a very good influence over the younger squad members and very well liked. A man of principles - I hope he goes on to play good footie and secure a good deal somewhere.

He should have got more minutes last year as he never looked out of place. The upside is that he still has so much development to come. He needs to be developed carefully this year - you can’t go straight into the 17. If managed properly the sky is the limit - size, power, engine and athletic.

It’s a difficult road to navigate. Can you take the train and trial option and keep the Ron Massey door open. The Jersey Flegg systems will have more exposure from the club with an easier pathway to Cup. Ron Massey is a good standard hopefully that can feed into NSW Cup.

It’s not a bad set up out there at Cabra. And the Chinese feed at the club is top.

Hoping this defensive system actually works in 2024. Would love to know what the system actually is because it didn’t look too flash in 2023.

Agreed. Ciro will gradually introduce Hughes and increase his minutes as the season builds. Can’t go from playing a handful of NRL games to starting against seasoned props.

How much do you value Terrel May at. What do you think?

Our middles will perform above expectations in 2024.

Yes Rob Whittaker gym at Smeaton Grange

I don’t think you know what you are talking about. His defence would not be up to it.

He is having a standout preseason. Hoping it turns into a standout year on the field. Still young, raw and developing - big future.

I think you’re right. Gus is waiting for the player market dynamics to come into play so that we can snare some further middle coverage ($400 - $600k recruit).

I think the middle stocks are better than suggested. Yes, a seasoned front rower would be a good addition but none available. The squad as whole has improved. Add Edwards to the list. Prediction - 8th to 10th.

Front rowers are a rare commodity. I would have thought Gus would have wanted longer tenure otherwise other clubs will be able be recruiting early post trials.

YoI’m obviously haven’t analysed his defence close enough

The group will throw out a few surprises this year. Yes, we are lamcking in a big name and we experience but we will see a cohort of developing middles that will shine.

I think Gus and Ciraldo are quietly confident in the squad. The forward pack will surprise most on the forum.

Once Joash was dropped (not sure why) or injured and Flanagan went to play bench hooker for FB the wheels fell off.

Where else will he play?

Did you watch much NSW Cup??

It’s surprises me that you think Kikau can defend. All four would out muscle him.

You have got this the wrong wast round. Not sure how much we are paying but suspect not market, unless we lock them down they will have offers elsewhere. They will be calling the shots.

Patola also is young and with so much potential - the club needs to prioritise their development.

That’s absolute garbage - he is a huge positive influence on our younger players. He is a gentleman and still has a lot to offer. Got injured in training twice which didn’t help.

Sam Hughes is signed for 2024

He’s 19th man - not even 18th man. Long way to go to warm up

Maybe - but if you keep saying you are going to bring in players and you don’t the it will ultimately backfire on you. However, I think we may see something different tomorrow - maybe Jayden Tanner who hasn’t played since the earlier rounds.

He hasn’t played them this year and we have the worst defensive record. Hughes won’t make the final 17 tomorrow even though he has been named against the Titans.

Hughes already signed for 2024

Hope so - just put $50 on them paying $2.10

Not really fair to judge in a side when the wheels have fallen off. Will go much better with Perham at fullback but will miss Topine, Hayward and Edwards. The other fixtures play into our hands in terms of position on ladder but we will need a win to secure a top 5 position.

Terrible right edge generally. Lots of cheap turnover in the game. We had 12% possession in the first 20 minutes. Would like to see Joash as fullback instead of Kaled.

It looks like it’s a way of coming good. The ‘centre of excellence’ model Gus is developing takes years to reach maturity and luck and good management that the players will stay and believe. I don’t think the players that have been bought will provide an exponential lift in quality. It’s a hard...

Let’s hope he can go out on a winning note - but it doesn’t look like it just at the minute. I heard there was lot of dropped ball today.

Who moved on?

Not meaningless to those playing in it. You play ultimately to the GF. Those boys want to win it - the same way they wanted to win every year from under 8’s

Watch Flanagan senior target a number of Bulldogs up and coming players using his in house recruiter Flanagun junior. There are 2 or 3 players that he will make a play for in the next 12 months.

I understand he will play out the rest of the year in Cup with the boys. Hopefully ending up with some silverware. It could be a good move for him with door open to progress his NRL career in 2 years.

Haven’t we also got contracted for 2024: Melino Fineanganofo & Hoffman?

Agree. I have watched BBO since he was 15/16 playing for Parramatta Harold Matt’s and Ball - very talented. Remember he has just come off a 9 month ACL rehab. He has a lot of upside to come. Anyway, I understand he is contracte for 2024. I have also watched Bailey Hayward for last 3 or 4 years...

Not enough quality ball sent his way. A winger is totally reliant on service. He would kill it at the Rabbits.

Is there anyone injured at the moment?

Team will stay unchanged after on the whole an unconvincing win. The only change may be RFM who was a late withdrawal due to injury but would be right after bye. Would think they run Thompson in reserves for another week although he seemed to get through reasonable minutes in reserve grade.

So say Thompson plays Cup next 2 weeks (being 3 Cup appearances) and the last 2 NRL games then he would be eligible to play Cup finals?

So say Thompson plays Cup next 2 weeks (being 3 Cup appearances) and then 2 NRL appearances (last 2 games) he would be eligible.

What are the eligibility rules? Don’t you have to play so many NSW Cup games or is it you are not eligible if you play too many NRL games.

Give him an extension and then drop him - these blokes ain’t rocket scientists.

Hughes will be out of the squad at the expense of the new signings.

Looks pretty accurate - good job. The only one I question is $400k for Salmon. He hasn’t really secured a FG spot at for any duration. Did win a GF though.

That looks pretty realistic. How accurate are they?

You’re way off the pace pal - no idea. They just signed Hughes again for 2024. Go down to McDonalds and pick up Ronald’s big red nose, wig and clown shoes.

Another clueless ****wit

The comeback is on

2 penalties - 2 tries

How will that go for the young players.

If Mahoney is out (back) and Preston (sick) then the team will be: 1. Averillo 2. Wilson 3. Kiraz 4. Alamoti 5. Skelton 6. Burton 7. Flanagun 8. King 9. Edwards 10. TPG 11. Okunbor 12. RFM 13. Waddell 14. Topine 15. Morrin 16. Hughes 17. Perham?? Back five will have to take all the get out...

If Reed is out Edwards will come in as 9, Topine and Hughes will be on the bench