Please stop being realistic and putting things into perspective... Like you said he's barely trained for weeks. Of course he's underdone. It's not an excuse, it's just fact..
Why so many people want to stick the knife into Burton at any chance is beyond me...
Hearing the crowd at Belmore cheer and chant for Reynolds despite being down 30-4 gave me chills reminded me that we have the best, most loyal fanbase in the comp...Then reading the comments after the game reminded me that we also have the most overreactionary and unreasonable fanbase in the comp at times...
Remember when trial matches weren't televised and meant nothing? I much prefer those days.
Our NSW Cup team thumped the full strength Panthers, who in that same year, made the semi-final.
We beat a full strength Melbourne squad in 2016 before they made the Grand Final and we were set back to the first week.
This is the first match with the new spine, many players returning from extended periods of not playing a match and recovering from injuries suffered last season. And its against a team that finished second, with established combinations and a track record of success.
If your going to write off a team based on a trial match in 36 degree weather at Belmore, against the team that finished second, with new combinations, niggling injuries and many players recovering from injuries and returning to full fitness, you are the problem.
I've seen first hand the work ethic, discipline, and commitment of the boys on the training paddock. They leave no stone unturned and go on for hours. They communicate, help each other out, are always hungry to improve - and I will not let a trial match convince me that what I saw won't translate into success somewhere down the track. A trial match is not conclusive evidence, I'm sorry. What I and my mates have seen is.