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Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Bulldogs)
Faitala-Mariner averaged 103 running metres and busted 30 tackles last year... in the second-worst attacking side in the competition. Now, the barnstorming second rower will be playing under a new coach who knows a thing or two about getting the best out of a misfiring attacking unit.
Penrith were hard to watch before Trent Barrett arrived as attacking coach. While the Bulldogs don’t have the same strong foundations for talent, Barrett’s recent recruitment drive is enough proof that he is primed to transform the Dogs’ attack and Faitala-Mariner will be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He is already making an impression on Barrett and you can be sure the new coach will be looking to use Faitala-Mariner’s big frame to the team’s advantage.
“(Raymond Faitala-Mariner) is one that’s stood out for me,” he told Sky Sports Radio last week. “There’s a bit of Kikau about him actually, he’s a big body and a bit of a weapon on an edge.” Now, Bulldogs fans will be hoping they don’t fall into the same trap Penrith had of being too overreliant on Kikau. But with Barrett at the helm, the Panthers were able to be smarter in the way they used the Fijian giant. Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai would play it short, then give him early ball next and at other times used him as a decoy to keep the opposition guessing.
There was more deception to Penrith’s attack and if Barrett can bring that to Belmore, it will make Faitala-Mariner only more dangerous on the edge. He is a perfect line-running forward as shown in the two tries below, capable of running short and flat and capitalising on poor defensive choices from the opposition. If he already looked the Dogs’ best in poor attacking structures, imagine what he can do with the right systems in place.
The other four players continued on in article
www.foxsports.com.au
Faitala-Mariner averaged 103 running metres and busted 30 tackles last year... in the second-worst attacking side in the competition. Now, the barnstorming second rower will be playing under a new coach who knows a thing or two about getting the best out of a misfiring attacking unit.
Penrith were hard to watch before Trent Barrett arrived as attacking coach. While the Bulldogs don’t have the same strong foundations for talent, Barrett’s recent recruitment drive is enough proof that he is primed to transform the Dogs’ attack and Faitala-Mariner will be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He is already making an impression on Barrett and you can be sure the new coach will be looking to use Faitala-Mariner’s big frame to the team’s advantage.
“(Raymond Faitala-Mariner) is one that’s stood out for me,” he told Sky Sports Radio last week. “There’s a bit of Kikau about him actually, he’s a big body and a bit of a weapon on an edge.” Now, Bulldogs fans will be hoping they don’t fall into the same trap Penrith had of being too overreliant on Kikau. But with Barrett at the helm, the Panthers were able to be smarter in the way they used the Fijian giant. Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai would play it short, then give him early ball next and at other times used him as a decoy to keep the opposition guessing.
There was more deception to Penrith’s attack and if Barrett can bring that to Belmore, it will make Faitala-Mariner only more dangerous on the edge. He is a perfect line-running forward as shown in the two tries below, capable of running short and flat and capitalising on poor defensive choices from the opposition. If he already looked the Dogs’ best in poor attacking structures, imagine what he can do with the right systems in place.
The other four players continued on in article
Titans’ $1m hope and a ‘weapon on an edge’: NRL five to make big breakthroughs in 2021
Titans’ $1m hope and a ‘weapon on an edge’: NRL five to make big breakthroughs in 2021
www.foxsports.com.au
