Official Round 6 - Bulldogs vs Sharks - Discussion Thread

[KiwiDog7]

Exactly.

It's as clear as day that the club saw the hooker position as one that needed to be upgraded on. We went after a multitude of potential targets striking out on each one. OK. So be it.

But we eventually settled for Katoa who's an actual hooker. It's his position. And for some reason he hasn't even been on the bench yet. But JMK plus Holland, two players whose natural positions AREN'T hooker, keep playing in front of him? Baffling to me.

You lot can carry on as much as you like about Lewis. I personally am more puzzled by Katoa as we're absolutely screaming out for a semi-decent hooker but continually overlook the guy. At least give him some time off the bench to show us what he has? #payout

Totally agree

We have a genuine specialist hooker that’s hasn’t got an opportunity because teachers pet JMK jack of all trades master of none won’t be moved

Also hopefully Averillo is back to centre because Wakeham will actually get him quality ball today

 

[Cappuccino]

Always a good morning when Lewis has been dropped the night before!

Exactly.

It's as clear as day that the club saw the hooker position as one that needed to be upgraded on. We went after a multitude of potential targets striking out on each one. OK. So be it.

But we eventually settled for Katoa who's an actual hooker. It's his position. And for some reason he hasn't even been on the bench yet. But JMK plus Holland, two players whose natural positions AREN'T hooker, keep playing in front of him? Baffling to me.

You lot can carry on as much as you like about Lewis. I personally am more puzzled by Katoa as we're absolutely screaming out for a semi-decent hooker but continually overlook the guy. At least give him some time off the bench to show us what he has? #payout

But what irks me is Katoa called DWZ who gave him Deans number after Clearly told Katoa Api was coming. We only got the scraps and only after the guy realised he'd be on centrelink if he didnt jump to another club. It screams amateur hour. And did we sign Katoa and miss out on someone else? Or is he seemingly out of favour already?
Is it a Des/Liicha thing where Pay wants to stick solid with JMK? I have no idea but JMK is not the answer and never will be

 

[doggieaaron]

Pays team selections the previous 2 week have been a joke.

But hes a good bloke and nothing is his fault apparently

 

[Spoonman84]

I'm pretty excited for today's game to see how Wakeham goes! He's playing with Foran for the first time against a team that is beatable. The only thing I'm worried about is Wakeham not having any football for close to 10 weeks.

Apparently Averillo will be going into centre on Foran's side of the field with DWZ at wing. That has some genuine strike power there.

 

[doggieaaron]

If we dont win todays game we have serious problems as on paper our team should do well

 

[JayBee]

Not to put a dampner on anything - but was Lewis "dropped" or is he injured?

I know Wacko was reporting injured, but he isn't exactly a credible source.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Not to put a dampner on anything - but was Lewis "dropped" or is he injured?

I know Wacko was reporting injured, but he isn't exactly a credible source.

Dropped. Britt was "injured" last week yet he was magically fit when Tolman was ruled out.

 

[hackenbush]

JMK has two years at no 9 & had not improved. His feet are anchored & Rarely move with the ball. As such Our forwards are deep when they receive the ball, losing meters across 6 sets. Also does not have the vision to find weaknesses in the defence line or creativity in advancing our attack. The odd dart from dummy half does not cut-it in the modern game.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Exactly.

It's as clear as day that the club saw the hooker position as one that needed to be upgraded on. We went after a multitude of potential targets striking out on each one. OK. So be it.

But we eventually settled for Katoa who's an actual hooker. It's his position. And for some reason he hasn't even been on the bench yet. But JMK plus Holland, two players whose natural positions AREN'T hooker, keep playing in front of him? Baffling to me.

You lot can carry on as much as you like about Lewis. I personally am more puzzled by Katoa as we're absolutely screaming out for a semi-decent hooker but continually overlook the guy. At least give him some time off the bench to show us what he has? #payout

Since Katoa refused to have the flu vaccination maybe the coaching staff decided that they won't let him play. Maybe the players themselves decided that they didn't want to be playing with someone who hasn't been vaccinated. Maybe the NRL declined to give Katoa a clearance to play, it's at their discretion, maybe he didn't have enough justification. Maybe, since he refused the flu vaccination, that it came to light that he hasn't had any vaccinations, not diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B or polio. Who knows?

Go Dogs

 

[Spoonman84]

JMK has two years at no 9 & had not improved. His feet are anchored & Rarely move with the ball. As such Our forwards are deep when they receive the ball, losing meters across 6 sets. Also does not have the vision to find weaknesses in the defence line or creativity in advancing our attack. The odd dart from dummy half does not cut-it in the modern game.

Even his darts from dummy half aren't calculated because he has seen the defensive line in tatters they are just runs for the sake of running.

 

[Spoonman84]

Since Katoa refused to have the flu vaccination maybe the coaching staff decided that they won't let him play. Maybe the players themselves decided that they didn't want to be playing with someone who hasn't been vaccinated. Maybe the NRL declined to give Katoa a clearance to play, it's at their discretion, maybe he didn't have enough justification. Maybe, since he refused the flu vaccination, that it came to light that he hasn't had any vaccinations, not diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B or polio. Who knows?

Go Dogs

Or maybe Pay just isn't playing him.

 

[oldpuppy]

I'd like to see ogden make something of this opportunity again. He's earned his criticism so it's up to him. Do something like Elliot and play like we know he could. Ogden IMO has genuine mongrel but his effort perhaps let's him down.

 

[B-Train]

Since Katoa refused to have the flu vaccination maybe the coaching staff decided that they won't let him play. Maybe the players themselves decided that they didn't want to be playing with someone who hasn't been vaccinated. Maybe the NRL declined to give Katoa a clearance to play, it's at their discretion, maybe he didn't have enough justification. Maybe, since he refused the flu vaccination, that it came to light that he hasn't had any vaccinations, not diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B or polio. Who knows?

Go Dogs

If those things were true, he wouldn't be training with the team like he has been. Plus several players at different clubs all took the same position as Katoa and are still playing.

Also, Katoa wasn't in the 17 in the first two games before Covid.

So what's far more likely is that Pay refuses to play him because he thinks JMK is Danny Buderus.

Personally I think Katoa is ordinary and shouldn't have been signed. But JMK has been awful and isn't a hooker. Plus he can't play 80 minutes. So it's stange that they would sign Katoa but have zero intention to play him.

 

[Howie B]

Even his darts from dummy half aren't calculated because he has seen the defensive line in tatters they are just runs for the sake of running.

I was watching a replay of one of our games from last year and Lichha is actually a much better player than JMK .

And Lichha is ordinary

 

[wendog33]

Or maybe Pay just isn't playing him.

And if it's the vaccinations aspect why he isn't being played, for health reasons, then the fans should be told.

"Dad said "Dont treat the fans like fools".

He is picked in the 21 so available for selection but dropped out every week with no chance apparently. Crazy.

 

[wendog33]

I'm pretty excited for today's game to see how Wakeham goes! He's playing with Foran for the first time against a team that is beatable. The only thing I'm worried about is Wakeham not having any football for close to 10 weeks.

Apparently Averillo will be going into centre on Foran's side of the field with DWZ at wing. That has some genuine strike power there.

10 weeks? Well he better get a fair go from the knockers then.

 

[Spoonman84]

And if it's the vaccinations aspect why he isn't being played, for health reasons, then the fans should be told.

"Dad said "Dont treat the fans like fools".

He is picked in the 21 so available for selection but dropped out every week with no chance apparently. Crazy.

He's been training with the squad and he's inside the bubble so not being vaccinated isn't the issue.

Most of the time the obvious answer is the right one and I think Pay just prefers JMK.

 

[Spoonman84]

10 weeks? Well he better get a fair go from the knockers then.

Last game he played was the 19th of March against the Cowboys. So at least he will fresh!

 

[Psycho Doggie]

Dropped. Britt was "injured" last week yet he was magically fit when Tolman was ruled out.

Sources confirm this: "Dean Pay has dropped Lachlan Lewis with Brandon Wakeham coming in to partner Kieran Foran in the halves."

 

[wendog33]

He's been training with the squad and he's inside the bubble so not being vaccinated isn't the issue.

Most of the time the obvious answer is the right one and I think Pay just prefers JMK.

Exactly my point. He is being picked in the 21 so we can let go of the no jab excuse