Scrappy first half - Cleary off just before half time clutching his cheek after a late hit - hope it’s nothing serious.
Well, it was a trial, so as usual take the result (0-20) with a grain of salt.
Part 2
Some takeaways from the game:
As in last week - Tim Grant has in my opinion won a bench spot for round one and onwards. He looks fit, in form and full of passion.
Blake played like he started the last couple of seasons - crabbing sideways in his runs. Has he forgotten the end of last year when he realised he could run over player by running straight and upright?
We need Sauce and DWZ back for round one. MWZ and Phillips are questionable as first graders.
Hetherington looked a bit rusty, maybe wider play doesn’t suit him.
Either we play two hookers or we play Egan. Katoa, while his passing has improved, is simply too one dimensional in his play and lacks vision on who to pass to. In the second half, on Parramattas line we had Ellis screaming for the ball on the right, with a 4 on 2 overlap, and twice Katoa goes left to Luai instead, for the play to break down.
Ellis is improving on last year, and should win a bench spot consistently (or even starting to replace Kikau). Showed some good ball skills in the second half - did he play in the halves as a junior?
Aitken has a lot to learn before he will be a first grade fullback - defensive positioning for one
Luai seemed way to conservative in his play , overawed or coached that way? He’s shown skills in the lower grades, but may be starting to stall in his development.
All in all, don’t know how they were coached to play this trial, first half / first grade defense was great.
New scoreboard looks good.
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