Matt's Match-ups 2019
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
The only reason I can think he's got Sutton on the bench is to try and balance the side out (I don't agree with it). Braden Hamlin-Uele will be hard to stop. Really need Sutton to go after him when they come on.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Josh Morris didn't play last week so Cotric should get that skin.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Gents... I have cleary stated why.
Career stats dont win you skins, and ive said that for 3yrs+.
Graham has played 31 minutes in 9 months due to an ACL injury.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
This is exactly what he has done. Thats why he swapped his prop pairs last week, rather than just Papa. He has a goer paired with a stayer.
BHU is a beast!
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Northern Raider wrote: ↑June 12, 2019, 10:17 am Josh Morris didn't play last week so Cotric should get that skin.
Keep stirring
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Did you watch those 31 minutes.. he was close to their best playerMatt wrote:Gents... I have cleary stated why.
Career stats dont win you skins, and ive said that for 3yrs+.
Graham has played 31 minutes in 9 months due to an ACL injury.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
I did.-TW- wrote: ↑June 12, 2019, 7:06 pmDid you watch those 31 minutes.. he was close to their best playerMatt wrote:Gents... I have cleary stated why.
Career stats dont win you skins, and ive said that for 3yrs+.
Graham has played 31 minutes in 9 months due to an ACL injury.
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He and Xerri had a field day.
But, did u watch how bad Eels were?
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Yes but you're not comparing the eels to Tom Starling are you, Matthew
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Tom Starling will drop Wade Graham with a massive shot tomorrow night. You heard it here first.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
I bet that coward won't even run at him.
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
has starling played 30mins combined?Matt wrote:Gents... I have cleary stated why.
Career stats dont win you skins, and ive said that for 3yrs+.
Graham has played 31 minutes in 9 months due to an ACL injury.
Matt I'm a fan of yours but these matchups seem to be just click bait now.
It's working on me, I hadn't opened the thread all season till last week's preview comment caught my eye and again this week.
I'd have Wade Graham straight into a pale blue jersey in Perth next weekend if he gets through this game.
Edrick The Entertainer
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
44 minutesbonehead wrote: ↑June 13, 2019, 6:56 amhas starling played 30mins combined?Matt wrote:Gents... I have cleary stated why.
Career stats dont win you skins, and ive said that for 3yrs+.
Graham has played 31 minutes in 9 months due to an ACL injury.
Matt I'm a fan of yours but these matchups seem to be just click bait now.
It's working on me, I hadn't opened the thread all season till last week's preview comment caught my eye and again this week.
I'd have Wade Graham straight into a pale blue jersey in Perth next weekend if he gets through this game.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Hahaha Papalii in 2019 shouldn't lose or even tie a skin against ANYBODY, and last night just confirmed that.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Matt’s Match-ups Rd 15: Raiders V Eels
Eels V Raiders
Clinton Gutherson © 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Maika Sivo 2. Bailey Simonsson
Brad Takarangi 3. Jarrod Croker ©
Josh Hoffman 4. Sebastian Kris
Blake Ferguson 5. Jordan Rapana
Dylan Brown 6. Jack Wighton
Mitchell Moses 7. Aidan Sezer
Kane Evans 8. Josh Papalii
Reed Mahoney 9. Josh Hodgson ©
Junior Paulo 10. Dunamis Lui
Shaun Lane 11. John Bateman
Manu Ma’u 12. Elliott Whitehead
Nathan Brown 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange
Jaeman Salmon 14. Siliva Havili
Peni Terepo 15. Corey Horsbough
David Gower 16. Sia Soliola
Marata Niukore 17. Ryan Sutton
Extended Bench
Daniel Alvaro 18. Sam Williams
Tepai Moeroa 19. Emre Guler
George Jennings 20. Royce Hunt
Will Smith 21. Michael Oldfield
#- Skins altered to pair like skins.
(Bolded players are the winners of the skin. The extended bench is excluded.)
Match-ups:
Fullbacks:
Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad is in Dally M contention, he is in contention for buy of the year, but he is up against Clinton ‘King’ Gutherson, who is having a year himself. He was 19th man for the Blues over the weekend.
Wingers:
Bailey Simonsson has been a revelation in 2019, so much so, it seems the Raiders are happy to play hard ball with Jordan Rapana. He has four tries in eight games and averages 130m a game. Maika Sivo was touted as the next Semi Radradra, and while he hasn’t been quite that dynamic, he has been a pretty good second choice. Sivo has 12 tries - the leading try scorer for 2019 - and averages 146m a game.
Jordan Rapana has been playing busted in recent weeks. He answered the SOS call from Ricky Stuart, and put the team first. The two weeks rest will have done him the world of good. He faces off against the Origin redemption story that is Blake Ferguson. Last they met, the Raiders left him with an ‘S’ bend for a nose. Unfortunately, he is a very good winger.
Centres:
Jarrod ‘Toots’ Croker is now the joint leading try scorer for the Raiders. He couldn’t get a role in the centres for the Blues, despite the lack of specialists. Instead he was passed over for his five-eighth teammate, Jack Wighton. Croker has six tries, four assists and averages 83m a game. Michael Jennings is out with a knee injury, so Brad Takarangi gets a run. He has been stuck in Canterbury Cup, so this is an injury/not playing skin.
Nick Cotric’s ankle injury gives Seb Kris a second NRL start. Despite his neck injury Josh Hoffman has been named, with George Jennings as cover. Both centre skins are decided by a ‘not playing’ ruling.
Halves:
Dylan Brown hasn’t played a game in two months, so the victorious Blues centre, Jack Wighton, gets an injury rule skin.
Aidan Sezer has been much better in his second stint in green this year. There are still areas of his game where he has to be better, but the team has looked more stable with him there. Mitchell Moses has been at the centre of the Eels' attack in 2019. It is no surprise that he featured very heavily in the Round 14 thrashing of the Broncos. Moses has 16 try assists in 2019 and that is the best in the league in 2019.
Prop:
Josh Papalii has rivaled Jason Taumalolo as a one man army in recent weeks. Kane Evans cant play more than 30 minutes and then didn’t run out for Fiji on the weekend.
Dunamis Lui continues to be a solid performer. However, his former Raiders teammate, Junior Paulo, has averaged 40m more a game, and put in a barnstorming effort for Samoa over the weekend. Paulo wins the skin, but, don’t be surprised if he puts in a stinker, as he isn’t really known for his consistency.
Sia Soliola and David Gower are producing pretty similar numbers. Sia adds 97m and 23 tackles a game, while Gower gives 94m and 19 tackles. Gower has only four appearances in 2019, compared with Sia’s 14, so consistency is the winning factor here.
Emre Guler has been replaced by the returning Corey Horsburgh. This is yet another skin to be settled by the injury rule, so Peni Terepo gets the win.
Hooker/utility:
Josh Hodgson is back from a five week injury, but due to the draw, it has worked out as only a three game layoff. He is up against Reed Mahoney, in his first full year as an 80 minute hooker. Mahoney was a name bandied about for Queensland Origin hooker, or for a utility role. This is ultimately an injury rule skin, but Mahoney has also been pretty good this year.
Siliva Havili has led the Green Machine around the paddock admirably in recent weeks - and he ferociously led the Tongan Sipi Tau over the weekend. Jaeman Salmon had a pretty good game in the Eels' rout last round; however, he has lost his spot to boom rookie Dylan Brown, which is all you need to know.
Backrow:
John Bateman is one of the best forwards in the competition. Shaun Lane has been a good addition to the Eels' lineup, but isn’t in the Englishman’s class.
Elliott Whitehead, like countryman Bateman, has been in fantastic form this year. His statistics don’t reflect his effort (72m and 35 tackles a game). Manu Ma’u has been fantastic since returning from injury, averaging 30 tackles a game and 132m a game. This is a tough one to pick. My fail safe is to review the players' statistics, but I really think that undersells Whiteheads impact, so ill call this a draw.
Joseph Tapine, like Jordan Rapana, has looked a little under done since his return. However, his footwork at the line has improved the last couple of weeks. He still needs to pump out a few more minutes, but he is starting to look good. Nathan Brown has only been back for three weeks, but he is back to pumping out big minutes. He is now averaging 20 tackles a game and 133m. I have been seriously impressed with his return from injury.
Ryan Sutton has been impressive in 2019, and is well and truly making a name for himself. I know Wayne Bennett has been talking him up a bit, but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t there come Great Britain selection time. Marata Niukore has proved to be a real find for the Eels. 30 tackles and 82m a game is more than solid for an edge backrower, but Sutton averages more with 98m and 30 tackles.
Result
The tally is Eels eight and Raiders eight plus a draw. It is a little strange for the team coming fourth not to have a skin advantage. But with so many skins determined via the injury rule, it’s a little weird this week anyway. I think the rest will do the Raiders the world of good. I expect the same tenacious side to take it to the Eels and grind out a win.
Result: Raiders to rock the foundations (by 6-12).
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Eels V Raiders
Clinton Gutherson © 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Maika Sivo 2. Bailey Simonsson
Brad Takarangi 3. Jarrod Croker ©
Josh Hoffman 4. Sebastian Kris
Blake Ferguson 5. Jordan Rapana
Dylan Brown 6. Jack Wighton
Mitchell Moses 7. Aidan Sezer
Kane Evans 8. Josh Papalii
Reed Mahoney 9. Josh Hodgson ©
Junior Paulo 10. Dunamis Lui
Shaun Lane 11. John Bateman
Manu Ma’u 12. Elliott Whitehead
Nathan Brown 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange
Jaeman Salmon 14. Siliva Havili
Peni Terepo 15. Corey Horsbough
David Gower 16. Sia Soliola
Marata Niukore 17. Ryan Sutton
Extended Bench
Daniel Alvaro 18. Sam Williams
Tepai Moeroa 19. Emre Guler
George Jennings 20. Royce Hunt
Will Smith 21. Michael Oldfield
#- Skins altered to pair like skins.
(Bolded players are the winners of the skin. The extended bench is excluded.)
Match-ups:
Fullbacks:
Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad is in Dally M contention, he is in contention for buy of the year, but he is up against Clinton ‘King’ Gutherson, who is having a year himself. He was 19th man for the Blues over the weekend.
Wingers:
Bailey Simonsson has been a revelation in 2019, so much so, it seems the Raiders are happy to play hard ball with Jordan Rapana. He has four tries in eight games and averages 130m a game. Maika Sivo was touted as the next Semi Radradra, and while he hasn’t been quite that dynamic, he has been a pretty good second choice. Sivo has 12 tries - the leading try scorer for 2019 - and averages 146m a game.
Jordan Rapana has been playing busted in recent weeks. He answered the SOS call from Ricky Stuart, and put the team first. The two weeks rest will have done him the world of good. He faces off against the Origin redemption story that is Blake Ferguson. Last they met, the Raiders left him with an ‘S’ bend for a nose. Unfortunately, he is a very good winger.
Centres:
Jarrod ‘Toots’ Croker is now the joint leading try scorer for the Raiders. He couldn’t get a role in the centres for the Blues, despite the lack of specialists. Instead he was passed over for his five-eighth teammate, Jack Wighton. Croker has six tries, four assists and averages 83m a game. Michael Jennings is out with a knee injury, so Brad Takarangi gets a run. He has been stuck in Canterbury Cup, so this is an injury/not playing skin.
Nick Cotric’s ankle injury gives Seb Kris a second NRL start. Despite his neck injury Josh Hoffman has been named, with George Jennings as cover. Both centre skins are decided by a ‘not playing’ ruling.
Halves:
Dylan Brown hasn’t played a game in two months, so the victorious Blues centre, Jack Wighton, gets an injury rule skin.
Aidan Sezer has been much better in his second stint in green this year. There are still areas of his game where he has to be better, but the team has looked more stable with him there. Mitchell Moses has been at the centre of the Eels' attack in 2019. It is no surprise that he featured very heavily in the Round 14 thrashing of the Broncos. Moses has 16 try assists in 2019 and that is the best in the league in 2019.
Prop:
Josh Papalii has rivaled Jason Taumalolo as a one man army in recent weeks. Kane Evans cant play more than 30 minutes and then didn’t run out for Fiji on the weekend.
Dunamis Lui continues to be a solid performer. However, his former Raiders teammate, Junior Paulo, has averaged 40m more a game, and put in a barnstorming effort for Samoa over the weekend. Paulo wins the skin, but, don’t be surprised if he puts in a stinker, as he isn’t really known for his consistency.
Sia Soliola and David Gower are producing pretty similar numbers. Sia adds 97m and 23 tackles a game, while Gower gives 94m and 19 tackles. Gower has only four appearances in 2019, compared with Sia’s 14, so consistency is the winning factor here.
Emre Guler has been replaced by the returning Corey Horsburgh. This is yet another skin to be settled by the injury rule, so Peni Terepo gets the win.
Hooker/utility:
Josh Hodgson is back from a five week injury, but due to the draw, it has worked out as only a three game layoff. He is up against Reed Mahoney, in his first full year as an 80 minute hooker. Mahoney was a name bandied about for Queensland Origin hooker, or for a utility role. This is ultimately an injury rule skin, but Mahoney has also been pretty good this year.
Siliva Havili has led the Green Machine around the paddock admirably in recent weeks - and he ferociously led the Tongan Sipi Tau over the weekend. Jaeman Salmon had a pretty good game in the Eels' rout last round; however, he has lost his spot to boom rookie Dylan Brown, which is all you need to know.
Backrow:
John Bateman is one of the best forwards in the competition. Shaun Lane has been a good addition to the Eels' lineup, but isn’t in the Englishman’s class.
Elliott Whitehead, like countryman Bateman, has been in fantastic form this year. His statistics don’t reflect his effort (72m and 35 tackles a game). Manu Ma’u has been fantastic since returning from injury, averaging 30 tackles a game and 132m a game. This is a tough one to pick. My fail safe is to review the players' statistics, but I really think that undersells Whiteheads impact, so ill call this a draw.
Joseph Tapine, like Jordan Rapana, has looked a little under done since his return. However, his footwork at the line has improved the last couple of weeks. He still needs to pump out a few more minutes, but he is starting to look good. Nathan Brown has only been back for three weeks, but he is back to pumping out big minutes. He is now averaging 20 tackles a game and 133m. I have been seriously impressed with his return from injury.
Ryan Sutton has been impressive in 2019, and is well and truly making a name for himself. I know Wayne Bennett has been talking him up a bit, but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t there come Great Britain selection time. Marata Niukore has proved to be a real find for the Eels. 30 tackles and 82m a game is more than solid for an edge backrower, but Sutton averages more with 98m and 30 tackles.
Result
The tally is Eels eight and Raiders eight plus a draw. It is a little strange for the team coming fourth not to have a skin advantage. But with so many skins determined via the injury rule, it’s a little weird this week anyway. I think the rest will do the Raiders the world of good. I expect the same tenacious side to take it to the Eels and grind out a win.
Result: Raiders to rock the foundations (by 6-12).
Plus follow The Greenhouse on Facebook: The Greenhouse Forum and Twitter: @TheGHRaiders
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Matt... if Josh Hodgson loses the skin due to the "injury rule" then the injury rule needs to be thrown out.
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
This is both a mod request and a wake up to yourself call
Dont delete this GE
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Haha Mahoney over Hodgson...
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
hahahahahahahahaha
OMG
i've got a new sig addition.
*chef kiss*
OMG
i've got a new sig addition.
*chef kiss*
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Matt's skins still make more sense than the judiciary.
I agree with most of them. I'd like to see Rapana look healthy out there again. The team needs his yards and spark and he's just great to watch in full flow.
We hammered Fergo in the wet last time. It was a bit of an ambush. I'm tipping him to come right back hard at us this game and be a real handful.
I'll be down in Darwin. Can't wait.
I agree with most of them. I'd like to see Rapana look healthy out there again. The team needs his yards and spark and he's just great to watch in full flow.
We hammered Fergo in the wet last time. It was a bit of an ambush. I'm tipping him to come right back hard at us this game and be a real handful.
I'll be down in Darwin. Can't wait.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Take your green goggles off boys.
The injury rule has been around forever, and Ive outlined how it works.
Hodgo has missed 3 games, which is plenty of time to get rusty - look at Tapine and Rapa returning after only 2 wks. TBH, he hasnt been at his best this yr either, and some of your guys have even mentioned it.
Mahoney has been good for the Eels this yr too. As I mentioned, he was in the QLD hooker conversation this yr (yes, i realize there was an injury toll, but he was floated as the utility initially).
The injury rule has been around forever, and Ive outlined how it works.
Hodgo has missed 3 games, which is plenty of time to get rusty - look at Tapine and Rapa returning after only 2 wks. TBH, he hasnt been at his best this yr either, and some of your guys have even mentioned it.
Mahoney has been good for the Eels this yr too. As I mentioned, he was in the QLD hooker conversation this yr (yes, i realize there was an injury toll, but he was floated as the utility initially).
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
I think you're doing some great work Matt..
Stick to your guns..
Stick to your guns..
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment..Old Faithful
#emptythetank
#emptythetank
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Little Josh Hodgson
Sat in the corner,
Eating his pork pie;
He put in his thumb,
pulled out a broken thumb,
And Matt said, "Reed Mahoney > Josh Hodgson ©"
Sat in the corner,
Eating his pork pie;
He put in his thumb,
pulled out a broken thumb,
And Matt said, "Reed Mahoney > Josh Hodgson ©"
Would have won Boogs - 2016, 2017, 2018
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1 part green, 1 part machine
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Matt's Match-ups 2019
Look I love the concept. But the rhyming isn’t great. Perhaps could have gone with a limerick?
One game Hodgson broke his thumb
So for three weeks he sat on his bum
Matt said “form is thin”
Which cost him the skin
Which Sid thought was completely dumb
*waits for T_R to complain that this isn’t a Limerick*
One game Hodgson broke his thumb
So for three weeks he sat on his bum
Matt said “form is thin”
Which cost him the skin
Which Sid thought was completely dumb
*waits for T_R to complain that this isn’t a Limerick*
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Mahoney was mentioned for the QLD role because because it was between him and Granville as the only 2 available. If Hodgo was a QLDer and available the conversation wouldn't have gone beyond his name.Matt wrote: ↑June 26, 2019, 9:49 am Take your green goggles off boys.
The injury rule has been around forever, and Ive outlined how it works.
Hodgo has missed 3 games, which is plenty of time to get rusty - look at Tapine and Rapa returning after only 2 wks. TBH, he hasnt been at his best this yr either, and some of your guys have even mentioned it.
Mahoney has been good for the Eels this yr too. As I mentioned, he was in the QLD hooker conversation this yr (yes, i realize there was an injury toll, but he was floated as the utility initially).
Come to think of it Hodgo has been to QLD a few times. Surely he's qualified now.
* The author assumes no responsibility for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of information provided.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
hahaha yeah okay that one is better.gangrenous wrote: ↑June 26, 2019, 5:34 pm Look I love the concept. But the rhyming isn’t great. Perhaps could have gone with a limerick?
One game Hodgson broke his thumb
So for three weeks he sat on his bum
Matt said “form is thin”
Which cost him the skin
Which Sid thought was completely dumb
*waits for T_R to complain that this isn’t a Limerick*
gangrenous wins the skin
Would have won Boogs - 2016, 2017, 2018
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1 part green, 1 part machine
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Matt’s Match-ups Rd 17: Raiders V Dragons
Dragons V Raiders
Matt Dufty 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Jonus Pearson 2. Bailey Simonsson
Euan Aitken 3. Jarrod Croker ©
Tim Lafai 4. Nick Cotric
Mikaele Ravalawa 5. Jordan Rapana
Corey Norman 6. Jack Wighton
Darren Nicholls 7. Aidan Sezer
Jeremy Latimore 8. Josh Papalii
Cameron McInnes © 9. Josh Hodgson ©
Blake Lawrie 10. Dunamis Lui
Jacob Host 11. John Bateman
Tariq Sims 12. Elliott Whitehead
Luciano Leilua 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange
# Reece Robson 15 vs 14. Siliva Havili
# Korbin Sims 14 vs 15. Corey Horsburgh
Patrick Kaufusi 16. Sia Soliola
Josh Kerr 17. Ryan Sutton
Extended Bench
Tristan Sailor 18. Sam Williams
Jason Saab 19. Michael Oldfield
James Graham 20. Royce Hunt
Ben Hunt 21. Emre Guler
Paul Vaughan 22. Not Named
Tyson Frizell 23. Not Named
#- Skins altered to pair like skins.
(Bolded players are the winners of the skin. The extended bench is excluded.)
Match-ups:
Fullbacks:
Matt Dufty might be lightning fast, and might have a big play in him, but he isn’t consistent or involved enough. Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad isn’t as fast, but, he is safer, and effort and determination aren’t things he lacks.
Wingers:
Bailey Simonsson has done everything asked of him in 2019. He has done it with the work ethic of his Kiwi team mate and wing partner, Jordan Rapana. He averages 17 carries for 132m a game. That’s three more carries and nine more metres a game.
Jordan Rapana has had to deal with injuries this year, and the Raiders' recent lighter schedule should hopefully have helped him. Meanwhile, the former Raiders junior Mikaele Ravalawa has been a revelation for the Dragons in 2019. He has been a big bodied ball carrier and try scorer, averaging 125m a game and crossing nine times this season. Ravalawa gets the skin.
Centres:
Both Jarrod Croker and Euan Aitken have been overlooked for State of Origin in recent seasons, so they both know the disappointment. Aitken got off to a poor start in 2019, even getting dropped for a period. However, since returning to the centres, following injuries to Tim Lafai and Zac Lomax, he has been back to his barnstorming best - averaging 117m a game. Croker is averaging less metres, has more missed tackles, and more worryingly, produced more try causes. He has 13 try causes, meaning he is costing the Raiders a try most weeks. He has scored 128 points in 2019 though, which means he is averaging over eight a game. He's still ahead, and he wins the skin.
Nick Cotric returns from his ankle injury, which means Seb Kris drops to the extended bench. People will hate this call, as Tim Lafai only returned from injury himself last week, but this is an injury rule skin.
Halves:
Jack Wighton will again bring confidence back after playing State of Origin football. The last time he pulled on a lime green jumper he had a very good first 25 minutes. It all went pear shaped after that and turned into one of his worst games. Corey Norman finally gets a taste of the Origin arena. It’s been a long journey for a high touted player - who has made plenty of mistakes off field, along the way. Wighton has forced his way into a Blues jumper and held it, while Norman got his via injury. That’s a stronger form line in my opinion.
Jack Wighton has been playing very good football at five eighth, but as we saw last round, his confidence and performance can sometimes falter. In that match against the Eels, Aidan Sezer needed to take a greater share of the load. He faces a one gamer in Darren Nicholls, so Sezer takes the skin. But I do expect Hunt will play - in which case, the skin would be reversed.
Prop:
Josh Papalii is the best prop in this contest. Jeremy Latimore had his best game for years on the weekend. That’s not enough to make up for the rest of his season.
Dunamis Lui, as I say every week, does his job - averaging 81m and 23 tackles a game. Blake Lawrie is averaging 100m and 34 tackles a game. He has played as a starting prop, lock and off the bench. I expect Paul Vaughan to play, and if that is the case, it is an even more decisive skin for the Dragons player.
Sia Soliola is averaging 92m and 23 tackles a game. This is much more than the two gamer, Patrick Kaufusi, and Soliola easily takes the skin.
Korbin Sims is an irritatingly good player. He is straight out of the Adam Blair mold, tough, uncompromising and walks the fine line of grubbery. Corey Horsburgh is also aggressive, a bit hot headed, and still has a lot to learn. Horsburgh averages more than his opponent; 89m to 68m and 21 to 20 tackles a game... and Horsburgh gets the skin.
Hooker/utility:
Two captains will be at hooker this week - Josh Hodgson and Cameron McInnes. The Raiders need their wily hooker back at his best this week. Hopefully the rust in his game will be gone, after returning from a broken thumb last week. McInnes isn’t a ball player, he is more the workhorse. He does his job every week. While he isn’t more talented than his opponent, he hasn’t missed football through injury, and didn’t play poorly last time he suited up. McInnes takes this one.
Reece Robson is playing the same role as Siliva Havili, a hooker playing at lock. Robson is aiming to add mobility in the defensive line through the middle of the game. Havili is a sturdier ball runner, yet only averages one metre more a game and he averages 14 less tackles.
Back row:
Jacob Host has played a lot of right edge for the Dragons in 2019 and done a reasonable job, averaging 85m and 25 tackles a game. But he also has 38 missed tackles, ten line break causes and six try causes. John Bateman doesn’t need explaining. He is one of the best back rowers in the game. He averages 107m and 32 tackles a game with a 91 per cent tackle success rate. He is an inspirational player, and this is an obvious skin.
Elliott Whitehead is tough as nails, and leads by his actions - averaging 35 tackles and 75m a game. Whitehead gives the team steel, toughness and reliability. Tariq Sims returns from the suspension that ruled him out of Origin three. Sims averages 111m and 30 tackles a game. It comes down to Origin star versus international star, so I’ll take the Englishman.
Joseph Tapine has a heap of talent, but as yet hasn’t consistently translated that into practice. He is good enough, but we need to see more of him, for longer minutes. He averages 62m and 19 tackles as a starting lock - and that isn’t great, especially when you compare him to Luciano Leilua. He has played edge back row, starting prop and off the bench this year, yet still averages 60m and 21 tackles. I expect Tyson Frizell to play, in which case the skin would remain with the Dragons player.
Ryan Sutton averages nearly double Latimore’s output. That is more than enough for me. Josh Kerr has played three games, but only yielded 33m and 18 tackles a game.
Result
The tally is Dragons six and Raiders 11. This is as you'd expect in a match up between fourth and 12th on the ladder. However, with three Origin stars and an English international on the extended bench, I expect a very different Dragons 17 come Sunday.
Result: Raiders need to stick with the top four and I expect them to battle past a star studded Dragons (by 6-12).
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Dragons V Raiders
Matt Dufty 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Jonus Pearson 2. Bailey Simonsson
Euan Aitken 3. Jarrod Croker ©
Tim Lafai 4. Nick Cotric
Mikaele Ravalawa 5. Jordan Rapana
Corey Norman 6. Jack Wighton
Darren Nicholls 7. Aidan Sezer
Jeremy Latimore 8. Josh Papalii
Cameron McInnes © 9. Josh Hodgson ©
Blake Lawrie 10. Dunamis Lui
Jacob Host 11. John Bateman
Tariq Sims 12. Elliott Whitehead
Luciano Leilua 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange
# Reece Robson 15 vs 14. Siliva Havili
# Korbin Sims 14 vs 15. Corey Horsburgh
Patrick Kaufusi 16. Sia Soliola
Josh Kerr 17. Ryan Sutton
Extended Bench
Tristan Sailor 18. Sam Williams
Jason Saab 19. Michael Oldfield
James Graham 20. Royce Hunt
Ben Hunt 21. Emre Guler
Paul Vaughan 22. Not Named
Tyson Frizell 23. Not Named
#- Skins altered to pair like skins.
(Bolded players are the winners of the skin. The extended bench is excluded.)
Match-ups:
Fullbacks:
Matt Dufty might be lightning fast, and might have a big play in him, but he isn’t consistent or involved enough. Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad isn’t as fast, but, he is safer, and effort and determination aren’t things he lacks.
Wingers:
Bailey Simonsson has done everything asked of him in 2019. He has done it with the work ethic of his Kiwi team mate and wing partner, Jordan Rapana. He averages 17 carries for 132m a game. That’s three more carries and nine more metres a game.
Jordan Rapana has had to deal with injuries this year, and the Raiders' recent lighter schedule should hopefully have helped him. Meanwhile, the former Raiders junior Mikaele Ravalawa has been a revelation for the Dragons in 2019. He has been a big bodied ball carrier and try scorer, averaging 125m a game and crossing nine times this season. Ravalawa gets the skin.
Centres:
Both Jarrod Croker and Euan Aitken have been overlooked for State of Origin in recent seasons, so they both know the disappointment. Aitken got off to a poor start in 2019, even getting dropped for a period. However, since returning to the centres, following injuries to Tim Lafai and Zac Lomax, he has been back to his barnstorming best - averaging 117m a game. Croker is averaging less metres, has more missed tackles, and more worryingly, produced more try causes. He has 13 try causes, meaning he is costing the Raiders a try most weeks. He has scored 128 points in 2019 though, which means he is averaging over eight a game. He's still ahead, and he wins the skin.
Nick Cotric returns from his ankle injury, which means Seb Kris drops to the extended bench. People will hate this call, as Tim Lafai only returned from injury himself last week, but this is an injury rule skin.
Halves:
Jack Wighton will again bring confidence back after playing State of Origin football. The last time he pulled on a lime green jumper he had a very good first 25 minutes. It all went pear shaped after that and turned into one of his worst games. Corey Norman finally gets a taste of the Origin arena. It’s been a long journey for a high touted player - who has made plenty of mistakes off field, along the way. Wighton has forced his way into a Blues jumper and held it, while Norman got his via injury. That’s a stronger form line in my opinion.
Jack Wighton has been playing very good football at five eighth, but as we saw last round, his confidence and performance can sometimes falter. In that match against the Eels, Aidan Sezer needed to take a greater share of the load. He faces a one gamer in Darren Nicholls, so Sezer takes the skin. But I do expect Hunt will play - in which case, the skin would be reversed.
Prop:
Josh Papalii is the best prop in this contest. Jeremy Latimore had his best game for years on the weekend. That’s not enough to make up for the rest of his season.
Dunamis Lui, as I say every week, does his job - averaging 81m and 23 tackles a game. Blake Lawrie is averaging 100m and 34 tackles a game. He has played as a starting prop, lock and off the bench. I expect Paul Vaughan to play, and if that is the case, it is an even more decisive skin for the Dragons player.
Sia Soliola is averaging 92m and 23 tackles a game. This is much more than the two gamer, Patrick Kaufusi, and Soliola easily takes the skin.
Korbin Sims is an irritatingly good player. He is straight out of the Adam Blair mold, tough, uncompromising and walks the fine line of grubbery. Corey Horsburgh is also aggressive, a bit hot headed, and still has a lot to learn. Horsburgh averages more than his opponent; 89m to 68m and 21 to 20 tackles a game... and Horsburgh gets the skin.
Hooker/utility:
Two captains will be at hooker this week - Josh Hodgson and Cameron McInnes. The Raiders need their wily hooker back at his best this week. Hopefully the rust in his game will be gone, after returning from a broken thumb last week. McInnes isn’t a ball player, he is more the workhorse. He does his job every week. While he isn’t more talented than his opponent, he hasn’t missed football through injury, and didn’t play poorly last time he suited up. McInnes takes this one.
Reece Robson is playing the same role as Siliva Havili, a hooker playing at lock. Robson is aiming to add mobility in the defensive line through the middle of the game. Havili is a sturdier ball runner, yet only averages one metre more a game and he averages 14 less tackles.
Back row:
Jacob Host has played a lot of right edge for the Dragons in 2019 and done a reasonable job, averaging 85m and 25 tackles a game. But he also has 38 missed tackles, ten line break causes and six try causes. John Bateman doesn’t need explaining. He is one of the best back rowers in the game. He averages 107m and 32 tackles a game with a 91 per cent tackle success rate. He is an inspirational player, and this is an obvious skin.
Elliott Whitehead is tough as nails, and leads by his actions - averaging 35 tackles and 75m a game. Whitehead gives the team steel, toughness and reliability. Tariq Sims returns from the suspension that ruled him out of Origin three. Sims averages 111m and 30 tackles a game. It comes down to Origin star versus international star, so I’ll take the Englishman.
Joseph Tapine has a heap of talent, but as yet hasn’t consistently translated that into practice. He is good enough, but we need to see more of him, for longer minutes. He averages 62m and 19 tackles as a starting lock - and that isn’t great, especially when you compare him to Luciano Leilua. He has played edge back row, starting prop and off the bench this year, yet still averages 60m and 21 tackles. I expect Tyson Frizell to play, in which case the skin would remain with the Dragons player.
Ryan Sutton averages nearly double Latimore’s output. That is more than enough for me. Josh Kerr has played three games, but only yielded 33m and 18 tackles a game.
Result
The tally is Dragons six and Raiders 11. This is as you'd expect in a match up between fourth and 12th on the ladder. However, with three Origin stars and an English international on the extended bench, I expect a very different Dragons 17 come Sunday.
Result: Raiders need to stick with the top four and I expect them to battle past a star studded Dragons (by 6-12).
Plus follow The Greenhouse on Facebook: The Greenhouse Forum and Twitter: @TheGHRaiders
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
hoooo boy
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Matt's Match-ups 2019
Lafai and Ravalawa > than Cotric and Rapana
As for the injury skin rule, have you seen Wade Graham’s return to form after a 9 month acl injury layoff ?
As for the injury skin rule, have you seen Wade Graham’s return to form after a 9 month acl injury layoff ?
Would have won Boogs - 2016, 2017, 2018
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1 part green, 1 part machine
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Time to change the "injury rule". It's getting beyond ridiculous now
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
Dufty and Nicoll-Klokstad not clear cut. Dufty can punish oppositions. Aitken versus Croker isn’t clear cut either. On the other hand, Cotric and Rapana are clear winners in a skins contest, putting injury aside. McInnes over Hodgson... nah. Leilua over Tapine... nah. Horsburgh over Sims.. nah.
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Matt's Match-ups 2019
Hasn’t Dufty been dropped this season?
Versus CNK having a stellar season?
Versus CNK having a stellar season?
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
I think you're doing great work Matt..
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#emptythetank
#emptythetank
Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
You’re right. Started the season on the bench and has missed some games. His issue is defence. But I have an enduring memory of how he punished us last year in Mudgee. I agree CNK in front.gangrenous wrote: ↑July 10, 2019, 6:18 am Hasn’t Dufty been dropped this season?
Versus CNK having a stellar season?
Rapana and Cotric... at best those are too close to call on this year’s stats.
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Re: Matt's Match-ups 2019
CNK is in the Dally M and buy of the yr hunt. Dufty isn't.
I agree the #3s is close.
I said the #4s was tough too. But TBF, Cotric has done little at centre.
Ravalawa has done far more this yr than Rapa. Is 9 tries to 3, in a team coming 12th. Take the green glasses off.
Tapine vs LL is explained. A mostly bench player is producing as much as an starting international. Not good enough.
I agree the #3s is close.
I said the #4s was tough too. But TBF, Cotric has done little at centre.
Ravalawa has done far more this yr than Rapa. Is 9 tries to 3, in a team coming 12th. Take the green glasses off.
Tapine vs LL is explained. A mostly bench player is producing as much as an starting international. Not good enough.