julian87 wrote: ↑February 10, 2021, 9:09 pm
Shillington was a much better prop than Ryan James.
I dont know what it was about Shillo, but he was never given his due on this website by a lot of people. Maybe it was the empty the tank and his willingness to criticise the fanbase for the way it was treating the team.
But he was a stud for us, and one of the best forwards in the world for most of his time with us.
During a tough period for the club he definitely was a big player for us. That said, I struggle to remember any 'stand out' performances of his? My recollection is of reliable, strong and consistent metres and strong defence. Whereas when I think paps I conjure up ridiculous tries to win games, big metres, offloads, HITS, humans being left in the wake of a living God, Gallen, presence, moisturiser....
From my perspective shillo was a great stats player (consistent metres, hit ups etc) but not a great highlight reel, scare-the-opposition-sh1tless player. And, he sounded like he breathed 2 parts helium 1 part oxygen.
Old School, I have 3 main memories of Shillo. The bomb he kicked which led to a try against the Knights, the 2 tries he scored in one game and the head butt send off against Aaron Woods in his 200th game close to finals time with us battling to make the semis. I don't know if he had a ghost writer for his comments but he will always be remembered for his week after week of leaving nothing in the tank. It became a running joke on here and in the end I reckon he was saying it as a gee up.
I remember the headbutt. Wasn't it like in the 80th minute or something and he just went nuts with a random headbutt? I think he ended up being the only player sent off that year or something. Can you imagine the odds you would have got on a bet that the only player to be sent off (for a flying headbutt no less) in the whole season was D. Shillington?
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Wasn't the head-butt the same year that Hayne also did one? More a head push than a bad one. I can't remember if either player was suspended, Hayne probably not as I think it was his period of incredible form.
Shillo was badly maligned by some on here, a trait some to this day display in unfair or meanspirited comments about players at the club. But it is a longstanding failing, back in the day Mal Meninga used to cop a lot of equally unwarranted and ignorant criticism as well. Mal Malingerer was an oft used slur. Peter Jackson and David Grant also copped it.
On reflection it might seem that vitriolic criticism should be a badge of honour!
Canberra Raiders new recruit Ryan James has sights set on NRL premiership
He's got the doctor's tick of approval, now Ryan James just wants to get back playing football - and win a premiership. Saturday marked 12 months since his second knee reconstruction.
"The knee's good. I get signed off [Saturday], that's 12 months since surgery so officially I can play some footy," James said. "It's been a long time, it's coming on two years now, but I'm ready to go.
People who are watching this , Ryan Jame’s experience and leadership just paid off, 26 seconds before halftime, bears knock on and we are in our own half, we could of easily just let the clock die but he grabbed some of the players and jogged to the scrum and they packed it with 7 seconds left, we got 2 more plays in , I know it didn’t lead to anything but I just that he has taken all the young guys under his wing and shows them that it ain’t over till the fat lady sings
Yeah agree, repeating myself from the GameDay thread. I saw what I needed from James today. I’d have him starting with Papa.
A lot to be said for experience and it was a lot of little things, finding front and quick PTB where it was needed, ran the lines for others. No dumb stuff.
Big upgrade on the two very talented but younger blokes.
Great recruiting
Beejay wrote: ↑February 27, 2021, 5:18 pm
Yeah agree, repeating myself from the GameDay thread. I saw what I needed from James today. I’d have him starting with Papa.
A lot to be said for experience and it was a lot of little things, finding front and quick PTB where it was needed, ran the lines for others. No dumb stuff.
Big upgrade on the two very talented but younger blokes.
Great recruiting
Based on the trial alone if I need to win a game and my choice of starting or bench middle is James or Hors, it's James clearly. There's a few other contenders too but James came out looking good compared to a couple of the other contenders.
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Agree that Ryan James was good and loved his quick PTB. But I thought Guler and Lui were even better. Lui showed some nice passes including a good draw and pass for the try and an excellent quick hands to put his centre into space.
Hors and Sutton did some good stuff but both made some silly mistakes in attack and defence.
simo wrote: ↑February 27, 2021, 7:56 pm
On field james > soliola
Yep, i was plesently surprised by his performance today. Looks like a guy who not only has something left in the tank but is fit and motivated to prove he can do it.
The middle forward discussion just got a little more complicated for me.
simo wrote: ↑February 27, 2021, 7:56 pm
On field james > soliola
Yep, i was plesently surprised by his performance today. Looks like a guy who not only has something left in the tank but is fit and motivated to prove he can do it.
The middle forward discussion just got a little more complicated for me.
Yep. And i want sutton in the side. Hes just a genuine soldier. I dont know who i want him in at the expense of though
Looked good with the ball and had some good minutes in both games combined.
However from what I could tell in the grainy footage it looked like his lateral D was tested and didn't come up well in the Reggie's game when the 7 went through.
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Butters wrote: ↑February 27, 2021, 11:02 pm
Looked good with the ball and had some good minutes in both games combined.
However from what I could tell in the grainy footage it looked like his lateral D was tested and didn't come up well in the Reggie's game when the 7 went through.
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Sam Walker had a really good game for the Bears. Looks small, but is quick and has great vision.
To be fair on James, it was the second hitout he's had in almost 2 seasons. There was a fair bit of sloppy defence by our reggies in that game.
Butters wrote: ↑February 27, 2021, 11:02 pm
Looked good with the ball and had some good minutes in both games combined.
However from what I could tell in the grainy footage it looked like his lateral D was tested and didn't come up well in the Reggie's game when the 7 went through.
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Sam Walker had a really good game for the Bears. Looks small, but is quick and has great vision.
To be fair on James, it was the second hitout he's had in almost 2 seasons. There was a fair bit of sloppy defence by our reggies in that game.
It wasn't Sam Walker - he was kept for the main game. But yes - I'll give him leeway on the trial but one to watch.
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I don't think Lui has done anything to lose his starting spot - he finished the year playing Origin and has also looked good in the trials, so I wouldn't be giving James his starting spot. But James has certainly earned a spot in the side.
Geez there's gonna be some real competition for spots in the forwards this year, you'll have to feel for whoever misses out.
Spot on Raider Azz. There’s certainly going to be some competition for forward spots. And players who performed strongly last season deserve to hold their spot until someone out performs them.
Lui was very good in the trial, he ran good lines, threw some great passes and with Guler was clearly a step above.
I like James, seems like a good leader and great person. Definitely started the year off well with a couple good games, but in terms of squad depth and balance you have to question the decision to make this signing.
To me this was a shocker signing in hindsight, and indicates our head was in the wrong place. Sorry. And I rate Ryan James too, it's nothing to do with him
Canberra Milk wrote:To me this was a shocker signing in hindsight, and indicates our head was in the wrong place. Sorry. And I rate Ryan James too, it's nothing to do with him
Once this signing happened we had to purchase a back not extend Soliola for another year.
Canberra Milk wrote:To me this was a shocker signing in hindsight, and indicates our head was in the wrong place. Sorry. And I rate Ryan James too, it's nothing to do with him
Once this signing happened we had to purchase a back not extend Soliola for another year.
Soliola needs to be told that it's time to hang up the boots. I think he's a one-dimensional player who doesn't offer any surprises in attack.
James is doing well and gives the pack some punch in attack.
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Canberra Milk wrote:To me this was a shocker signing in hindsight, and indicates our head was in the wrong place. Sorry. And I rate Ryan James too, it's nothing to do with him
Once this signing happened we had to purchase a back not extend Soliola for another year.
Soliola needs to be told that it's time to hang up the boots. I think he's a one-dimensional player who doesn't offer any surprises in attack.
James is doing well and gives the pack some punch in attack.
I’m not disagreeing with this, but will moving on Sia free up the cap space needed to chase the quality replacement back we need? We have made tough calls on good young forwards like Murchie and Knight in the past and haven’t suffered too much.
I think Ryan James has been great for us in terms of performance. But I can't argue that our squad would be much better balanced right now if we didn't have James, Sia and Lui in it and replaced them with a re-signed Cotric and two Minimum Wage forwards for depth.
Wiki Special wrote: ↑May 2, 2021, 8:47 am
I think Ryan James has been great for us in terms of performance. But I can't argue that our squad would be much better balanced right now if we didn't have James, Sia and Lui in it and replaced them with a re-signed Cotric and two Minimum Wage forwards for depth.
Probably true. But those choices have been made already.
And if I was cutting middles this season James would not be cut based on performance. And I reckon we'll get good value out of him next season too.
He'd be one of our best 4 middles so far - Papa, Tapine, Sutton, James- everyone else is surplus or easily replaceable based on what they've done so far.