Crusader wrote: ↑March 10, 2024, 5:49 pm
so watching Sunday Night with Matty Johns, and see the suspended JWH playing NSW cup, I had no idea suspended players can player NSW cup, why didnt we give kris some game time under his belt, which now leads me to thinking he wont return in 1st grade and will start at cup
The fact he didn't play cup when suspended makes it more likely he will next play cup footy?
That's some 5d chess right there.
haha surely your pulling my leg yeah? you Really cant connect the dots here?
Hmm I just think you are doing this when joining dots
Cranky Old Man wrote: ↑March 11, 2024, 8:38 pm
Commentary has not much mentioned our kick chase against Knights. There was the winning of the game. Replicate that and they will win again, easily.
They talked about it a bit on the Sunday Footy Show. Brad Fittler actually sounded like he knew something about footy when discussing it. He no doubt does, but doesn’t often reveal it.
Cranky Old Man wrote:Commentary has not much mentioned our kick chase against Knights. There was the winning of the game. Replicate that and they will win again, easily.
It was first class. Probably the highlight for me after a few early kicks from Fog that were a little overcooked.
I watched a few games over the weekend. There were some very good defensive performances, Melbourne were excellent, but I thought we also looked well prepared. Our kick chase was outstanding and if it wasn't for that bogus Young sin binning we could easily have kept them to a single try.
I'm really looking forward to Strange settling in and becoming a second kicking option. From what I've seen he's got a decent boot on him too.
Regs Revolution wrote: ↑March 11, 2024, 7:03 pm
If you have a look at Rapanas try on the weekend, all set up from Stranges footwork. The little quick skip makes the defender (Gamble) come in and create the overlap. The fact that Gagai came in from his wing helped but fancy quick footwork was fantastic.
He’s got a fantastic little step, saw it a number of times in the trials.
It looked really natural when playing on the RH side of the field too
Regs Revolution wrote: ↑March 11, 2024, 7:03 pm
If you have a look at Rapanas try on the weekend, all set up from Stranges footwork. The little quick skip makes the defender (Gamble) come in and create the overlap. The fact that Gagai came in from his wing helped but fancy quick footwork was fantastic.
He’s got a fantastic little step, saw it a number of times in the trials.
It looked really natural when playing on the RH side of the field too
What was actually really impressive about that for me was earlier in the game, he got the ball in a similar spot, and the Knights defence rushed him, got a good shot on and forced the error. The next time he got the ball in that sort of spot, Strange sees it coming, makes the guy miss with footwork, gets outside and now its a catch and pass drill
I LOOOOOOOVE when young players get a situation like that and then learn and adjust to it in the same game... didnt need the coach or film room to figure it out. Just thought about it, had a plan and executed.
Regs Revolution wrote: ↑March 11, 2024, 7:03 pm
If you have a look at Rapanas try on the weekend, all set up from Stranges footwork. The little quick skip makes the defender (Gamble) come in and create the overlap. The fact that Gagai came in from his wing helped but fancy quick footwork was fantastic.
He’s got a fantastic little step, saw it a number of times in the trials.
It looked really natural when playing on the RH side of the field too
What was actually really impressive about that for me was earlier in the game, he got the ball in a similar spot, and the Knights defence rushed him, got a good shot on and forced the error. The next time he got the ball in that sort of spot, Strange sees it coming, makes the guy miss with footwork, gets outside and now its a catch and pass drill
I LOOOOOOOVE when young players get a situation like that and then learn and adjust to it in the same game... didnt need the coach or film room to figure it out. Just thought about it, had a plan and executed.
Agree. Really small sample size so far but I’m seeing a lot of football IQ in him. Something this squad has been sorely lacking for a long time, here’s hoping he develops not only his play but his leadership in time.
The natural footballing is not something that can be coached in, but…. it is certainly something that can be coached out if he’s loaded up with messaging/ideology. The message to him should be “play football” and not “bleed green”
The main thing tigers have going for them this match is that we're still in the receptionist rounds, there were a lot of upsets last week. Would back raiders (or pretty much any side except maybe titans) to put them away
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
If that's how it breaks IMO we'd be playing 3 outside backs in NSW Cup who are better players than Hoppa
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
If that's how it breaks IMO we'd be playing 3 outside backs in NSW Cup who are better players than Hoppa
If we have everyone available and Hoppa is our best winger then it suggests our roster is lacking, which I don't believe is the case. More like Ricky going with his favourite grind ball option.
* The author assumes no responsibility for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of information provided.
Regs Revolution wrote: ↑March 11, 2024, 7:03 pm
If you have a look at Rapanas try on the weekend, all set up from Stranges footwork. The little quick skip makes the defender (Gamble) come in and create the overlap. The fact that Gagai came in from his wing helped but fancy quick footwork was fantastic.
He’s got a fantastic little step, saw it a number of times in the trials.
It looked really natural when playing on the RH side of the field too
What was actually really impressive about that for me was earlier in the game, he got the ball in a similar spot, and the Knights defence rushed him, got a good shot on and forced the error. The next time he got the ball in that sort of spot, Strange sees it coming, makes the guy miss with footwork, gets outside and now its a catch and pass drill
I LOOOOOOOVE when young players get a situation like that and then learn and adjust to it in the same game... didnt need the coach or film room to figure it out. Just thought about it, had a plan and executed.
What impressed me the most is, look what he does after he gets flattened by Saifiti. He’s laying on the floor and whilst he’s on the floor, goes to tackle the player that ends up with the ball. Didn’t lay down. Kept fighting. Love that.
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
I’d take this with a grain of salt. They were way off at picking our round 1 team. 3.5 hours to wait and we will know.
I think one thing this shows is that Ricky Stuart is faultlessly a man of his word, and it is unbreakable.
Only problem is, last year when he promised Hoppa he wouldn't lose his place in the team if he went to his sister's wedding it appears he's taken it all too literally.
Cotric dropping out is probably about right. Having savage spell rapa when needed is a better option than hoppa or cotric spelling rapa and hoppa had a pretty good game, probably our best outside back from an attacking perspective.
Personally I want to see if savage can keep some consistency and see if hoppa can raise his level.
The Nickman wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 11:44 am
I think one thing this shows is that Ricky Stuart is faultlessly a man of his word, and it is unbreakable.
Only problem is, last year when he promised Hoppa he wouldn't lose his place in the team if he went to his sister's wedding it appears he's taken it all too literally.
In 2038 Hoppa will be the longest serving player at the club, still picked somewhere in the backline, still not sure which position is his best.
The Nickman wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 11:44 am
I think one thing this shows is that Ricky Stuart is faultlessly a man of his word, and it is unbreakable.
Only problem is, last year when he promised Hoppa he wouldn't lose his place in the team if he went to his sister's wedding it appears he's taken it all too literally.
In 2038 Hoppa will be the longest serving player at the club, still picked somewhere in the backline, still not sure which position is his best.
In 2038, Rick (in his 24th year as Raiders head coach) gives Hoppa a week off against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown just so he can bring up his 300 game milestone in front of the home fans!
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
Genuinely the smart thing to do.
Cotric hasn't been up to standard for a long time.
People who have been around rugby league a long time speak very strongly of Hoppa's abilities.
He has more upside at this stage of his career and isn't afraid of contact.
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
Genuinely the smart thing to do.
Cotric hasn't been up to standard for a long time.
People who have been around rugby league a long time speak very strongly of Hoppa's abilities.
He has more upside at this stage of his career and isn't afraid of contact.
I'd argue that most of these people who highly rate Hopoate don't actually watch many of our games and have formed their opinion off the back of his stats, specifically his running metres.
If it’s between Hoppa and Cotric for a wing position outside Timoko I’m not too concerned. Personally I would go Cotric however there is not a great deal in it. I would expect when Stewart eventually comes into the side Rapana will move to this wing before Asomua eventually makes it his next year.
Something to keep in mind though; last year when Hoppa was given a long run on the wing he we seemed to get worse not better which is a concern.
I prefer pre-Dogs Cotric to current Cotric, though. How he went from an elite winger to fighting Hoppa for a spot is remarkable
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.
If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
Considering Fox predicted Savage at fullback, Strange in the centres and Weekes at 5/8th just before the round 1 teams were released, I wouldn’t put too much effort overthinking Ricky’s selection decisions or non decisions.
LimeGreenMachine wrote: ↑March 12, 2024, 9:48 am
Foxsports predicting Cotric will drop out , Hoppa to his wing and Kris in. Levi should be good to play.
I think that is the correct answer. Prefer Hoppa over Cotric but not entirely convinced either are the long term answer. Seen enough to know Cotric isn’t our guy, will need to see Hoppa develop more to convince me that he is our guy. Asomua must be close. Didn’t love his effort with the kickoff at Seiffert but he recovered quite well I thought.
Canberra Raiders silenced doubters in Newcastle: Danny Levi
Hooker Danny Levi says the upset, ‘nobody believes in us’ win by the Raiders over the Knights in Round 1 was trademark Stuart.
“There’s been plenty said about us, but we’ve said before we don’t worry about that, we know what we can do and we’re confident in ourselves,” he said. “It was just a real grinding effort that ‘Sticky’ (Stuart) loves, and that’s what made us proud. It shows we’re willing to stick in and do the ugly stuff … but obviously there’s heaps to work on and we’re only going to get better.”
Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers
Saturday 16 March, 3:00pm
Canberra Stadium
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox League Channel 502
Radio coverage: ABC, Mix106.3, 2CC
The Canberra Raiders have named their squad for the round two match against the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Sebastian Kris returns to the side in the centres after serving his suspension, shifting Albert Hopoate to the wing. Nick Cotric has been named as 18th man.
Canberra Raiders media
Canberra Raiders
1. Jordan Rapana
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Matt Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Xavier Savage
6. Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Danny Levi
10. Joe Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Morgan Smithies
14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Ata Mariota
17. Pasami Saulo
18. Nick Cotric
19. Kaeo Weekes
20. Simi Sasagi
21. Zac Woolford
22. Trey Mooney