@tiger5150 Good question mate, I believe they should have to promote a player to that top 30 spot.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Staines to hang around Api and play more through the middle.
Expecting more of a middle focused effort, with the right commitment and Api our middles should be able to bust the Bulldogs front door open. Then the side can run amok, it’s an age old game plan but it works. They’ve got to get in the fight and be determined enough to win the forwards battle.
Adding Bateman to the bench will help fire up the resolve, even if he’s only playing limited minutes. The team could do with an injection of his combative spirit.
Opens an interesting discussion about the "dispensation" rule allowing players outside the 30 to play. If memory serves me right Bulldogs got dispensation round 1? Newcastle have like 8 players, mostly forwards unavailable this round and would seem like a cut and dried example of getting that dispensation, but there is a twist. Newcastle have only filled 29 posts in their roster which prompts the question, should they have to fill their 30 first? Does the first player promoted fill that 30th spot? IMO it should.
Its a funny one. On one hand I think clubs should get their top 30 sorted to cover any circumstances outside of catastrophic injury crisis, but on the other I think it’s better for the game as a spectacle if specialists play in each position.
I find it strange that one guy goes down injured and we trigger dispensation when quite a few of our top 30 have played fullback for this club before not counting Staines. Seems a loophole just begging for exploitation.
I'm a big Rua fan.
I think he plays the role jake played on the weekend better I.e fill in at 9 to give api a rest then roll into 13 at back end of the game.
He may not be a better hooker than Jake but he's a better hooker/lock than Jake.
I think he's a guy that steps up a gear off given a chance in first grade.
I haven't seen much from him outside the trials from last year.
The trial that won him a top 30 contract
He was then injured most of the year wasn't he?
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I'm a big Rua fan.
I think he plays the role jake played on the weekend better I.e fill in at 9 to give api a rest then roll into 13 at back end of the game.
He may not be a better hooker than Jake but he's a better hooker/lock than Jake.
I think he's a guy that steps up a gear off given a chance in first grade.
I haven't seen much from him outside the trials from last year.
The trial that won him a top 30 contract
He was then injured most of the year wasn't he?
He was injured for a large chunk of last year, which is why I think he needs more time. He hasn't shown the same form since he returned.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I'm a big Rua fan.
I think he plays the role jake played on the weekend better I.e fill in at 9 to give api a rest then roll into 13 at back end of the game.
He may not be a better hooker than Jake but he's a better hooker/lock than Jake.
I think he's a guy that steps up a gear off given a chance in first grade.
I haven't seen much from him outside the trials from last year.
The trial that won him a top 30 contract
He was then injured most of the year wasn't he?
From what I have seen, it is a very unearned top 30 contract.
Hopefully he can knuckle down this year and prove why he was awarded it.
I'm a big Rua fan.
I think he plays the role jake played on the weekend better I.e fill in at 9 to give api a rest then roll into 13 at back end of the game.
He may not be a better hooker than Jake but he's a better hooker/lock than Jake.
I think he's a guy that steps up a gear off given a chance in first grade.
I haven't seen much from him outside the trials from last year.
The trial that won him a top 30 contract
He was then injured most of the year wasn't he?
From what I have seen, it is a very unearned top 30 contract.
Hopefully he can knuckle down this year and prove why he was awarded it.
Before his injury I thought he looked like a young Brandon Smith in the trials. But he was super unimpressive in this years trials. Agree with others when they say he looked unfit.
No thanks to Rua hopefully doesn't get a top 30 next year we can do better with the spot.
Bruised foot injury for Adam Doueihi with wakeham practising goal kicking
May well be a 7. wakeham 6. Brooks pairing on Sunday
Interesting from the other forum
After 2 rounds the Wests Tigers are:
4th in posession %
1st in line engaged
5th in line breaks
3rd in tackle breaks
2nd in all metres.
2nd in all runs.
3rd in dummy half runs
1st in offloads.
Last on the ladder though
against two teams that are likely to be bottom 4.
@tiger5150 that is the depressing part.
Do think an understrength Melbourne is very beatable.
As for the dogs if we push through the forwards and some passes stick you never know
As for Brisbane they will put 50 on us
our record in Brisbane@tiger5150 that is the depressing part.
Do think an understrength Melbourne is very beatable.
As for the dogs if we push through the forwards and some passes stick you never know
As for Brisbane they will put 50 on us
Interesting from the other forum
After 2 rounds the Wests Tigers are:
4th in posession %
1st in line engaged
5th in line breaks
3rd in tackle breaks
2nd in all metres.
2nd in all runs.
3rd in dummy half runs
1st in offloads.
Last on the ladder though
The biggest issue has been our attack on the 20m zone. If we fix that, maybe things turn around very quickly
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