Round 9: North QLD Cowboys vs Dolphins

[Jetty]

Team Tips: Veteran prop Jesse Bromwich is likely to spend some time on the sidelines with a calf injury. Coach Wayne Bennett said that Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth won’t play against the Cowboys. Connelly Lemuelu is close to a return, while Anthony Milford is available for selection after serving a two-match suspensions. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is expected to be back in a couple of weeks, but the Dolphins won’t rush him back considering how good Trai Fuller is going in the No. 1 jersey.

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Missed a huge opportunity on Sunday. Now we are going to have to do it the hard way. Beat some very serious teams in order to stay in the 8. With all those players missing and North QLD almost at full strength, going to be very hard.

 

[Blockade]

Won't be an easy task up there with the ever increasing injury toll. But I'm certainly not counting them out. A team that can pump out 8 tries in 25 mins is not one to be discounted. This side has a bit of a x-factor about them and if they ever play at full strength (or near), they will do some damage.

 

[Dolph]

Won't be an easy task up there with the ever increasing injury toll. But I'm certainly not counting them out. A team that can pump out 8 tries in 25 mins is not one to be discounted. This side has a bit of a x-factor about them and if they ever play at full strength (or near), they will do some damage.

It will be really hard but NQ are even more hot and cold than we are so we have a chance. Just not a very good chance to be honest. I mean, with all the injuries.....

 

[mr_c]

need calm heads and dont rush plays

 

[Chris]

need calm heads and dont rush plays

Need to be much better all round. If we allow Cowboys to have as much ball as Newcastle had in that first half, it'll be 40-0 by halftime. Not in our favour.

 

[mr_c]

sure do

 

[mr_c]

Jesse's fine

 

[Equaliser]

Dolphins team:​

1. Trai Fuller
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Tesi Niu
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Mark Nicholls
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Euan Aitken
13. Max Plath
14. Josh Kerr
15. Kurt Donoghoe
16. Ray Stone
17. Connelly Lemuelu

Not bad considering the number of injuries.

 

[Red]

Dolphins team:​

1. Trai Fuller
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Jake Averillo
4. Tesi Niu
5. Jack Bostock
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Mark Nicholls
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Euan Aitken
13. Max Plath
14. Josh Kerr
15. Kurt Donoghoe
16. Ray Stone
17. Connelly Lemuelu

Not bad considering the number of injuries.

Not bad but seriously, how is Val's weight going? Any better yet? This team would be much better balanced if Averillo or Tessi were on the wing for Bostock with Val in the centres. Bostock needs some more time in cup. Catch the ball better. Even though we lost, the dropped balls from him didn't directly cost us on Sunday but I bet it will soon.

He's still young so I hope I'm wrong but at least as winger, I don't think he'll make it. Apparently he played centre in all his jnr football. He might be better there. won't have to catch bombs and won't have to decide whether to rush in or stay out in defence as much. And unlike Aitken, he can find a pass. He might be a good centre.

 

[Jetty]

Not bad but seriously, how is Val's weight going? Any better yet? This team would be much better balanced if Averillo or Tessi were on the wing for Bostock with Val in the centres. Bostock needs some more time in cup. Catch the ball better. Even though we lost, the dropped balls from him didn't directly cost us on Sunday but I bet it will soon.

He's still young so I hope I'm wrong but at least as winger, I don't think he'll make it. Apparently he played centre in all his jnr football. He might be better there. won't have to catch bombs and won't have to decide whether to rush in or stay out in defence as much. And unlike Aitken, he can find a pass. He might be a good centre.

Put Val on Bostocks diet for a week.

 

[mr_c]

Put Val on Bostocks diet for a week.

He needs more than that

 

[mr_c]

Not bad but seriously, how is Val's weight going? Any better yet? This team would be much better balanced if Averillo or Tessi were on the wing for Bostock with Val in the centres. Bostock needs some more time in cup. Catch the ball better. Even though we lost, the dropped balls from him didn't directly cost us on Sunday but I bet it will soon.

He's still young so I hope I'm wrong but at least as winger, I don't think he'll make it. Apparently he played centre in all his jnr football. He might be better there. won't have to catch bombs and won't have to decide whether to rush in or stay out in defence as much. And unlike Aitken, he can find a pass. He might be a good centre.

Val can't read plays he has no clue in qld cup

 

[Josh]

Val can't read plays he has no clue in qld cup

Seems Val is well down but Bostock had a bad game last Sunday. Multiple dropped balls and offered nothing in attack. Then again, Isaako has been really quiet this year so far. Bostock probably has more average run metres. Need more from both this weekend.

 

[mr_c]

Seems Val is well down but Bostock had a bad game last Sunday. Multiple dropped balls and offered nothing in attack. Then again, Isaako has been really quiet this year so far. Bostock probably has more average run metres. Need more from both this weekend.

i wouldn't be changing to much we , 99% of our backs stats werent much better, hes well down the pecking order n players in the cup side look marginally better

 

[Red]

Val can't read plays he has no clue in qld cup

Ok. So Val is not in the picture in the near future at least. But I'm still concerned by the lack of impact Averillo has and by Bostocks game generally. I think it's a weak spot. There is one more issue which is probably very unpopular. Good fullbacks need to be able to run and set up others. Hammer can only run. The centre combo might end up being Hammer and Herbie with Fuller at fullback. Though in big games having Fuller under the high ball might be a nightmare. Not because there is anything wrong with his hands but because tall wingers or even medium height centres or backrowers will easily get above him.

 

[Equaliser]

Ok. So Val is not in the picture in the near future at least. But I'm still concerned by the lack of impact Averillo has and by Bostocks game generally. I think it's a weak spot. There is one more issue which is probably very unpopular. Good fullbacks need to be able to run and set up others. Hammer can only run. The centre combo might end up being Hammer and Herbie with Fuller at fullback. Though in big games having Fuller under the high ball might be a nightmare. Not because there is anything wrong with his hands but because tall wingers or even medium height centres or backrowers will easily get above him.

Maybe Val could try fullback.

 

[mr_c]

Ok. So Val is not in the picture in the near future at least. But I'm still concerned by the lack of impact Averillo has and by Bostocks game generally. I think it's a weak spot. There is one more issue which is probably very unpopular. Good fullbacks need to be able to run and set up others. Hammer can only run. The centre combo might end up being Hammer and Herbie with Fuller at fullback. Though in big games having Fuller under the high ball might be a nightmare. Not because there is anything wrong with his hands but because tall wingers or even medium height centres or backrowers will easily get above him.

i think your over thinking it what sort of impact you want from him hes one our best tacklers from our back 3 highest most weeks , put hammer in there weeks we leak like a sive


not many backs outside our centres have double figures tackles most weeks

huge mistake if leave hammer there and take jake out ffs hes just arrived and feeling his way and playing well

 

[Red]

i think your over thinking it what sort of impact you want from him hes one our best tacklers from our back 3 highest most weeks , put hammer in there weeks we leak like a sive


not many backs outside our centres have double figures tackles most weeks

huge mistake if leave hammer there and take jake out ffs hes just arrived and feeling his way and playing well

That's true his defence is probably very good. Something one notices less when it's a centre not letting opposing centres get on the outside and put away wingers or go straight though themselves. Having said that, I don't think there is anything wrong with Hammers defence. He did very well at centre in Origin last year.

 

[mr_c]

orgin is total dirent ball game, yet struggled wen he was in it for us

 

[Josh]

orgin is total dirent ball game, yet struggled wen he was in it for us

Origin is the same ball game but of higher quality. No reason Hammer couldn't be a great NRL centre though I think he's doing well as a fullback. Needs to develop his game game more to become that fullback but is still pretty good. If we get a top fullback come through the grades in the next year or two and Hammer isn't needed at centre, can send him on his way as Cowboys did.