by Warriors Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:16 am
Watched the Eels vs Knights trial last night. Here are my thoughts.
All Knights forwards are a wait and see. Not sure if there is much value in any of those guys, including Fitzgibbon and Slade. Expecting a 50/50 share at hooker meaning a average for Slade around 30 in solely tackles.
Ponga is a must for every side. Was all class, probably had 5 tackle busts without doing anything (beating first defender every second hitup), good kick defusals, did drop one sitter though, played like a second half at times, attacking kicks so may get a few forced dropouts/TA's etc.
Pearce did all the long range kicking - will average around 50 but will drop in price because he just won't get the attacking stats.
Connor Watson is a worry actually, limited opportunities, tackled well, did throw the last cutout pass for Kenny Dowell try (LBA and TA) but other than that didn't do anything, didn't go on any TB runs etc (could struggle to hit 30's if Knights forwards don't provide the platform), but we all know he is capable of a big score too. Risky pick as starting half. Probably better value in Mitchell Moses or Josh Reynolds.
Eels are a very solid side that will just suffocate teams through good defense. Eels forwards will be good options if Will Smith is on bench, but assume this will change depending on opposition.
N Brown will take off where he left last year - in terms of business in defense and always looking to offload. May have minutes cut with four forward bench as Taka playing second row has murkied the waters.
Props will be Alvaro, Mannah, Evans and Matagi - whom were all very good. Problem is they then have two spots to fill out of Beau Scott, Kenny Edwards, Tepai Moeroa and Will Smith. So there is the risk in picking Nathan Brown and Alvaro, whom I feel are the only options except Taka obviously in the centres.
Alvaro was very very busy, opening spell was 24 minutes of 3-4 tackles per set along with sometimes two hitups per set (on around 3-4 occasions), no real tackle breaks except for a couple of slapsies across the face of the post and 1 offload, if Will Smith is on bench and this guy can jag 45 minutes 50 points is not out of the question. But risk is there.
Moses and Norman and French and Jennings and Hayne (at fullback) were very good. Moses is definitely a good option. Scored a good try and had another disallowed. Kicked like 1 out of 6 though. Did most of the long range kicking. Feel he will be the guy running the ship and Norman will up his running game. Could be a bold POD pick that pays off.
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