Trial Game 1 v Knights

[RufusRex]

I aint carrying any old snapshot in my mind, as I did type this re Kerr.

I mean you edited the original statement to say that after being called out.

 

[Ryan]

Ditto sloans drop across the line.

I thought that was a fair try.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Sloan let multiple balls bounce,

I did watch the whole game Jd, took everything, perhaps I missed one he left, other guys can take hi balls too if in their vicinity. There was no perceivable improvement in his defensive reads that I saw and he has lost that magic in attack. The constant flack he has copped over the yrs has taken its toll. Definitely his last year in NRL, tho he may find a career in the SL.

 

[RufusRex]

close to a dozen errors from him when you take into account dropped balls/failure to compete/letting balls bounce/poor positioning/poor numbering ... There were 3 or 4 reasonable runs where he was able to push a defender away but his runs are pretty much 80% effort to the line and try to push away rather than a bloke like Grey who goes 100% at the space to the sides of defenders to try break through that way.

Was a poor game when you balance out his positive and negative contributions.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I think that Kerr will be better as the season gets going. He has become more resilient from his time at the Dolphins under Bennett and Woolf. He is taking the ball up stronger and has been quite effective in defence and will improve.

Heres hoping DD as he is our most experienced bookend but can he play the enforcer role for us. I dont see him as the type that uses immense physicality, aggression and intimidation to be a constant thorn in the side of the opposition. We need someone. I rate Toby for his big engine and ball skill but he also is not the intimidating type. Klemmer was prob close but was he respected sufficiently to play that role. Kerr tho could play the protector role as a pack mentor by taking our youngsters under his wing..

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

So the Rabbits have left out most of their big names while we have picked our likely season starters. We win comfortably so will it be a hollow victory with our detractors saying we played second stringers. If memory serves the Bunnies also fielded an under strength side in '25, but a few of their up and commers showed their obvious promise and they jumped over the top of us in the second stanza.

 

[No Surrender]

So the Rabbits have left out most of their big names while we have picked our likely season starters. We win comfortably so will it be a hollow victory with our detractors saying we played second stringers. If memory serves the Bunnies also played an under strength side in '25, but a few of their up and commers showed their obvious promise and they jumped over the top of us in the second stanza.

If our side manages to win, I don’t care if Souths play their u/21 side

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Christian TUIPULOTU. Am I the only one that reckons this guy is under rated and should be in Ressies. Ok he is big dude and returns the leather strongly, but more like a forward than a back. Ever seen him break a defense using his agility. The bottom line is he is too slow in the back line for first grade, same as Rava was. His defensive reading is becoming as poor as Ravas too. When does his contract expire?

Why the hell this club jettisoned Sione Finau is so bloody baffling, as imho he was our career winger. Seems now we have to rely on the impressive Setu to take us into the future. Hope he stays put on his wing when needed as we've had a gut ful of guys straying and leaving holes.
Has Fale played on the flank, expect he could if needed.

 

[RufusRex]

Christian TUIPULOTU. Am I the only one that reckons this guy is under rated and should be in Ressies. Ok he is big dude and returns the leather strongly, but looks more a forward doing that. The bottom line is he is too slow for first grade, same as Rava was. His defensive reading is becoming as poor as Ravas too. Why the hell this club jettisoned Sione Finau is so bloody baffling, as imho he and the impressive Setu would have made a dangerous pair of flankers.

nope i dont think Tui is under-rated at all.

 

[TheRev]

I think we mean 'over-rated', look CT isnt very popular with fans atm.. and he's my 3rd or 4th wing choice at the club also (Id have Tu/Fale/Feagai first), but the gap between the 4 of them is not that much... so if based on the pre-season, the coaching staff think that's what the team needs.. lets see how it goes, who knows how things look in round 2 or 3.. could also be they want more experience in Vegas, which will be a finals like intensity.

Last year was different.. I was a big Sione fan so yeah I thought that was a bit suck.

 

[Dave03]

Jury out?? Kerr lead out tackle count made over 13m a carry and was close to out fastest play the ball giving decent momentum and scored a try … the offload that was dropped was not his fault but his first carry wasn’t great … 15 seconds poor the rest very good …

I thought Kerr was very good. His defence was first class and he made some strong runs, often poking his nose through the line and getting quick play the balls. I couldn't help thinking how much he had improved since his last stint with us.

Kerr has added side steps into his runs, I don't think he did it with us or it was rare. It's helped him out heaps, as he's reacting to the defence & showing some fwd IQ. I think it's something LPT can learn, he also needs more leg drive once contact is made. Pump those massive legs young fella.

 

[Dragon David]

Heres hoping DD as he is our most experienced bookend but can he play the enforcer role for us. I dont see him as the type that uses immense physicality, aggression and intimidation to be a constant thorn in the side of the opposition. We need someone. I rate Toby for his big engine and ball skill but he also is not the intimidating type. Klemmer was prob close but was he respected sufficiently to play that role. Kerr tho could play the protector role as a pack mentor by taking our youngsters under his wing..

Most of our middles are going through their plays without being overly aggressive I know, but to me, there haven't really been that many props that bring intimidation into their playbook in most clubs. They get on with their job without that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves type aggression and intimidation.

I certainly would like our props to have the JWH factor in them and to show that they won't be compromised and soft bellied without of course giving away too many penalties and to be sin binned leading to suspensions.

I would like to see Kerr being more aggressive and punishing in both attack and defence. Hopefully he will develop this during the course of his tenure at the Club.

 

[Dragon David]

So the Rabbits have left out most of their big names while we have picked our likely season starters. We win comfortably so will it be a hollow victory with our detractors saying we played second stringers. If memory serves the Bunnies also fielded an under strength side in '25, but a few of their up and commers showed their obvious promise and they jumped over the top of us in the second stanza.

Yes, wasn't good to see RVH. Our lineup on Saturday night for the Charity Shield contains players that would be our starting team against the Bulldogs in Vegas and will play against a ressies Bunnies side. Our boys cannot underestimate the Souths players as they will be tough and could pull off an embarrassing victory over us. We need to win big and dominate throughout and not take things easy against Souths underlings.

Sorry to bring this to your attention RVH but we do have a Charity Shield 2026 thread that jodragon40 started.

 

[Justadragon]

I used to be one of his biggest supporters asking consistently for him to be given time, but alas the lack of effort and multiple errors, I just cant work him out. You know many many players would love to have the talent he does and be playing NRL, but for the first game of the season boy did he look disinterested. He is a classic enigma

Most of our middles are going through their plays without being overly aggressive I know, but to me, there haven't really been that many props that bring intimidation into their playbook in most clubs. They get on with their job without that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves type aggression and intimidation.

I certainly would like our props to have the JWH factor in them and to show that they won't be compromised and soft bellied without of course giving away too many penalties and to be sin binned leading to suspensions.

I would like to see Kerr being more aggressive and punishing in both attack and defence. Hopefully he will develop this during the course of his tenure at the Club.

I thought JWH was the biggest grub in the world, Dave. Some of his plays bordered on absolute disgusting.

 

[jodragon40]

I used to be one of his biggest supporters asking consistently for him to be given time, but alas the lack of effort and multiple errors, I just cant work him out. You know many many players would love to have the talent he does and be playing NRL, but for the first game of the season boy did he look disinterested. He is a classic enigma

I thought JWH was the biggest grub in the world, Dave. Some of his plays bordered on absolute disgusting.

Especially against us

 

[Dragon David]

I used to be one of his biggest supporters asking consistently for him to be given time, but alas the lack of effort and multiple errors, I just cant work him out. You know many many players would love to have the talent he does and be playing NRL, but for the first game of the season boy did he look disinterested. He is a classic enigma

I thought JWH was the biggest grub in the world, Dave. Some of his plays bordered on absolute disgusting.

JWH was a thug and bully on the field. He did not seem to care who he hurt and what punishment he would cop. I'm glad he isn't playing anymore.

Kerr in the trial game against the Knights tried hard and looked better now than when he was with us before his time at the Dolphins.

 

[George Sancti]

Most of our middles are going through their plays without being overly aggressive I know, but to me, there haven't really been that many props that bring intimidation into their playbook in most clubs. They get on with their job without that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves type aggression and intimidation.

I certainly would like our props to have the JWH factor in them and to show that they won't be compromised and soft bellied without of course giving away too many penalties and to be sin binned leading to suspensions.

I would like to see Kerr being more aggressive and punishing in both attack and defence. Hopefully he will develop this during the course of his tenure at the Club.

It would be good, Dave, if some controlled aggression could be channelled into our forwards. That said, I don’t see any of them crossing the line of sporting decency the way JWH did on many occasions.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Watched the trial v Newcastle back and man, if Halangahu can develop an offload. It’s curtains for the league. Bloke gets an arm free on 90% of his runs

Maybe it’s a coaching decision to play conservative? But I would definitely look to promote that in his game. Would also stick to playing him on the left. Much more effective than on the right with his left arm carry right arm fend