2025 Season

HarVeeGee13 said:
Fogarty is a very capable #7 but he’s got the choke gene.
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I’ll never forget the game a few years back where he blatantly refused to set up for a field goal with scores level.

From memory they had at least a whole set in the opposition 20 and he didn’t once drop back or get anybody to drop back. (Could have had a repeat set even - but my memory is hazey and google can’t help me the day after a Canberra game).

He’s great in general play. But I think his lack of desire to take control in those pressure moments is stopping him from going up a tier in halfbacks.
 
bremsstrahlung said:
I’ll never forget the game a few years back where he blatantly refused to set up for a field goal with scores level.

From memory they had at least a whole set in the opposition 20 and he didn’t once drop back or get anybody to drop back. (Could have had a repeat set even - but my memory is hazey and google can’t help me the day after a Canberra game).

He’s great in general play. But I think his lack of desire to take control in those pressure moments is stopping him from going up a tier in halfbacks.
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He's at the exact tier of half where he's the guy you keep while you develop a superstar, or he's a good foil for genuine superstars. Honestly $4 million on a spine of Kalyn Ponga, Dylan Brown, Jamal Fogarty and Tom Starling is pretty easy to buy into as a top four/contender spine, only the Storm, Broncos & Roosters would have better quartets next year IMO.

What was finally exposed yesterday is that for all the wraps they've been getting, no team has a 6 and 1 who have smaller roles in attack than Strange and Weekes. They needed something extra in the back end of the game and they didn't seem to have a player who could lift them off the canvas given the power game wasn't working as well as it usually does. Strange touched the ball 21 times in 94 minutes of footy, recorded 4 runs, and made 23 tackles at 79%. Can you imagine the heat he'd be getting for that low level of involvement if he was Polynesian!? Don't strain yourself sweetie!
 
Owey said:
Walsh got off. An intentional headbutt, long seen as so far out side the rules as to warrant a send off and long suspension, is now 10 minutes in the bin and a fine. I hope they are consistent moving forward.
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He got suspended for doing the exact same to Luai in Origin in 2023, not even consistent when it's the same player.

OTOH Carrigan's tackle was a grade 2, 1 match suspension, 2 weeks if he fights and loses. They've got that one right at least but it's a way more clear cut one.
 
Where's my 'OK Champ' emoji at?

Nah look I'm not stupid, I know what actually happens is people look at it as "team is winning, therefore, playmakers good; team is losing, therefore, playmakers bad".

But Ethan Strange is by some distance the quietest half in the comp, no one has a smaller role. That's good coaching from Ricky Stuart, he's young, he's learning, he has playmaking back rowers that he can play as a runner outside. Contrast with AOB who thrust Fletcher into like the second biggest attacking role in the team immediately. I do think it will be an interesting thing to track though because I suspect the Raiders are going to become a sub 50% team once they lose Fogarty. Strange will have to do more than he does now. Will be interesting to see if he cops criticism if they're nowhere near as good and he keeps floating through games like he has a tendency to do.
 
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Reckon Ethan Sanders will end up being a better player than Fogarty. Might take him a while to settle but he’s definitely an adequate replacement.
 
mozza said:
Reckon Ethan Sanders will end up being a better player than Fogarty. Might take him a while to settle but he’s definitely an adequate replacement.
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I do too, and it's the correct long term play, but that much experience & know how is really hard to replace.
 
Actually really feel for Billy, he's been playing great footy. A bit like Tyson Gamble it's cool to see a battler have some success.

I believe there's some chance Ezra will be back?
 
Geez have to feel for Radley, all those unders he likely took cos uncle nick said he would look after him after his career, up in smoke.
 
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