Round 8 - Knights vs Tigers - 12:45pm Saturday 22 August - McDonald Jones Stadium

1. Lilly-Ann White
2. Shanice Parker
3. Sidney Taylor
4. Tenika Willison
5. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala
6. Kirra Dibb
7. Georgia Roche
8. Tayla Predebon
9. Olivai Higgins
10. Tiana Davison
11. Sienna Yeo
12. Jules Kirkpatrick
13. Kayla Romaniuk (C)

14. Charley Lahmert
15. Emily McArthur
16. Amelia Pasikala
17. Lucy Spain

18. Fane Finau
19. Stella Lewis
20. Cheyelle Robins-Reti
21. Simone Karpani
22. Botille Vette-Welsh

White returns with Spain benched
Finau dropped, replaced by Yeo
Lahmert and McArthur debut off the bench
Vette-Welsh and Karpani dropped
 
Far from a White or Vette-Welsh believer but I don't really get the love for Spain, either. Outside of the game against the worst team in the comp I think there's been a pretty big disconnect between how she's talked about on here and what she's actually contributing on the field.

The strangest part about her dropping is her being on the bench. Putting a lot of pressure on Pasikala and a rookie prop.
 
Newygirl said:
That’s fine but shouldn’t that include Spain, she’s clearly the best prospect at fullback or do they have to play White because Spain wasn’t in the top 24?
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Spain is still on the bench.
I suspect she'll play a role.
Reserve grade will miss Lahmert a lot.
 
mullenmagic said:
Far from a White or Vette-Welsh believer but I don't really get the love for Spain, either. Outside of the game against the worst team in the comp I think there's been a pretty big disconnect between how she's talked about on here and what she's actually contributing on the field.

The strangest part about her dropping is her being on the bench. Putting a lot of pressure on Pasikala and a rookie prop.
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She saved about 5 tries on the weekend. She doesn't have the ability to make stuff out of nothing in attack but she's pretty consistently played her role well when we've had some go forward.

At the end of the day NRLW is way more about the power game through the middle than NRLM & we just don't seem to have prioritised go forward enough, unless some young girl really really takes a massive step forward some time soon.
 
Except under the high ball, I thought White looked very athletic before her injury. I also understand the love for Spain. The way she glides into good positions to promote the runner outside and her fearless efforts in defense, I think have her earmarked as a future rep player. I know the season is short, but I don't think it's a bad idea to protect Spain for a bit longer until she can develop her body and fitness. We have 2 really good prospects in White and Spain, let's hope we can keep them.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
She saved about 5 tries on the weekend. She doesn't have the ability to make stuff out of nothing in attack but she's pretty consistently played her role well when we've had some go forward.

At the end of the day NRLW is way more about the power game through the middle than NRLM & we just don't seem to have prioritised go forward enough, unless some young girl really really takes a massive step forward some time soon.
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Yeah her defence at the back for her size is really impressive. I’ve seen far more upside to her than White and she’ll only get better with more time.

Just the fact that she’s come in and hardly put a foot wrong at all is impressive in itself in such an imposition. If we had the forwards to actually create some space for her to move she’d be even more dangerous
 
I wouldn’t be complaining if she was still there either because I don’t think any of the 3 are particularly good options, that’s kind of my point. White was already the first choice to start the year and played well in round 1 even on a bad leg so I’m just not surprised she's back in. The week prior to debuting after 4 players ahead of her were unavailable Spain wasn’t even the fullback in reserve grade, she was on the wing behind Vette-Welsh.

Finau has been solid but seems to have followed in McEwen’s footsteps, physically dominated her way through the grades and then gets among adults and suddenly doesn’t have the same impact or really stand out at all. McEwen similarly got dropped late last season as well. Might be better off shifting back to centre where she can run at smaller players if Taylor isn’t back next year.

Lahmert is maybe our best prospect at the moment. Think there’s a lot of refining needed and she’ll probably look like a bit of a ball hog at times but she’s talented at least. Haven’t seen anything to think McArthur is going to be a difference maker. As I mentioned the configuration of the bench as a whole is probably the most shocking out of all these moves for mine.

I also wouldn’t say this is them looking toward next year (they’re still a very realistic chance to make the finals, would be pretty pathetic to pull up stumps now). Going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say this is genuinely just who Jeffries believes gives him the best chance of winning this week.
 
Bizarre decision to me. Spain has shown more than White has on the field. White was first choice though so I guess he's just putting the incumbent back in.
 
I dunno it just always feels like he's trying to send a message with a lot of his decisions to drop players, but the message gets confused.

If effort/decision-making problems get you dropped, why is Spain out?

If another player being more talented than you means you have to sit out, why is Finau out?

It seems very arbitrary to me.
 
mullenmagic said:
I wouldn’t be complaining if she was still there either because I don’t think any of the 3 are particularly good options, that’s kind of my point. White was already the first choice to start the year and played well in round 1 even on a bad leg so I’m just not surprised she's back in. The week prior to debuting after 4 players ahead of her were unavailable Spain wasn’t even the fullback in reserve grade, she was on the wing behind Vette-Welsh.

Finau has been solid but seems to have followed in McEwen’s footsteps, physically dominated her way through the grades and then gets among adults and suddenly doesn’t have the same impact or really stand out at all. McEwen similarly got dropped late last season as well. Might be better off shifting back to centre where she can run at smaller players if Taylor isn’t back next year.

Lahmert is maybe our best prospect at the moment. Think there’s a lot of refining needed and she’ll probably look like a bit of a ball hog at times but she’s talented at least. Haven’t seen anything to think McArthur is going to be a difference maker. As I mentioned the configuration of the bench as a whole is probably the most shocking out of all these moves for mine.

I also wouldn’t say this is them looking toward next year (they’re still a very realistic chance to make the finals, would be pretty pathetic to pull up stumps now). Going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say this is genuinely just who Jeffries believes gives him the best chance of winning this week.
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Pretty sure Jeffries said when Spain made her debut that she was only not there because she had a shoulder injury in pre-season. They were hoping to use her in the trial but she wasn’t ready yet

Can’t believe Bo is still here next year. It’s such a waste of a top 24 spot, can they pay her out and free up the spot for someone else?
 
Finau injured her shoulder last game. Only a week I think.

Echo Mullens comments on Lilly and Spain. Stoked Lahmert is getting a run. Braining HN Cup. McArthur is a fit and strong middle forward. I think she’ll give great impact off bench for 10mins either side.
 
mullenmagic said:
Far from a White or Vette-Welsh believer but I don't really get the love for Spain, either. Outside of the game against the worst team in the comp I think there's been a pretty big disconnect between how she's talked about on here and what she's actually contributing on the field.

The strangest part about her dropping is her being on the bench. Putting a lot of pressure on Pasikala and a rookie prop.
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You are off your head. Do you even watch? Rarely in a bad position, always on the ball in attack, whether that be 3 man or running it. Silky passing skills, clearly has good vision.
 
Also Lucy hurt herself in the last tackle of the game. Was holding her shoulder for most of the team high fives, hip hip hooray etc. I'd say giving her a little rest and letting her come on to wreak some havoc around tired defenders.
 
After 7 games she’s scored 1 try (a catch and put down in support after Taylor did all of the work). She has 2 line breaks, total. She averages less than 2 tackle breaks per game. At no point does it look like she’s actually threatening the line as a runner, and if she runs straight into a defender she’s losing that contact every time. Her best attribute in attack is undeniably passing but I wouldn’t even say she’s particularly creative as a playmaker either, more just smart at counting numbers and shovelling the ball on when that’s what’s needed. It’s a nice attribute to have but for mine it doesn’t make up for being a complete zero as a running threat.

I get it. We’ve lost both of our superstars in consecutive year and the team is stuck in the middle without a clear path upwards. We want something to be hopeful about and she’s the new shiny toy. Just think the way she’s being talked about is not at all consistent with the impact she's actually having on the field.

But again I'm aware I'm in the minority and it's been decided that she's the next great fullback so looking forward to eating my words.
 
I don't think she's within cooee of the other top fullbacks either, but she's been dropped in favour of someone who, from what we've seen, struggles under the high ball, can't pass, doesn't break tackles, but is kind of fast. I don't know what anyone sees in her game aside from having a bit of toe. If Lily comes out and has a blinder I guess I'll have to eat my words but as it stands I don't buy into her as an NRLW standard player in any position, let alone one of the hardest ones to play. I would sooner see Bo back there.
 
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