Second pre-season trial - Knights Vs Bulldogs - 6:00pm Saturday, 14th February - McDonald Jones Stadium

He already has fast PTB speed. We genuinely got a quality prop, not “if”. He actually does play like a link man with his passing. He was one of the best forwards that game just behind JFH. He needs to play prop for us because we have no one better. But he will still be passing from prop. Hi can almost guarantee he hits the ground running because I have seen it already in a footage I have seen of him.

If you listen to to super coach dudes most of them have him in there team because he is cheap but they all know he has massive upside. There is no if, we have a very good prop there already.

If he’s gets injured then we worry.
 
slotmachine said:
Mooney reminds me of Payne Haas. Am I doing it right?
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No. He only reminds you of Haas when he leaves for another club.

I’m only joshing. We’re all long suffering, I’m just praying last night was an aberration and we’ll get good attacking football during the actual season.
 
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I’m going to cut the boys some slack as it was just a trial, but the signs were definitely concerning. If the boys can’t get ready and fired up for a rd 1 especially in Vegas, my expectations for this season will plummet.
 
I reckon we'll pump the **** out of the Cows.

I take nearly zero negatives out of that TRIAL game. No Ponga, Sharpe, Mooney, Hopwood - our forwards seemed semi interested in the extras. It was Lucas' first game in like 9 months. We had blokes spilling the ball every set. We played without a tactical set up for a fullback (Ponga) in shape, and had discarded Smith to the left as a subordinated playmaker for the purpose of giving Brown time on the ball - of course we weren't at our best. Why is anyone surprised or bothered.

Positives:

* Brown can play as primary playmaker
* Brown can kick long
* ESL and Manuleleua are FG ready.
* Hopwood heading to Vegas ahead of ESL, meaning that despite how well ESL played, Hopwood without game time is considered 'better' than what we saw from ESL in the trials - not surprised either.

There's going to be some teething with a brand new halves pairing but it won't look anything like that training run against the Dogs.
 
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I believe the coach can use the weekend result as inspiration for the year as well. Strategically it could be a tactical measure so other teams underrate us, so we can remember the feeling of how bad it felt to be kept scoreless and lose so bad to inspire and fire up the squad. Having players out of position and trying new things would surely bring worse results but as a trial it doesn't matter if we had that approach going into it.

It could also help fans/analysts realise what could and could not work after showing such so there is less commentary and only positive press keeping the best formation/lineup overall. Also helps cross out certain ideas instead of them lingering.
 
Les Misérables said:
I reckon we'll pump the **** out of the Cows.

I take nearly zero negatives out of that TRIAL game. No Ponga, Sharpe, Mooney, Hopwood - our forwards seemed semi interested in the extras. It was Lucas' first game in like 9 months. We had blokes spilling the ball every set. We played without a tactical set up for a fullback (Ponga) in shape, and had discarded Smith to the left as a subordinated playmaker for the purpose of giving Brown time on the ball - of course we weren't at our best. Why is anyone surprised or bothered.

Positives:

* Brown can play as primary playmaker
* Brown can kick long
* ESL and Manuleleua are FG ready.
* Hopwood heading to Vegas ahead of ESL, meaning that despite how well ESL played, Hopwood without game time is considered 'better' than what we saw from ESL in the trials - not surprised either.

There's going to be some teething with a brand new halves pairing but it won't look anything like that training run against the Dogs.
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Less miserable.
I was writing a long long story but you said it all. Mooney is a great middle gives us some starch which we need. We have not had two good halves for zions, now we have a game winner in Brown.
I am so looking forward to this season.
 
Les Misérables said:
I reckon we'll pump the **** out of the Cows.

I take nearly zero negatives out of that TRIAL game. No Ponga, Sharpe, Mooney, Hopwood - our forwards seemed semi interested in the extras. It was Lucas' first game in like 9 months. We had blokes spilling the ball every set. We played without a tactical set up for a fullback (Ponga) in shape, and had discarded Smith to the left as a subordinated playmaker for the purpose of giving Brown time on the ball - of course we weren't at our best. Why is anyone surprised or bothered.

Positives:

* Brown can play as primary playmaker
* Brown can kick long
* ESL and Manuleleua are FG ready.
* Hopwood heading to Vegas ahead of ESL, meaning that despite how well ESL played, Hopwood without game time is considered 'better' than what we saw from ESL in the trials - not surprised either.

There's going to be some teething with a brand new halves pairing but it won't look anything like that training run against the Dogs.
Click to expand...
Les Positivables
 
Putting my 2 cents on the match. It was certainly a tough watch but I expected the Bulldogs to beat us convincingly.

DylBro showed he has a decent boot and not a pop gun one like most of our previous halves had which will be useful.

This match also showed why I think we'll struggle again with the lack of go forward up front. Mooney returning will help and McEwen for me has to start over Cant.

Sandon struggled on the left side and was much better on the right in the first game.

Too early to write off De Courcey. Rate him higher than McCarthy.

Attack needs a lot of work still.
 
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