The pre-season thread - 2022

Andrew Johns is one of the worst commentators at picking talent. He hyperboles and over rates so many that it has to be some sort of KPI to talk up the game and how much better it is compared to when he was playing.
 
Honestly I’m not prepared to absolutely toss Tex, he’s had some bright moments over the last couple of years and is still learning his craft. I’d be keeping him in the system. Obviously not ready to hand him another top 30 deal right now but no reason to totally give up on the kid.
 
Musgrove has a top 30 spot and Tex doesn't.
Tex had several decent games at the start of 2021 - 44 fantasy points v Warriors, 47 v wests - before he had a shocker against Saints and Ponga returned the next week.
He also got 43 fantasy points in our best win of the season V Manly.
Most of the hate directed at him seems to be because he isn't as good as Ponga.
Musgrove averaged 16 fantasy points in 7 games - and that looks pretty generous to be honest.
Tex made some big strides last year and looks a decent fringe firstgrader now.
He is 2 or 3 years younger than Musgrove and already way ahead.
Musgrove must train like a champion to get all the love he gets from coaches.

Tex averaged 31 fantasy points in 8 games in 2021 and 22 fantasy points in 9 games in 2020- which mirrors the obvious extra size and strength he added last off season. If he made similar gains this off season he would be a decent option for any of the backline positions as a backup.
 
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I don’t think Hoy is a lost cause. There’s a decent footballer in him somewhere, but he’s not a First Grade standard fullback at the moment.
 
Billy said:
Musgrove has a top 30 spot and Tex doesn't.
Tex had several decent games at the start of 2021 - 44 fantasy points v Warriors, 47 v wests - before he had a shocker against Saints and Ponga returned the next week.
He also got 43 fantasy points in our best win of the season V Manly.
Most of the hate directed at him seems to be because he isn't as good as Ponga.
Musgrove averaged 16 fantasy points in 7 games - and that looks pretty generous to be honest.
Tex made some big strides last year and looks a decent fringe firstgrader now.
He is 2 or 3 years younger than Musgrove and already way ahead.
Musgrove must train like a champion to get all the love he gets from coaches.

Tex averaged 31 fantasy points in 8 games in 2021 and 22 fantasy points in 9 games in 2020- which mirrors the obvious extra size and strength he added last off season. If he made similar gains this off season he would be a decent option for any of the backline positions as a backup.
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they play different positions so comparing fantasy points is especially questionable lol, tex is also 1 year younger they played sg ball together. Musgrove was also played out of position in every game in first grade I dont think he's ever played much wing, always been at center
 
Yeah Tex would just average more because he plays fullback, surely? Either way I don’t think it’s a particularly valuable metric.

I think Tex is talented. Some guys are so talented that they can make it in first grade before they really have a strong understanding of their own game or of the sport generally - they can just try stuff and have it come off. Kalyn is that talented, Tex is not.

With time and hard work he may turn himself into a really good player, but those years between the ages of about 20-26 are when a lot of guys slip through the cracks and give up. The guys who keep plugging away and only make it in their mid 20’s like Cody Walker or Jamal Fogarty are definitely the exception. Unless of course you play for Melbourne where they’ll hold you until you make a first grade debut at 23 and instantly carve up…

As it stands, I think there could be a player in there, but if he proved himself to be safe and reliable at the back in Kalyn’s absence this year, then the club wouldn’t even be worried about Junior leaving, they’d switch KP to 6 now knowing they can just play Tex at the 1 and it’ll be all good. Definitely had his big shot this year and didn’t take it, but it doesn’t have to be the end of his story by any means.
 
Just on Hoy - I don't really rate him as having the potential for a high ceiling at an NRL level. He's the sort of player that looks clever and fast on his feet in formats like the 9's but he is defensively a liability at NRL level. He is also very much a confidence player (like Aku)...so when he is good he can do some clever things BUT when he is down, he can be indecisive and down right abysmal.

He also isn't a defensive organiser or a talker from what I've seen (key role for a fullback) and he is prone to being gun shy and indecisive under the high ball.

All in all...if he was a realistic long term back up full back for us, he'd already have a contract for 2022....and if Ponga gets moved to 5/8 and it's a choice between him and Mann 😱😱😱 for starting fullback, I'm going to arrange some bulk sessions with my AA sponsor now🍻🍻🍻
 
Still_Nutty said:
Just on Hoy - I don't really rate him as having the potential for a high ceiling at an NRL level. He's the sort of player that looks clever and fast on his feet in formats like the 9's but he is defensively a liability at NRL level. He is also very much a confidence player (like Aku)...so when he is good he can do some clever things BUT when he is down, he can be indecisive and down right abysmal.

He also isn't a defensive organiser or a talker from what I've seen (key role for a fullback) and he is prone to being gun shy and indecisive under the high ball.

All in all...if he was a realistic long term back up full back for us, he'd already have a contract for 2022....and if Ponga gets moved to 5/8 and it's a choice between him and Mann 😱😱😱 for starting fullback, I'm going to arrange some bulk sessions with my AA sponsor now🍻🍻🍻
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You would not be the only one Still_Nutty! 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
 
Wasn't sure where to put this ..It seems we may have bought the better brother ...
Blayke Brailey was long earmarked to be Cronulla's long-term No.9, With the club even allowing his older brother to move to Newcastle in 2019 but hasn't kicked on in recent years the way the club perhaps expected him to.
 
Blayke is more of a natural playmaker, has a broader skill base, but he seems to struggle with the physicality of the sport a fair bit (I’ve heard he really struggles to gain weight). Jayden is arguably the best #9 in the comp defensively, as well as providing some of the cleanest service - so he’s always a valuable player, everything else he does on top of that is just gravy.
 
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