General 2013 Most Improved

[bigstu]

Okay so name your 3 players from any of the vulcans,jnr warriors and senior warriors you want to see improve on there 2012 form.

Shaun Johnson - I thought he was really good for 2/3 of the season but really fell apart at the end of the year along with everyone else i hope he puts in a big effort in pre-season and can come out faster and abit more wiser so he can steer this team around the field better.

glen fisiiahi - i hope he gets a good crack this season i've never been a locke fan in my view neither locke or fish have pushed on like they should have with there careers and i really hope fish just has a breakout year.

Pita Godinet - one of the most under rated players in the game i feel this guy is pure talent i really don't understand why he hasn't been a starting player for the last few seasons i hope he gets the nod to start over thomas.

 

[fanrrior]

Interesting thread. I would go with these three players:

Bill Tupou - I want to see improvement from him so badly, but I doubt it

Sam Lousi - Imo this guy could be amazing if he had some aggression. Thats really the only thing I think he needs as everything else will come with time.

Konrad "the kondom" Hurrel - Mostly in defence and injury tolerance.

 

[InsideBall]

For me:

Shaun Johnson - He really could be anything, his talent is undoubted, he just needs to get his act together. I think what he really needs, more than anything, is a coach that is going to make things simple for him, so that he perfectly understands his role and the job he has to do for his team - couple this with an improved work ethic and attitude and he could become an absolute force in this competition.

Konrad Hurrell - Similar to Johnson in many ways. He could one of the NRLs best gamebreakers if he was to put the work in. Obviously, first and foremost, his defence needs working, on - I definitely saw improvements in him as the year progressed, but there is a long way to go. And, like fanrrior said, in regards to injury tolerance, I was getting pretty tired of seeing him, towards the backend of the season, go down after almost every hitup or play, clutching at something. If you're injured, get off, if not, get on with it. I think he certainly needs to toughen up in this regard.

Kevin Locke - I understand that he was playing injured for a good chunk of the year, but even so, he needs to lift his game. At full health and in form, he is lethal chiming into the backline, and his positional play and defence are both excellent. From recent events we can see he is clearly in need of an attitude adjustment, and hopefully, this new coaching staff will help turn him around and get him back to his best.

If these three can be on top of their game for 2013, the Warriors will do very well.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

My top 3 would be the Warriors, the Juniors and the Vulcans. All of the teams should improve (hopefully) on last year.

There are too many names to be thrown around in the first grade squad, without even looking at the other grades.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Kevin Locke - I understand that he was playing injured for a good chunk of the year, but even so, he needs to lift his game. At full health and in form, he is lethal chiming into the backline, and his positional play and defence are both excellent. From recent events we can see he is clearly in need of an attitude adjustment, and hopefully, this new coaching staff will help turn him around and get him back to his best.

The only RECENT thing he did was make a badly timed comment on Twitter. Shaun Johnson made a similar comment, and so did some others. Locke's "latest" driving offence happened in March. He has since settled down (hopefully) and has a child on the way. Lets hope this helps.

 

[HornbyBrown]

The only RECENT thing he did was make a badly timed comment on Twitter. Shaun Johnson made a similar comment, and so did some others. Locke's "latest" driving offence happened in March. He has since settled down (hopefully) and has a child on the way. Lets hope this helps.

I didn't think the ladies from the retirement home could still make kids?

 

[mt.wellington]

Russel Packer - One of my team favourites, I was quite scathing of Packs at times this season due to his complete lack of go forward. His last 5 games from round 21-25 were nothing short of pathetic. If anyone typified what Elijah Taylor was on about in terms of players just not caring then Rusty was the leader of the pack. His run stats for those last 5 were:

Round 21. . .50 mins. . .29 tackles. . .7 hitups. . .66 metres
Round 22. . .42 mins. . .22 tackles. . .6 hitups. . .40 metres
Round 23. . .45 mins. . .23 tackles. . .3 hitups. . .36 metres
Round 25. . .37 mins. . .21 tackles. . .6 hitups. . .48 metres
Round 26. . .31 mins. . .17 tackles. . .3 hitups. . .25 metres

Thats an average of 41 mins, 22 tackles, 5 hitups and 43 metres. Pathetic! Ben Matulino figures for the same games:

Round 21. . .46 mins. . .17 tackles. . .12 hitups. . .96 metres
Round 22. . .53 mins. . .26 tackles. . .13 hitups. . .132 metres
Round 23. . .injured
Round 25. . .42 mins. . .13 tackles. . .14 hitups. . .139 metres
Round 26. . .49 mins. . .17 tackles. . .12 hitups. . .96 metres

Averages over the four games of 48 mins, 18 tackles, 13 hitups and 116 metres. What really annoys me was when Mutts was injured during round 23, Sione Lousi had better figures of:

Round 23. . .32 mins. . .15 tackles. . .10 hitups. . .92 metres.

The exception to these was round 24 home game vs Penrith when Mutts was still injured and he recorded figures of:

Round 24. . .61 mins. . .27 tackles. . .18 hitups. . .131 metres!!!

Now granted, Mutts was our benchmark for the season but that in no way excuses Rusty for having such poor figures. We all know he has the talent as he showed during round 24. He just didnt apply them consistently so I would like to see him get a kick up the ass or just left to squander in the Vulcans until he changes his attitude towards his workrate.

Shaun Johnson - I believe he has the skill set and talent, he just needs to show more confidence in using it. I dont think he went too bad this season. Must have sucked for him when the only person who was creating anything was Mateo. Locke was sniffing around, the centres werent running any real lines, the forwards werent putting their hands up... He can definately get more involved. At times he doesnt take the line on at all. The game against the Cowboys where we got our asses handed to us he ran the ball twice, for 14m gain! So I would love to see him take on the line and pass on it more, much like Mateo does. This of course needs the support of other players.

My main area of concern for him though is his pathetic tackling. The extra pressure he creates for those around him should not have to be tolerated. Keiran Foran isnt big but he's got balls and heart, something Shaun Johnson's in need of. With alot of mentoring, practice and tough love this can be remedied easily. Get the Lousi brothers to run at him all day!

Sam Lousi - This kid is a beast, 20 years old, 115 kgs and 6 ft 6! The kid has the exact same bio stats as Jamal Idris! Like fanrrior says, 'he would be amazing if he had some agression'. If he can absolutely work his butt off this preseason and get fit, and show the same agression as Dave Taylor he would not only pass his brother in terms of team selection but probably push some of our seasoned boys for a spot too. I would love to see him work on his fitness and try improve his accelaration. Abit of a lumbering oath at the moment but one with huge potential.

 

[HornbyBrown]

I agree with You ^^^ bigtime when it comes Packer. To be perfectly honnest I thought he was lazy and soft last year.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

I agree with You ^^^ bigtime when it comes Packer. To be perfectly honnest I thought he was lazy and soft last year.

Which is surprising. He had his leg problems taken care of, so there was no excuse. How come he performed better while running with great pain, but after it is gone, he stops running?

 

[HornbyBrown]

Which is surprising. He had his leg problems taken care of, so there was no excuse. How come he performed better while running with great pain, but after it is gone, he stops running?

Maybe the pain made him angry?

Maybe someone needs to punch before each game.

 

[mt.wellington]

Which is surprising. He had his leg problems taken care of, so there was no excuse. How come he performed better while running with great pain, but after it is gone, he stops running?

The biggest problem with Bluey this year was he never dropped anyone. Say wwhat you want about Cleary but he had the balls to pull players up who werent preforming. 2 articles on dropping Rusty to Vulcans with figures of 10 hitups for 75 metres. Compare that with some the efforts I highlighted in an earlier post and it's amazing to think he still got selected!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10718070
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4851430/Prop-Russell-Packer-dropped-by-coach-Cleary

Man I miss Cleary's no nonsense language. None of this 'Im trying my best' BS.

Packer actually had an article in the Sunday News afew months later crediting his much improved proformance on being dropped to the Vulcans. Wont bother trying to find a link as Sunday News articles are harder than rocking horse shit to find.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

The biggest problem with Bluey this year was he never dropped anyone. Say wwhat you want about Cleary but he had the balls to pull players up who werent preforming. 2 articles on dropping Rusty to Vulcans with figures of 10 hitups for 75 metres. Compare that with some the efforts I highlighted in an earlier post and it's amazing to think he still got selected!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10718070
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4851430/Prop-Russell-Packer-dropped-by-coach-Cleary

Man I miss Cleary's no nonsense language. None of this 'Im trying my best' BS.

Packer actually had an article in the Sunday News afew months later crediting his much improved proformance on being dropped to the Vulcans. Wont bother trying to find a link as Sunday News articles are harder than rocking horse shit to find.

We didn't have much choice but to stick with Packer this year. Lousi and Ta'ai were only injury cover and they were already covering injury, so Packer was safe.

 

[mt.wellington]

We didn't have much choice but to stick with Packer this year. Lousi and Ta'ai were only injury cover and they were already covering injury, so Packer was safe.

Bluey never used Ukuma sadly. I would have rather have Sam Lousi or Ikahihifo for a week than have Rusty at times. Anyway, past is the past. Hope Elliott doesnt suffer from the same idiocy!

 

[fanrrior]

I've always wondered how well Mannering would go at prop. If the players outside him didn't run the risk of missing so many tackles I would have like to see him there.

 

[mt.wellington]

glen fisiiahi - i hope he gets a good crack this season i've never been a locke fan in my view neither locke or fish have pushed on like they should have with there careers and i really hope fish just has a breakout year.

It always amazes me that people dont rate Locke. Maybe its just me but I think he's an amazing talent. He got mucked around early on in his career out on the wing with Wade McKinnon in his preferred Fullback spot. When he did get to star at Fullback he went gangbusters and never looked back. Wade McKinnon was released mid season to the Tigers. Nobby's pushed out Wade, Lance Hohaia, Glen Fisiiahi and Omar Slaimankel. Thats in itself speaks volumes of his skillset and talent. Above all, he has heart. Something Fish sorely lacks, pardon the pun.

 

[Inruin]

mateo - should be more dominant given his size and talent. that doesn't mean offload every hit up either. all our backrowers should be able to play 80 minutes. has patches of absolute brilliance and patches of where is he?

manu - get back to his best. if we get our fair share of possesion we are competitive. we cant do that if manu is dropping or trying to offload the ball on tackle zero. he offers alot, but that aspect of his game really kills us. doesn't need to move positions if he can get some confidence and form as he can be fantastic on the wing. if he can't, off to forward school.

our halves - seemed to be doing what they think a half should rather than what was actually required. hopefully with a proper structure in place they can control the game more and make the right decisions more often.

 

[jsmooove]

I've always wondered how well Mannering would go at prop. If the players outside him didn't run the risk of missing so many tackles I would have like to see him there.

I think he is the perfect replacement for Luck. he can be the defensive back bone that holds us together. He just really needs to work on his talking.

players improving - benry - i am predicting he is going to bulk up a little and start hitting the line and keep going forward. also think he is going to develop this sweet little offload. i got some wraps on him cause i think he has heart.
The Beast - i think this year he is going to be have someone better inside him giving him better ball and hopefully communicating better in D. is this the first offseason he has had no surgery? i think he will have a big off season.

my third choice will be slightly different - going with a combo not just a player. mateo\Shaun Johnson\locke combo. i have this feeling this is going to kick into gear next season. i am hoping they are going to leave melbournes big 3 in tatters and make bellamy regret not coming here.

 

[facefacts]

It always amazes me that people dont rate Locke. Maybe its just me but I think he's an amazing talent. He got mucked around early on in his career out on the wing with Wade McKinnon in his preferred Fullback spot. When he did get to star at Fullback he went gangbusters and never looked back. Wade McKinnon was released mid season to the Tigers. Nobby's pushed out Wade, Lance Hohaia, Glen Fisiiahi and Omar Slaimankel. Thats in itself speaks volumes of his skillset and talent. Above all, he has heart. Something Fish sorely lacks, pardon the pun.

That's something i find strange as well....Locke is a brilliant fullback, with all the the qualities you could possibly want from a player in that particular position. I lost count of how many times he was compared to Slater last season, and it's just unfortunate this season was ruined for him by two unlucky/uncommon injuries.

 

[shuffle]

Yeah I rate Locke ahead of Hoffman in a Kiwis Jersey too. In a Warriors Jersey he is still better Injured than what we had this year. Fisi'ahi looks more of a wing than a Fullback I think. Maybe the coaches can ask him to hang around Mateo or Sam Rapira for that roaming sort of role that Nathan Merrit does at Souths. I reckon Fish will be a bit more dangerous on Attack from an offload than just waiting on the wing for 5th tackle.

I Also hope Elijah Taylor improves next year. He had an amazing 2011 and showed some good attacking skills too. He's defense started off well then well like the whole team collapse around him. He has alot of experinced guys around him in Mannering, Lowrie and Mateo so if he doesn't improve I cant see him staying at the Warriors beyond 2013.

Russell Packer has also been disappointing this year and I called him a grub for some illegal shot he put on someone. I think this year he's been coasting because of no pressure from other props or injurys. This years games he starts off pretty well but like the fitness of most of the team really just became lazy. I'm bagging the guy I think he's an awesome player. A fully fit Russell Packer is up there and has the potiential to be Steve Price like.

 

[Sup42]

Yeah I rate Locke ahead of Hoffman in a Kiwis Jersey too.

How come ?

Man I recon Hoffman has been the Mom in the last two tests but that's just me , both great players , we're lucky to have them.......

Lockes Attacking game puts him ahead u recon or all round better ?