2024 NRL Season

Absolutely wild that the Panthers are $2.55 for this game tonight.

They are still 12 out of 15 wins without Cleary and whilst there’s been signs the Roosters have improved on their performances last year there’s surely some concern about just how underwhelming they were against Manly and how easily Manly controlled that game for 80 minutes.. something Penrith are clearly very capable of doing with or without Nathan Cleary.

Can’t bet against my own side but if I was a neutral I’d be all over some of those lines with Penrith as outsiders.

 

Absolutely dominated Dom Young in that first half. His yardage carries really are weak as piss, last thing you want to give a side like Penrith is a weak play 1 carry, you’re just never getting any momentum back in that set. I’d drop him and shift Suaalii who’s a liability at left centre back to the wing and bring in the roided up, silver fox, 35yr old Michael Jennings.

Scoreline in both Manly and Penrith games have been very flattering.

 

Suaalii is an elite winger, almost to the point where I think NSW would consider him as a right wing option if he was playing there full time. He’s a great backfield carry, very good under the high ball and finishes well.

He’s just never been any good at centre, he’s a pure athlete with a little bit of skill but you can see especially defensivley he’s got absolutely no ability to read attacking shapes being thrown at him.

 

Again, Bulldogs at $2.55 against a very underwhelming Bunnies side is very tempting. Good value in the lines I think.

 

Israel Folau had more about in him attack at centre, he ran really good lines and was still a threat close to the line but yeh a lot of similarities in terms of profile. Not sure if it’s his Union background or just because he was so physically dominant coming through the juniors but Suaalii just doesn’t seem to know how to hit a hole.

JWH is probably 4th choice prop on 300-400k per year, I don’t think he’s the problem. He’s still maintained a lot of his mobility and still carries pretty well he’s just not a starting 50-60minute prop anymore. Had Collins & Leniu been available he probably plays 30mins off the bench which I’m fine with.

 

JWH isn't the problem, last year he was quite good. I'm much more comfortable with giving him this year than giving Keary next year.

 

Was mental that Dearden & Townsend didn't attack Mam & Cobbo with more shape. Clearly didn't watch the opening 3 rounds.

Cowboys looked very ordinary, opening 3games against Titans, Dragons & Knights was always going to be a very soft marker.

They get the Titans again next week so could easily be 4-1 by end of round 5 which is insane.

Mariner has looked really good for the Broncos, safe under the high ball, carries aggressively in yardage and good finisher with some speed to burn.

 

100% they loaded up on their left all night with minimal success. It's up to both halves to change game plan if it's not working.

I hate this my side, your side of the field bullshit. If you're not creating points or space down the left then you've got to be switched on enough to change up the game plan. Lay a second rower down the left for a quick play the ball and stack the right hand side to throw some shape at them.

I thought Hunt defended pretty well but you're right as soon as Oates came on any good half or 5/8 should be running traffic his way in attack.