Round 27 vs Broncos
-
Papenhuyzen23
- Monsoon
- Posts: 1423
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:40 am
Are we expecting too much from Paps post injury?
His season stats are:
18 games
14 tries
60 goals
61 tackles breaks
11 line breaks
5 try assists
72 tackles made 18 missed
Averaging 151 running metres per game
Not been awful by any means but not exactly elite output either, most his stats are pretty solid and in line with the good fullbacks in the game but the one that jumps out is 5 try assists all year, he isn’t creating anything for his outside men.
Watching him put Blore over last week was a sight for sore eyes, but he just isn’t getting in the positions he used to, there is no shape and when he gets the ball he just looks lost, no conviction or confidence in what he is going to do.
The elite fullbacks in the league assist so many tries, ball playing is so crucial these days and Papi just doesn’t seem to have it at the moment.
He is also more hesistant (understandably) going into any kind of contact including kick contesting, I keep hoping he will come good and he shows flashes but I do wonder if the injuries have taken their toll not just physically but mentally too.
Much like NAS as mentioned earlier, I think we would all love to be proven wrong this September.
His season stats are:
18 games
14 tries
60 goals
61 tackles breaks
11 line breaks
5 try assists
72 tackles made 18 missed
Averaging 151 running metres per game
Not been awful by any means but not exactly elite output either, most his stats are pretty solid and in line with the good fullbacks in the game but the one that jumps out is 5 try assists all year, he isn’t creating anything for his outside men.
Watching him put Blore over last week was a sight for sore eyes, but he just isn’t getting in the positions he used to, there is no shape and when he gets the ball he just looks lost, no conviction or confidence in what he is going to do.
The elite fullbacks in the league assist so many tries, ball playing is so crucial these days and Papi just doesn’t seem to have it at the moment.
He is also more hesistant (understandably) going into any kind of contact including kick contesting, I keep hoping he will come good and he shows flashes but I do wonder if the injuries have taken their toll not just physically but mentally too.
Much like NAS as mentioned earlier, I think we would all love to be proven wrong this September.
He hasn't been the same since wightons knee. Not for one single game has he played as well as pre that injury. We are going back a long time now. Can trot out stats and data all they like, he's not as agile/fast as he was. My eyes dont deceive me I'm sure. Go back and watch that long range try against pen when he got the Clive. He cant do that anymore due his physical barriers. Do we think that strapping on the knees just for precaution/support/nothing....or might there still be an issue there?? His knee and ankles buggered....not great for someone who relies on speed.
Add onto that he's clearly mentally scarred. One more serious injury and his career is likely over, I think he knows it, and he plays like it. And yes it is understandable, but it's been as clear as day to me for a few years he avoids contact/ takes soft options when given the chance, even if to the detriment of his team. Could there be a more frustrating trait in a player? No wander the team turns in disinterested 2nd halves like last week at times, you dont think teammates picks up on it also and think if its ok for golden boy ryan.... why shouldnt it be for me? That stuff eeks into culture. No clearer example then that lack of effort on a runaway Harry Hughes against dogs. Thats just one recent obvious one. Those poor efforts are there every game if you watch close and have been for ages now. They were there against roosters. Watch his poor attempt at getting across to stop nawa a couple times, he just jogged cause he didn't want to be involved. He's fitter than that and could have made a better effort to put himself in the picture for an attempted save, but that would of involved heavy contact (trying to stop a barnstorming nawa- so he jogs).
I believe he has something to offer still 'if' he gets the head right and removes any thought of self preservation. He'll never be an elite fb again imo, as i said last year, he's mid pack at best of the current crop. He'll have the odd flash of brilliance sure, that'll always be there, but consistent week in out reliability and solidness to be the best...nope. Will kennedy has flashes of brilliance too. That's about where paps is.
I just hope he 'lets go" in this finals series with a mentality of fearlessness and no self preservation(the most important and underrated qualities when a player laces on their boot's) with a mentality if he cops another major setback, well...he gave it his all and did what was right by the team. If he go's in protecting himself - shying away from try saves and kick defusals, and panic shuffling off balls to outside men in worse positions rather than taking the hit, we are really up against it to win this comp. Fb is a bloody key position no more so than current day.
Add onto that he's clearly mentally scarred. One more serious injury and his career is likely over, I think he knows it, and he plays like it. And yes it is understandable, but it's been as clear as day to me for a few years he avoids contact/ takes soft options when given the chance, even if to the detriment of his team. Could there be a more frustrating trait in a player? No wander the team turns in disinterested 2nd halves like last week at times, you dont think teammates picks up on it also and think if its ok for golden boy ryan.... why shouldnt it be for me? That stuff eeks into culture. No clearer example then that lack of effort on a runaway Harry Hughes against dogs. Thats just one recent obvious one. Those poor efforts are there every game if you watch close and have been for ages now. They were there against roosters. Watch his poor attempt at getting across to stop nawa a couple times, he just jogged cause he didn't want to be involved. He's fitter than that and could have made a better effort to put himself in the picture for an attempted save, but that would of involved heavy contact (trying to stop a barnstorming nawa- so he jogs).
I believe he has something to offer still 'if' he gets the head right and removes any thought of self preservation. He'll never be an elite fb again imo, as i said last year, he's mid pack at best of the current crop. He'll have the odd flash of brilliance sure, that'll always be there, but consistent week in out reliability and solidness to be the best...nope. Will kennedy has flashes of brilliance too. That's about where paps is.
I just hope he 'lets go" in this finals series with a mentality of fearlessness and no self preservation(the most important and underrated qualities when a player laces on their boot's) with a mentality if he cops another major setback, well...he gave it his all and did what was right by the team. If he go's in protecting himself - shying away from try saves and kick defusals, and panic shuffling off balls to outside men in worse positions rather than taking the hit, we are really up against it to win this comp. Fb is a bloody key position no more so than current day.
-
Storm_M_36
- Thunderstorm
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:21 pm
Grant Atkins and Chris Sutton officiating in the same match. I''m glad this isn't a final. They are bound to walk the Broncos across the white line at every opportunity. Not a fan of either!!
Yep his only hope now is bench utility. We have to back Joe Chan and Grant Anderson for 2025.
I dont mind howarth and he was great last year but he just hasn't been on the park enough this year has he. Honestly, even if jack was available and you asked me ando vs jack right now, it would be a tough call. In the form of last year- Jack, but the way the season has gone and right now, I'd probably go ando. Even though he's leaving the club it would have been so hard and harsh on ando if Jack/brick returned and ando
Missed finals series. He's been such a solid contributor for as all year and just doesn't let you down. He’s a bloke I'd love to see get a comp before moving on. If Jacks truely done it kind of has saved the club from what was a terribly hard decision. I dont think we lose much here. Just happy bricks back and looking locked in. Hopefully its not jack back and brick out next week but doubt it. Howarth might be very handy off the bench especially with blore gone.
That's the big one for me and has definitely set us back. I think Blore's forms been great and he's been one of our best all year. He was one of our best last week. I think the reduced minutes and week off was just freshening him up because hes an important member rather than concerns re. form. So it's a loss, having to rejig that side on the eve of finals. We are looking at another new 2nd row/centre combo there now... not ideal. I dont know if chan/lisati can give us what we need there over 80minutes. A rotation of a couple of players splitting those minutes is probabaly the best way forward now. Maybe nas gets a reprieve , he could be handy there for 20 minutes off the bench if we aren't on the back foot. If Jack can come.back fit i don't mind the idea of him starting there if the club think he's up to it.
Anyway, got to take the positives, hughes back tonight which is a huge in, let's hope the shoulder holds up, nervous times.
Not sure that we can get it done without grant tonight if the broncs are on
Missed finals series. He's been such a solid contributor for as all year and just doesn't let you down. He’s a bloke I'd love to see get a comp before moving on. If Jacks truely done it kind of has saved the club from what was a terribly hard decision. I dont think we lose much here. Just happy bricks back and looking locked in. Hopefully its not jack back and brick out next week but doubt it. Howarth might be very handy off the bench especially with blore gone.
That's the big one for me and has definitely set us back. I think Blore's forms been great and he's been one of our best all year. He was one of our best last week. I think the reduced minutes and week off was just freshening him up because hes an important member rather than concerns re. form. So it's a loss, having to rejig that side on the eve of finals. We are looking at another new 2nd row/centre combo there now... not ideal. I dont know if chan/lisati can give us what we need there over 80minutes. A rotation of a couple of players splitting those minutes is probabaly the best way forward now. Maybe nas gets a reprieve , he could be handy there for 20 minutes off the bench if we aren't on the back foot. If Jack can come.back fit i don't mind the idea of him starting there if the club think he's up to it.
Anyway, got to take the positives, hughes back tonight which is a huge in, let's hope the shoulder holds up, nervous times.
Not sure that we can get it done without grant tonight if the broncs are on
I'm kind of surprised and it's a fair achievement imo that Anderson has become a player whose mistakes aren't talked about at all. He is honestly still a very frustrating player despite his improvements.
Outside of Coates I think all the other members of the outside backs have their pros and cons and dropping one for another may or may not work out. His season has been a bit up and down but I do think we miss Howarth's running and work rate as much as anything else. He is literally another forward out there for us and for a team who lacks punch that would be a tough thing to leave out.
Outside of Coates I think all the other members of the outside backs have their pros and cons and dropping one for another may or may not work out. His season has been a bit up and down but I do think we miss Howarth's running and work rate as much as anything else. He is literally another forward out there for us and for a team who lacks punch that would be a tough thing to leave out.
I agree I think Howarth is a big loss of he's out, we really go through periods during games where we struggle to get out of our own end and he is one can bend the line regularly. He would be a great option off the bench though also if he came back.