An honest assessment
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 1:12 am
Hey guys, long time follower and finally had to sign up to have my say on the 2023 season.
First of all, I am going to point out mostly negatives but it doesn’t mean I think we have been poor overall, we have shown some really bright spots at times but these are just a few issues I’ve noticed and I’d like to hear some other Storm fans opinions on these points.
Meaney - Been great, very solid and whilst he lacks the X-factor of Paps he has been awesome for us and we lacked cohesion without him against Manly.
Warbrick - Still finding his feet but doing ok, got a few errors in him but he tries hard, needs to up his involvement using that big frame coming out of trouble though.
Smith - Been ok without spectacular, for a starting centre in the NRL he rarely creates any chances, needs to up his attacking threat and try to get more points on the board for the team but his defence has improved since last year for sure.
Olam - No one wants to have this conversation but he has been abysmal, I think his broken arm is still affecting him because he is always carrying it in and odd way when he runs the ball, never uses it to fend or play the ball it’s definitely hindering him, after every run he looks gassed and just broken, maybe the style he plays has caught up with him but he is just no threat at the moment, looks old and unable to compete at this level hopefully we see the old Justin soon as when he’s on he is devastating.
Coates - He just isn’t kicking on like I thought, he is so weak brings the ball out of trouble gets dominated every time, for all his aerials skills he never creates any chances, usually just runs himself into trouble and wastes a tackle, he was awful against Manly one of the worst games I’ve seen from him, just not sure he is going to be the elite guy we all hoped for.
Munster - Our best player and has had a great year, was bad against Manly at fullback but he never stopped trying, I think he needs to stay at 6 moving forward and just concentrate on working that left side and developing his combinations on that side, needs to think run first that’s when he is best.
Hughes - Wow, another hard conversation to have, he has been abysmal all year, no threat running, crap defence crap kicking game, usually takes a useless run on the 4th so he can’t put in an attacking kick, brain snaps and just rubbish really, been so poor I’m not sure what we can do about it, will he come good? I hope so.
Welch - Has been ok but as captain he really just doesn’t inspire anything. No where near vocal enough, never gees the boys up or gets up anyone, never throws the team on his back or shows game turning aggression, just goes through the motions most the time, wrong choice for captain I believe.
Grant - Has been phenomenal this year, but really over played his hand vs Manly, needs to stick to bringing forwards onto the ball, running from dummy half more to create doubt in the defensive line and leave the kicking for the halves, he tries to play 3 positions at once and tonight just made mistake after mistake, we can forgive one shocker but Harry is much better than what he showed tonight.
Tui - Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane, not sure he deserves a spot in our rotation once NAS, Moeroa etc return, doesn’t bend the line, doesn’t offer any second phase and just plods around with no real impact, needs to lift.
Trent - Awful, either a lazy penalty, a stupid offload, the guy is no threat, he makes a fair few tackles and tries to run the ball his fair share but there’s just no impact, never hits the gaps, never knows how to create momentum, is slow in the ruck and just doesn’t look cut out for an 80 minute NRL second rower, maybe Howarth, Chan or Eisenhuth need to get a shot there?
Katoa - was quiet against Manly but has been very good I think, he is a threat, works hard, busts the line and is one of the better players this year, exciting to see how he can improve.
King - Another that was quiet against Manly but has been phenomenal, exceeded all my expectation this season, always puts in effort and shows pride in the jersey, does alot of the dirty work and can’t complain about his form.
Garlick - has been ok but isn’t much of an impact, would we be better with a more electric bench player? Sua maybe?
McDonald - tries hard and gets involved but just doesn’t offer much, is awkward and always looks like he is about to make a mistake, gets pinged for a lot of discipline issue as well, not sure he is first grade level either.
Sims - been pretty average, not as much impact as I’d hoped but he also hasn’t got a lot of minutes, coming off injury I’ll give the benefit of the doubt until a few more games in to judge.
Eisenhuth - Was really impressed with him vs Manly, might not always be flashy but he is a tough awkward player who can create, maybe give him a start in the pack?
Overall I think we have been ok to start the year, when we are on like vs South’s and Roosters we were great but there’s been games where we really look like we just can’t be bothered, lazy efforts and no real urgency to turn a game that’s not going smoothly, vs Bulldogs and Manly especially we just waited for someone else to do the hard work and create something, overall I think Olam, Coates, Hughes, Tui, Trent all really need to lift, obviously with Paps and NAS coming back in soon we get a lot of star power back, but it’s really an attitude adjustment we need, drifting out of games this early in the season is worrying and I’m not sure we are in the for the grind, 20 rounds til the finals and we look spent already, thoughts?
First of all, I am going to point out mostly negatives but it doesn’t mean I think we have been poor overall, we have shown some really bright spots at times but these are just a few issues I’ve noticed and I’d like to hear some other Storm fans opinions on these points.
Meaney - Been great, very solid and whilst he lacks the X-factor of Paps he has been awesome for us and we lacked cohesion without him against Manly.
Warbrick - Still finding his feet but doing ok, got a few errors in him but he tries hard, needs to up his involvement using that big frame coming out of trouble though.
Smith - Been ok without spectacular, for a starting centre in the NRL he rarely creates any chances, needs to up his attacking threat and try to get more points on the board for the team but his defence has improved since last year for sure.
Olam - No one wants to have this conversation but he has been abysmal, I think his broken arm is still affecting him because he is always carrying it in and odd way when he runs the ball, never uses it to fend or play the ball it’s definitely hindering him, after every run he looks gassed and just broken, maybe the style he plays has caught up with him but he is just no threat at the moment, looks old and unable to compete at this level hopefully we see the old Justin soon as when he’s on he is devastating.
Coates - He just isn’t kicking on like I thought, he is so weak brings the ball out of trouble gets dominated every time, for all his aerials skills he never creates any chances, usually just runs himself into trouble and wastes a tackle, he was awful against Manly one of the worst games I’ve seen from him, just not sure he is going to be the elite guy we all hoped for.
Munster - Our best player and has had a great year, was bad against Manly at fullback but he never stopped trying, I think he needs to stay at 6 moving forward and just concentrate on working that left side and developing his combinations on that side, needs to think run first that’s when he is best.
Hughes - Wow, another hard conversation to have, he has been abysmal all year, no threat running, crap defence crap kicking game, usually takes a useless run on the 4th so he can’t put in an attacking kick, brain snaps and just rubbish really, been so poor I’m not sure what we can do about it, will he come good? I hope so.
Welch - Has been ok but as captain he really just doesn’t inspire anything. No where near vocal enough, never gees the boys up or gets up anyone, never throws the team on his back or shows game turning aggression, just goes through the motions most the time, wrong choice for captain I believe.
Grant - Has been phenomenal this year, but really over played his hand vs Manly, needs to stick to bringing forwards onto the ball, running from dummy half more to create doubt in the defensive line and leave the kicking for the halves, he tries to play 3 positions at once and tonight just made mistake after mistake, we can forgive one shocker but Harry is much better than what he showed tonight.
Tui - Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane, not sure he deserves a spot in our rotation once NAS, Moeroa etc return, doesn’t bend the line, doesn’t offer any second phase and just plods around with no real impact, needs to lift.
Trent - Awful, either a lazy penalty, a stupid offload, the guy is no threat, he makes a fair few tackles and tries to run the ball his fair share but there’s just no impact, never hits the gaps, never knows how to create momentum, is slow in the ruck and just doesn’t look cut out for an 80 minute NRL second rower, maybe Howarth, Chan or Eisenhuth need to get a shot there?
Katoa - was quiet against Manly but has been very good I think, he is a threat, works hard, busts the line and is one of the better players this year, exciting to see how he can improve.
King - Another that was quiet against Manly but has been phenomenal, exceeded all my expectation this season, always puts in effort and shows pride in the jersey, does alot of the dirty work and can’t complain about his form.
Garlick - has been ok but isn’t much of an impact, would we be better with a more electric bench player? Sua maybe?
McDonald - tries hard and gets involved but just doesn’t offer much, is awkward and always looks like he is about to make a mistake, gets pinged for a lot of discipline issue as well, not sure he is first grade level either.
Sims - been pretty average, not as much impact as I’d hoped but he also hasn’t got a lot of minutes, coming off injury I’ll give the benefit of the doubt until a few more games in to judge.
Eisenhuth - Was really impressed with him vs Manly, might not always be flashy but he is a tough awkward player who can create, maybe give him a start in the pack?
Overall I think we have been ok to start the year, when we are on like vs South’s and Roosters we were great but there’s been games where we really look like we just can’t be bothered, lazy efforts and no real urgency to turn a game that’s not going smoothly, vs Bulldogs and Manly especially we just waited for someone else to do the hard work and create something, overall I think Olam, Coates, Hughes, Tui, Trent all really need to lift, obviously with Paps and NAS coming back in soon we get a lot of star power back, but it’s really an attitude adjustment we need, drifting out of games this early in the season is worrying and I’m not sure we are in the for the grind, 20 rounds til the finals and we look spent already, thoughts?