Official Andrew Fifita

[snowman]

might be a game time decision - fingers crossed we dont enter a game with billy and jack on the bench

 

[bort]

might be a game time decision - fingers crossed we dont enter a game with billy and jack on the bench

Yeah but I'd have thought name him in that 17 jersey and assess if you need to pull him or not makes more sense than name him outside the 17 and maybe put him in.
Functionally they are the same but typically with a high profile player in doubt they'd be named in team and then taken back out if they didn't pass fit.

I would rather not see a Jack Billy bench but they are probably better role players for our rotation than others available. Have to accept with Hunt, Talakai and Fifi out the forward bench stocks will look a bit thin.

Both guys have a big chance to start the season well and make a case for themselves going forward. If either has a shocker there is a decent chance their opportunities for the season dry right up.

 

[Gards]

honestly would rather we just had Wilton & (Sorro ( :hissy) on the bench instead of Numpty 1 and Numpty 2

weights are all pretty much identical but going to see far less **** ups and heart attacks and more consistent hit ups and defense

though Billy did have a reasonably strong hit out in the trial and Jack made a line break but ofcourse kinda butchered what was required to finish it neither of those 2 boys has won me over just yet

 

[egg]

FMD - Hope Morris knows what he's doing for this game .
Happy to see him dropped when other BIG boppers available IF defence not up to scratch
Nikora and Graham where useless last year in defence too
At least Fitita made an effort to fix up why he was deficient .
We lose this game because of lack of grunt and I'm on the "Bring back Fanno bandwagon "



https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...l/news-story/f1294d5a9ecd8dc602d45fdc28ffd8cd


A focus on defence has led to Andrew Fifita’s axing from the Cronulla side but coach John Morris has not closed the door on Fifita making his way back into the top 17.

Fifita was the biggest-name casualty when teams were released on Tuesday with the two-time prop of the year overlooked for Cronulla’s match against St George Illawarra on Sunday. Instead he is expected to line-up for feeder-club Newtown against the Dragons on Sunday.

Morris made the brave call with his own coaching future on the line.

“It’s a testament to the other middles in our squad and how fiercely the competition is for spots this year,” Morris said.

“Defence has been a huge focus for us. That was one part of our game that wasn’t up to scratch. We were 16th for missed tackles. The boys have known from the first day of pre-season that the side was going to be picked on who put in the work. There have been some guys who have really earnt their jersey and I couldn’t leave them out.

“That’s the 17 I’ve gone for this week.”

Veteran Aiden Tolman and skilful middle Billy Magoulious have taken Fifita’s spot. The path back to the NRL could be harder for the Tongan international too when Royce Hunt and Siosifa Talakai make their return to the top grade. Fifita has shed weight during the off-season but his ability to do a complete a normal training load is hampered by his knee condition.

Morris expects Fifita to push for a first grade spot again.


“Of course Andrew is a huge part of our team,” Morris said. “He understands the areas of his game that we want to see improvement in. Losing the weight that he has already will allow to do things more effectively. He has been positive in receiving the news and wants to turn it around as quick as he can.

 

[Capital_Shark]

We lose this game because of lack of grunt and I'm on the "Bring back Fanno bandwagon "

Cause Flanno was great for a round 1 win..

Mate you sound like a pelican declaring 1 player selection & the result of 1/25 rounds will be enough to change your mind.

If ya can't meet defensive standards it doesn't matter who else is injured - you're not up to scratch.

 

[bort]

Fifi actually kept pretty solid D even when he wasn't always able to offer too much else I thought.

 

[SharkShocked]

Fifi actually kept pretty solid D even when he wasn't always able to offer too much else I thought.

Fifita's lateral movement has been rat **** for ages.

I'm still surprised this actually wasn't an injury call and a dropping.

Morris will live and die by early selections like this with the pressure that is on him. It's a pretty ballsy call.

 

[egg]

Cause Flanno was great for a round 1 win..

Mate you sound like a pelican declaring 1 player selection & the result of 1/25 rounds will be enough to change your mind.

If ya can't meet defensive standards it doesn't matter who else is injured - you're not up to scratch.

Mate , all have a right to an opinion, even if it could be interpreted as Pelican-ish.
But it's a fact our bench looks horrible with absolutely NO impact in this game.
Fitita would have filled that void with the other BIG boppers unavailable.
I have no problem if Fifita got dropped after this game if defence proved unsound.
But your only as good as your last game ( all stars) where he was still powering forward in the last minutes and produced
what post posted after that game if true.

110m for Fifita and 30 tackles.
Played ok - IMO can only get better from here.

I believe if he had a short 15 minute stint before and after half time he would perform and NOT leak points in defence .
Maybe Morris's super bench has something to offer I'm not seeing .
Time will tell , this is an important game

 

[Proud Shark]

I'd prefer to have a coach that makes the tough calls than one who picks and sticks.

None of us are at training to see the effort put in. Fifita had a lazy miss on Deitz (i think) burning through the middle in the trial. Not that that alone is enough for a decision but it does support the article above.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Mate , all have a right to an opinion, even if it could be interpreted as Pelican-ish.
But it's a fact our bench looks horrible with absolutely NO impact in this game.
Fitita would have filled that void with the other BIG boppers unavailable.
I have no problem if Fifita got dropped after this game if defence proved unsound.
But your only as good as your last game ( all stars) where he was still powering forward in the last minutes and produced
what post posted after that game if true.

110m for Fifita and 30 tackles.
Played ok - IMO can only get better from here.

I believe if he had a short 15 minute stint before and after half time he would perform and NOT leak points in defence .
Maybe Morris's super bench has something to offer I'm not seeing .
Time will tell , this is an important game

Yes we are all entitled to our opinions egg, but we've got a number of people with way more coaching and playing experience than us, they are at the coalface each day and know what is going on and they are in the absolutely best position to make these type of decisions.

I have a sneaky feeling that Fifs will be included an hour before kick off but if he's not I'd prefer to trust Bomber that he's making the right decision.

 

[snowman]

I'd prefer to have a coach that makes the tough calls than one who picks and sticks.

None of us are at training to see the effort put in. Fifita had a lazy miss on Deitz (i think) burning through the middle in the trial. Not that that alone is enough for a decision but it does support the article above.

id love morris to make the tough calls, yet he runs out with chad at 7 like he has a mortgage on that jumper when we have 2 younger halves that offer the same

 

[Bundy Shark]

id love morris to make the tough calls, yet he runs out with chad at 7 like he has a mortgage on that jumper when we have 2 younger halves that offer the same

I like Morris as a bloke & he inherited a mess but he has created some mess as well, Chad’s deal, wayyyy too long, I doubt Chad will be dropped on Morris’s watch, especially halfway through his deal, would sort of be admitting to a blunder.

I hope Chad kills it for us, he really needs to with no SJ, Chad’s talking up a mean game prior to the season, based off his quotes, he’s not lacking confidence, just get out there Chad & back it up.

 

[Sparkles]

Even money Chad kills Hunt or Clune

 

[Bundy Shark]

Even money Chad kills Hunt or Clune

He is now almost in the Les Boyd club after last season with Ponga, Chad’s a bad arse.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I like Morris as a bloke & he inherited a mess but he has created some mess as well, Chad’s deal, wayyyy too long, I doubt Chad will be dropped on Morris’s watch, especially halfway through his deal, would sort of be admitting to a blunder.

I hope Chad kills it for us, he really needs to with no SJ, Chad’s talking up a mean game prior to the season, based off his quotes, he’s not lacking confidence, just get out there Chad & back it up.

Yeah it's the one blemish on JMo for mine. I had no issue with extending Chad but the two years in his favour is hard to understand.

 

[snowman]

i have a few blemishes on jmo, but nothing he cant learn from

still not enough to offer him a contract yet, round 10 i will cast judgement on him

 

[Tiger Shark]

i have a few blemishes on jmo, but nothing he cant learn from

still not enough to offer him a contract yet, round 10 i will cast judgement on him

I'm sure he's looking forward to reading the report.

 

[snowman]

I'm sure he's looking forward to reading the report.

Its scathing, followed by 9 pages of my love for him

 

[Proud Shark]

id love morris to make the tough calls, yet he runs out with chad at 7 like he has a mortgage on that jumper when we have 2 younger halves that offer the same

I haven't seen enough from Trindal or Tracey in their opportunities in first grade to take Chad's spot whilst we are still in contention for finals. I'd love an improvement at 7 but so far I don't think these guys are beating down the door.

 

[Gards]

I like Morris as a bloke & he inherited a mess but he has created some mess as well, Chad’s deal, wayyyy too long, I doubt Chad will be dropped on Morris’s watch, especially halfway through his deal, would sort of be admitting to a blunder.

I hope Chad kills it for us, he really needs to with no SJ, Chad’s talking up a mean game prior to the season, based off his quotes, he’s not lacking confidence, just get out there Chad & back it up.

Chad doesn't lack for confidence but only on occasion does he back it up - he talks about himself like some guru of the game but plays like a slower version of Scott Porter

Credit to JMO for making the tough call on Fifs and setting the expectation and standards but giving a spot to Jack Williams who looks gassed after 10 mins and makes some lazy attempts in defense? lets hope his fitness is alot better this season

Fifs is more deserving of a spot in the halves over mozza