Andrew went better than I expected him to but as mentioned it was unlimited interchange and he was given sideline spells at will
Had a couple good carries and was busy in defense. yea he missed tackles but so did most of his team. I dont think he has the agility to crab effectively much more. maybe focus on just running straight and hard with the odd offload?
Great having passion and all but he got himself sent for 10 instead of it just being Rapana . they could have had a 1 man advantage but it was cancelled out, I think his team would have preferred the advantage than the sticking up for mates thing but yea heat of the moment ect...
Still think for a senior forward at this stage of his career needs to show more discipline and restraint especially if his abilities on the field are diminishing. I fear that if and when his body/form starts going backwards again he will over compensate with brain snaps and hot headiness.
We need a mature Andrew Fifita now that adapts his game and play style to suit his limitations.
A forward like Dale while a different temperament to Fifs wouldn't get himself sent to the bin cause he knew he had a coach that would rip him to shreds over it. I hope Fitz holds Andrew to account. Calm heads prevail and all that...
He wasn't even the instigator of the scrap, Curran grabbed Rapana first, Andrew was walked on reputation.
But he should know that is likely by this stage in his career. I don't mind him getting involved as he did though, especially given hit was on a Shark.
When crabbing he still has the powerful palm but has lost the explosive powerful drive to follow it. So he can crab and keep people off him a bit but can't follow it up by bursting through the resulting gap. But I think because he also lacks the leg drive to push through the line in a straight run he feels like he has a better chance of having a Fifita like run by crabbing and palming.
His defense was particularly concerning in All Stars as that is an area where he had stayed fairly solid since the knee. Last season averaged 93.6%
This game he was only 79% 23 made, 3 miss, 3 ineffective. Needed to finish off those ineffectives to get to 26-3/89%
Would have to watch again and watch more closely to really judge though. I hope he didn't shy from any contacts.
His defence is mostly middles with a lot of being 2nd or 3rd man in too, and he doesn't give up size, so a drop off in defence is a big worry.
Most big props aren't the greatest lateral movers, especially when facing someone smaller and faster with some footwork so they will always get a touch of leniency from me in that area, as long as they at least look like they tried.
Overall with the help of a lot of rests he did play decent in the fixture.
Think he will be okay on the depth chart again but I can't see him earning a place in the first choice 17.
If he earned it though, I'd be pleased to see him.
Was he the second highest paid player on the park at the All Stars game (behind DFif)?