Official Blayke Brailey

[Proud Shark]

First line for sure. Anyway, It'd be no fun in here if nobody had opinions to... constructively discuss

Per last line I think also some people are critical based on

• the player not playing the exact style they prefer
• the grass is always greener. Our player isn't as good as some players in other teams (ignoring we have other players who are better than some other teams and also the whole concept of the cap)

Agree with all of that, especially that it's good to have differing opinions in here. I'm just advocating for more of constructive discussion and less of the dead horse beating.

 

[Wiz]

I think the more foundation question should be what constitutes a run? Do you need to run and make x metres, do you need to get tackled with the ball? Out of hookers who get out of dummy half, engage the markers then pass, I'd have him up there in terms of quality.

Where I'd like him to find improvement is in his decision making. I thought last year he overplayed the crash ball a bit resulting in errors, sometimes instead of taking an overlap. I thought he did this once in the first half on Sunday too. It is so hard to know without being on the inside though. For all I know Fitz could be asking him to throw that pass 1-2 times a set when attacking the opposition line to compress the defense and create space. In which case the critique should probably fall to the forwards who need to hold the ball better, or Fitz to change it up a bit. Also without being on the field, when it looks like we take the wrong option, is it because it's his choice, or is he not receiving the chat on the field to tell him where the space is and which way to go?

It's not really an answer to your question, as I struggle to define exactly what the other top 9's are bringing to their team that Blayke isn't doing, without the obvious elements such as exploiting gaps in the middle because they are faster. As a genuine question, could you be more specific as to what you're expecting of him?

Manipulating the ruck, asking more questions instead of crash balls, running at holes, passing in directions where there is weaknesses/counting numbers , little kicks in the ingoal

There is plenty of things he can improve on between the ears that the other 9’s above him have a better handle on

 

[Wiz]

First line for sure. Anyway, It'd be no fun in here if nobody had opinions to... constructively discuss

Per last line I think also some people are critical based on

• the player not playing the exact style they prefer
• the grass is always greener. Our player isn't as good as some players in other teams (ignoring we have other players who are better than some other teams and also the whole concept of the cap)

It also depends on what standard you are happy with ? If his form last year is the standard you’re happy with then our expectations are different; average shouldnt be good enough

There is nothing wrong with saying this player is ok but he can be better/more consistent

 

[Sir Chadley]

I think it's laughable that some people criticise him when we have a first grade coach with plenty of on the field, representative and assistant coach experience at one of the more successful clubs who says he deserves his first grade spot each week. It's like some mug punters on here put themselves on a pedestal and profess to know more than our head coach. Crazy.

 

[Proud Shark]

Manipulating the ruck, asking more questions instead of crash balls, running at holes, passing in directions where there is weaknesses/counting numbers , little kicks in the in goal

There is plenty of things he can improve on between the ears that the other 9’s above him have a better handle on

Yeah I agree with that, as said earlier though it's hard to know where the root of those issues are. Is he having trouble counting numbers ala cam smith, or should his 6/7 be giving him more direction? It's impossible to say without being on the ground. I'd like his kicking game to be more effective too. I do feel like he manipulates the ruck well, which I'd say contributes to us having success finding space out wide.

It also depends on what standard you are happy with ? If his form last year is the standard you’re happy with then our expectations are different; average shouldnt be good enough

There is nothing wrong with saying this player is ok but he can be better/more consistent

Absolutely there's not. Discussions like this are much more insightful and enjoyable.

I also don't think anyone would say they'd be unhappy with any players improving.

 

[Proud Shark]

I think it's laughable that some people criticise him when we have a first grade coach with plenty of on the field, representative and assistant coach experience at one of the more successful clubs who says he deserves his first grade spot each week. It's like some mug punters on here put themselves on a pedestal and profess to know more than our head coach. Crazy.

This take can be as bad as "he has no talent". We're literally on a forum that exists for the purpose of discussing and critiquing the team we follow. If the rules were 'don't critique players unless you've played nrl', then none of us would be here. There is nothing wrong with criticizing elements of the team in a constructive way, nor is there an issue with letting out frustrations when they occur.

 

[Sir Chadley]

This take can be as bad as "he has no talent". We're literally on a forum that exists for the purpose of discussing and critiquing the team we follow. If the rules were 'don't critique players unless you've played nrl', then none of us would be here. There is nothing wrong with criticizing elements of the team in a constructive way, nor is there an issue with letting out frustrations when they occur.

Too much sense there mate. I know what you are saying but I just find it funny they profess to know more than the coach.
There are definitely things we can criticise, namely dropped balls, missed tackles, taking the wrong play - these are not things where the coach has control.
But if Fitz wants Blayke not to run and just take in markers and pass then we really can't critique Blayke if he is following coaches orders. Same thing with us going to ground on tackle six so often last year instead of a last tackle kicking option - these things were under the coaches instructions - it had to be as it happened so often.

 

[egg]

I think it's laughable that some people criticise him when we have a first grade coach with plenty of on the field, representative and assistant coach experience at one of the more successful clubs who says he deserves his first grade spot each week. It's like some mug punters on here put themselves on a pedestal and profess to know more than our head coach. Crazy.

Also, apparently there's an old half decent hooker that has returned to the Sharks called Michael Ennis or something like that , who does rate him and can no doubt improve his game even further too .

 

[snowman]

I think it's laughable that some people criticise him when we have a first grade coach with plenty of on the field, representative and assistant coach experience at one of the more successful clubs who says he deserves his first grade spot each week. It's like some mug punters on here put themselves on a pedestal and profess to know more than our head coach. Crazy.

super fan chad here never criticising the coaches decisions because they are email pals

 

[snowman]

Also, apparently there's an old half decent hooker that has returned to the Sharks called Michael Ennis or something like that , who does rate him and can no doubt improve his game even further too .

he rated him so much in the commentary yesterday that he said reed mahoney has the best service in the nrl and didnt praise brailey for anything

 

[egg]

he rated him so much in the commentary yesterday that he said reed mahoney has the best service in the nrl and didnt praise brailey for anything

That was true , but then again Reed Mahoney threw quite a few shockers yesterday

 

[snowman]

That was true , but then again Reed Mahoney threw quite a few shockers yesterday

i saw one he threw and it looked like a bad pass but kyle flanagan wasnt looking and wasnt in position

not taking anything away, brailey ourperformed reed yesterday, but he needs to improve so much more because he is bang average

 

[Sparkles]

It’s got nothing to do with running, more so what is he bringing outside of that ? other top 9’s are bringing more to their team outside of running but yet even then they are still running more then Brailey.

So the question is if you aren’t even taking runs then what are you doing ? is he just there to tackle and pass ?

Apart from making a shedload of tackles, giving very snappy service, being really durable, not costing a bomb, being young with tonnes of upside, having a handy 40/20 in him, not making many errors and being a solid guy and quality clubman, what 'as 'e ever done for us?!

 

[Sir Chadley]

Apart from making a shedload of tackles, giving very snappy service, being really durable, not costing a bomb, being young with tonnes of upside, having a handy 40/20 in him, not making many errors and being a solid guy and quality clubman, what 'as 'e ever done for us?!

Brought peace? Ha! Not on this forum!

 

[BurgoShark]

Is it just dummy half runs by the 9 or all runs out of dummy half? A lot of our runs coming out of trouble are passed whereas other clubs scoot

This is actually one of the statistical anomalies of the 6-again calls. There were some stats around there being more passes thrown in games 2020-2022, but it was actually shown later that it was primarily due to a downturn in the amount of dummy half running league-wide. All teams are having a lot more one-pass hit ups in situations where they used to scoot.

You can speculate on the reason. Likely coaches saw something in the 6-again rule that they could expose more with passes around the ruck rather than by scooting.

 

[bort]

Is it just dummy half runs by the 9 or all runs out of dummy half? A lot of our runs coming out of trouble are passed whereas other clubs scoot

Blayke Reed and Api all average 3 runs a game so this would have to be all 'scoots'

Definitely think it is impacted by us passing to centre/winger rather than them going straight from hooker themselves

 

[Wiz]

I think it's laughable that some people criticise him when we have a first grade coach with plenty of on the field, representative and assistant coach experience at one of the more successful clubs who says he deserves his first grade spot each week. It's like some mug punters on here put themselves on a pedestal and profess to know more than our head coach. Crazy.

Silly take, plenty of coaches who don’t eve play a game of NRL make it very far

 

[Wiz]

Apart from making a shedload of tackles, giving very snappy service, being really durable, not costing a bomb, being young with tonnes of upside, having a handy 40/20 in him, not making many errors and being a solid guy and quality clubman, what 'as 'e ever done for us?!

Love it, he needs to bring more and he’s got the potential to get there

That’s what’s required to be top tier and that’s what we need

No need to be upset about it

 

[Gards]

His defense was fantastic yes, his work with the ball not so much - a clearing kick up field and a dummy and beating a player some rare highlights. Kicking out on the full from the kickoff was poor

Lack of runs from dummy half wouldn't matter so much if he was giving us more in other areas of attack or his service but it ties into what makes him look kinda predictable and meh at times. Dogs hooker sloppy at times but overall looked more threatening showing more than just some passes.

Good thing we have some very capable players in our halves and backline cause it feels a bit like we are on borrowed time and while other players are stepping up Blayke is still just playing the same, heck maybe the coach is satisfied with that and it fits what he is planning.

Blayke is far from a bad 9 but on most days he is also far from exceptional. Frustrating thing is he has shown he has it in him to play at a high level but just don't see it on show enough.

 

[bort]

His defense was fantastic yes, his work with the ball not so much - a clearing kick up field and a dummy and beating a player some rare highlights. Kicking out on the full from the kickoff was poor

Lack of runs from dummy half wouldn't matter so much if he was giving us more in other areas of attack or his service but it ties into what makes him look kinda predictable and meh at times. Dogs hooker sloppy at times but overall looked more threatening showing more than just some passes.

Good thing we have some very capable players in our halves and backline cause it feels a bit like we are on borrowed time and while other players are stepping up Blayke is still just playing the same, heck maybe the coach is satisfied with that and it fits what he is planning.

Blayke is far from a bad 9 but on most days he is also far from exceptional. Frustrating thing is he has shown he has it in him to play at a high level but just don't see it on show enough.

That's great but we beat them comprehensively so I'd rather have the boring hooker and the win than the threatening loser.
(We are in agreement, I just wanted to write 'threatening loser')