BurgoShark
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Could also argue that "not being sloppy" is an important part of the job.
Official Blayke Brailey
- Thread starter Proud Shark
- Start date
I'd argue not having 26 errors is part of the job too, but he did that last year and is still apparently better than Blayke (7 errors) by a fair bit.
Sir Chadley
Jaws
Huh?
Wiz
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Wiz
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It’s not that hard to understand
Sir Chadley
Jaws
It is when you write it in Greek and also being totally oblivious to what I was saying.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Kurt disagrees
Proud Shark
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It's no sillier a take than jumping on his lack of dummy half runs as a sole critique (not saying that was you). Discipline stats are just as significant, sometimes more so than attacking stats.
Gards
Jaws
Yea I get why they do it to have the opposition start working it out from a corner (they can just pass it back in field) on the zero or first tackle and/or to maybe force a mistake from the ball catcher letting the ball go into touch but the benefit is so small compared to the risk of it going out
maybe a gust of wind got it, but more likely he just butchered it as he was sacked from kick off duty immediately
Yes it was a trial game, a trial game between 2 essentially full strength sides having a proper crack at winning the game. A game in which many sharks players out shined Blayke. Some of our players looked fitter, more confident, more switched on ect. but Blayke looked same old.
Doesn't matter that it was a trial, what we saw from Blayke is what we are going to see from him most weeks during the regular season and that's the problem
I'm starting to question how much improvement is actually left in Blayke vs. how much this is just the player he is and is going to be into the future bar some significant input from coaches on wanting to change how he plays
Cam Smith didn't need to run often but played that style far better than Blayke (or anyone) ever could with with more guile and poise.
When Smith did run, it was nearly always the right decision and time to do so - he was like another half back for the Storm with the way he led and directed the team around. Smith could engage the defense while seemingly moving in slow motion such the threat and skill set he had.
I relise footy fans know these things about Cam Smith but I just don't think you can make a comparison looking at one stat like runs and say hey Cam Smith didn't run so Blayke is on the right track...
It's not just about Blayke making more runs as he an improve in other areas too but I think while he is young, fit and fairly speed off the mark it's a strength he should play to more often while he can and it will make other parts of his game less predictable. His crash balls and shitty grubbers get tiresome. Maybe try to get over the line from dummy half like Nu Brown and alot of hookers love doing.
Turn him into Cam Smith wannabe 2.0 later in his career.
I would temper my expectations on what improvements Ennis will bring to Blaykes game - the Brailey bro's have worked under Ennis at the Sharks before IIRC before Ennis went to Raiders/Covid hit. I think where the bigger/faster benefit of having Ennis around will be what the young lower grade hookers can pickup off him as they havn't tasted FG yet.
Don't get me wrong I love having Ennis back in the fold, he's a Shark and belongs here and I really do hope he can help Blayke even a bit. But plenty of players get mentored by former players without alot changing seemingly with their abilities on performances come game day. Think Andrew Johns mentoring alot of average halves over the years and those halves remain average or even go backwards.
I don't think Brailey needs any niggle, would seem unatural for him and his discipline is already shocking at times in the ruck. He might be pretty but I think he is pretty tough, look at how he tackles big blokes for 80 mins every week but is quite durable.
I get Ennis and many others rate the kid, that's fine but the fans are allowed to hold their own opinions and can more freely express their critiques opposed to someone in media or coaching.
We beat them yes but that was more down to other Sharks players than Blayke. Sure Blayke contributed to the overall effort of the team (especially in defense) and it is a team game but he wasn't exactly a deciding factor. We arn't going to play teams as pox as the Doggies every week either.
Against the best teams we will need a bit more from our 9 with the ball that's all alot of us are getting at. Most of us don't think he is trash or without his upside. He is a good dummy half runner so why not take advantage of that a bit more / look at ways to engage the defense more consistently and give them more to think about?
He is the best option we have at present but we should remain open minded on how we use him from a play style and interchange point of view and should by no means just accept he is this future rep young gun immortal until he actually proves it cause it stands it looks more like stagnation than advancement.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Can chatGPT take a long post and put it in bullet points?
Capital_Shark
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lesschatFFS
Sparkles
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- Kick off strategy: it has limited benefits compared to the risks of the ball going out of bounds.
- Blayke: he was not impressive during the trial game, and some fans doubt his ability to improve in the future.
- Cam Smith comparison: the comparison is not fair because Smith was a better player and more strategic in his style.
- Michael Ennis: he has returned to the Sharks, but fans should temper their expectations on his ability to improve Blayke's game.
- Winning game: Blayke did not contribute to the win over the Doggies, and the team will need more from him against stronger opponents.
- Blayke's potential: he has upside, but fans should remain open-minded about how to use him and should not overhype him until he proves himself.
andrew's_sharks
Great White
Lets just wait and see how he goes this year. If he doesn't get injured I am sure he will perform well. I am sure some on here will have a go at him no matter how good he is. But lets just see. He had a fairly good season last year and is still one of the better hookers in the comp.
snowman
Total gronk
no he isnt. he really isnt
api, grant, cook - in any order
then there is a steep, steep drop to mahoney
then a drop off to robson
then you have a steep drop to the also rans like JMK, Brailey and Brailey
our brailey is just as average as his brother
add that he turns 25 this year, he isnt a baby and he isnt living on potential now
andrew's_sharks
Great White
No doubt that API, Grant and Cook are the top 3. Cook wasn't very good until he was 27-28 years old. Brailely is still in the top half of hookers and has room to improve. Do I want to see more from him. Of course!! But he is still better than half the hookers in the comp and there back up options.
BurgoShark
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Sparkles
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Didn't he also write the Garfield comics? Talented guy.
egg
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Yeah but Jimmy was a bit of a freak if I recall
andrew's_sharks
Great White
Good for him. Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes were 20 in 2016 and won the comp
snowman
Total gronk
and blayke brailey is turning 25 and living on potential from 7 years ago
thanks for backing me up