Official Blayke Brailey

[Deleted member 2543]

Nah I wasn’t convinced we needed to play two hookers till recently. Around the time our professional rugby league coach seems to have warmed to the idea actually…

I wouldn't say Fitz is playing two hookers. He's taken Blayke off the field a couple of times at the back end when there was a 40 point margin in the game. All he's doing is giving Cam a bit of time there as practice in case Blayke cops an injury.

I don't think you can consider it a "rotation" unless he takes Blayke from the field during a close game or has him off the field at any point during the first 65 minutes.

 

[CHOGM]

wow - this is ground

I wouldn't say Fitz is playing two hookers. He's taken Blayke off the field a couple of times at the back end when there was a 40 point margin in the game. All he's doing is giving Cam a bit of time there as practice in case Blayke cops an injury.

I don't think you can consider it a "rotation" unless he takes Blayke from the field during a close game or has him off the field at any point during the first 65 minutes.

Yeah good point. I was in need of a come back, so I took what was available.

 

[CHOGM]

more so the first part - i would be shocked (but really not surprised) if fitz got in front of the camera and called blayke a **** bag

Ah I see. Agreed, but there was for me something about the way he took exception to the journalist saying it was Blake's best game of the season.

 

[Gards]

Might be worth mentioning that even factoring in Blayke's reduced minutes his tackle count was lower than usual - use to typically be in the 40+ tackles range per game. Might have bought him a bit more energy with the ball. I think Dale & Cam's returns has eased his defensive load somewhat.

Now seeing his tackles under 30 on more than the odd occasion.

Played well against a crap team that was never in the game but watch him go back into his shell and Fitz not doing anything about it because have seen this more times than I can remember now from Blayke

 

[Wiz]

Listening to the presser Fitz clearly has a very different opinion of Brailey to most people on this forum. I’m fine with Blake, I’d just like to have someone like Soni Luke on the bench to play 20-30 minutes and run amok.

He’s got a different opinion of half the team to most people on this thing

Might be worth mentioning that even factoring in Blayke's reduced minutes his tackle count was lower than usual - use to typically be in the 40+ tackles range per game. Might have bought him a bit more energy with the ball. I think Dale & Cam's returns has eased his defensive load somewhat.

Now seeing his tackles under 30 on more than the odd occasion.

Played well against a crap team that was never in the game but watch him go back into his shell and Fitz not doing anything about it because have seen this more times than I can remember now from Blayke

which means Blayke will be looked at by the coach like a messiah and safe from losing his spot for another 4 years

 

[Deleted member 2543]

Might be worth mentioning that even factoring in Blayke's reduced minutes his tackle count was lower than usual - use to typically be in the 40+ tackles range per game. Might have bought him a bit more energy with the ball. I think Dale & Cam's returns has eased his defensive load somewhat.

Now seeing his tackles under 30 on more than the odd occasion.

This was because the Sharks had the ball so much.

Possession in the first half was 62% Cronulla. Second half was similar up to the point when he went off. Dogs got a bunch of ball in the final 15 which made it closer after 80 minutes, but the Sharks dominated possession for the first 65.

 

[ben]

I said this a few weeks ago but this guy is the most important player in the team in terms of how we play. Hes just getting better and better. Rep player all day.

 

[CHOGM]

Blayke was really good last night. He’s been playing well for a while now and running more which is great to see. I’m predicting his running and general attacking game will continue to grow this season.

He’s the youngest good starting hooker in the game, and this year or next he is primed to hit his straps, just as Cook, Api Robson and JMK did, around 25. Harry Grant peaked a bit earlier but he’s an exception. Mahoney too was good at 22-23 but now he’s dropped off. Number 9 is not a young man’s game. My only worry with Brailey is he burns out because he’s been playing 80 minutes at NRL level for a long time at only 24.

 

[bort]

Blayke was really good last night. He’s been playing well for a while now and running more which is great to see. I’m predicting his running and general attacking game will continue to grow this season.

He’s the youngest good starting hooker in the game, and this year or next he is primed to hit his straps, just as Cook, Api Robson and JMK did, around 25. Harry Grant peaked a bit earlier but he’s an exception. Mahoney too was good at 22-23 but now he’s dropped off. Number 9 is not a young man’s game. My only worry with Brailey is he burns out because he’s been playing 80 minutes at NRL level for a long time at only 24.

Funny you should mention JMK and Reed like this
This time last year many would have had Reed in any list of hookers better than Blayke and JMK was looked down upon.
Send Reed into JMK's old team and give him a slightly better one and suddenly he is the good hooker and Reed doesn't get a mention.
Suggests quality of team around them dictates how good a hooker can look, yet constantly there is backlash at Blayke that he can't play as well against stronger teams as he does against weaker teams?

We haven't seen him grow as much as we would have liked but I definitely don't think he is bad. Currently running game is going great so hopefully he can keep finding ways to take advantage of markers in tougher games too.

 

[snowman]

Blayke was really good last night. He’s been playing well for a while now and running more which is great to see. I’m predicting his running and general attacking game will continue to grow this season.

He’s the youngest good starting hooker in the game, and this year or next he is primed to hit his straps, just as Cook, Api Robson and JMK did, around 25. Harry Grant peaked a bit earlier but he’s an exception. Mahoney too was good at 22-23 but now he’s dropped off. Number 9 is not a young man’s game. My only worry with Brailey is he burns out because he’s been playing 80 minutes at NRL level for a long time at only 24.

Hes been playing well for 3 weeks - against the bottom 3 teams

Post in here when he carves Penrith, Melbourne or Souths up

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Hes been playing well for 3 weeks - against the bottom 3 teams

Post in here when he carves Penrith, Melbourne or Souths up

The problem is our pack seems to get monstered against the better sides.

 

[Super Impose]

Great game - improving his game immensely with bigger challenges ahead ..

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

Another great game. I hope he's ready for the challenging games ahead.

 

[snowman]

The problem is our pack seems to get monstered against the better sides.

If only we had someone to run and get us on the front foot

 

[Mr Ryan]

So the quality of our opposition can only be used when it suits one’s agenda.

Tall Tommy - been amazing the last few weeks, undroppable, needs to be in the team at full strength.

Brailey - only plays well against the bottom teams.

 

[snowman]

So the quality of our opposition can only be used when it suits one’s agenda.

Tall Tommy - been amazing the last few weeks, undroppable, needs to be in the team at full strength.

Brailey - only plays well against the bottom teams.

Tom wasnt in the team v Melbourne so there is no measure

 

[Mr Ryan]

Tom wasnt in the team v Melbourne so there is no measure

So he’s only played well against the bottom 3 teams?

 

[ben]

All teams play the bottom teams and his stats are decent.

 

[Wiz]

So he’s only played well against the bottom 3 teams?

Has there ever been teams lately that have been as bad as the tigers, dragons and bulldogs we’ve just versed ?

They are ridiculously bad

 

[Mr Ryan]

Has there ever been teams lately that have been as bad as the tigers, dragons and bulldogs we’ve just versed ?

They are ridiculously bad

In 2014 didn’t we go 2-3 weeks in row without scoring a point?