Official Blayke Brailey

[apezza]

This.

He’s always been average with his decision making but the last couple games he’s been heaps smarter about it

I think he's also gone from darting into markers for a penalty to running into the gap behind the markers for a line break / yardage

 

[Gards]

So before Raiders game Ennis was saying Blayke needs to step up and offer more (something echoed by alot of us fans) as has the talent to do so and Ennis wasn't really sure why it hasn't been happening.

I find this interesting as Ennis used to coach Blayke back when Morris was in charge IIRC. Even though we have a different coach now and Ennis isn't there I thought Mick would have had a bit more insight into what is holding him back.

I thought back to that great game Blayke had in 2020 against the Raiders in week 1 finals and was thinking we needed more of that.

3 weeks ago against the Raiders was Blayke's best game in a while and he had another good one against the Rabbits. I really hope this becomes the norm for him and he can maintain this sorta form and style of play. Has been in his shell too long.

Reducing his workload might help him play like this for more than a handful of games, I'm still open to giving him a 20 min spell or something with Berrell coming from the bench. A utility type player doesn't do alot for us other than give someone a breather or cover injury but a genuine relief hooker on the bench would be a different story.

Berrell is a good player as it is and taking some pressure off Blayke needing to tackle and run over a full 80 mins could be of benefit to him and the team.

 

[Gumby]

So before Raiders game Ennis was saying Blayke needs to step up and offer more (something echoed by alot of us fans) as has the talent to do so and Ennis wasn't really sure why it hasn't been happening.

I find this interesting as Ennis used to coach Blayke back when Morris was in charge IIRC. Even though we have a different coach now and Ennis isn't there I thought Mick would have had a bit more insight into what is holding him back.

I thought back to that great game Blayke had in 2020 against the Raiders in week 1 finals and was thinking we needed more of that.

3 weeks ago against the Raiders was Blayke's best game in a while and he had another good one against the Rabbits. I really hope this becomes the norm for him and he can maintain this sorta form and style of play. Has been in his shell too long.

Reducing his workload might help him play like this for more than a handful of games, I'm still open to giving him a 20 min spell or something with Berrell coming from the bench. A utility type player doesn't do alot for us other than give someone a breather or cover injury but a genuine relief hooker on the bench would be a different story.

Berrell is a good player as it is and taking some pressure off Blayke needing to tackle and run over a full 80 mins could be of benefit to him and the team.

Mciness could even do that if need be.

 

[Gards]

Mciness could even do that if need be.

His hooker days might be beyond him without getting a real focus on it at training

He has been quite sloppy with his passing when filling in @ 9 for us and he doesn't really have the explosive acceleration out of the ruck but he has been doing such a good job @ lock I say keep him there but still give him a breather on the bench.

We can't expect 80 mins from him every week and to maintain his high standards (or even risk injury, though he seems quite durable since his St George injury)

Berrell is on our books, I say make use of him - not as a slight on Brailey, if anything to compliment him

 

[apezza]

So before Raiders game Ennis was saying Blayke needs to step up and offer more (something echoed by alot of us fans) as has the talent to do so and Ennis wasn't really sure why it hasn't been happening.

I find this interesting as Ennis used to coach Blayke back when Morris was in charge IIRC. Even though we have a different coach now and Ennis isn't there I thought Mick would have had a bit more insight into what is holding him back.

I thought back to that great game Blayke had in 2020 against the Raiders in week 1 finals and was thinking we needed more of that.

3 weeks ago against the Raiders was Blayke's best game in a while and he had another good one against the Rabbits. I really hope this becomes the norm for him and he can maintain this sorta form and style of play. Has been in his shell too long.

Reducing his workload might help him play like this for more than a handful of games, I'm still open to giving him a 20 min spell or something with Berrell coming from the bench. A utility type player doesn't do alot for us other than give someone a breather or cover injury but a genuine relief hooker on the bench would be a different story.

Berrell is a good player as it is and taking some pressure off Blayke needing to tackle and run over a full 80 mins could be of benefit to him and the team.

I don't know anything about Berrell but with the small minutes some of our benches play, you could easily pump them up a bit more to allow someone like Berrell to fit in.

 

[BurgoShark]

As a side note, Berrell not named this week. Went off with HIA last week so I guess it was category 1.

 

[Gards]

I don't know anything about Berrell but with the small minutes some of our benches play, you could easily pump them up a bit more to allow someone like Berrell to fit in.

Good player, 28 yrs old so not a kid.

QLD Cup and Newtown player of the year honours. tough and crafty

Blayke used to share minutes with Seggy and it worked pretty well - both players benefited from it

 

[Gumby]

Would really like to see Berrell be given a go. Unless injury occurs I don’t see it happening though unfortunately.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Would really like to see Berrell be given a go. Unless injury occurs I don’t see it happening though unfortunately.

In place of who?

 

[Proud Shark]

Didn't impress in the trials. I don't watch a huge amount of cup though.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Didn't impress in the trials. I don't watch a huge amount of cup though.

Even if he was going ok, look at our bench tomorrow. Who is being dropped out of Jack, Toby, BHU and Sifa?

 

[Proud Shark]

Even if he was going ok, look at our bench tomorrow. Who is being dropped out of Jack, Toby, BHU and Sifa?

I wouldn't, because I'm absolutely fine with Blayke playing 80.

But if we had a super sub that needed to take the utility spot. I'm probably dropping Iro and moving Sifa back to centre.

 

[Sharkfox]

14. Atkinson, give him a spell at dummy half if Brailey needs a breather. Also can use him as a ball playing lock and support play in the middle, get him and Brailey to form a combination with running game

 

[HaroldBishop]

14. Atkinson, give him a spell at dummy half if Brailey needs a breather. Also can use him as a ball playing lock and support play in the middle, get him and Brailey to form a combination with running game

Brailey has been bloody good this year, doesn't look like he needs a breather during games to me.

 

[apezza]

Brailey has been bloody good this year, doesn't look like he needs a breather during games to me.

I guess it's more for longevity. Playing 80 mins each week from age of 23ish will catch up with you.

I'm saying that, no need to rush a change for the sake of it. We've already made some recent changes with Iro, Stonestreet etc. Let all this settle down first.

 

[BurgoShark]

Hooker on the bench is a perfectly fine option. Just need to justify using 2/8 interchanges.

20 minute rest for Brailey and some other middle plays and extra 20

vs

Brailey plays 80 and a bench middle goes full noise for 15-20.

So far it seems Fitz has favoured the second option. Maybe with AFB/McInnes each playing 50+ next year the first option becomes viable. Imo a hooker/forward is a better choice than a specialist hooker (a Granville/Lawton/Randall type).

 

[BurgoShark]

14. Atkinson, give him a spell at dummy half if Brailey needs a breather. Also can use him as a ball playing lock and support play in the middle, get him and Brailey to form a combination with running game

This was tried previously with Tracey, and was a dismal failure*.

*With respect to Atkinson, who has a better passing game than Tracey.

 

[Western Sharkie]

I guess it's more for longevity. Playing 80 mins each week from age of 23ish will catch up with you.

I'm saying that, no need to rush a change for the sake of it. We've already made some recent changes with Iro, Stonestreet etc. Let all this settle down first.

Thats okay, we have another Brailey hooker coming through the ranks.

Churn and burn……

 

[Sharkfox]

Brailey has been bloody good this year, doesn't look like he needs a breather during games to me.

"If" he needed one, saying would rather Atkinson instead of berrell, offers more as utility and still allows Brailey to play 80 and put Atkinson on in the middle with him

This was tried previously with Tracey, and was a dismal failure*.

*With respect to Atkinson, who has a better passing game than Tracey.

Different players, failed with Tricky also, but i think Atkinson can do the job

 

[Western Sharkie]

This was tried previously with Tracey, and was a dismal failure*.

*With respect to Atkinson, who has a better passing game than Tracey.

Yep. Atkinson might make it work given he has a better passing game.
Tracey is all effort which is what he brings to a team, but Atkinson can play a bit of ball