Ikuvalu was making a return from injury, and quite clearly wasn’t right - because he went of injured from an innocuous play. Clearly wasn’t an option.Ikavalu or Miller would have been better options than him
Ikavalu legit played 3 of our last 4 games in first grade and played for Newtown so he wasnt coming back from an injury at allIkuvalu was making a return from injury, and quite clearly wasn’t right - because he went of injured from an innocuous play. Clearly wasn’t an option.
Miller has NFI on the wing. Only played there because he had to. Sin bin aside, he would have made more bad decisions than Tracey, while making less than half as much ground on exit sets.
I agree about Miller, not ahead of Tracey on wing for me.Ikuvalu was making a return from injury, and quite clearly wasn’t right - because he went of injured from an innocuous play. Clearly wasn’t an option.
Miller has NFI on the wing. Only played there because he had to. Sin bin aside, he would have made more bad decisions than Tracey, while making less than half as much ground on exit sets.
He started the Jets game heavily strapped, and only lasted 13 minutes. Was pretty obvious he was carrying an injury.Ikavalu legit played 3 of our last 4 games in first grade and played for Newtown so he wasnt coming back from an injury at all
Should have been there over Connor
I'd definitely take Tracey over a 'may only last 13 minutes due to preexisting injury' IkuvaluHe started the Jets game heavily strapped, and only lasted 13 minutes. Was pretty obvious he was carrying an injury.
I think almost everyone on here prefers a healthy Ikuvalu over Tracey. I reckon Ikuvalu was not healthy.
I thought that was obvious too. Ikuvalu has been starting when healthy and doing a really good job.He started the Jets game heavily strapped, and only lasted 13 minutes. Was pretty obvious he was carrying an injury.
I think almost everyone on here prefers a healthy Ikuvalu over Tracey. I reckon Ikuvalu was not healthy.
yet managed 65 minutes against newcastle (15 for the head knock)He started the Jets game heavily strapped, and only lasted 13 minutes. Was pretty obvious he was carrying an injury.
I think almost everyone on here prefers a healthy Ikuvalu over Tracey. I reckon Ikuvalu was not healthy.
Miller may well have had a better game than Tracey, not because he is a better winger than Tracey (he isn't) but purely just out of sheer luck of not being Tracey on the night
Tracey had 3 key moments which let us down:
1. Fumbled ball over tryline at end of first half (was a tough chance and had pressure from defender but still)
2. Coming in on the centre which exposed our flank (maybe Ramien forced Tracey to make the call but he could have maybe stayed out longer and given Ramein a chance to still make the tackle). Try scored by Taulagi
3. The Sin Bin on Holmes looked unnecessary. Team covered for Tracey well and actually kept Cows down their own end until we gave away a penalty and then JT scores just beore Tracey comes back on field in extra time. Team also used up a bit more juice when down to 12
Essentially Tracey had a poor game but I get that other players also made mistakes, many at crucial times.
Miller might not have run straight and hard on his carries out of our end like Tracey but really that is all Tracey gave us and Miller has footwork which can upset the defensive line, no slouch either.
Heck Miller could have gone to the back and gave Kennedy some advice on how to make a tackle
I understand why Fitz picked Connor but it didn't really work out on the night - that's hindsight
But if Ikavalu is fit I hope Fitz readjusts his pecking order for the future, it's not pre season training sessions anymore
He should have stayed out for the Tuilagi one. That's on him. The other two are bad luck I think. The bouncing ball for the try is tough, and he just got his timing wrong on Val. In hindsight yes, he'd be better to let him score, but he went in trying to make a difference and I respect that in the moment.You'd say Tracey was involved in three key moments.
1. Katoa probably scores that try, maybe Ikuvalu (I don't know that he'd have the pace to get there). I'd give Miller about the same chance as Tracey.
2. It wasn't a terrible read, we were pretty shot at that point. There's no evidence that Miller's wing defence is better to the point where he would have made a difference. Would Ikuvalu? Maybe, but it's not that clear cut to say he would for sure.
3. Val absolutely scores that try without Tracey's involvement. Would Miller or Ikuvalu have managed better? Or even have gotten there? Would it have been better for Val to score and Tracey stay on? All conjucture, but I don't feel like Tracey made the wrong play... or even a conscious decision to interfere with Val. He Tracey'ed it in there (full speed, without concern for anybody's bodily welfare), getting there at exactly the same time as Val (not a bad effort in itself) and flailed his arms around in the general vicinity of where he thought the ball might end up to make sure it wasn't in Val's hands.
Val body checks Tracey at the last second to get position which contributes to the contact, which contributes a lot to the situation:
Look, I'd take Katoa and probably Ikuvalu over Tracey on the wing every time, but I don't think he let anyone down.
Agree will most of your comments but suggest a look at Graham Annesley's weekly briefing today . I thought Tracey's sin binning was 50/50 until I saw the bunker video . Tracey clearly going for ball initially but then puts his arm around Val's waist before ball actually hits Tracey on head to be projected forward , otherwise they may have both missed it - and that is why they said no penalty try .You'd say Tracey was involved in three key moments.
1. Katoa probably scores that try, maybe Ikuvalu (I don't know that he'd have the pace to get there). I'd give Miller about the same chance as Tracey.
2. It wasn't a terrible read, we were pretty shot at that point. There's no evidence that Miller's wing defence is better to the point where he would have made a difference. Would Ikuvalu? Maybe, but it's not that clear cut to say he would for sure.
3. Val absolutely scores that try without Tracey's involvement. Would Miller or Ikuvalu have managed better? Or even have gotten there? Would it have been better for Val to score and Tracey stay on? All conjucture, but I don't feel like Tracey made the wrong play... or even a conscious decision to interfere with Val. He Tracey'ed it in there (full speed, without concern for anybody's bodily welfare), getting there at exactly the same time as Val (not a bad effort in itself) and flailed his arms around in the general vicinity of where he thought the ball might end up to make sure it wasn't in Val's hands.
Val body checks Tracey at the last second to get position which contributes to the contact, which contributes a lot to the situation:
Look, I'd take Katoa and probably Ikuvalu over Tracey on the wing every time, but I don't think he let anyone down.
I’m not so sure Val gets that ball straight away at that speed, angle and that bounce with a clean pick up.You'd say Tracey was involved in three key moments.
1. Katoa probably scores that try, maybe Ikuvalu (I don't know that he'd have the pace to get there). I'd give Miller about the same chance as Tracey.
2. It wasn't a terrible read, we were pretty shot at that point. There's no evidence that Miller's wing defence is better to the point where he would have made a difference. Would Ikuvalu? Maybe, but it's not that clear cut to say he would for sure.
3. Val absolutely scores that try without Tracey's involvement. Would Miller or Ikuvalu have managed better? Or even have gotten there? Would it have been better for Val to score and Tracey stay on? All conjucture, but I don't feel like Tracey made the wrong play... or even a conscious decision to interfere with Val. He Tracey'ed it in there (full speed, without concern for anybody's bodily welfare), getting there at exactly the same time as Val (not a bad effort in itself) and flailed his arms around in the general vicinity of where he thought the ball might end up to make sure it wasn't in Val's hands.
Val body checks Tracey at the last second to get position which contributes to the contact, which contributes a lot to the situation:
Look, I'd take Katoa and probably Ikuvalu over Tracey on the wing every time, but I don't think he let anyone down.
Agree would have been better to keep him on but pretty harsh on Tracey I reckon. He didn't have the luxury of watching replays like us, all happened in a split second.I’m not so sure Val gets that ball straight away at that speed, angle and that bounce with a clean pick up.
Tracey brain snap there, should’ve just tried to punch the ball out, if they score they score we still would’ve been 2 up but with 13 on 13
Hard to tell if intentional or follow through of his swing at the ball but either way the outcome of contact on man without ball was the sameAgree will most of your comments but suggest a look at Graham Annesley's weekly briefing today . I thought Tracey's sin binning was 50/50 until I saw the bunker video . Tracey clearly going for ball initially but then puts his arm around Val's waist before ball actually hits Tracey on head to be projected forward , otherwise they may have both missed it - and that is why they said no penalty try .
It was a compression bandage not strapping and it’s his knee he injured which has nothing to do with the what the bandage was for. Got hit landing after taking a catch, not sure the damage but did not look goodHe started the Jets game heavily strapped, and only lasted 13 minutes. Was pretty obvious he was carrying an injury.
I think almost everyone on here prefers a healthy Ikuvalu over Tracey. I reckon Ikuvalu was not healthy.
I think so too. I reckon he had parallax error with the ball trajectory and Val’s. I don’t think he was trying to play the man.Looked like he tried to anticipate the ball going into Val's hands and dug in there to knock it loose. Unfortunately the ball bounced another way.
Out 6-9 mths. Think same injury as Hunt a couple years back.It was a compression bandage not strapping and it’s his knee he injured which has nothing to do with the what the bandage was for. Got hit landing after taking a catch, not sure the damage but did not look good
Ouch. Poor guy.Out 6-9 mths. Think same injury as Hunt a couple years back.