Official Siosifa Talakai

[CrazyMatt]

I think Wighton will bump him

That would be a shame considering the two hooker rotation worked well for us in game 2. They should just throw Wighton into the centres and drop Crichton. Its tough on Crichton, he’s a good player and didnt do a lot wrong, but Wighton was our best player in game 1, cant ignore that and the extra threat he brings. A Burton/Wighton centre combination would bring plenty of headaches.

 

[bort]

That would be a shame considering the two hooker rotation worked well for us in game 2. They should just throw Wighton into the centres and drop Crichton. Its tough on Crichton, he’s a good player and didnt do a lot wrong, but Wighton was our best player in game 1, cant ignore that and the extra threat he brings. A Burton/Wighton centre combination would bring plenty of headaches.

If I was Freddy and I knew Wighton would be comfortably at right centre that’s probably what I’d do.

But he picked Crichton at 14 in game and Wighton was probably blues best player. Seems to love them both

 

[Capital_Shark]

Wighton won't let anyone down but I reckon you're moving away from his natural strengths playing him RC; left-arm carry/right-arm fend, left-foot kick, left-foot step - I can't recall him ever switching right of the ruck and doing his thing.

Jack or Burton is the decision for Freddy I think. You'd be mad to switch back on the Api/Cook combo.

 

[Gards]

Was nice of Freddy to be thinking about our game against the Cowboys on Friday giving Sifa a nice big break and keeping him fresh while the rest of his players were out there running marathons

 

[bort]

Was nice of Freddy to be thinking about our game against the Cowboys on Friday giving Sifa a nice big break and keeping him fresh while the rest of his players were out there running marathons

Hopefully letting him get frustrated at his form enough to tear cows apart

 

[BundyShark]

Felt sorry for him. He did some really good things but unfortunately they'll go back to the mistakes but he was not alone in that department.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Hopefully letting him get frustrated at his form enough to tear cows apart

I would be tempted to rest him. I know he didn't play big minutes, but the team is on a high and he will be on a big low after that game. We can run a strong fresh tired against the Cowboys and that is what I personally would do. Some early kicking and make them run.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Felt sorry for him. He did some really good things but unfortunately they'll go back to the mistakes but he was not alone in that department.

Should have got him out there when NSW had the run of possession. Bringing him on in the final stages hoping I guess that he just rip and tear NSW to victory when it was all in the balance.

 

[Capital_Shark]

I would be tempted to rest him. I know he didn't play big minutes, but the team is on a high and he will be on a big low after that game. We can run a strong fresh tired against the Cowboys and that is what I personally would do. Some early kicking and make them run.

No way! If he's fit and fresh, which he should be, get him out there. If he's in the doldrums about origin better to let him just get back into footy rather than sulking about it for... I don't know, how long will this low last? Tell him to get out there and do is job, origin is over. I'm sure that's what he'd prefer to.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

I would be tempted to rest him. I know he didn't play big minutes, but the team is on a high and he will be on a big low after that game. We can run a strong fresh tired against the Cowboys and that is what I personally would do. Some early kicking and make them run.

On the other hand, the boys can lift him up and help with his confidence. Panthers game the next week won’t help much in that department.

 

[CrazyMatt]

It all started well, put in some important tackles, including one which forced an error and a couple that shut down some dangerous plays close to the tryline, but when he failed to stop Ponga it all just fell apart from there, clearly he lost confidence after the try and he just couldnt get himself going again and made some silly and very costly mistakes.

Im deathly afraid that this is going to absolutely shatter his confidence in the short term at least. It wouldnt be the first time a very poor Origin game ruined the rest of a players season. I hope Fitz and the team leaders can pick him up quick, which absolutely will be able to do, but these things have a habit of remaining in your mind, even for professional athletes.

Lets see how strong he is between the ears in the next couple of weeks, because its going to be a real testing time for him.

 

[SF]

At least it will keep his contract a bit more realistic. He never really had the mobility for origin, but even a grand final is not like last night’s game. Sure he will kill it on Friday

 

[andrew's_sharks]

On the other hand, the boys can lift him up and help with his confidence. Panthers game the next week won’t help much in that department.

Yeah I get what you guys are saying and if he has a good game against the cowboys it can help him. Personally I am thinking more about the team as a whole, bank a win and get the two points, send him off to the sports psych. The panthers game we are expected to lose, no pressure on him if we do lose it.

 

[Capital_Shark]

It all started well

No it didn't. He got found out on his first defensive task like 30 seconds onto the field.

 

[bort]

Does ‘you were so bad we won’t even pick you in NRL and btw off to the psych’ send a beneficial message to him?

 

[Shortfin Mako]

No it didn't. He got found out on his first defensive task like 30 seconds onto the field.

I think we are being too harsh on him. At that time, everybody in the NSW team got found out. The energy and the crowd's lifting of the QLD team was unbelievable and the silly mistakes just kept coming.

I keep saying: we lost the series in Sydney.

 

[CrazyMatt]

No it didn't. He got found out on his first defensive task like 30 seconds onto the field.

Which task? I saw him come on, make some decent tackles and force an error in his first two minutes.

 

[Capital_Shark]

send him off to the sports psych. The panthers game we are expected to lose, no pressure on him if we do lose

2 things:

– A sports psych after a loss he played little part in? I'd hope he's a bit mentally tougher than that.
– I also hope we go into the panthers game with a fair bit of internal pressure/expectation on ourselves to do well. They are not unbeatable by any stretch. QLD have provided 2 pretty good blueprints for how to combat the Penrith game. It's not beyond us but we'll all need to be firing and I think Sifa would be better off just getting back to business on Friday than stew about origin then face Penrith.

 

[MrDravid]

QLD have provided 2 pretty good blueprints for how to combat the Penrith game. It's not beyond us but we'll all need to be firing and I think Sifa would be better off just getting back to business on Friday than stew about origin then face Penrith.

We'd get penalised out of the game if we used the same template Qld used.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

We'd get penalised out of the game if we used the same template Qld used.

I think the "in your face" attitude works in footy but it's a different question if one can bring that attitude, energy and agressiveness week after week.