NRL 2024
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To use a horse racing term
"We're due!!"
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Hammer with one of the tries of the season to get the Dolphins home in a close one after almost blowing a 22-0 lead.
They go alright this Dolphins side with a good mixture of youth and experience and have some real future and current stars in their side.
A shame about Flegler's injury which would make them even stronger if he were out there.
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Hammer is my favourite player in the comp. Running around with a grin on his face breaking the sound barrier.
And yes, that was a very entertaining game. Best comment i saw was "both teams are playing well, just not at the same time".
Cronulla have some beef off the bench, when they brought Hunt and Talakai on, and had them running at halves on either side of the field, Cronulla looked unstoppable. And their fullback is a gun. There is something missing though considering how good they can look, and then how inept they can as well (like Manly i guess).The Dolphins aren't bad though are they? Their backline is pretty sexy, and those veteran forwards are tough as. Maybe a gun dummy half and attacking back rower away from contending.
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I think they quite like Marshall King who is very good at getting his side around the park and have also locked him up long term, and I think in terms of attacking back rower, I think they've pinned their hope on Connely Lemuelu, who had an indifferent night, but does hit the line hard. If he doesn't turn or to be the player they plan on him becoming, then I think they hit the market in that area.
Their young core though of Katoa, Plath and Bostock, all babies, are gonna all become origin players I feel.
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I also like JMK and would rate him amongst the top dummy halves in the comp now, he has improved his game out of sight. Lemuelu is made of glass, if that guy could stay on the paddock for any length of time, he would probably be talked about as a weapon. By the time he gets match fit after a previous injury, he gets injured again.
Will be interesting how the new coach goes after Wayne leaves, there is no doubt Wayne has got the best out of some of that roster, I would be interested to see if Woolf can replicate this
Think they are short a gun edge forward though and probably a half. Kodi blows hot and cold, currently on a hot run, but we know that can change. Remains a great impact player. Kotoa is a long term keeper
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The Dolphins getting Wayne to set it up, then buying a bunch of veteran Storm players to set the standards was a very good move. Couple of good free agent pick ups each year and they are building. If Flegler never plays again that will be a loss though, as he would be front and centre of their succession planning.
Look, JMK is pretty handy, but with Hammer not really being a creator from FB, and as you say Nikorima being completely unreliable, you leave Katoa with a lot of responsibility, hence the creative DH call.
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Agree with all of that, hoping Flegler back soon, but with that type of nerve damage you just dont know how long or if complete recovery possible
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As for Cronulla, I also think of the Warriors when I think of a team that can run hot but then fail to deliver. Hynes or SJ both cant overplay everything.
The sharks pack are monsters, with AFB, should be cruise control for a half next year. -
Barnett extends contract at Warriors..definitely one of the good imports
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@bayimports I think Nikorima is good foil for that Dolphins outfit and Katoa as well. Has good players around him and doesn't have to overplay his hand there. He's like the modern day Lance Hohaia. He's always been at sides that were unsteady at the time and was the dominant playmaker when he was never anything more than a second fiddle supporting half, which he is now.
And Woolf will be fine. He's been up north and won 3 Super League titles and a challenge cup, coached Tonga to where they are now, so he's had proper experience, unlike Bennett's other assistants Demetriou, Henjak, Stone etc.
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@bayimports He needs to be included in the next Origin side imo.
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@African-Monkey I don't disagree with what you are saying, but more to the point that we have all seen how good Kodi can be when he is on. I personally think he is a perfect bench player of which Lance also ended up doing successfully, he has filled in at hooker, half, centre and wing once at the Phins.
However I do think the Phins need a gun half though if they are to become a premiership threat, to partner Katoa (I am not saying there are many around of them though either). I would keep Kodi on the roster regardless. -
Um, we look like Penrith
