NH Rays v NSW Country Eagles, NRC round 3

[WorkingClassRugger]

Josh Holmes service was quite slow, he needs to pass off the deck more. Rays need to find an experienced quality 10. Also good to see ACT lads Mitch Lewis and Sam Windsor getting opportunity and playing good footy in this competition

Windsor has been impressive. Actually I was impressed with the ref tonight. Thought he did a really good job of it. Some of the WA posters were critical of him last week but he got nearly everything right tonight and let the game flow.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Windsor looks good.

 

[Dave Beat]

The word from Growden is about 3000 in the stands, any one there to confirm or deny?

2000, on a very wet day, and school night. Saturday arvo maybe x 4 that figure

 

[Quick Hands]

Josh Holmes service was quite slow, he needs to pass off the deck more. Rays need to find an experienced quality 10. Also good to see ACT lads Mitch Lewis and Sam Windsor getting opportunity and playing good footy in this competition

As someone who once thought Josh Holmes was a posible super 9, I can't work out how he is in the team. Too slow, ineffectual box kicks and the wrong game for this competition where its all about speed. I would have thought that Matt Lucas would be perfect for the NRC. Strange he came off the bench (too late) and Holmes started.

 

[Quick Hands]

2000, on a very wet day, and school night. Saturday arvo maybe x 4 that figure

I thought that there was a little over 2000 there, but it was announced as 1900. I think we'd get 5000 to a day match - possibly more.

 

[Dave Beat]

Kellaway is a freak

Good game, but he was playing against a full back playing out of position

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Good game, but he was playing against a full back playing out of position

Who is really only a full back.
I'll give Kellaway credit: he sure can sniff out a try and he did well to beat Crawford for his first.
One of those guys for whom the rise in class never seems to trouble him.

 

[Dave Beat]

I missed the curtain raiser, but apparently the emerging Rays Rays put a number on the emerging Waratahs - can anybody post on that game.

Lewis, Ale, Ward, had good games.
Backs had no combinations as all, and I was disappointed.
I can see Jones has enormous talent and maybe a player of the future, but seriously he couldn't crack a starting spot at the Rats this year and he got found out a number of times last night. Alex Northam 2 years in the U20's and played plenty of First Grade this year - got me completely stumped why his name isnt in the squad.
Mathews did nothing for me last night, and very little in the first game. We only have 4 teams to select from but gee Greer had an awesome year in 12 this year, and Hingano needs to be playing.
As for 10, don't know - saw Sam Lane sitting in the stands plenty of times this year and wished he was running around. With a bit of luck Reece Hodge is back next year.
# 9 Even before the NRC started on different threads there was critique about the 9's in NSW rugby and allot of suggestions that Lucas should be getting more game time - for F sake he is a class 9 who passes off the deck.
Feltch - at 15 over past Super seasons he has often created havoc when joining the back line, and running good angles - why stick him on the wing?
For the Eagles - Windsor had a good game.

it worked.
playing the Rays at Brookie wearing an Eagle...I'll tell "wedgie" to take that silly white hood off now...go the Country Boys( with add ons from us expats).

And for you Scarby - Naturally I think the Marlins could have beaten both those sides tonight

 

[Brumby Runner]

Josh Holmes service was quite slow, he needs to pass off the deck more. Rays need to find an experienced quality 10. Also good to see ACT lads Mitch Lewis and Sam Windsor getting opportunity and playing good footy in this competition

Both Lewis and Windsor were standouts in their positions.

Holmes service has always been slow; passes tend to loop like the Harbour Bridge. Much better 12 than 9.

 

[fatprop]

It was probably the best "game" I have seen in the NRC so far, but I am getting over this tackling optional stuff, big hits at times, but average defense

Also I don't see how producing a hybrid game that works to Aus's strengths whilst ignoring our weaknesses is helpful in the medium to long term

Yes, we can play tackle optional fast and loose rugby, but real rugby is about competing for the ball and especially at set piece, and ruck time, and maul time

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Maybe the plan is to re-engage the masses with McDonalds rugby initially. Once they want more than a Big Mac Meal deal, then introduce them gradually to the complex and exotic flavours and meal options from the likes of Tetsuya's .

 

[barbarian]

Was the first NRC game I have watched, and I was very impressed.

The quality of play wasn't that good, but that is to be expected when it was all thrown together so late and the teams are still struggling to gel.

The ball was in play for so long, it was great to see. Very impressed by the Country 10, he was MoTM for me by a margin- option taking was flawless, kicking and passing both very good.

Can see why people are raving about Tala Grey, looked like a swan amongst ducks. The country hooker (Weeks?) went alright as well.
.

 

[barbarian]

Also I don't see how producing a hybrid game that works to Aus's strengths whilst ignoring our weaknesses is helpful in the medium to long term

How is this a hybrid game?

I can't see how any of the law variations contribute to the poor defence. I put that down to teams not having much time together to get there structures in order.
.

 

[Ash]

NSW Country looks to be one of the better coached sides in the comp. They are helped no doubt by the amount of experience in their pack - Treloar, Hoiles and Gray in particular. But for me it's the combinations in the backline that is impressive - for basically a scratch team they have shown some good cohesion.

 

[wamberal]

Maybe the plan is to re-engage the masses with McDonalds rugby initially. Once they want more than a Big Mac Meal deal, then introduce them gradually to the complex and exotic flavours and meal options from the likes of Tetsuya's .

Meanwhile, the Kiwis manage to do both. We have to aspire to produce rugby on the same level as the ITM Cup. I'd like to see that!!!

 

[Lee Grant]

HJ - McDonalds - don't knock it - I parked there last night.


The ITM Cup?

Yeah - As I've said before: give the NRC five years until the teams, coaches and organisations shake out. The Kiwis have had nearly 40 years.

Then give the NRC players the same pre-season training as the Kiwis get.

It will be better. It will probably never be as easy here as in a small country like NZ - or in the RSA, which is about the same size as the NT; but the NRC will end up being a huge plus for Aus Rugby.

If it survives - and survive, it must.
.

 

[Bear that beat Kobayashi]

Would it be more ideal for the NSW Country Eagles to put Andrew Kellaway at 15 so then he would be able to attack all angles of the field?

Regards,
Big Bear

 

[Lee Grant]

Bear

I think that fullback is AKs best position (and Harry Jones's also) but as is the case with most gun school fullbacks, it is always better to start them on the wing in senior rugby.
.

 

[Pfitzy]

Not sure why anyone thinks the ref was doing that great a job - distinctly average I thought. Were 1 or 2 yellow cards out there he failed to give (late in the 1st half against the Eagles particularly) and he got all pedantic about taking it on the mark despite the clearly specified directive not to be a pillock about it. Anyway, besides that he doesn't know what "last feet" means. Hope he develops as well as the players.

Rays looked good early, then decided running with the ball from their own 40m was too hard and started kicking it away. Idiocy. Then at the end they started running from their own 22 and gave up two tries. More idiocy.

Having said that, the Eagles are using a set of good players in a very simple way, having figured out that holding onto the ball is the best way to win games. Who knew?

Josh Holmes has been crap at Super level, crap at SS level, and now he's crap at NRC level. No bookie would have given any decent odds on that trifecta. Should go back to playing in the centres as a crashball 12. The difference when Lucas came on was notable; a couple of low passes, but very snappy service.

But by then the rain had come down and the other Rays inside backs were clueless, clumsy, and carefully contained by good Eagles pressure.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Sean Maloney nickname for AK (Andrew Kellaway) is "The Fire". Anyone think that it will stick?

Is there a better nickname for him?



@Pfitzy, we couldn't hear the lineout calls on the tele last night. Given up?