Quote: SirStan "Pre-season, most pundits (and so called experts on RLfans) had them down as top 3 material based on Brown's supposed reputation and their recruitment. Brown has been found out and star signing Manu looks like he's a shadow of the player he was for FC. You may have lost him at just the right time, bit like Rovers & Galea.'"
Just the same as West Tigers getting rid of Gareth Ellis.
Regarding yesterday's game, Eden showed why he's worth persevering with some top quality plays. The more experience he gets, the less mistakes he'll make and the less erratic his performances will be.
Paea was obviously top draw but the most encouraging thing for me to come from yesterday's game, were the performances of Beaumont and Green who despite their inexperience, were excellent in attack consistently gaining yards against a big experienced Saints pack and also in defence where they were managing to turn the Saints ball carries onto their backs to control the ruck. I'm very content we have a set up which is drilling these types of technical aspects into our young players because it's these things that win games.
Both Beaumont and Green are growing with confidence and stature each game and to deliver in a high intensity cup game against a pack like Saints, proves to me they are going to be more home-grown players to make the grade. Green in particular looks to have frightening potential as his huge frame fills out as he gets older.
I see the Rugby League media continue to view the game like a bunch of sheep as in voting Michael Dobson MOTM just because that's the status quo regarding Rovers team even though Eden, Paea and Burns were more deserving. Our left edge (controlled by Dobson) was miss-firing yesterday - hence why none of our tries came on that side.
Burns was involved in all of our crucial plays in the first half; his inside pass to Eden before his kick for Hall's try, the line and pass to put Hall through a gap before Meli poll-axed him (would have been a certain try), a pass involvement for Hall's second try, attracted Saints' defenders for Eden to exploit for Eden's first try, as well as a couple of pin-point kicks which should have forced repeat sets. Burns makes the right play virtually every time he gets the ball - he wastes nothing.
Not only is Burns great in attack, but his contribution to our right edge defence is immeasurable. Our right-edge went from being a frail and leaky edge against Hudds to not conceding a try against Saints in a cup match because of Burns' organisation and communication.
Yesterday showed the difference between a player who have been first choice half-back in the NRL in Travis Burns and the rest of the NRL bit part half-backs plying their trade over here.
