Round 20: EELS vs TITANS (2023)

[Cowabunga]

I thought Haas was incredible for a 21 yo, Made a bad read for their first try on a bad read (everyone does) but a 21 yo gave us 47 tackles at 94% while being heavily targetted (Schoupp only had to make 5/5). He needs to improve his physicality but that will come with age and another pre season. I'd rather Alick in for Jojo for these games but Jojo is contracted till 25 where as Alick isn't yet.

Complaining about his metres, it's on purpose him saving his energy for defence and having Sami do all that dirty work. Our right side is becoming somewhat competent, I don't get anyone wanting to change that.

It was only a 5 game round but having 4 of the top 5 tacklers of the round in Verrills, Jolliffe, Randall and Haas (other was Bateman), They got targeted and they stood up without 3 origin forwards. We also had the highest possesion rating at 85%.

If we keep those stats up, most weeks we win. I think Stimson moves back into the middle if Haas keeps this up.

[Gold Coast 88]

I thought Haas was incredible for a 21 yo, Made a bad read for their first try on a bad read (everyone does) but a 21 yo gave us 47 tackles at 94% while being heavily targetted (Schoupp only had to make 5/5). He needs to improve his physicality but that will come with age and another pre season. I'd rather Alick in for Jojo for these games but Jojo is contracted till 25 where as Alick isn't yet.

Complaining about his metres, it's on purpose him saving his energy for defence and having Sami do all that dirty work. Our right side is becoming somewhat competent, I don't get anyone wanting to change that.

It was only a 5 game round but having 4 of the top 5 tacklers of the round in Verrills, Jolliffe, Randall and Haas (other was Bateman), They got targeted and they stood up without 3 origin forwards. We also had the highest possesion rating at 85%.

If we keep those stats up, most weeks we win. I think Stimson moves back into the middle if Haas keeps this up.

I think he is fortunate to hold his spot in the 17. I think Alick offers better attack and pretty good defence .

[Cowabunga]

How many times has Alick played right or middle besides the world cup at low levels???

Our left side will always have attack stats because we go down that way 80% of the time (Fermor having a big year), What happens if Haas is out there? Our right side defence is a much bigger issue and he's holding it somewhat down.

Haas would have the same stats if he was on the left, His stats have been huge on the left with Weaver at QRL level. There's a reason he jumped a head of him.

Alick jumping over Haas because of one game is some hot take stuff for me. I want him in the 17 but not for Haas who's younger and shown more on the defensive end...

[Titanic]

I won’t debate the mediocrity of our bench forwards but one thing Alick showed was raw enthusiasm to get involved rather that waiting for the play to come to him … that’s something that can be built upon.

[DavidBouveng]

charging at the line, ball in two hands - Alick honestly looked like a taller Latrell coming at the defence.

Big body, but moving the rangy body well and has a bit extra to handle the contact. if his skills are as good as they looked at first glimpse, he will be handy as.

no idea how he defends though, didnt see it much

[Gold Coast 88]

How many times has Alick played right or middle besides the world cup at low levels???

Our left side will always have attack stats because we go down that way 80% of the time (Fermor having a big year), What happens if Haas is out there? Our right side defence is a much bigger issue and he's holding it somewhat down.

Haas would have the same stats if he was on the left, His stats have been huge on the left with Weaver at QRL level. There's a reason he jumped a head of him.

Alick jumping over Haas because of one game is some hot take stuff for me. I want him in the 17 but not for Haas who's younger and shown more on the defensive end...

To me its not how many games Alick has played, its how many Haas has played with low level impact.

[MaroonTitan]

charging at the line, ball in two hands - Alick honestly looked like a taller Latrell coming at the defence.

Big body, but moving the rangy body well and has a bit extra to handle the contact. if his skills are as good as they looked at first glimpse, he will be handy as.

no idea how he defends though, didnt see it much

I liked him a lot DB. Even better than I expected. I was watching him especially at the game and thought he was rock solid defensively.

Also agree with T. He took the game on. Personally, I think he's a better option for Haas at this stage and can't believe he can't get a run on a bench that size. What's in the coaching staff water bottles?

I also think Jojo is safer than Lofi. How many very costly errors do you tolerate before you give a young fella a chance to work his way back to grade?

[MaroonTitan]

This from Rugby League Writers:

Titans Bench:
14. Jayden Campbell
15. Chris Randall
16. Erin Clark
17. Jojo Fifita

The named Gold Coast Titans bench for this week is…

Something.

One five-eighth/fullback, two forwards that have spent more time at hooker than anywhere else over the last two seasons, and a centre/winger.

Campbell is an excellent talent who needs to be in the 17 somewhere, so his spot isn’t under any question. Randall and Clark have been regular features throughout the year and it’s not a shock to see them on the bench again this week. Fifita, though, as much of an exciting young player as he is, doesn’t really fit.

Perhaps there are changes still to come as they determine whether or not their State of Origin representatives will feature. Still, it’s a strange bench and difficult to imagine the plan Jim Lenihan has on how to use it right now.

He’ll have one, I’m sure. I’m curious to see how and, more importantly, whether or not it works.

[Hail Sezer]

This from Rugby League Writers:

Titans Bench:
14. Jayden Campbell
15. Chris Randall
16. Erin Clark
17. Jojo Fifita

The named Gold Coast Titans bench for this week is…

Something.

One five-eighth/fullback, two forwards that have spent more time at hooker than anywhere else over the last two seasons, and a centre/winger.

Campbell is an excellent talent who needs to be in the 17 somewhere, so his spot isn’t under any question. Randall and Clark have been regular features throughout the year and it’s not a shock to see them on the bench again this week. Fifita, though, as much of an exciting young player as he is, doesn’t really fit.

Perhaps there are changes still to come as they determine whether or not their State of Origin representatives will feature. Still, it’s a strange bench and difficult to imagine the plan Jim Lenihan has on how to use it right now.

He’ll have one, I’m sure. I’m curious to see how and, more importantly, whether or not it works.

What a strange piece. I mean he's not wrong but it seems pointless without a solution suggested somewhere in there instead of an ambiguous one liner to close it off . Content is content I suppose.

On Alick - and not to take away from him at all - but in the interests of not overhyping him, I think we're maybe getting a little carried away with good-ball carries against backpedalling/staircasing edge defence when our sets are designed to run shape that opens space for that left edge. The Phins were in all sorts. He did well with his opportunities with the ball for sure and he's always been a very good backrower in good-ball, but he's got some work to do with his detail and effort areas on D. There were flashes of some issues he's had in Qcup with getting in and out of marker, inside pressure, closing space and initial contact. They run this stuff relentlessly in simulation at training to see how players handle it knowing that good coaches and halves/9's will gameplan to expose it when they see it on film.

I hope he comes into the 17 for Sundays match because he brings some variety with the ball and it will be a really good test against a good attacking side.

[Hail Sezer]

FWIW - Jimmy on the bench

“We’re still a little undecided at the exact makeup of the bench… we were just waiting to see what would happen with the State of Origin boys,” Lenihan said.

“We’ll probably have a clearer picture by today (Saturday) on what we’re going to do because now the boys are back.”

[Titanic]

I for one am not hyped about Alick but I am very much underwhelmed by the alternatives. I am not seeing any real progress in IF or Klese and don’t even mention Clark or having Jojo simulating a cardboard cutout on the bench.

[MaroonTitan]

With Alick and Iszac travelling down to Sydney, I hope they replace Clark and Jojo on the bench. We're a chance of winning if they do.

[Titslover]

So from the photos the Titans have been posting of the boys on the flight and also in Sydney I reckon Brimmo isn’t playing, haven’t seen him in any of them. At least that would mean Jojo takes JC’s role on the bench and we can bring in Alick or Izaac to replace him. Hopefully the other one replaces Clark as well.

[Cowabunga]

There's a fair few guys missing so might not mean much, Interesting to see Maumalo down there though.

[Hail Sezer]

Jimmy must read the forum