: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:18 am  

gateaux wrote:

A few decent games in friendlies doesn't mean he is ready to play SL level week in week out.

I think its probably a pretty safe bet that if last season we had had someone more capable Anderson would have played them, same for this season if it looks like someone will be better we have to have faith that Potter will play them and put out the strongest team we have available for that game.

Anderson would never have dropped his old mate Francis.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:21 am  

gateaux wrote:

Meli though has become the new Gardner and whatever he does isn't going to be good enough for some fans, they look for every little error (that with any other player they would hardly notice!) and turn it into a big deal.

he made 3 major errors in the Grand Final - all of which led to Leeds tries. His incompetence is a big deal.

He was also shambolic in the World Cup against Ireland.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:25 am  

saint_me wrote:

How much more of a chance do you give him? It's fine saying people are writing him off without giving him a chance, but can you really see him improving on his performances from last year with no pre-season training? If his performances don't improve from last year then he does deserve to be dropped, or do we keep him in the team because we are not willing to give an untried youngster a chance?

Exactly. Regardless of who is first choice in the long term, Meli is 6 weeks behind the rest of the team in terms of pre season training and fitness, therefore shouldnt be considered for selection for at least that amount of time.

If Meli turns up this week and gets straight in the team, Potter better hope he has a stormer, because if he has a shocker the pressure will be immediately on him to explain his decision.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:27 am  

diehardofowld wrote:

Wasn't it the Hudd game that Meli played at full back and did so to some praise..... I said it late on last season and believe it to be still viable, the guy is playing on the wrong wing, he is a right handed player playing on the left wing. Yes I know the arguement "professional" "paid to play anywhere" etc, just look at Gardners performance since changing wings (not withstanding the centre's he has had too) and most folk will agree that as good as Willie was he was also greedy with his distribution at times .

that doesnt explain his laziness and inability to catch the ball.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:53 am  

bradford reckon they will have a decision on greg bird this week. seeing they only applied 4 weeks ago and melis has been inthe pipeline since late dec how come he has not got hes, meli only needs his stamped as he most have all the checks last time and has not been in trouble since being over here.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:08 am  

The way it's going on here Francis will soon be responsible for the plague, world war 2, the fires in Australia and the credit crunch.

He is a decent player, we've had far worse. It wouldn't be an issue for us if we ever produced a half decent outside back, but we never have and none of the current lot are capable of replacing Francis.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:40 am  

im not calling meli in any way, just the visa system in aus as i have said meli has not been in trouble so why is there no descision after 8/10 weeks.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:31 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

The way it's going on here Francis will soon be responsible for the plague, world war 2, the fires in Australia and the credit crunch.

He is a decent player, we've had far worse. It wouldn't be an issue for us if we ever produced a half decent outside back, but we never have and none of the current lot are capable of replacing Francis.

No he has never been a decent player, he was dropped whilst playing in the NRL because he was not good enough and we should drop him because he is not good enough to play in NL1 never mind SL.

How do you know none of the current crop of youngsters are capable of replacing Meli if they are not given the chance to prove themselves? Until we start to give the youngsters some game time they are nover going to improve and we will never know if they have what it takes to make it or not.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:47 pm  

Would love to have someone like Darren Albert in the side again, one of our best wingers in recent times

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:58 pm  

I was told that Meli, was a fan favourite over at NZ Warriors

How gutted must he be? Fan favourite to Guy Folkes (sp?)