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Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:02 am  

I think Horo has had a slow start with some pluses but more things to improve. It happens with new signings sometimes. It takes time to adjust.

His tackle success % is the lowest of all the forwards. I'm almost tempted to say the missed tackles stat needs a recount it is so high, but at the moment he is reading 16 missed and 96 completed.

His attack is better with an average gain of 5.96 metres which is only ok but ok.
He's made 2 errors with the ball and given 4 penalties away.

In summary I think it's a "Could do better" report.
But I've seen him do better so I think he's worth pursuing.
Stats sometimes hide players being targeted or players having to cover other weak defenders so is not the only consideration and he has only played 3 games so far so let's see how he develops.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:33 am  

FickleFingerOfFate wrote:

Different people see different things, as a former NZ test forward, yeah, he's been disappointing.
If you want to compare Horo to Ashurst, then crack on but the two are total opposites.

We certainly do see it differently, Justin Horo has never played for NZ in his life! One representative game for the Moaris that's all. Might explain your over expectation

It's far to early to judge in fact we shouldn't be judging anyone with 3 from 3 imho. Look how long it took Bill Tupou to get going, he was really poor to start with.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:55 am  

vastman wrote:

We certainly do see it differently, Justin Horo has never played for NZ in his life! One representative game for the Moaris that's all. Might explain your over expectation

It's far to early to judge in fact we shouldn't be judging anyone with 3 from 3 imho. Look how long it took Bill Tupou to get going, he was really poor to start with.

OK, so I over did the NZ test stuff but that still doesn't detract from the massive experience he's had in the NRL and again, you can't compare Bill Tupou with Horo.
As for not judging, he's had two seasons with Catalan, it's not as though he's coming into our league and having to have a settling in period.
James Hasson came with quite a good reputation but that didn't work out too well.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:20 pm  

Horo had a mare - that's not in doubt; he needs to do better, particularly the high shot/penalty count issue.

I don't even know why PP is being discussed - he dropped one ball if I recall correctly; that can happen to anyone. I thought he looked like an absolute handful when running it in - imagine having to face that down, then getting up and seeing Big Dave come at you; soul destroying stuff.

TJ was fairly quiet - but that try was an absolute blinder; and Mead is no slouch when he can be ar5ed, so it took some scoring.

The best player on the pitch by a country mile was Scott Grix - the lad is in the form of his life; it makes such a massive difference to know that the FB is safe as houses.

Ugly win against a team who were going balls-out to salvage a disastrous start to their season; we didn't play especially well, but through better game management and cooler heads, held on for the points - 3 from 3 and 2nd in the league - lovely stuff!

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:41 pm  

It was a well fought game, and did very well to come back with the points.

Catalans certainly showed up and made us work for it.

Again too many penalties, but more worryingly, most, seemed by the same player. It could be trying too hard, or trying to settle a few scores.

He was our signing of intent, but not convinced yet. I said at the time I would rather see Batch, Jordy or Annakin more game time, and at the moment I feel the same. Early days yet to be binned off as Chris Chesters worse signing as someone put earlier, only time will tell.

Hope it does work out as I don't like negativity as it can cause friction in camp, and we are trying to build a stable group. The frustrating thing for all concerned should it not work, there is a quota spot here at stake.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:19 pm  

For me one of the pleasing things yesterday was the game management towards the end of the game. In tight games like that we've conceded many times late on in the past but the experience heads in the camp like Grix and Finn seem to have much better control of the situation. I know it won't always be like that but I felt confident we'd see the game out and what a great feeling it was when we did.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:49 pm  

TBH so far been massively underwhelmed by Pauli Pauli and horo. Pauli so far looks a bit of a show pony playing very low minutes and making a mistake one in three carries . Yes he looks like he should make a world beater but a long way short at moment . Horo had a total mare yesterday perhaps trying too hard against a former club . Reality is big Dave had a major game, once again England despite a knock was strong outiside backs in particular Johnstone were excellent.

The loss of wood had a massive impact and it was a hard fought win which a couple years ago we would have lost. Great start to season.

I would just question what Keegan Hirst has done to drop below huby and baldwinson in pecking order .

Huby is way short of match fit and contributed zilch, baldwinson is a grafter but at moment is a couple years away from his best .

Assuming wood misses out next week going to be very interesting to see the team , at minute pack isn’t giving halves much of a platform. We are relying on our defence which has been excellent and supreme moments of brilliance from Dave Tom Bill.

Personally if woods out would move aronA to hooker hooker , bring in Hirst , annikin and kirmond and give huby a couple run outs st dewsbury

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:03 pm  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

It was a well fought game, and did very well to come back with the points.
Catalans certainly showed up and made us work for it.

Again too many penalties, but more worryingly, most, seemed by the same player. It could be trying too hard, or trying to settle a few scores.

He was our signing of intent, but not convinced yet. I said at the time I would rather see Batch, Jordy or Annakin more game time, and at the moment I feel the same. Early days yet to be binned off as Chris Chesters worse signing as someone put earlier, only time will tell.

Hope it does work out as I don't like negativity as it can cause friction in camp, and we are trying to build a stable group. The frustrating thing for all concerned should it not work, there is a quota spot here at stake.

As you say it was a hard fought game fought out mainly in the forwards, the penalty count was 8-8 and considering the intensity of the game it was quite low really, it might interest you to know that the player you seem to have most doubts about gave away three penalties in the full eighty minutes he played and was also the 2nd top tackler in the game as well as making plenty of carry's with the ball , he certainly would not be a candidate for the player of the match but at the same on the basis of one game your criticism seems a bit harsh, the club is stable both on and off the field and anyone bar you can see the players' are tight, and as for being Chester's worst signing you want to change your chip shop.

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Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:05 pm  

Baldwinson didn't miss a tackle yesterday. I think I'd give him another go.
England has been top notch in all areas. He has the best tackle completion % for the team.
Big Dave is swatting players off at will and is 3rd highest prop for carries in the whole league.

Pauli Pauli is finding his feet but at least 3 tries have come from him bouncing someone on their booty and then off loading. TJs came from him.

I think we are stuttering because of the injuries and forced switching of players at hooker. Once we are settled there we'll kick on.

Second row is not functioning quite as well as it has been. Ashurst and Arona are getting through a tonne of work but none of them is getting the running chances. Something to work on.

Re: Next up Catalans : Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:07 pm  

wakeytrin wrote:

Hope your son is ok.

Thanks
I'm sure hell be fine, he's got a concussion, biggest worry for us was that we only booked our flights Friday morning after only finding out Friday he was playing, so we went to and from Toulouse Saturday and Sunday morning, which meant he had to make his own way home from Mancheste, thankfully one of our friends was on the flight and they helped out and got him sorted, he's a bit sore today and not in full training tomorrow but should make a full speedy recovery.