Another day, another trial. This was a tasty dessert after a big Sunday lunch of NRLW, with Melbourne and Newcastle showing why both of them are going to be good teams this year.
The Storm don’t really need much of an introduction at this stage, and they get knowing “they’ll go alright” nod that commentators love, so let’s not spend much time on them. You know them. You probably don’t like them. They definitely don’t care.
The Knights, however, are going about it all in quite a strange way. They seem to have decided, against all conventional wisdom, that investing your cap in your halves isn’t the go, and yet (admittedly off a sample size of two trials) that seems fine.
Jake Clifford picked up another try, Adam Clune set one up with another raking long pass and their combinations seem to be coming together. They’ll go alright.
Melbourne Storm 24 – 10 Newcastle Knights
Dom Young is going to be a problem this year
There’s not been a good English winger in the NRL since…well, the Winfield Cup. Dom Young came into the comp last year and looked alright, nothing special really, scored a few but dropped a few too.
This season he seems like a different beast. For one, it looks like he’s put on weight – the official Knights website lists Young as 2m tall and 107kg, which would make him about the biggest winger in the NRL.
For reference, that makes him taller than Jason Saab and Daniel Tupou, heavier than Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa and all the while, still rapid. In fact, if you’re interested, it’s bigger than Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (who he’s also faster than).
Size isn’t everything (stop sniggering at the back) but it went a long way into ironing Xavier Coates out of the game, and some of his carries were returned with real venom.
Young played on the left on Monday night, but with Enari Tuala back tonight, shifted over to the right – on either side, he looks dangerous. Hymel Hunt is scratched for the start of 2022, and is Young keeps up this form, he won’t get back in.
The big worry for 2022 might be that be that he plays himself out of Jamaica contention and into an England shirt.
Nick Meaney might be the signing of the year for Melbourne
Nick Meaney is a fairly unassuming guy. Think of his face: you can’t. No, that’s Jake Averillo.
Meaney has played 65 games of first grade over the last three years, but given that 60 of them have been for the one of the worst Canterbury Bulldogs teams ever, nobody really noticed.
Well – nobody except Craig Bellamy. Bellamy knows all and sees all, and he saw something in Meaney.
The signing wasn’t particularly heralded, but it might prove the pickup of the year, especially given the strong likelihood of places being available in the Melbourne backline as the year goes on.
Ryan Papenhuyzen has struggled to get on the park consistently, Xavier Coates went off hurt today and that leaves George Jennings or Dean Ieremia as competition.
Meaney ended up playing in the 6 for a bit here, which isn’t his strongest suit, but that’s not going to be his permanent position.
Not insignificantly, Meaney is also a killer goalkicker – which might get him on a wing alone.
Nicho Hynes kicked them last year, and when he was off Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen had a go – neither particularly well.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Dogs need a big body because with Dufty and JAC they need someone doing the early set grunt work…. But it’s pointless if the bloke can’t play…
mushi
Roar Guru
Well it was someone else's research so not really my guess. As for the leap it is an advantage in the air but there's also disadvantages with long legs for acceleration and agility.
3 R M
Guest
2 points Mike, 1 : yeh he scored that try but he still carried the ball in the wrong hand, unless he is doing the G.I. and supermaning it beside the corner post. 2: imagine if the roar was a hard copy ......
Cam
Roar Rookie
Yep that is a good shout and I did think of the bloke when listing fullbacks. I reckon Edwards is an awesome fullback in the Panthers team, but I just am not convinced he would be the same player in say the Broncos or the Cowboys (or the Dolphins). If you dropped Teddy, Turbo or Papps into any of those teams, they are still going to give you bang for your buck.
Nat
Roar Guru
Thanks John. I'm fine but many are not.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Off topic however I have seen the TV footage of the floods up there & would like to send my best wishes to everyone who is impacted. I was living in Brisbane during the previous major flood & can empathise. I still consider Qld to be beautiful one day & perfect the next.
RLFan
Roar Rookie
I've always liked Meaney when he was at the Bulldogs - always tried his heart out and think he has the potential to improve and what better place to be than the Melbourne Storm. However I cannot see him being the stand-out than many here seem to think. I hope he proves me wrong, as he is the type of player Rugby League needs, not in the headlines for the wrong reason.
Nat
Roar Guru
I would have out Tede up there ahead of Turbo. It's not really "ball playing" to beat everyone twice and hand it off to the winger. :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah, I can respect your opinion of the guy, I'm not trying to change that. All I'm saying is that there is context around the topics you've listed as faults. If he gets $1.5m good luck to him. He is still only 23yo (24 by that time) so if he gets that number for the next 4 years they would be his peak years.
Adam
Roar Guru
No point being tall if your fingers are made of butter...
Adam
Roar Guru
100% on the passing. His passing game is the best out of those fullbacks listed (myabe Turbo at the same level).
Nat
Roar Guru
I understand where you're coming from TB. Coates scored from his first touch last week and "he's a completely different player...". I really don't know where Meaney fits in the Storm team, as mentioned above, possibly backup 5/8 if Paps went down but it will be interesting to see him develop with a good system around him.
Albo
Roar Rookie
A couple of things that stood out for me in that Storm v Knights match yesterday: 1. Looks like the Storm have now got a third top rating number 9, after young Wishart's outstanding couple of trial games. He was enormous yesterday and I can only ask Tony and Co , have the Dragons missed yet another one ?? 2. Kaylan Ponga is definitely an enigma. He is capable of being a match winner, but seems to produce that only 3 or 4 times a year to date. Then he has games like yesterday ? Now as the captain of the side, and their key attacking weapon , he made just 7 runs for 71 metres, only 2 runs that weren't kick returns , a couple of errors and little involvement in the game when the Knights were in need of some inspiration. I am not so sure he wasn't hooked by the coach yesterday after about 60 minutes ? His lack of consistency in regularly meeting his high talent level , has to be a worry for Knights fans. 3. The Storm look as strong as ever going into 2022. They have lost Cam Smith alright, but have replaced him with Harry Grant , Brandon Smith & Tyrone Wishart ! Halves are looking good again and the pack is strong with the Bromwich boys , Welch, Kaufusi, NAS. There outside backs might still be their Achilles heel especially that right side defence. But they look strong again for 2022.
Cam
Roar Rookie
If there is smoke, there is generally fire and the figure continually reported is $1.5m, so I reckon it will end up closer to that number than not. Contracts are arbitrary, if the Dolphins have the money in their cap and they want Ponga, they will pay it. He is a very good player, controls their attack, goal kicks, would probably captain the team in the not too distance future, is a Qlder and is a massive social media profile for the club. There is a lot upside for the Dolphins, especially on the back of not signing a marque player and that is why, much to the detriment of their cap, they will go hard at Ponga. But if I’m comparing apples to apples, Teddy is coming in at $1m and Turbo at $1.1m, then I’m paying Ponga $750k tops. He will end up on much, much more that that figure, which he will never live up to and that is why I think he is overrated.
Albo
Roar Rookie
What about Dylan Edwards ? Playing a significant role in a premiership winning GF with a broken foot . Can't he get a spot inside the fullbacks top 8 ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
I thought the Knights were crazy to let him go to the Dogs. He is another Nick Hynes type with ability, just needing some more experience, and playing in the right position as a running fullback. Best he get that experience now with the Storm and Bellamy. His next contract will be much more exciting for his family.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think Buzz still uses that program ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
He is big, tall, quick enough, game and can tackle . Pretty much the ideal NRL winger these days, if only he can get his hands to be reliable. I like him too.
The Barry
Roar Guru
A lot of Dogs fans had big wraps on Meaney. I thought he was good in an extremely poor team - but not much more. Capable of good plays but few and far between. Bellamy’s probably the best coach he could have in that regard He missed a pretty easy tackle for the Knights first or second try. It was on a bigger man which is forgivable but the lack of effort wasn’t. Didn’t see him do too much in attack Probably sounds like I’m death riding him… I’m genuinely not, I wish him all the best. It feels like he’s being a little over hyped at the moment
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Keep safe, I'm sure you'll get through it and anyone else in firing line.