Watching that Richmond game where we bullied the skill out of them it had me wondering whether the fundamental identity of our team is vastly different to last year and whether our collective consciousness had caught up.
I have a few topics I want to explore such as how 2024 was the first off season where not only did we retain players but we added age and experience, how the addition of Shai, Murphy and Dudley has changed us in ways we are only just starting to figure out but firstly here's how our young key forwards have gone from needing protection to dishing out the hurt.
Part 1: Are we the baddies?
I think it was only last year we had JLo begging the umpires to protect our young key forward from getting mauled. The preconception was that our young forward line was undersized against the bigger, older and stronger opponents they faced on a week to week basis.
Oh how the turn tables! Jye has bulked up and is still learning how to adapt to his bigger body.(*1)
If 2024 Tracey exceeded all expectations and showed his straight line approach and desire to create maximum carnage(*2) works well in today's modern game. Then 2025 Tracey is 2024 Tracey only more so. Then through injury we've had the pleasure of Patrick Voss who is like a less skilled but more violent Tracey.(*3)
Its not often our 21 year old forwards will play on less experienced backs but by God did we bully them. I'm having flashes of that, "are we the baddies?" skit. In the coming weeks we will play against more experienced defenders but my gut feel is that our key forwards relish the combat.
*1 One thing he's been practicing has been how to crash packs. Maybe it's the influence of Tracey and Voss? On the weekend I lamented how many times Jye was targeted in the lead compared to how many times he was crashing a pack. Then I remembered that he broke Luke Ryan's ribs during preseason. So maybe he's just adding another string to his bow?
*2 maximum carnage: splitting packs, bone rattling tackles, knees into the back of Max Gawn.
*3 I really am perplexed on how to read into what sort of a personality or football archetype Pat Voss falls under. It was only last week we had Pat Voss lay the goal assist to Murphy then take off celebrating like he'd banged one into the top right corner from outside the box.
So in regards to Voss' swinging arm I must say that I endorse him playing on the edge. The ruthless part of me thinks that he really shouldn't be in the team on a week to week basis so if he ends up missing a game here and there from pushing the envelope I'm all for it. However, he needs to learns to manage it. Getting suspended for one week is fine. Getting suspended for 4 weeks is not.
That swinging arm tackle might escape with one week but had Vlaustin(?) been severely concussed then impact will be graded as severe and instead of a reckless tackling attempt and duty of care issue it becomes a deliberate swing arm tackle which is a huge nono in rugby league and who better to set an example of than a no name docker.
I have a few topics I want to explore such as how 2024 was the first off season where not only did we retain players but we added age and experience, how the addition of Shai, Murphy and Dudley has changed us in ways we are only just starting to figure out but firstly here's how our young key forwards have gone from needing protection to dishing out the hurt.
Part 1: Are we the baddies?
I think it was only last year we had JLo begging the umpires to protect our young key forward from getting mauled. The preconception was that our young forward line was undersized against the bigger, older and stronger opponents they faced on a week to week basis.
Oh how the turn tables! Jye has bulked up and is still learning how to adapt to his bigger body.(*1)
If 2024 Tracey exceeded all expectations and showed his straight line approach and desire to create maximum carnage(*2) works well in today's modern game. Then 2025 Tracey is 2024 Tracey only more so. Then through injury we've had the pleasure of Patrick Voss who is like a less skilled but more violent Tracey.(*3)
Its not often our 21 year old forwards will play on less experienced backs but by God did we bully them. I'm having flashes of that, "are we the baddies?" skit. In the coming weeks we will play against more experienced defenders but my gut feel is that our key forwards relish the combat.
*1 One thing he's been practicing has been how to crash packs. Maybe it's the influence of Tracey and Voss? On the weekend I lamented how many times Jye was targeted in the lead compared to how many times he was crashing a pack. Then I remembered that he broke Luke Ryan's ribs during preseason. So maybe he's just adding another string to his bow?
*2 maximum carnage: splitting packs, bone rattling tackles, knees into the back of Max Gawn.
*3 I really am perplexed on how to read into what sort of a personality or football archetype Pat Voss falls under. It was only last week we had Pat Voss lay the goal assist to Murphy then take off celebrating like he'd banged one into the top right corner from outside the box.
So in regards to Voss' swinging arm I must say that I endorse him playing on the edge. The ruthless part of me thinks that he really shouldn't be in the team on a week to week basis so if he ends up missing a game here and there from pushing the envelope I'm all for it. However, he needs to learns to manage it. Getting suspended for one week is fine. Getting suspended for 4 weeks is not.
That swinging arm tackle might escape with one week but had Vlaustin(?) been severely concussed then impact will be graded as severe and instead of a reckless tackling attempt and duty of care issue it becomes a deliberate swing arm tackle which is a huge nono in rugby league and who better to set an example of than a no name docker.
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