53 minutes ago, Salems Lot said:

Thanks Wayne,

Any views on our ruck back up?

Does Max H look like a genuine back up for Max G

Max H is a bit raw at this stage. He certainly is imposing physically, but when it comes to ruck craft, Tom Campbell is streets ahead for mine!

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

.......

The emphasis in everything they do is on quick ball movement. The intensity is up. Disposals do not always hit the target, but the movement is lightning fast.

........

This is what it's now all about......

An absolute damning problem with past 'styles' was we gave everyone far too much time to adapt and setup. The amount of stopping and propping in the past would drive me to tearing hair out ( had I any )

This wont be us now. It's not about playing on at all costs as we won't. But we certainly wont be letting opposition's catch their breath.

Many of the drills now are about ensuring there are options. You have the ball...GO!! .. something will open up, someone will present..or kick to the 'spot(s)' ... someone will be there. Dont think, don't wait... DO!!

It will take time to truly become second nature as well as developing finesse and accuracy but belief will deliver.

Can't wait to watch .

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by beelzebub

8 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Max H is a bit raw at this stage. He certainly is imposing physically, but when it comes to ruck craft, Tom Campbell is streets ahead for mine!

Ruck craft is a little overrated. Very few rucks actually create opportunities directly from ruck contests.

For a backup ruckman, the brief is simple.

Neutralise the centre bounce, provide a physical presence at stoppages, lay some tackles and pluck some marks. The rest is upside.

In saying that, TC has managed to hang around for a while based almost purely on his ruck abilities so what do I know….

17 minutes ago, possiblework1999 said:

I'm not sure really sure what you mean by cycle considering a it's the first actual state vs state game in the 21st century (first in 27years), hardly a cycle. I think it's a great idea to get rep footy back with the best players in the league playing. Just about every other team from has a form of top level representative (ie. Playing for your country or state).

Plus it's less than handfull of players from each club, I'm sure the game plan and all that will be fine.

Me and my mates are keen for it, and I've got mates from WA that are keen for it and are going. A few of us are getting together to watch it. Obviously we don't know how it will go, but it's not a waste of time for us - but that's okay you don't have to watch it :)

It's a cycle, a long cycle I will admit, didn't realise it was that long ago for the last one.....great interest, less interest, little to no interest...then some interest, building interest in the media, players start to think they want it, HO thinks they can make some bucks (forget what happened last time), then interest wanes etc...

...this game is not developed for State of Origin.

The prize is the Premiership, it always will be.

The novelty wears off as soon as there is a serious injury, it happened before and will happen again.

The lessons of history are hard learned and more often they're not learned at all.

Get back to me in a few years and lets see how it's going then.

26 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

First I have heard this summer about Lever being in the thick of it.

Glad to hear. May and Lever seem to have been forgotten and could still be very potent for us up back

i don’t see much of a reason to play them very much this year imo, they can go have a good crack at a flag at casey

Good to hear Metha mentioned.
When match sims are conducted where is Lindsay being positioned?

Forgot to mention… either Jiath has had a short, short cut or those dreads were glued on!

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by waynewussell

Big turnout by the spectators.

Weather was great, temp perfect, and a slight wind blowing down field.

They went straight into competitive work in the drills they ran. Three stations, all rotated through them. One station had two sides compete, hit five passes and then shoot for goal.

After the rotations they separated into:

Mids (Tholstrup in there) with a ruck, as they worked on stoppages.

Smalls to mediums, one on one at ground ball and snapping for goal.

Talls, one on one competing for marks.

Then a 12 minute sim. They were regularly looking for the inside ball and getting numbers to that play. Usually only one player will spread to the boundary side.

The first shot on goal was JVR leading well (good separation) and finishing from the 50 arc. Jefferson, not to be out done with contested marks and finishes with grace and accuracy from the opposite side and same distance.

Bibs scored 7, to the shirts 37 points.

Congestion work is improving, with Steele (I like how he goes about it) making sure there is a receiver on the outside.

Langford caving through the spaces, linking with one two's, and his angled powerful runs. He appears to have matured, training with confidence and purpose.

Chandler linking well.

Finished with runs and a cool down.

Max G has put on plenty of muscle mass.

Chaplin coached most of the session.

No goal kicking practice (perhaps pre-training as it started earlier than advertised). This is the first time I've noticed this in several seasons.

The evenness in egos is an interesting change. Seems the leadership roles are across the whole team or the pecking order (leadership group) is yet to be defined.

Plenty of focus, minimal joviality, lots of professionalism.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Kev

2 hours ago, Trident22 said:

CJ running laps with Melky. I asked on Monday if he was back to full training. Got a smart [censored] reply. Seems to still be being managed. Anyone actually have a clear answer on his fitness

Melky distances himself from the spectators. I think that influence may have fired CJ up (re: "smart" reply) as he creates bonds and a laugh for his teammate.

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

Good to see May and Lever looking fit.

Which May were you looking at?

He was last in all of the run throughs and got worse as they went on.

He didn't look injured, but will need work on his fitness.

Just now, Redleg said:

Which May were you looking at?

He was last in all of the run throughs and got worse as they went on.

He didn't look injured, but will need work on his fitness.

May got a "corker" in the marking contest. May have restricted him in the runs.

1 hour ago, waynewussell said:

Viney ran and ran and ran at a good clip throughout.

Does anyone have information on Viney's timetable?

Is he in doubt for the early rounds or are they slowly building him up for round 1?

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Bring-Back-Powell

3 minutes ago, rjay said:

It's a cycle, a long cycle I will admit, didn't realise it was that long ago for the last one.....great interest, less interest, little to no interest...then some interest, building interest in the media, players start to think they want it, HO thinks they can make some bucks (forget what happened last time), then interest wanes etc...

...this game is not developed for State of Origin.

The prize is the Premiership, it always will be.

The novelty wears off as soon as there is a serious injury, it happened before and will happen again.

The lessons of history are hard learned and more often they're not learned at all.

Get back to me in a few years and lets see how it's going then.

I have zero interest IAH, like the Indigenous Allstars vs Freo last year no accountability just an exhibition game which allows players to shine yet doesn’t expose weaknesses many have.

I loved the concept in the past when those games meant everything to the players involved.

I’m all for each state selecting a Best 23 at the end of the season and presenting a jumper AA style but this concept not for me

1 hour ago, Salems Lot said:

Thanks Wayne,

Any views on our ruck back up?

Does Max H look like a genuine back up for Max G

I've liked what I've seen of Heath. Moves quickly for a big. Today I saw him get down on himself when he dropped a mark. He sets high standards.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Kev

Mihocek was running a lot.

That’s an improvement - I think

13 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

When match sims are conducted where is Lindsay being positioned?

Lindsay has been in the middle, quietly going about it. Plenty of linking and kicks into the forward 50.

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Does anyone have information on Viney's timetable?

Is he in doubt for the early rounds or are they slowly building him up for round 1?

Frequently runs behind schedule and rarely is express, stopping all stations type is my guess!

26 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Which May were you looking at?

He was last in all of the run throughs and got worse as they went on.

He didn't look injured, but will need work on his fitness.

Simply making a comparison with his condition in the final weeks of the 2025 season, which I will stand by

Jed Adams caught my eye with some beautiful kicking under pressure. If he can execute that consistantly at seniors level.....

Taylor is a beauty, saw him and Disco looking very tight on the track with brotherly hugs. Onley did a few nice things and Latrelle looks good too

One the train on's, a tall blond lad took an absolute ripper mark on Petty in a 1 v 1 contested marking drill making Petty look like the train on

Kozzie is a freak and on another level

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Bang Na Demon

27 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

I have zero interest IAH, like the Indigenous Allstars vs Freo last year no accountability just an exhibition game which allows players to shine yet doesn’t expose weaknesses many have.

I loved the concept in the past when those games meant everything to the players involved.

I’m all for each state selecting a Best 23 at the end of the season and presenting a jumper AA style but this concept not for me

Ditto.

As a kid i liked State of Origin because Robbie would always get selected and always seemed to be one of the best players in any given match.

1 hour ago, Demongirl35 said:

Only spent about an hour and bit there today but this is what I noticed.

Maxy - Ran and ran today. Super fit!

Culley - In everything and can see him being a main midfielder but probably just holds onto it that little bit too long.

Windsor - Speed to burn!

Kentfield - Great mark he is.

Trelly - Kid looks very good. Excited by him.

Langford - Gets the ball, kicks it to a good option then continues to push hard to receive the handball and get the ball going forward. Working really hard.

Lever and Aj stood out for me when a few keys were doing one on one when the ball was kicked up in the air. A couple of great marks.

Kotl - Also saw him take a few decent marks when they were doing a little match sim (pretty sure that’s what they were) but his kicking after them let him down. Also ran really hard to add pressure on his opponent which would cause a turn over.

May the force be with you.

Seeing the boys train today was a lot of fun and there was a good turn out amongst the fans. It was great to see Latrelle and Xavier Taylor live for the first time.

The energy is very different from this time last year - a previous poster mentioned the ego levels are lower and I think that’s true - the young players are going to be pushing the older players for their spots and prior reputation means less with the new coach. Also perhaps we no longer feel like world beaters after a few lowly years and are starting to feel like we have to go and chase it again.

Windsor and Kossie’s speed through the middle is great to watch. Last year we trained a lot of moving the ball from one end to the other with uncontested marks, utilising precise kicking. This year is more about getting the ball moving and using speed and tackle breaking ability.

Culley seems like he will get his chance as an inside mid - and I think Jack Steele might quietly get a spot in the midfield if Viney is missing round 1. Langford did some special things as always. Lever took some great marks.

Once main training had finished Kossie, Latrelle and Ricky were kicking long distance bananas from the boundary - kind of challenging each other playfully. Their skills and connection was a beautiful thing to watch.

There was also a play in the match sim where Kossie ran through the centre, handballed it to Latrelle and then Latrelle hit up a free forward in the goal square. It’s going to be so fun watching these two play together.

26 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Frequently runs behind schedule and rarely is express, stopping all stations type is my guess!

Fear not picket Thomas to the rescue.

Mihocek was running a lot.

That’s an improvement - I think

57 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Forgot to mention… either Jiath has had a short, short cut or those dreads were glued on!

I think CJ was wearing a wave cap.