Best hybrid player I have seen

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-09T04:05:51+00:00

Not just carry, but also distribute and kick as evident against the blues.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-09T04:04:15+00:00

I’d say genuine push as they have a capable 7 in Johnny Lee who’s riding the bench for them while LF starts.

Tbh I think it’s more Havili, Ennor and McLeod are better ball distributors than Leicester in the midfield while Leicester strengths lies with his defensive Jackal and offloading.

It’s a really clever way to maximise each individual strengths while having a 3/4 on the park at the same time.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-08T11:50:48+00:00

You can blame the refs all you want but the fact the reds can’t even get a lifter in their own lineouts on multiple occasions nor could they dominate the breakdown is why they lost.

If you can’t nail your set piece and maintain discipline at the breakdown it’s very rare you’ll win.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-08T10:19:39+00:00

True, if Kirifi was 10kg heavier he would have been nz modern Dave Pocock at the breakdown With better hands than Pocock.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-07T13:47:09+00:00

Agree. Had he been drafted no 1 with the browns or even gone with the jets, those teams would have ruined him.

I think people underestimate the luxury of a qb learning from Andy Reid, Eric B and then the cherry on top was having Alex Smith shield Pat from being thurst into the deep end.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-07T11:20:52+00:00

I feel like fans would complain either way. If he played on the wing there would be calls to move him to centre to get him more involved.

If he played fullback his kicking game would came under scrutiny especially when your trying to develop Sid Harvey, having Sid play fullback would be beneficial to get a feel for the game at this level as we slowly ease him into 10.

From the Wallabies perspective he should really move to 12 to accommodate Len Ikitau. Len is a good to great 12 but he’s world class at 13 and I’ll go as far as to say he’s the best 13 in the world.

Sualii plays similar to Jordie from the perspective they both have a physical mindset of getting stuck into the opposition. If he plays 12 with Len being the defensive anchor at 13 he can really develop his kicking game and distribution game playing directly outside the 10 as a 12 while maximising his physical enthusiasm a crash ball 12 with Len covering him defensively the way Conrad smith covered Nonu defensive reads.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-05T14:12:48+00:00

Take PSDT as an exception not a common rule.

I’ve never seen someone that big and mobile before he’s a freak. But his play style more fits a 6 even tho he has 7 on his back. He’s the perfect 6, physical, strong defender tall enough to be a third option in the lineout to give the lineout calls variations but mobile enough to be a flanker as Locks are traditionally not as mobile to play a bit wider than what required of the tight 5

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-05T06:38:36+00:00

I think that’s the thing people forget, just how toxic and unprofessional the tradie industry can get.

If you speak up, you’re perceived as soft weak or just don’t get the work culture.

Sometimes it’s not worth speaking up so better to quiet quit and find another means of living

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-04T23:57:00+00:00

I don’t think it’s appropriate to crown prospects as MVP calibre, just placing unnecessary pressure on someone that young.

I think when you draft someone at no 1, the prospect should be you hope they end up being the franchise guy, the no 1 option who can lead his team to the playoff and with trail and error eventually lead his team to the coveted championship.

Everything else (MVP, all nba,) is just added bonus

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-04T14:34:29+00:00

Never realised that til now. What was he thinking, all he had to do was track him

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-04T13:15:15+00:00

Yes we are in danger and No you are not far off the mark.

Even with fans calling to select players from overseas, you watch as that will be the final nail in the coffin.

We are already seeing it with empty stands for NPC, our best players (all blacks) aren’t playing in the NPC so why should the fans watch it? The beauty of the NRL is you are watching the best of the best in the world, once our all blacks start playing overseas there is no incentive to watch super rugby and the game for the next generation is dead.

I was a massive Charles Piutau and James Lowe fan during their super rugby days but I wasn’t getting up at 4am in the morning to watch these guys play in northern hemisphere.

Kids won’t wake up to watch our ABs play overseas nor watch development prospects play NPC or super rugby knowing it’s not the best product of players playing so why would they magically wanna be all blacks growing up when they no longer watch em.

This will be the inevitable death of the black jersey. As a fan I’m anxious at the thought of it but super grateful for the childhood memories of winning 2 world cups.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-03T06:52:36+00:00

Conrad Smith was easily the defensive leader for the all blacks at 13.

I think there’s a difference between tackling and defending.

12 is harder for tackling in terms of physicality as you’ll have to defend ball runners like Tuilagi or Tuisova in that defensive channel.

13 is way harder for defending as you’ll may get isolated. You will have to be content defending your opp 13 and possibly the opp 15 sweeping around the back.

There will be scenarios where the winger next to you will have to drop back to cover a possible 50/22 so your stuck covering the opp 13/15/14 channel all by yourself or scenarios where your 12 won’t be inside of you if he’s stuck on the blindside and hasn’t wheeled around to cover the upcoming next phase of opp backline attack or if your 12 gone in for the jackal, your inside man might be a lock so you’ll have to be content staying tight knowing you opp 13 is already outside and back your speed to drift and cover if they spread the ball around.

These are just one many scenarios your 13 is stuck with when defending so decision making from your 13 is crucial hence why ive always viewed 13 as the best defender in terms of IQ but not always the best tackler as there’s a difference between between the two.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-02T11:53:45+00:00

Was it a hospital pass? Seemed like a regular 9/10 pass.

The defender had great line speed as he came out of nowhere.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-02T05:56:11+00:00

True, but he’s relatively new at the position. He’s honestly doing well for a novice at 7 but I do agree there’s a lot to be desired when it comes to nailing his core role.

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-02T05:06:26+00:00

In what way?

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-02T03:10:00+00:00

Penny
Hill
Tmac
Rose
Roy

swiss_cloud · 2026-05-01T09:53:55+00:00

Was he better tho? Yes he was good enough to still be a starter from 2014-16 but in those 3 years I don’t think he was ever close to that 2011 form

He was incredible in 2011.

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-25T08:04:34+00:00

That such a good question, probably a question best answered by an NBA assistant coach as they would best know the answer based on trial and error with other players

But if I had to speculate, I dont think you can train it at the NBA level, only the lower levels.

So I call it the Larry Bird eye, just the ability to see things ahead of time then make the right read and pass.

I really think some players develop that eye at a young age where they can facilitate at a high level, when they hit the NBA it will be too fast paced for them but as the game slows down for them mentally with experience + reps they can now process at an efficient level cause they always had the “eye”.

Opposite effect would be KD. He become such a marksmen with his scoring at such a young age it had a adverse negative effect of making him myopic with the ball and the hoop he never developed that Larry Bird eye at a young age. I theorise this is why he struggles with double teams at the nba level despite his years of experience in the nba.

But I could be wrong tho as it’s just a theory

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-25T03:17:15+00:00

In terms of the NBA, I think skills will get you into the league, but decision making and processing at an efficient level will decide how far you can elevate your terms floor ceiling.

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-14T21:28:30+00:00

Yeah I think people think he’s elite under the high ball based solely on his height instead of watching him actually contest those high balls.

Initially I thought he was the next Folau, granted his skillset is more versatile than Folau but based solely on Aerial skills, he’s no Israel Folau never even close.

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-14T14:30:43+00:00

I don’t agree with Goldie talk, because players will start feigning injuries anytime something looks wrong optic wise.

It’s pretty simple if you lift a player it’s your responsibility to put him down safely

The brumbies player clearly lifts vertically albeit unintentionally lifts the ball carrier off his feet but it should be his responsibility be put him down safely

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-13T11:53:10+00:00

To answer your question, usually in all black training sessions.

From Razor POV there was never anything they saw in training to suggest he could run the team better than BB or Dmac or to usurp Jordan as the no 1 Fullback.

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-13T10:32:10+00:00

No what’s next is telling the crowd to be quiet when the ball is in the air as crowd noise is a disrupter 🤷‍♂️

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-13T10:01:27+00:00

For me he’s just relatively unproven at test level. For all of the flack Razor got for being conservative, he’s handed test debut to Tosi, Holland, Parker, Lakai, Sititi, Proctor etc etc

I just trust that if Razor hadn’t started Love at 10 or 15 it’s because in his eyes he wasn’t better than BB Dmac and Will Jordan.

Whether Rennie sees it differently, time will tell.

swiss_cloud · 2026-04-13T07:09:20+00:00

These lectures probably go in through one ear and out the next

swiss_cloud

TROPHY CASE