Monday, March 01, 2004
Trial Stars
So Parra goes into the 2004 NRL season with three wins from as many games as well as finishing second in the sevens and a number of players have really stood up and put their hands up for positions in the first grade team that will play the Doggies in a couple of weeks.
If there was ever any doubt, Luke Burt looks to have sealed the fullback position. Was just about the player of the tournament in the sevens and has not let anyone down in the trials. Wade McKinnon is shaping as a very reliable backup.
Eric Grothe has impressed with his size and speed while both Wise Kativerati and Matt Peterson both got good write ups in the most recent trial against The Tigers.
The form of Adam Dykes may well be the most pleasing aspect of the pre-season, he has impressed at every outings and miraculously is still uninjured. The combination he has struck up with hooker John Morris impressed on Saturday and 1Eyed Eel believes Morris is going to really come of age in 2004.
All of the forwards have impressed, particularly in defence, but its been the two new props, Aaron Cannings and Corey Pearson, who have shown the most in the pre-season. Pearson has been under the load of having to carry the Tigers pack too often in past years and he is revelling playing alongside blokes who are just as big and aggressive as he is.
So Parra goes into the 2004 NRL season with three wins from as many games as well as finishing second in the sevens and a number of players have really stood up and put their hands up for positions in the first grade team that will play the Doggies in a couple of weeks.
If there was ever any doubt, Luke Burt looks to have sealed the fullback position. Was just about the player of the tournament in the sevens and has not let anyone down in the trials. Wade McKinnon is shaping as a very reliable backup.
Eric Grothe has impressed with his size and speed while both Wise Kativerati and Matt Peterson both got good write ups in the most recent trial against The Tigers.
The form of Adam Dykes may well be the most pleasing aspect of the pre-season, he has impressed at every outings and miraculously is still uninjured. The combination he has struck up with hooker John Morris impressed on Saturday and 1Eyed Eel believes Morris is going to really come of age in 2004.
All of the forwards have impressed, particularly in defence, but its been the two new props, Aaron Cannings and Corey Pearson, who have shown the most in the pre-season. Pearson has been under the load of having to carry the Tigers pack too often in past years and he is revelling playing alongside blokes who are just as big and aggressive as he is.
