Blues v NSW Waratahs Rd 16. Sat May 31, 2025

[Dismal Pillock]

NSFW were so bad they let Rieko score a hat-trick on them.

Rieko hasnt made a linebreak since the 1866 British and Irish Lions tour of Constantinople.

 

[molman]

And this is the way the season ends, not with a bang but a wimper.

Fair summary of that game. Shame because there was some willing within the team, individual players who are genuinely toiling, but the collective whole is just not there and some players are just too far from where they need to be.

So much attacking threat lost with Jorgensen and Sua'ali'i sidelined. Gamble and Gordon missing removed some maturity out there.

 

[zer0]

NSFW were so bad they let Rieko score a hat-trick on them.

Rieko hasnt made a linebreak since the 1866 British and Irish Lions tour of Constantinople.

tbf it helps that AJ Lam seems to be starting his Nonu 2.0 trajectory by debuting his useful short kicking game.

Emphasis on the "useful", Beauden.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Yeah that grubber AJ put in was worthy of Taesa Lavea himself.

 

[Qwertyrick]

His defense is not his strong point but I think somewhat understandably he, and the team in general, have a brief to take a few risks and play for a bit of luck as it’s the only thing that’s going to win them the game and get them into the finals. Likely to end in tears but at 17-6 they were still in it.

He’s been one of our best in defence and attack all year mate.

He had an average game yesterday IMO, but most of the year has been solid for the tahs.

 

[PhilClinton]

What I cannot work out is why he seemingly has little initiative to get and stay fit, and why no coaching set-up seems to be able to get anything near his best from him.
If he played for certain Kiwi teams, he'd be on another level, I reckon.
I think our scrum will get dished by the Lions. I hope I'm wrong.

There is a bit of narrative thrown around that Thorn pushed him too hard. But let’s be honest, Thorn is a hard ass and simply knew what it would take to get the bloke up and running and keep him fit.

During his time at the Reds, Taniela was infamous for rocking up to pre-season overweight and then would be the fittest forward within a month.

Once TT realised he had ‘made it’ and was getting paid, he used that leverage to run away from the only bloke who actually made him work.

Also unfortunately he started drinking once he moved to Melbourne. I know his inner circle have flagged issues with him a number of times but it doesn’t seem to have improved.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Fitting leading vote getter in the pole considering the respective talents of the 2 participating rugby football teams:

I wish I had some drugs. Votes: 12.​

 

[Wilson]

Agree Wilson. He is now ineffectual at scrum time, and more of a liability to his own team in general play. Surely, can't be in the squad for the Lions.

I think he'll probably still make the squad - the potential is there and Joe will want to get hands on to see what he can do with him, but I can't see him in the 23 right now.

I do think they'll try and get him as much rugby as possible in the lead though, maybe even with one (or both) of the invitational sides. It won't fix the fitness issues, but if they can get his mindset right then he can find enough form to offer something against the Lions. I can see a situation where getting to play some good rugby without expectation and probably with a couple of other experienced and reliable props would be very helpful for him, but time is running out for him to turn it around.