My Dear Sage,
Reading is fundamental
But once more ...
1. I think TSS have more horsepower in their pack than what Nudgee do ( Nongorr/Blyth/Douglas/Lyndon/Vandy Junior + a new body upfront is > than Vella, Nofoagotoa , Thompson and a support cast who will be earnest and do the job ) I think they are better than yours in the forwards and will have their way with possession starting with the set piece
2. I don't reckon any of TSS's U17 Senior's have game winning or game influencing impact with the possible exception of Vandy Jr ( although he has to grow into it ) - and insofar as Nudgee are concerned - I don't see much impact coming through with the possible exception of Lastus ( bench spark ? ) and an earnest type or two like AMac. So what happened last year between these two teams is a bit ho hum.
TSS's 16's coming through in their backline are better than what U17 and U16's you guys have got that will be joining Pasitoa and Banjo - who will easily be the two best players on the field - but is it enough ? I don't reckon.
I think TSS beat you
The End
That's all fine, I want you to have your opinion, just your first post didn't have a reasonable basis of judgement. Your second post however does (in your opinion)
. And in the reading, I probably didn't have a fine education like yourself GO.
Just on your new post: I think what happened last year is fairly relevant, as you have a couple of Australian Schoolboy players returning who will add to the experience and playing style. Just need a reasonably good 9 for NC and I can see Pasitoa will control things like the little general he is. Additional to this, all the higher grades (1st, 16a's & b's 2018) had reasonably good wins against TSS. So I'm sure both teams will remember, their young there memories are still good!
But every team has their nemesis. For NC (in order) that's Churchie, BSHS/GT. Recently for TSS it seems to be NC and to a lesser degree Ippy/Churchie. This year Churchie does seem to be as good as they were say in 2014-15, so that is good for NC. Seems that when you tend to win against someone, that seems to carry through for a while. I think a big part of what TSS may be lacking, (an impact player if you like) is someone like Reno Gerrard; TSS need someone like him to be the difference in the forwards.
Every year we hear about how big TSS is and how they will "smash" the opposition, how skilled they are etc....been hearing that for years. And YES they are however, they also "fall sleep at the wheel" more often then NC, and like all young men from all teams they seem to get stage fright from time to time; that's the nature of the beast...schoolboy rugby. That's why we are fascinated by it. the drama. the spectacle. etc.
NC playing style is based initially on defence and fairly conservative; can't run too far if your tackled! And whilst having big men is handy, having faster men (to the break-down) is even better at this level. Then after they have tackled you into submission, hopefully without expending too much energy, the game opens up and they attack to the "tired". Or they pressure you into mistakes, by their defence, and score against the run of play. So I agree with The Nomad, it will come down to game management and how each player exploits their individual talent and the courage they show in doing so.
Rugby to win!
