“Who’s better than Jacob Gagai?”

[yobbo84]

It's amazing how much better your attack can look when you have your defence sorted. Our centres and wingers have been doing a fine job in that regard.

 

[Pplspoet]

It's amazing how much better your attack can look when you have your defence sorted. Our centres and wingers have been doing a fine job in that regard.

100%.

It’s a team game and trust runs through everything.

This side know’s at the moment that if each person does their job, everything will be ok. Which is immense in a team dynamic.

It’s where the Broncos have come undone right now. They know that people doing their job doesn’t necessarily mean a result. Which saps confidence big time.

 

[southsport]

Plenty of supporters have bagged Jacob in recent years only to see him now play well above expectations and put egg on their faces.
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[Pplspoet]

Plenty of supporters have bagged Jacob in recent years only to see him now play well above expectations and put egg on their faces.
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Yep. I’m certainly one of those.

We’re so used to the prodigy talent. The Cam Murray. The Campbell Graham. The Latrell Mitchell. The guys Phil Gould has says aren’t talent scouted as such, someone just happens to see them first.

You can forget sometimes that some players take time. And that in a pinch, unlikely heroes can often emerge.

Take someone like Dylan Farrell, who had the wraps early and looked a certain long term piece of our backline at one stage. I’m not sure he ever had a stretch of games like Gagai has had this year where he was just highly effective and did his job (again, the Everingham comps with Gagai feel spot on)?

It sounds crazy and like it’s the winning run talking, but a guy like Kenner is only just coming up on 50 games in first grade at 29. Firstly, points for perseverance. This is a guy who was a young up and comer in the Storm system who (it seems) has needed quite a while in the oven to find some form at the first grade level. Prior to this recent run, he’s always been a guy that would have a one off solid game, followed by one where you were like ‘why is this guy on the roster’.

I’m not saying he’s now a bonifide starter or we should be extending his contract, but it’s nice to see him get the opportunity to play some regular first grade, with a certain amount of job security given our injuries, and him really settle in.

Ditto Taane to an extent. He only crossed the 50 first grade game mark last year I think?

Especially with the development issues COVID caused, some of these guys that have 4-5+ years NSW Cup experience are now looking pretty good compared to young talents with high ceilings that are dealing with development pains and missed footy.

It’s a good case for why we need a National reserve grade comp with a legit cap allowing players aged 20-30 years to make a quality living playing the sport and continuing to improve. Instead of quitting at 23 because they haven’t become a first grade starter.

 

[Trucksyd]

Our coaches have singled out gagai ,kennar, & milne for defence & attack ,they are excelling in both , also looks like confidence is there also .Furner ,hornby have it sussed out .whether it remains is still to be seen ,but its great to watch atm!

 

[Kempy]

Plenty of supporters have bagged Jacob in recent years only to see him now play well above expectations and put egg on their faces.
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Jacob wasn’t that guy 12 months ago. Even the back end of last season he wasn’t. The area of his game that has improved out of sight is his defence. The work he put in the back end of last year and the offseason is the reason why he was promoted into our development squad.

Jacob was an out and out Reggie’s player. How often do you see a back in their late 20’s make their debut and kill off it?

This is a testament to that hard work and has shown many that have been stuck in reserve grade competitions to keep at it. You just never know.

 

[southsport]

Yep. I’m certainly one of those.

We’re so used to the prodigy talent. The Cam Murray. The Campbell Graham. The Latrell Mitchell. The guys Phil Gould has says aren’t talent scouted as such, someone just happens to see them first.

You can forget sometimes that some players take time. And that in a pinch, unlikely heroes can often emerge.

Take someone like Dylan Farrell, who had the wraps early and looked a certain long term piece of our backline at one stage. I’m not sure he ever had a stretch of games like Gagai has had this year where he was just highly effective and did his job (again, the Everingham comps with Gagai feel spot on)?

It sounds crazy and like it’s the winning run talking, but a guy like Kenner is only just coming up on 50 games in first grade at 29. Firstly, points for perseverance. This is a guy who was a young up and comer in the Storm system who (it seems) has needed quite a while in the oven to find some form at the first grade level. Prior to this recent run, he’s always been a guy that would have a one off solid game, followed by one where you were like ‘why is this guy on the roster’.

I’m not saying he’s now a bonifide starter or we should be extending his contract, but it’s nice to see him get the opportunity to play some regular first grade, with a certain amount of job security given our injuries, and him really settle in.

Ditto Taane to an extent. He only crossed the 50 first grade game mark last year I think?

Especially with the development issues COVID caused, some of these guys that have 4-5+ years NSW Cup experience are now looking pretty good compared to young talents with high ceilings that are dealing with development pains and missed footy.

It’s a good case for why we need a National reserve grade comp with a legit cap allowing players aged 20-30 years to make a quality living playing the sport and continuing to improve. Instead of quitting at 23 because they haven’t become a first grade starter.

I was actually thinking of people on another site some of which that were very vocal but good on you for owning up to it poet.
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[southsport]

Jacob wasn’t that guy 12 months ago. Even the back end of last season he wasn’t. The area of his game that has improved out of sight is his defence. The work he put in the back end of last year and the offseason is the reason why he was promoted into our development squad.

Jacob was an out and out Reggie’s player. How often do you see a back in their late 20’s make their debut and kill off it?

This is a testament to that hard work and has shown many that have been stuck in reserve grade competitions to keep at it. You just never know.

Somehow it sounds like you are making excuses.
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[Kempy]

Somehow it sounds like you are making excuses.
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If that’s how you took it I can’t help you there.

I thought I was simply showing how far he had come. But if you couldn’t comprehend that then that’s on you.

 

[southsport]

If that’s how you took it I can’t help you there.

I thought I was simply showing how far he had come. But if you couldn’t comprehend that then that’s on you.

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[daRque]

Plenty of supporters have bagged Jacob in recent years only to see him now play well above expectations and put egg on their faces.
.

I've been pumping Gags Jrs tires for the best part of 2 to 3 seasons and was constantly calling for him to be given a run in firsts.

The reason why, I saw him handle fullback, wing, centre and 5/8 and he handled each position well.
The thing that really impressed me was he handled each position more than competently every time, not a specialist in any position, but will do a job for you every time.

He did go through a period where his hands were a problem a couple of years ago, but he seems to be over that now.

 

[Bruster]

I've been pumping Gags Jrs tires for the best part of 2 to 3 seasons and was constantly calling for him to be given a run in firsts.

The reason why, I saw him handle fullback, wing, centre and 5/8 and he handled each position well.
The thing that really impressed me was he handled each position more than competently every time, not a specialist in any position, but will do a job for you every time.

He did go through a period where his hands were a problem a couple of years ago, but he seems to be over that now.

I dont think you would have ever seen this version of Gagai or Kenner had the coaching change not been made. It is noticeable that the Storm and the Riff continually replace top NRL players with reserve graders who then up their game to NRL standard, or better. Finally, we have done that. As Jack Gibson said, winning starts Monday. So our system must be very good now to get the total results that we are watching each weekend. Should have been done a few weeks earlier.

 

[Bruster]

Jacob wasn’t that guy 12 months ago. Even the back end of last season he wasn’t. The area of his game that has improved out of sight is his defence. The work he put in the back end of last year and the offseason is the reason why he was promoted into our development squad.

Yes. Jacob Gagai was a reserve grader with potential, but still a reserve grader. It took a good coaching system to get the best out of him which he now produces each week.

Jacob was an out and out Reggie’s player. How often do you see a back in their late 20’s make their debut and kill off it?

Not often. Does a wide receiver count? Vincent Papale

 

[Kempy]

It took a good coaching system to get the best out of him which he now produces each week.

I think that’s unfair on the work that Gagai put in the offseason. You could see that in the Vegas game.

What the coaching staff now have done is put more faith in him and it’s paying off.

Not often. Does a wide receiver count? Vincent Papale

No.

 

[Bruster]

I think that’s unfair on the work that Gagai put in the offseason. You could see that in the Vegas game.

I am not saying he didn't work hard in the offseason at all. I agreed with you to a point. I was surprised he was dropped after round 1 but he still came in as a fill in for Munroe on the right wing and JD may have still played Kenner in front of him at right centre. My point was that his form now is much better than even his round 1 form. Weather that is the way he is being coached, his response to the coach or as you put it the faith the coach had in him, without distracting from his effort, I credit the new coaching system for the round 1 to now improvement.