Big League Weekly Edition – August 01, 2019

COMPLACENCYwon’tbeanissue

forParramattawhentheyface

theDragonsthisweek,even

thoughtheRedV arelanguishing

towardsthefootofthetablewith

littlechanceofmakingtheeight.

TheEelsarecomingoffa narrow

winovertheWarriorsbutaren’t

guaranteedtheirplaceinthetop

half,makingSunday’sclashin

Kogarahallthemoreimportant.

“They’vebeena bitunlucky,

butthey’rea greatteam,”skipper

ClintGuthersontoldBigLeague.

“They’vegotsixorseven

Originplayersintheirteamplus

a handfulofinternationals,so

it’sgoingtobehuge,especially

attheirhomeground.We’vegot

tobeupfora biggamebecause

they’ll be desperate to win.” – MG

WHILEdisappointedwithlast

week’sheartbreakingloss

toManly,CameronMunster

believestheresultcouldbejust

whatMelbourneneedtospur

themontoanotherpremiership.

DalyCherry-Evans’fieldgoalin

thedyingsecondsofgoldenpoint

handedMelbournetheirthirdloss

oftheseason.It alsostoppedthe

Stormshortof10-consecutive

victories,andMunsterbelieves

theresultcouldbegoodfor

Melbourneinthelongrun.

“Itislikegoingundefeatedand

losinginthegrandfinal,youdon’t

wanttodothat,”Munstersaid.

“Youneedtolosesomegames

duringtheyeartopullyouback.

“It’sa learningcurveand

a wake-upcallforus.” – JC

HARD-WORKINGyoungsterShaneWright

hasflownundertheradarin2019,buthis

performancesupnorthsuggesthehaswhat

it takestomatchit withtherestoftheclub’s

talentedbigmen.

Wrighthasbeena constantontherightedgein

recentweeks,runningformorethan 100 metres

andmakingover 40 tacklesin80-minuteefforts

againsttheDragonsandRoosters.

Whilehewasforcedtoshifttorightcentrein

a mismatchagainstBronsonXerrilastweek,he

stucktotheprinciplesthatcoachPaulGreenhas

askedofhimandendedupdoinga soundjobon

theCronullaspeedster.

“I’vebeeninthesystemforthreeyears,and

whileI hada fewgamesinthepast,I’venever

experiencedanythinglikethis,”hetoldBigLeague.

“ItwasallaboutbeingconsistentforMackay

inQ Cupandthenbringingthatformtothe

Cowboys.‘Greeny’wantsmetobringeffortto

everythingI dothroughmywork-rate,andwhen

you’vegotsucha good forward pack, it makesmy

job a lot easier.” – MG

Round 20BIG LEAGUE 2019 27

EXCITINGrakeBlaykeBraileysaysheand
olderbrotherJaydenhaven’tspokenabout
theprospectofhavingtopartwaysatthe
endoftheseasonasthecompetitionfor
theNo.9jerseyheatsup.
Blaykerecentlyinkeda contractextension
withtheSharksuntil2022,promptingsome
tosuggestJayden(pictured)couldbeonhis
wayoutoftheShire.Theeldersiblingtold
BigLeaguehehadspokenwiththeKnights,
butnodealhasbeenfinalised.
Thepairwon’ttakethefieldtogether
thisweekagainsttheRabbitohs,after
Blaykewasdroppedtoanextended
bench,withtheSharkssettowelcome
backa hostofbig-nameplayers.
“We’vejustbeenfocusingongetting
a winsowehaven’treallyspokenabout
thefuture,”BlayketoldBigLeague.
“We’vereallyenjoyedplayingtogether
andit’sa dreamcometruetobeplaying
alongsidehim.It’sgreattobeplayingin
theNRL,butit’seven sweeter to do it with
your brother.” – MG

HULKINGwingerCoreyOateshaspaidtributetocoach

AnthonySeiboldforrevvinghimupintimeforthefinals

followinga quietfewweeksduringtheOriginperiod.

Thetry-scoringmachinewasfarfromhisbestin

lossestotheEelsandKnightsbuthasreturnedtoform

withthreetriesand 417 runningmetresinhispasttwo

matchesafterhewasgiventheweekoffbySeiboldfor

Brisbane’sdrawagainsttheWarriors.

“HejustsaidthattheOriginperiodgotmea littlebit.

I can’tdisagree,”OatessaidofhischatwithSeibold.

“Idon’tthinktheyweremybestgamesandhis

decisionwastogivemetheweekoffandresta few

littleinjuries.I felta lotbetterafterwards.

“You’vegottogothroughthosetoughperiodsand

tryandchangethepoorperformanceorpoorstarts,

butthat’sonme.Thatwasformetochangeandfix

upandthat’swhat I am going to be doing for therest

of the year.” – MG