The Avenger:
We underestimate how physically tough the game is here in the UK, it is too much for some players to step up from the Championship to SL. For others it takes a long time to acclimatise and adapt to that level of physicality, not just during an 80 minute game but in terms of recovering from a game and the cumulative wear, tear and fatigue of game after game.
I?ve known many NRL forwards that have come over and found our game to be surprisingly more physical than the NRL!
YES I know, shock horror because that?s not the popular narrative.
Many NRL forwards find our players are bigger than they expected, more aggressive, direct, tougher and hurt more in the collision than they?ve been used to. We all watch the NRL and just take it for granted that they?re better in every aspect and for the most part that?s evidently true but not in this aspect.
I know some will disagree but I?m basing my statement on conversations I?ve had with a lot Southern Hemisphere players who?ve experienced both!
I said before the season started that we had a number of players for whom the jury was out even though they?d gone well in the Championship. I?m hoping that Rodwell has just being unlucky with injuries and not that the step up has proven too much for his body.
In terms of Atoni, we?ve seen him stand up and be dominant in a few games, we know he?s got it in him but the quiet nondescript performances outnumber the dominant ones. It?s not that he doesn?t do his job it?s that he doesn?t impose himself and plays with little impact on the opposition, it?s frustrating when you?ve seen what he can do! Maybe it?s what I mentioned earlier and the week to week stuff erodes his ability to play at his very best in every game.
At the moment I?d resign him but I don?t know who else is out there and available. If an obvious battle proven candidate became available then with top six contention in mind we should be ruthless in our retention/recruitment and make the tough decisions.
Pretty much this, if we can find better we should do, if we can't then we re-sign. My only concern is the quota spot. It's either Atoni or Walmsley who will be making way for Smoothy, and being fully stocked up on the quota spot leave little room for movement next year.
