Yet more brainfarts tonight that could have cost us dearly ....

Thought he was finally maturing. But he had a hot and cold night..

I have no idea why anyone ever thinks that Meli has changed. He is always the same in the pressure matches. Always.

It's that time of the year

Sadly it's just normal, he looks decent with ball in hand but he just cant catch under pressure . Couple of howlers tonight that could have been real game breakers

Why does he jump on kicks he don't need to but won't Jump when he should?

I've had my say on this subject many times in the past. Sadly it will take another massive cock-up for both the powers that be and the majority of fans to see that this guy is not a big game player. That was mild compared to what is to come.

and the dopey get put his foot in touch for his try

We ain't seen nothing yet

Good job the video ref wasn't asked to look at that and that the touchie was as blind as a bat because it was blatent once it was replayed.

And yet people say Makinson isn't much good. But he always plays up in the big games. Always.

The sad thing is. Imagine Meli if he didn't have these brainfarts? Would have been the best winger in SL if you ask me. His power and pace is invaluable at times.

I wonder if it's the temperature that does it. Perhaps having heated blankets applied to his hands during every break in play is the way to go?

Well, I don't think I'd go that far! Makinson scores tries Meli never could (and never has), for example. He's good at barging over but that's about it. He's got a bit of pace over 10ms but he is not and never has been lightening quick. He hardly ever looks for work and he does not seem to read the game (or can't be bothered to). I've never heard anyone praise his positioning for example. So even taking away his brainfarts, he's still right down the list of wingers IMO. But obviously McManus knows some love for him otherwise there wouldn't have been another year for us to endure him.

Makinson is crying out to be playing fullback. Brilliant under the bomb tonight, defensively fantastic, dangerous with the ball.

He's been suspect under the high ball this year. I'm not sure he's ready yet to play there full time, I think lance is the better option but he's also suspect on high kicks.

Do you think makinson is that good with ball in hand? He runs like he might make a break but it's very rare he will beat a man.

It's hard to do that on the wing though as you are constantly in danger of being tackled into touch. I'd love to see how he'd go at fullback, the one glimpse we've had of it was a very accomplished performance in the GF last year.

I disagree. I think he has had one or two matches in which he has missed a ball. That's it though. But maybe the dullness of our rugby has erased my memory!


What do you mean by 'beat a man' exactly? Do you mean on his kick returns? Because if you do although he doesn't have that strength yet (he's only just turned 20 and clearly is of a lean frame) he got his head through in the tackle on every return tonight. Not only that but I remember in the playoffs last year against Wigan how he turned Sam Tomkins inside out so he's capable of sidestepping his opposition.

He needs more chances. I think he has abilities that are being neglected as the ball hardly ever goes his way. Tonight it did and look, he scored a brace.

On Good Friday he played there and had a stinker.



He didn't deal with any kick that Warrington kicked at him in the game the other week at Langtree. Luckily for him, Warrington seemed content to attack Meli's wing tonight.

Don't get me wrong, I think makinson is very good player and has potential to be good player but I don't think he's ready for fullback.

I question if he's got the postional play to be in the postions wello does in attack and I'm don't think he offers much more with the ball at this moment.

Makinson isn't beating men on kick returns (something foster was crucified for) but this might come as he's a young lad still.

Another year on the wing won't do makinson any harm at all.

Lance hohaia has all the experince in the world at fullback, he's fast and I'm sure he'd clear his line better than wello and makinson.

It's always the way. But what can we do, play him all year and then drop him for knock out rugby???

Yes I'm on about his kick returns. I know he's only just turned 20 but I've seen the likes of charnley, tomkins, Briscoe, hall etc all beat men at that age.

Only time will tell of he will make a fullback but IMO hohaia should be #1 next year.

Makinson still looks like a rabbit in headlights nearly every time he has the ball and just doesn't seem to know what to do with it half the time - he has the physical attributes to be a top player at #1 or #2/#5 but just not the instincts (at least not yet). For me he'll end up a centre when he's bulked up a bit.

And Meli is one of the top 5 wingers in SL and our best outside back by a country mile and has been for a good few years now. As always the kneejerkers sit coiled waiting for him to have an off game (ignoring all the good games he's had in the meantime) so they can launch into action and justify their little one-eyed pre-formed opinions with only the slightest evidence to be able to support it.

*double post* Grrrrrr

I think one more year on the wing won't do tommy any harm.