Dunbar

So, I have been on a bit of a fitness kick. Started in early December last year with a lot of walking and cutting back on alcohol (both frequency and volume). Then in February I bought a body composition scale and started tracking the metrics... I know they are not 100% accurate but it is the direction of travel I care about. I went for a health check last week and the nurse told me I was 104kg last November and today I am 80.5kg. I started using the body composition scale on the 23rd February and I was 92.25kg and 29% body fat... today 16.1% body fat. Loads of other metrics but a key one is muscle mass has stayed fairly consisten at 63kg so I am losing fat (including subcutaneous and visceral fat), not muscle mass. Pleased with this... but I have got healthy before and the challenge here is long term consistency. Edit: didn't mention I have been to the gym 150 times since February.... I have a spreadsheet... of course I do!

While we are moving somewhat away from the Brits in the NRL topic, I don't think size is a consideration for a modern day full back. Look at the likes of Keano Kini and Sualauvi Fa'alogo, both lighting up the NRL and both internationals and yet very small players. It is all about being good pn your feet and pace these days.

He has definitely been a 9.5 out of 10 in a lot of games this season – maybe even a 10 but I am one of those less inclined to give a 10. But for the year in total, especially after a small drop off about two thirds of the way through the year, I thought 9 was correct on balance (I did actually type 9.5, the changed it to 9). I would not argue with anyone giving him a higher rating and I wouldn’t say anyone in the NRL has gone better than him this year.

This is an important point. The Dolphins have come back from early deficits or ground out wins quite a few times this year. They are a very attritional team, and it is down to multiple reasons. A very good middle rotation with good starting and bench options, the commentary team often praise the interchange middles but the hard work of the starting forwards helps with the physical win over 80 minutes, Knowles is a massive part of that. The kicking game of Katoa, who is a very good game manager for a young half. The workrate and carries of the outside backs – they can score spectacular tries but they also put their hand up for carries from the backfield and they are very effective. All together it produces a team that is more likely to win a close game than not and if they are in a game with 20 minutes to go, don’t bet against them. And a lot of it starts with the foundation of the first 20 minutes and Knowles very much leads that.

Taken as a full year contribution, I would agree, yes. But in that first 12 games, KPP was much more influential for the Tigers. Ratings are difficult in that way I suppose.

At the end of the regular season, here is my take on how the Brits went in the NRLW this year. Francesca Goldthorp: 8.5 out of 10 Played 11, 4 tries, 5 try assists, 31 tackle breaks, 5 line breaks. Was one of the Cowboys best in every game this year. After mixing centre and wing for the first 4 games, she became the permanent full back from Round 5 to the end of the season. She is always solid under a high ball and tireless carrying the ball. In a better side, I am sure she would have more attacking opportunities but went well all year. Georgia Roche: 8 out of 10 Played 9, 3 tries, 5 try assists, 7 line break assists. Easily her best year in the NRLW, she made the left edge her own for the Knights and her ability to straighten up a defence meant she was involved in far more tries than her 5 assists show… she was the pivotal player in a lot of the Knights attacks. Just the 1 match ban for late contact on a kicker bringing her below Goldthorp as the best Brit in the NRLW this year. Hollie-Mae Dodd: 7.5 out of 10 Played 10, 1 tries,2 line breaks, 178 tackles (97.3% tackle efficiency) 7 of the 10 games came off the interchange bench, but still really solid contributions each week – either on the edge or in the middle. Just the relatively low 37 minutes a game bringing her overall rating down. Overall, I thought all three were very good this year and did the Brits proud.

At the end of the regular season, here is my take on how the Brits went in the NRL this year (note, this is just Brits who have gone to the NRL to ply their trade, not English eligible Australians who came through the Australian system). Herbie Farnwoth: 9 out of 10 Played 24 games, 14 tries, 9 try assists, 161 tackle breaks, 15 line breaks What can you say about Farnworth that hasn’t already been said, he is a wonderful athlete and combines a high work rate with being a line break or offload threat every time he touches the ball. Still not a classic wingers centre as his running lines are unconventional but that is being somewhat picky. Would have been 9.5 out of 10 but went through a period in the year when he was losing concentration and moaning too much at the ref, slowing the game down. Dominic Young: 8 out of 10 Played 24, 21 tries, 7 try assists, 104 tackle breaks, 39 line breaks A really good year for Young, he just keep rattling up the big try scoring years and seems much happier back at Newcastle after his short stint with the Roosters. Will continue to get some criticism for his defensive reads and work rate, but when he has the ball and free space he is electric and invariably takes the right options and his 7 try assists show that he can set up his inside men as well as finish. Kai Pearce-Paul: 8 out of 10 Played 12, 4 tries, 1 line break, 4 line break assists, 28 offloads I can’t mark a player down for being injured and Kai Pearce-Paul started the year as well as anyone, and it was no surprise to see the Wests season start to fade as the right edge rock that is KPP absent. He gets a lot of praise for his offloads (rightly so) but it is his mobility and contact in defence that makes him a top quality edge forward, he never seems to have a bad game. Morgan Knowles: 7.5 out of 10 Played 24, 1 try, 2 line breaks, 798 tackles (90.5% efficiency) The attacking stats don’t describe Knowles’ game, he is a machine in defence with a passion for leading the line and setting the Dolphins up. His tackle efficiency is lower than optimal but that is because he often leads the line and his contact may not always stick. I thought his distribution settled down in the year and he had a good pass / run mix to his game. A very good first year in the NRL for one of England’s best. Probably would have rated higher if he has more than his 48 minutes a game average, but he did his job well. Morgan Smithies: 6.5 out of 10 Played 21, 0 tries , 7 tackles breaks, 554 tackles (95.7% efficiency) A solid enough year, but like the whole of the Raiders side, not at the level of last year. Averaged 52 minutes a game in the first half of the year and 44 in the second half, probably indicative of him being a bit further down the pecking order for the Raiders middles. A fresh start at the Perth Bears next year which feels like a good move for him. Matty Nicholson: 5 out of 10 Played 5, 1 try, 1 line break, 155 tackles (92.8% efficiency) As I say, I will not criticise a player for injury, but with only 5 appearances, Nicholson’s season never got going, John Bateman: 5 out of 10 Played 6, 1 try, 2 line break, 116 tackles (90.6% efficiency) As with Nicholson, a season that never really got started, but did look to be in reasonable shape playing half a dozen games at the back end of the year. Morgan Gannon: 2 out of 10 Played 3, 1 line break assist, 19 tackles (82.6% efficiency) Just 53 minutes in the NRL for Gannon – was very unlucky to leave the field after 5 minutes and failing a HIA on his debut in Round 3 (what could have happened if he had a good game). He wasn’t seen again until two appearances in Rounds 23 and 27). Back to Super League next season. I would like to have seen him stick it out because there is a very good player there that the NRL didn’t get to see.

His pass selection has been down all year for me, still highly involved and dangerous but he throws too many wayward passes for my liking.

I think you could legitimately accuse the Wigan club of a few things, but having an inferiority complex is not one of them.

Given the number of games in the regular season of Super League and the group games of the World Cup, that is a flawed analogy. But I am not trying to persuade you I am right, I am just saying what I think.

I am ok with the Dream Team being selected on just the regular season. If you are going to compare players and decide who has been the best in the season then you have to provide everyone with the same chances, and players can be outstanding for a side that doesn't make the play offs.

He should be in the side - at 13. With Radley on the bench. Knowles can put in the early high impact shift and then Radley can come on as the game opens up. Then they can rotate in the middle, or even be on the pitch at the same time if we want up to up the speed of the game. This has the additional benefit that Radley can cover the edge forward role if needed. But we can continue this on the England squad thread.

What a couple of great athletes Young and Farnworth are. Between them in the first week of the finals... 3 tries 4 try assists 462 run metres 5 line breaks 21 tackle breaks

Knowles is not a prop, certainly not a starting one.

Yes, Young was very good. One thing about Young is that he has a very good passing game for a winger (because he played centre in his development years) so you know he is going to pick the right pass to his support players if needed. An important skill.