BY DAN

Ricky Stuart’s chaotic neutral approach to team-list building has continued for another week. This time it’s turned up a debut for Hohepa Puru.

If you’ve been around here a while you’ll know we are big fans of Puru. He’s a player of Canberra’s future, a critical part of what might be a very good ‘generation next.’ He’s agile, and has an unquestionable work-rate. He’s got a unique ability as a ball-player through the middle third, the kind of skills that Isaah Yeoh and Cam Murray bring to their respective teams. He makes exceptional pass/run decisions in that regard, providing width to the NSW Cup team’s attack and adding 130 plus metres on the ground to match.

As we said after the first trial match this year:

He’s fast, with wonderfully quick feet in the line. He’s got an impressive work rate, and is comfortable playing as a distributor through the middle. In fact it’s more than *just* comfort. In the trial match we saw him routinely engage the line, and promote the ball to another middle forward hitting a hole (or the halves on the edge). He looked to have established a good connection with people he’d only spent a pre-season with, which speaks to the skill he is operating with.

Here

Indeed one can’t help but wonder if that’s a big part of his promotion. Corey Horsburgh offers most of what Canberra needs as a link man through the middle of the field, both in running and passing. The match isn’t the same – the Red Horse uses a bit more power and a bit less creativity as a ball player, but it’s a similar role. Given Corey’s likely suspension, if Coach Stuart sees that as a dedicated role it’s not surprise that Puru is in the squad. He’ll do that job well, albeit in less minutes.

Puru progressing to first grade footy is probably a good thing. We hadn’t expected to see him in first grade this year. It’s his first year of full time Cup footy, and if there was a weakness in his game it was one of physical development. He’s only 20, and in Cup footy he doesn’t always win first contact in defence. It’s hardly a big issue, more a function of youth and size. He’ll get bigger and stronger, and we’ll barely remember these criticisms. Here’s hoping that gap has been bridged.

While we’re unquestionably supporting of Puru, and think he’ll be a massive part of the club’s future, we have to question the timing of this. Asking a debutant to come in and play such a critical game in what is a de facto final? Doing so while the team’s season has collapsed like the Bernie Madoff made it. Without the support of the two of the three most experienced members of the forward pack? In a team that has two-thirds of a game plan? Sheesh. What an ask.

There have been a heap of opportunities to play Puru before this game, in lower stakes moments against more manageable opposition. The Raiders played Jack at lock against the Dragons a few rounds back. They’ve named Tapine there at other times. At the time I assumed the logic was “let’s not burn the confidence youth at the alter of short term outcomes”. I am generally supportive of this. The last thing the club needs is another Savage or Mooney biding their time, too good for Cup footy but not being given a shot at first grade because of the club saw their first go-around. If Puru was in the plans to play this year then thought should have been given to this before this weekend. Lord knows there was a million weeks where Stick gave less than 15 minutes to someone on the bench. If you’re going to be so stingy with minutes, at least give it a purpose.

I also hope this there has been clear communication with Trey Mooney over what he’s doing and what he needs to do to play first grade. Outside of past week’s 17 he was the most like for like replacement for Josh Papalii. There’s no question of his physical development (even in first grade he tends to look like the kid too big for his age group). He’s been a quality middle in Cup footy all season. He’s been around first grade for three years now and seems like he’s burning for an opportunity. Maybe he’s not ready and I’m an idiot. Perhaps he’ll come in if Horsburgh is officially suspended. I hope he’s given a chance.

More broadly this a confusing decision and feels like it’s grown from the desperation that has taken over Stuart’s team-list management since the season started to crater. Ethan Strange, Matt Frawley, and now Hohepa Puru are being put in a hopeless position to solve problems baked in by either the choice or effectiveness (choose your own adventure) of the coaching staff. It feels reactive, not a recognition of a longer-term plan for Hohepa, but rather Stuart trying to find an answer for a question he can’t solve. He’s two pages into a solution and all he’s done is proven the given (that’s a year 12 maths joke – we’re nothing but relatable here).

I desperately hope this works out. He will be a star for this club one day. I hope he’s ready. I hope this isn’t reactive and that the club can provide him the clarity of role and function he needs, not just be handed an oar and a bucket and told to get this sinking ship to shore.

Do us a solid and like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media, and I’ll do my best Kermit impression for you. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.

.