With the season having ended for Otago, ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the players on their performances in the domestic rugby competition.
Trent Renata 4.5/10: Was disappointing after looking to be a good signing. Did not offer a lot on attack and kicked inaccurately, often putting the ball too far. Tackled poorly too, having a lowly 53.1% tackle success, some of which really were poor efforts.
Tony Ensor (No Rating): Did not get too many chances, but was not overly spectacular when he did get a run. Is a player who needs to be put into space to be dangerous and was never really in this situation, although did come on against Northland and tried to be creative.
Jayden Spence 6.5/10: Pretty solid and at times looked threatening, but was wasted on the wing and definitely looked better playing in the midfield.
Marshall Suckling 5/10: More a hard worker as opposed to a game breaker. Mainly used off the bench, came on and went looking for tackles, but did not really spark anything when he needed to come on and make something happen.
Fa'asiu Fuatai 6/10: Had a brilliant start to the season and had a good last game too, but was pretty average through the middle stages. At his best he was constantly involved, coming into the line to get his hands on the ball and running good angles. At his worst he just could not make an impact and was shut down all too easily.
Matt Faddes (No Rating): Only played one game and was not too bad in it either. His speed and strength may have been useful when the team was lacking spark, but was overlooked for other options.
Michael Collins 6/10: Another who started well, making some good runs, looking a bit faster and more assured on defence, but faded as the season progressed and by the end struggled defensively and was not threatening at all on attack.
Tei Walden 6.5/10: Pretty solid defensively, tackling low and going looking for them to make. Generally tidy on attack too and showed glimpses of a more threatening game. The main issue with him and Collins in the midfield was just that they were too much alike.
Kieran Moffat (No Rating): Only played two games, one of which was the disaster against Hawkes Bay in which he did not enhance his reputation.
Hayden Parker 7.5/10: Good for the most part. Seems to be more confident in controlling the game now, kicking well and getting the ball through his hands quickly. One of the few players you really did not want to lose from this team.
Peter Breen 5/10: Pretty average really, did not do a lot wrong, but did not really spark anything and his main value came in his use as a utility.
Josh Renton 5/10: Was probably thrown in the deep end a bit, but did get better. Passes nicely out of his hands, but needs to stop taking the extra step sideways before letting it go. At times went too high in cover defence, although he did improve in this. Still a young player who will get better. Needs to develop more to his game, whether it be an ability to run, kick, or help direct his team.
Nick Ealey 6/10: Provided faster ball than Renton and was unlucky not to start more, but was prone to making the odd bad error, such as a few very average kicks.
Charlie O'Connell 6.5/10: Started the season off well, but his lack of ability to physically impose himself was shown up later on. Never stopped working hard though and at the time of writing had made the fourth most tackles in the competition.
James Lentjes 7.5/10: Really impressive and kept getting better too. Only one place behind O'Connell in the most tackles list, was strong at the breakdown, anticipated play well, was an option towards the front-middle of the lineout and ranged well on attack. Was the one player to emerge from the Hawkes Bay drubbing with his reputation enhanced.
Lee Allan 7/10: Sprinted around the field when he did play and was always prominent defensively. Captained the team well on one occasion and it was more due to the quality of Lentjes than anything he did wrong that forced him on to the blindside.
TJ Ioane 7/10: Never lacked for effort and at times was outstanding in getting go-forward carrying the ball and tackling well. However, had the occasional quiet game too, where he just could not make an impact.
Hugh Blake 5.5/10: Had one outstanding performance against Tasman where he was into everything. Otherwise was fairly solid, making his tackles, similar to O'Connell.
Naulia Dawai 6/10: Another who had a couple of good games, particularly against Tasman, and was pretty solid for the rest. Worked hard and added a bit of grunt, although perhaps not quite good enough to be the permanent starting blindside flanker.
Tom Franklin 7.5/10: Had a couple of quiet games, but for the most part showed why he is as good as anyone on this team. Made plenty of tackles, brought physicality in tight and at times was outstanding coming forward at the back of the lineout.
Joe Latta 7/10: Probably a bit tighter than Franklin, but threw himself into everything and was strong in tackling, carrying the ball and getting to rucks.
Jackson Hemopo 7/10: Added some much needed strong ball running at times, while also tackling well and showing the ability to offload. Solid in the lineout as well.
Josh Dickson (No Rating): Only played three games, but looked good when he did play. Always seemed keen to get involved, making eleven tackles in 37 minutes of game time and coping well with the physicality. Got his hands on the ball a bit too. Would have got more time had the other locks not been so good.
Hisa Sasagi (No Rating): Missed half of the season with injury, but was not more than average when he did play. Another who was solid, but hardly spectacular.
Aki Seiuli 7.5/10: Had a huge season, a beast around the field, making countless strong runs with ball in hand and was the only non-loose forward to appear in the top ten for tackles made. The only criticism of him would be his scrumming, but it is hard to put all of this down to one player and it was more an inconsistency rather than a complete flaw.
Michael Mata'afa (No Rating): Got promoted to the squad when injuries hit. Not hugely prominent, made a few tackles.
Donald Brighouse 6/10: The best scrummager of the props and was quite active close in, but is still raw and needs to develop more to his game on attack.
George Bower (No Rating): Only played one game and came on for the final 16 minutes. Struggled a bit in the scrum, although forced his man to infringe at one scrum and made four tackles.
Liam Coltman 6.5/10: Work rate-wise remains one of Otago's best and got better as the season went on. Tackled well and did well in support and over the ball at the breakdown. His throwing is still inconsistent and he loses a mark for this, although it was good to see him have a few games where he found his jumpers well.
Sam Anderson-Heather 6.5/10: Mainly used as an impact player and generally did add energy. Looked to go forward with ball in hand and was aggressive on defence. Throwing was a mixed bag as well. Might be pushing for a Super Rugby contract.
