what now? please read je following and let us hear about what you make out of it:-
"For the second week in succession high-profile Rugby League convert Benji Marshall failed to live up to the pre-match hype.
The spotlight shone brightly on Marshall in the build-up to the game,
but it was the New Zealand-born Rugby League convert Alofa Alofa that
lit up a Super Rugby trial between the Blues and Waratahs in Sydney on
Friday.
Alofa even outshone illustrious teammate Israel Folau as the former
Aucklander produced two evasive runs before deservedly nailing the
game-sealing try as the Waratahs triumphed 33-12.
The 22-year-old was a member of the Roosters Under-20 squad in 2011 and
mentioned as a possible heir to Anthony Minichiello - until Kiwis star
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck burst on to the NRL scene.
Now the wing is starting to make an impression in the 15-man code, as
Marshall continues to make a less eye-catching transition.
Marshall, who like last week was replaced at half-time, spent the bulk
of the opening quarter waiting expectantly on defence near the Blues
goal-line as the Waratahs dominated a protracted and initially one-sided
scrummaging battle.
And Kurtley Beale, who started at fullback, also put his name forward
to begin his comeback season at the Waratahs in the hotly-contested
No.10 jersey, after igniting the NSW backline with the opening try, some
sharp passing and then a brilliant first-half chip-and-chase.
Friday's match started as a dour struggle, but soon opened up, with
Beale, Israel Folau and rookie flyer Alofa putting together a tidy
highlights package to kick-start the Waratahs season.
Blues No.10 Marshall was constantly on the back foot in his 40 minutes
on the field, playing behind an overpowered pack missing several All
Blacks forwards.
But if Friday's hit-out was any indication, Marshall faces a steeper
learning curve in his new code than many League converts before him,
struggling to find his place in the game.
The former Kiwis captain was steamrolled by giant Waratahs back row forward Will Skelton as NSW took an early 14-0 lead.
His timing proved out when he did finally get the ball in his hands,
failing to find touch from a penalty and throwing a dud pass into an
unsuspecting teammate.
Marshall was replaced at half-time, coinciding with the benchmark of
cross-code stars, Folau taking the field for the opposition - although
the NSW fullback made a rare error, fumbling a kick which allowed
Charles Piutau to bring the Blues' back into the match at 21-12.
However, Folau made amends just 10 minutes later when he put Stephen
Hoiles over in the corner with the silkiest of flick-passes to put the
result beyond doubt.
NSW held the ball for virtually the entire opening 11 minutes of the
match, before Beale scooped up a loose pass from halfback Nick Phipps
and surged over from close range.
Bernard Foley started at five-eighth and also scored a try, but it was
Beale who put the No.10 through a hole in the 13th minute with a
pin-point face-ball at the line.
The Waratahs' backs interchanged positions throughout the night, but
the most revealing find of the night was West Harbour product Alofa -
who finished off the try of the night in the 67th minute.
"The effort he showed to score the try where he was down on his back
only a couple of seconds before and got back up. That's what this team
is trying to become," said coach Michael Cheika of the rookie-contracted
Alofa, who last played against Marshall in a Roosters versus Wests
Tigers NRL trial two years ago.
"That shows he's obviously hungry and he wants an opportunity so he definitely gave himself a shot at it that's for sure."
Reading the article it is clear that there is one thing that I have referred to previously and that is the poor forward combination that impacted on the Blues last year and will continue to impact on them this year.
Look - I know the pre-season trials are not really a guide - but a loss as bi g as this one is a disastrous forecast as to what is in the offing.
