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Nene McDonald - This isn't going to be popular!

RedV Resurgence

Juniors
Messages
726
I think Nene will be a big surprise next year, he will gain a lot from having Hunt running the plays on the right side.

Also, having now been here for 1 year, he is ready to step-up. He is big, fast, and needs to learn to run through the line, not stop at the line.

Lomax is coming through and should finish the year with 8 - 10 games under his belt.

1. Duffy ( provided he is unleashed).
2. Mann
3. Laffi. ( Needs to become consistent)
4 McDonald
5. Lomax
6. Widdop
7. Hunt

Utility Back - Nightingale ( can play 1, 2, 5 ,3,4) (Mann can play 1 - 7)

Now ready for the abuse.
 

Dragonsteve2

Juniors
Messages
542
R
I think Nene will be a big surprise next year, he will gain a lot from having Hunt running the plays on the right side.

Also, having now been here for 1 year, he is ready to step-up. He is big, fast, and needs to learn to run through the line, not stop at the line.

Lomax is coming through and should finish the year with 8 - 10 games under his belt.

1. Duffy ( provided he is unleashed).
2. Mann
3. Laffi. ( Needs to become consistent)
4 McDonald
5. Lomax
6. Widdop
7. Hunt

Utility Back - Nightingale ( can play 1, 2, 5 ,3,4) (Mann can play 1 - 7)

Now ready for the abuse.
Red V R, you're not going to cop abuse from me. To me Nene is not the big problem. The lack of bombs to his wing last season was an appalling indictment of the game plan every week. Why buy a tall winger if you don't put bombs up for him?

Secondly I don't think the problem is with individual players. It is the refusal to make changes when individuals in the selected 17 are not performing. Happy to give Nene another run, especially now we have Hunt who should be better in bombing his wing but if he doesn't show improvement in the first 3-4 games then one of the younger backs must be given a go.

I have advocated previously for Nighty to go the bench. Provides cover for an injured back, along with Mann's versatility, as you point out. But I think he could also provide McInnes with a break in the dummy half role. Can't see why he would be less effective than Dean Young. Additionally, he would be able to sub in the back row if required. But it won't happen. Mary has enough trouble thinking rationally without trying to think laterally.
 

jak

Bench
Messages
3,060
I think Nene will be a big surprise next year, he will gain a lot from having Hunt running the plays on the right side.

Also, having now been here for 1 year, he is ready to step-up. He is big, fast, and needs to learn to run through the line, not stop at the line.

Lomax is coming through and should finish the year with 8 - 10 games under his belt.

1. Duffy ( provided he is unleashed).
2. Mann
3. Laffi. ( Needs to become consistent)
4 McDonald
5. Lomax
6. Widdop
7. Hunt

Utility Back - Nightingale ( can play 1, 2, 5 ,3,4) (Mann can play 1 - 7)

Now ready for the abuse.
its popular with me
 
Messages
2,866
I think Nene will be a big surprise next year, he will gain a lot from having Hunt running the plays on the right side.

Also, having now been here for 1 year, he is ready to step-up. He is big, fast, and needs to learn to run through the line, not stop at the line.

Lomax is coming through and should finish the year with 8 - 10 games under his belt.

1. Duffy ( provided he is unleashed).
2. Mann
3. Laffi. ( Needs to become consistent)
4 McDonald
5. Lomax
6. Widdop
7. Hunt

Utility Back - Nightingale ( can play 1, 2, 5 ,3,4) (Mann can play 1 - 7)

Now ready for the abuse.
I agree that McDonald is more a centre than he is a winger.
Don't mind that back line at all.
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,587
I doubt that Nene has the skills required to play centre. I think it well be wing or reserve grade. There are a few candidates for right centre; Aitken, Mann or one of our young guns lsuch as Lomax.

I doubt that Nightingale would have the passing skills need at hooker and that he would be up to defending in the middle in the way McInnes does. I'd say it will either be Robson or Nicholls if a hooker rotation is required.
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,587
Nene will have a huge season on the WING!
Hunt is going to use him with kicks, long cut out passes and feed him enough ball to score 15 tries plus!
Sounds great to me. Who ever plays right centre will have a big influence on Macdonald's performance. If it is Aitken, all I can say is that he needs to improve his passing game and put more into setting up his winger.
 

Dragonslayer

First Grade
Messages
7,678
Nene played centre in the World Cup and wasnt the worst although wing is his better position.
There were a couple of bombs to McD wing this year but they werent on target either being to short of the try line or not high enough. Remember also that he is playing on his non-preferred side.
With Hunt, holedully we will get more on target ans really utilize his strength.
Hes not our main issue though as I fell right centre remains our archilles heal.
 

Dragon Revival

Juniors
Messages
1,603
Nene has bad hands with the high ball.
Hopefully Lomax, Garrick or Johns will
make the grade as Nene is lacksadaisical and is only good at bringing the ball back when he does not let in a try or fumble the ball.
 
Messages
2,866
I doubt that Nene has the skills required to play centre. I think it well be wing or reserve grade. There are a few candidates for right centre; Aitken, Mann or one of our young guns lsuch as Lomax.

I doubt that Nightingale would have the passing skills need at hooker and that he would be up to defending in the middle in the way McInnes does. I'd say it will either be Robson or Nicholls if a hooker rotation is required.
You look at McDonald's time with the Titans - played some great football as a centre.
He is a specialist centre playing on the wing.
If Mann and Aikin stake a claim then may the best man (excuse the pun) win.
 

KiamaSaint

Coach
Messages
17,455
I think Nene will be a big surprise next year, he will gain a lot from having Hunt running the plays on the right side.

Also, having now been here for 1 year, he is ready to step-up. He is big, fast, and needs to learn to run through the line, not stop at the line.

Lomax is coming through and should finish the year with 8 - 10 games under his belt.

1. Duffy ( provided he is unleashed).
2. Mann
3. Laffi. ( Needs to become consistent)
4 McDonald
5. Lomax
6. Widdop
7. Hunt

Utility Back - Nightingale ( can play 1, 2, 5 ,3,4) (Mann can play 1 - 7)

Now ready for the abuse.

I'm ok with that as well, as long as Lafai and Mann play on the left. Lafai was rubbish at the Dogs playing on the right. I am also not convinced that Lomax is ready.
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,406
R

Red V R, you're not going to cop abuse from me. To me Nene is not the big problem. The lack of bombs to his wing last season was an appalling indictment of the game plan every week. Why buy a tall winger if you don't put bombs up for him?

Secondly I don't think the problem is with individual players. It is the refusal to make changes when individuals in the selected 17 are not performing. Happy to give Nene another run, especially now we have Hunt who should be better in bombing his wing but if he doesn't show improvement in the first 3-4 games then one of the younger backs must be given a go.

I have advocated previously for Nighty to go the bench. Provides cover for an injured back, along with Mann's versatility, as you point out. But I think he could also provide McInnes with a break in the dummy half role. Can't see why he would be less effective than Dean Young. Additionally, he would be able to sub in the back row if required. But it won't happen. Mary has enough trouble thinking rationally without trying to think laterally.
Not sure if I am reading this one correctly but are you saying that nightingale could start off the bench and could cover hooker or even back row position?
If that is what you are saying I have to disagree. Nighty is a specialist winger that can also play fullback. But thats his role, definitely not a dummy half or back rower.
 

Belta

Juniors
Messages
1,124
I do remember a Bribane game late last season, ( I think it was in a semi-final) when Hunt switched the play and sent a long ball out to Oates which lead to a good try.
So hopefully Hunts inclusion assists Nene's game as I'm another Nene critic. For me he predominantly plays half heartedly and seems to make poor decisions in defence. Having said that I believe the talent is there, it's just finding away to unleash it
 

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