New Signings!

[cb4]

So my question is where does Barba fit into this whole equation?

Surely the Rio Olympics is enticing if we can knock on the ARU's door

For next year, with the halves we have, he fits in as our starting fullback.
Whether or not he actually plays there is another question.

We should not go into next year with a utility on the bench.

 

[chewsta]

So my question is where does Barba fit into this whole equation?

I find myself wondering the same thing, Ive really wanted Barba to work for us and do enjoy watching him in a sharks jersey but I just cant see him getting a spot in the backline next year.
If we are to go with a super sub with X factor then Nu Brown is my pick every day of the week, has the skill, speed and Xfactor that Barba has at twice the size and can pretty much fill any position on the field except prop.

Going back a couple of years, would any of you have ever thought the Sharks would have Ben Barba on the books and nowhere to play him because there were better players to pick ahead of him.

 

[cb4]

:lol::lol:Brown better than Barba?:lol::lol:

 

[chewsta]

Im not saying he is better, I am saying the upside to Brown as a super sub is greater than Barba's. Brown can fill in pretty much anywhere on the field. Barba is a Fullback and either needs to be played there for the full 80 minutes or not at all. As I also said, Im a fan of Barba's and want him to work for us but 15 - 20 minutes a game for Barbs isn't ever going to work, the poor bastard cant get into the rythm of the game and is thrown in and expected to perform miracles in 15 minutes.

 

[carcharias]

Barba 1
Val 2

It'll work ... Just give it a go

 

[Ads]

Barba 1
Val 2

It'll work ... Just give it a go

Yep.

1. Barba
2. Feki/Gagan
3. Beale
4. Bird
5. Val

Thats a good backline.

 

[RUBIKS]

How'd val and bird go under flano this year?

I'll bite.

Pretty poorly. They were already outstanding prospects and ended the season no better than how they started it. In respect to Bird, some could say he went backwards as teams worked him out and our team/his game didn't develop.

Meanwhile Munster filling in at fullback, who in half a season, went from a guy who couldn't pass, to a guy people (not me) were suggesting might be good enough to keep Billy out of the team.

Flano picks two young blokes who have a great season .
Yet it's got nothing to do with his coaching.

Picked Val in the second game after Brown bombed a try and Bird when we were 0 from 3. People had been screaming for their inclusion in round 1.

Also you want Val on the wing and Barba out the back. Sure it might work... however that means it's going to take another year or two for val to develop as a fullback when he finally gets there because there clearly isn't a strategy in place a la RTS/Mini even though they say there is.

 

[Surely]

Val needs to play 1 or 6 total waste on the wing.

 

[sandshark]

I think that Barba should get first crack at Fullback.
Val will get his chance.

 

[Ads]

We haven't got a good winger if we move Val. Gagan could be but we don't really know yet.

Barba is a good fullback. We're better with them both.

 

[southland]

WTF? Val Holmes had a steller year. Plenty of tries, plenty of success under pressure. He is now a permanent starter and vying for fb.

 

[txta2]

give it a rest Texta, I think your nibs gone dry.

No,just the failure of the club never winning a premiership is harder to swallow as each season ends the same as the last.

 

[txta2]

What was Andrew Fifita before Flanno got him?

How many grade games did Bukuya have before Flanno got in charge?

Feki is in the NZ squad, no?

C'mon mate, let the agenda go.

Didn't Bukuya get the arse a few years ago!
Not a Feki fan either, has a good mistake in him and I'd be surprised if he holds his spot with the current roster.
I tip my hat to Flanno though about Fifita,he hasn't been sacked yet. :?
I'll keep the agenda up till they win a comp

 

[Card Shark]

Man, I thought people would have stopped going on about Murphy now that the season's over.. showed little in NSW Cup, was outplayed by Nathan Gardner most matches. I really wanted him to kick on too, but wasn't to be unfortunately

Nathan Gardner has played countless years in the NSW Cup after actually excellng in first grade initially. Given an opportunity, he took advantage of it. Considering he friendship with The Bubbler, I'd suggest his dedication & application is the main reason he's back in NSW Cup.

Back to Murphy. Qld Cup player of the year....a bloody half. I think the Qld Cup is probably better than NSW Cup with all the up & coming Maroons there, would you agree. So he didn't make such a good fist of it but its his first year & did we nurture him to succeed....no we didn't. The Cowboys have done it with a similar background player with a similar age, in Granville. Maybe we didn't need Townsend if he was given a go....surely we promised a chance (or more) when we signed him.

I'd like to know what his biggest problems were, only having seen him a couple of times but often hearing he was 1 of the best in match reports

 

[Card Shark]

We should not go into next year with a utility on the bench.

With the reduced interchange, I think the idea has merit - but don't bring that person on so late in the game & generally when he has to turn a game from the brink.

It's actually a positive attacking idea, which we don't have many of. It just needs to be handled much better & bring him on when the opposition least expect it or give him a fair chance to make a difference, not needing to make a miracle play.

 

[southland]

With the reduced interchange, I think the idea has merit - but don't bring that person on so late in the game & generally when he has to turn a game from the brink.

It's actually a positive attacking idea, which we don't have many of. It just needs to be handled much better & bring him on when the opposition least expect it or give him a fair chance to make a difference, not needing to make a miracle play.

Also agree. But only if Bird plays lock!

 

[isaiah]

Very exciting signing. I watched a bunch of Jets games this year and recall his quick hands both ways. He seems to have a really cool head under pressure as well.. heres hoping he is in our top 25 and pushing for an NRL debut.

Thats the third young signing this week! Things are changing...

Cleeland's defence is the outstanding part of his game.

 

[cb4]

Didn't Bukuya get the arse a few years ago!
Not a Feki fan either, has a good mistake in him and I'd be surprised if he holds his spot with the current roster.
I tip my hat to Flanno though about Fifita,he hasn't been sacked yet. :?
I'll keep the agenda up till they win a comp

Bukuya didn't get the arse, he got more money and a starting spot.

You may not rate Feki, but plenty of good judges of footy do. He didn't make many errors this year either.

So your agenda isn't just against Flanno? It has also been against Beetson, Gibson, Lang ect?

 

[Frenzy.]

"pick your best 13 and worry about the number on their back later"

John Arthur Gibson

If Pissflap is a good enough coach he'll find a way to work with his best 13(17) players. If he remains one dimensional in his game plans then it won't matter who is where

 

[southland]

Just can't f**ken wait to see Maloney distribute the ball instead of ol rusty Robson or "I need to touch the ball on the 5th every play" gal.

We have many many options for next year now.. Barbs to fb for 80mins for the first six rounds would be great. Would even be interested to see how he went at 5/8 again with Maliney running around as the halfback...