Rumoured Signings and General Dribble XIII

[caylo]

So you're saying these guys only played wing once they were in teams surrounded by better players than themselves? That's what I f**king said the first time. Premier league was reserve grade, not junior footy.

J.Williams, D.Williams and Hayne regularly played on the wing for HM and SG ball while Inu was predominately a centre but also played on the wing in HM and SG.

Actually I played for Guildford in under 16s (I was 15 at the time) and I lined up against Inu in the centres and Hayne played half the match on the wing (at 14). So yes they did play on the wing, pretty regularly for rep comps mainly but also for club games.

The reality is the wing is a specialist position and Tony Williams regularly showed that at his time for manly as he was dominated when halves kicked over his head and made him turn and chase.

 

[Eelementary]

I rate Loko, but I don't see him long term as a centre - his ability to put his winger away isn't often shown, his defence is hit and miss and his agility is atrocious (but given his size, it's understandable).

Morgan doesn't have the power and strength of Loko, but he has speed, agility and footwork. He creates breaks and half-breaks by running good lines and using his pace and agility to beat his man.

Comparing them together is an apples and oranges situation.

Long term, I see Loko as a back-rower - especially because his actual ability to tackle and complete tackles is high, but he tends to get beaten for agility and pace out wide by more mobile centres. If he moved closer to the action, spends some off season time working on his lateral movement in defence and continues to improve his running game, I think he will be more valuable to us in the pack. If we can keep Hopoate for longer than two years, then we can have Hopoate and Morgan in the centres - and still have a spot for Loko.

Right now, I can't see Loko starting ahead of either Tonga or Hopoate at centre.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

J.Williams, D.Williams and Hayne regularly played on the wing for HM and SG ball while Inu was predominately a centre but also played on the wing in HM and SG.

Actually I played for Guildford in under 16s (I was 15 at the time) and I lined up against Inu in the centres and Hayne played half the match on the wing (at 14). So yes they did play on the wing, pretty regularly for rep comps mainly but also for club games.

The reality is the wing is a specialist position and Tony Williams regularly showed that at his time for manly as he was dominated when halves kicked over his head and made him turn and chase.

You already said Hayne played fullback against kids his own age. He only played wing when playing two (or more) years above his age group.

You said Inu was a centre and Dave Williams played lock. Tony Williams was named in the NYC team of the year at centre yet has only played seven (of 100+) NRL games in that position.

I agree wing (and centre) are specialist positions, but kids' footy isn't even the same sport as NRL footy.

In the lower grades it's all about getting your best players closer to the ball. That means closer to the middle third.

 

[Eelementary]

More I think about it, more I think Loko playing in the pack is better for his career.

Provided he works on aspects of his game (namely, his defence), he theoretically should have less issues with his troublesome knees because he won't need to try and beat his opponent with agility - he'll be able to run right through his opponent.

It's speculative, of course.

But then again, his playing style is perfectly suited to the pack anyway IMO. He just needs to improve his defensive agility. But playing closer in with a competent defender inside and outside him might help him anyway.

It's good to have choices to make.

 

[yy_cheng]

poops how would u fix up cbris defense? or is 3 in the bestlace for him

 

[caylo]

You already said Hayne played fullback against kids his own age. He only played wing when playing two (or more) years above his age group.

You said Inu was a centre and Dave Williams played lock. Tony Williams was named in the NYC team of the year at centre yet has only played seven (of 100+) NRL games in that position.

I agree wing (and centre) are specialist positions, but kids' footy isn't even the same sport as NRL footy.

In the lower grades it's all about getting your best players closer to the ball. That means closer to the middle third.

Nope your twisting my words. I said John Williams played there regularly, David Williams played there and in the centres about equally but for school when I played with him he played lock (you must realise though he probably played for 3 teams a year, club, school and reps). Haynes similarly spent mostof hhis time up1 yearg roup ( not 2) so spent most of the rep games on the wing and even some club games.

The whole point is these guys had exposure to the wing, loko even is rep games was always seen as a backrower and not a winger so his instinct for the wing would be wrong and i think it would fail miserably

 

[caylo]

More I think about it, more I think Loko playing in the pack is better for his career.

Provided he works on aspects of his game (namely, his defence), he theoretically should have less issues with his troublesome knees because he won't need to try and beat his opponent with agility - he'll be able to run right through his opponent.

It's speculative, of course.

But then again, his playing style is perfectly suited to the pack anyway IMO. He just needs to improve his defensive agility. But playing closer in with a competent defender inside and outside him might help him anyway.

It's good to have choices to make.

100% agree, he can still use footwork around the bigger men and it will give him an edge around less mobile players. What he has going for him is he has good acceleration compared to Tony Williams which man's he'll generally beat his man more and as a backrower he'll run at half backs more the centres

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

Not sure how i feel about MK hanging around at Wenty.

 

[Pazza]

Not sure how i feel about MK hanging around at Wenty.

come again???

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

come again???

I am not sure how i feel about Matt Keating staying to play at Wentworthville. I don't know if it would be better to cut ties with him all together or keep him in the lower grades.

 

[The Colonel]

While his performances have left a lot to be desired it would really suck having an experienced player like Keating in the second tier ranks if the team suffered injury worries given outside of Peats and possibly Foran our dummy half ranks are limited in terms of experience.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

poops how would u fix up cbris defense? or is 3 in the bestlace for him

I don't know how much improvement he has left in him from a technical point of view. He's just too small for modern defensive techniques (i.e. first contact with the ball). I reckon the best go is to work on his confidence and commitment, and accept that he will miss tackles, and concede offloads and quick play-the-balls. I would probably give him carte blanche to go for the intercept. Maybe lobby the NRL to fix that shoulder charge rule so that only contact with the head is penalised.

Then it's just a matter of hiding him. The best way to do that is with a fast moving defensive line, which cuts down the time for the ball to get out to the runners targeting him. And put good defenders either side of him (defending three in) or defend him on the wing. But the absolute worst place for Chris Sandow is two in from the sideline.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I am not sure how i feel about Matt Keating staying to play at Wentworthville. I don't know if it would be better to cut ties with him all together or keep him in the lower grades.

Bad influence you reckon?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a backup hooker with 100+ NRL games and good defence. Keating's problem isn't that he's at the club; it's that he's (presumably) on a first grader's salary.

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

Bad influence you reckon?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a backup hooker with 100+ NRL games and good defence. Keating's problem isn't that he's at the club; it's that he's (presumably) on a first grader's salary.

It was our problem, that he was our starting hooker. Having him on a Wenty contract wouldn't be bad, he has a great attitude and would do Wenty a heap of good. I just don't want him anywhere near FG, only if we really need him.

 

[yy_cheng]

I don't know how much improvement he has left in him from a technical point of view. He's just too small for modern defensive techniques (i.e. first contact with the ball). I reckon the best go is to work on his confidence and commitment, and accept that he will miss tackles, and concede offloads and quick play-the-balls. I would probably give him carte blanche to go for the intercept. Maybe lobby the NRL to fix that shoulder charge rule so that only contact with the head is penalised.

Then it's just a matter of hiding him. The best way to do that is with a fast moving defensive line, which cuts down the time for the ball to get out to the runners targeting him. And put good defenders either side of him (defending three in) or defend him on the wing. But the absolute worst place for Chris Sandow is two in from the sideline.

How about 4 in?

2 in is one of the hardest defensive positions so 3 in would put 2 in under even more pressure as he is always second guessing whether he would need to help Sandow.

I think he has to learn to chop their legs. Doesn't matter if the can get a ball away.

Robson seems to go around the legs most times and is very effective.

It is the only was I can see Sandow defending.

Unless at Fullback for tackles 1-5 and switches back in the line on the 6th where hopefully the opposition kicks

 

[oldmancraigy]

Left: Radradra, Tonga, Norman, Loko
Right: Sio, Hopoate, Sandow, Tanginoa

I'd probably go the same way EXCEPT Kelly for Sandow.

Sandow is far superior in attack - but what we really need is someone who can play a reserved game, kick to the corners and give Hayne the ball with time and space.

I like big Semi, but I imagine Hunt will get the gig? (Personally I'd go the big unit for kick returns)

Radadra | Tonga | Norman | Loko <<<<<>>>>> Tanginoa | Kelly | Hopoate | Sio

I think I'd probably also start Ualesi as my tight backrower - high workrate, great size, good mobility, good motor. [Would be a massive pack with those 3 as backrowers]

 

[Pazza]

Ualesi seems like a super talent but a season in NSW cup would be good for him surely?

 

[Sensai Cobra]

I'd probably go the same way EXCEPT Kelly for Sandow.

Sandow is far superior in attack - but what we really need is someone who can play a reserved game, kick to the corners and give Hayne the ball with time and space.

I like big Semi, but I imagine Hunt will get the gig? (Personally I'd go the big unit for kick returns)

Radadra | Tonga | Norman | Loko <<<<<>>>>> Tanginoa | Kelly | Hopoate | Sio

I think I'd probably also start Ualesi as my tight backrower - high workrate, great size, good mobility, good motor. [Would be a massive pack with those 3 as backrowers]

I reckon Hunt will start as our first choice winger, by mid-way through next year Semi will be in front of Sio.

Can Sio play centre?

 

[Twizzle]

Sio has played alot of fullback.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'd probably go the same way EXCEPT Kelly for Sandow.

Sandow is far superior in attack - but what we really need is someone who can play a reserved game, kick to the corners and give Hayne the ball with time and space.

If we're not going to build our game around Sandow (and the other expensive players) then we're wasting a lot of money. He has some amazing skills, so we're better off using them.

I like big Semi, but I imagine Hunt will get the gig? (Personally I'd go the big unit for kick returns)

Yeah I forgot about Hunt. I'd say none of our wingers are guaranteed a jersey, with probably the three mentioned fighting for the two spots.

Radadra | Tonga | Norman | Loko <<<<<>>>>> Tanginoa | Kelly | Hopoate | Sio

I think I'd probably also start Ualesi as my tight backrower - high workrate, great size, good mobility, good motor. [Would be a massive pack with those 3 as backrowers]

I reckon Ualesi is on a second tier contract. In fact I'd put one of Avenger's houses on it.