'14 - Round 5 v Manly (Team Lists)

[macnaz]

I can see what Potter is trying to do here, field a side that is as defensively strongvas possible.

In saying that, i'd drop Lulia & bring in Simona. If we must have a back on the bench, make it Paterson or Thompson.

Would you say Lawrence is defensively better then Lulia ?

 

[macnaz]

Lawrence out, Lulia Out Akouala & Simona to the centres and BMM or Fine onto the bench please

Gronk do you know why Akouala always seems to be on the bench in state cup rather then in the starting side ? Ive watched him play many times and he is always good and offers plenty so im wondering if there is a bad part of his game that im missing.

 

[macnaz]

As far as the line up goes ill pass judgement when I see who actually runs out. If Lawrence is picked it MUST be on a last chance basis.

 

[gronkathon]

Gronk do you know why Akouala always seems to be on the bench in state cup rather then in the starting side ? Ive watched him play many times and he is always good and offers plenty so im wondering if there is a bad part of his game that im missing.

He is a really good impact player.

Up until this season he has been prone to a selfish brain explosion a game. That element seems to be gone now. His attitude is much better this season.

 

[madunit]

Would you say Lawrence is defensively better then Lulia ?

yes. Lawrence is a better 1 on 1 defender. When he has 2 on 1 (ie, playing wing) he will always go the low percentage play (intercept or stay back and miss both players etc)

Lawrence moves left to right better than Lulia (Don't see that as me saying Lawrence is great left to right, because he isn't, just that he's better than Lulia)

Lulia is slower than Bojangles

 

[macnaz]

Havnt seen enough of Lulia to make a choice yet thats all.

 

[madunit]

Round 1:
Lulia - 14 tackles - 3 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 4 missed (80 mins)
Lawrence - 27 tackles - 1 1-on-1 tackle, 0 ineffective, 0 missed (80 mins)

Round 2:
Lulia - 6 tackles - 0 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 1 missed (80 mins)
Lawrence - 5 tackles - 0 1-on-1 tackles, 0 ineffective, 0 missed (15 mins)

Round 3:
Lulia - 15 tackles - 3 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 2 missed (80 mins)
Simona - 7 tackles - 1 1-on-1 tackles, 0 ineffective, 0 missed (49 mins)

Round 4:
Lulia - 9 tackles - 0 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 0 missed (80 mins)
Lawrence - 13 tackles - 0 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 2 missed (80 mins/52 on the wing)

Total
Lulia - 46 tackles - 6 1-on-1 tackles, 4 ineffective, 7 missed (4 games)
Lawrence - 45 tackles - 1 1-on-1 tackles, 1 ineffective, 2 missed (3 games)

Because Brooks is defending on Lawrence's side, there is a lot more traffic running at Lawrence.

He is the wrong player to have minding Brooks in defence, that should be the job of a back rower.

Lawrence is undoubtedly slow laterally, this is not helped when he has to cover his inside man as well his own, when he's not a very good lateral mover and only good at covering his own opposite number.

This was shown supremely on the weekend when Brooks defended at Centre and Lawrence on the wing, he knew he couldn't cover both edge attackers, so he ran up and tried an intercept, or he tried to do Brooks' defence for him, leaving a massive gap out wide. Lawrence isn't versatile enough of a player to deal with a different defensive style required to be a winger.

Lulia tends to be flat footed a lot. Thankfully he hasn't been targeted very much yet, all clubs seem to be obsessed with running over Brooks.

 

[macnaz]

Thanks for the stats , one thing stats dont show is complete misses , which Lawrence has a few of. Id rather a player hit and miss then just constantly get caught out and come up with nothing, that at least can force a pass or error . But anyway werent ppl saying when we signed Lulia he was a great defender ? Maybe he is just finding his feet.

 

[madunit]

Thanks for the stats , one thing stats dont show is complete misses , which Lawrence has a few of. Id rather a player hit and miss then just constantly get caught out and come up with nothing, that at least can force a pass or error . But anyway werent ppl saying when we signed Lulia he was a great defender ? Maybe he is just finding his feet.

Lulia I think has slowly turned into a back rower.

Lawrence has had a couple of complete misses, especially against the Warriors and Dragons. Against the Warriors they were atrocious and without excuse.

The Warriors targeted him when he was reshuffled to the wing. Centres defensively have an easy job, support your inside man, slide towards the wing.

Wingers have to be a last line of defence and be in 2 places at once.

Lawrence just isn't capable of being that sort of player. Lulia even less so.In future, if we lose a centre/winger, then Lawrence must not be moved. He simply can't do it. I'd even be tempted to put Paterson/Anasta/Fulton on the wing in defence (when on our own line) than Lawrence.

 

[BrotherJim05]

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off the Simona did not get first pick.

He is absolutely everything you want in a centre. Strong, very fast with excellent footwork. For f**ks sake he scored two tries against the Bunnies IN 60 MINUTES OF GAME TIME.

Lawrence has easily let in two tries within 60 minutes of his game time. I'm not saying he needs to be dropped but its just ridiculous that Simona is pushed to bench.

 

[Matchball]

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off the Simona did not get first pick.

He is absolutely everything you want in a centre. Strong, very fast with excellent footwork. For f**ks sake he scored two tries against the Bunnies IN 60 MINUTES OF GAME TIME.

Lawrence has easily let in two tries within 60 minutes of his game time. I'm not saying he needs to be dropped but its just ridiculous that Simona is pushed to bench.

Lawrence let in 3 tries in 42 mins last week.

 

[madunit]

Yep, out of position and no idea how to defend in that position. Warriors isolated him by running overlaps at him. He got suckered in to taking the centre every time and the winger scored around him, while Brooks was left standing around like a Brown cow because Lawrence tried to his defence for him.

 

[Radical Rat]

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off the Simona did not get first pick.

He is absolutely everything you want in a centre. Strong, very fast with excellent footwork. For f**ks sake he scored two tries against the Bunnies IN 60 MINUTES OF GAME TIME.

Lawrence has easily let in two tries within 60 minutes of his game time. I'm not saying he needs to be dropped but its just ridiculous that Simona is pushed to bench.

Surely it is just smoke and mirrors and Simona will start. If not then Potter is just the second coming of Sheens.

 

[benched tiger]

If those two plodders are in the centres we will be in trouble,from what i can gather Lawrence and Lulia have let in more tries then they have scored,while Simona has scored two tries in half a game of football....!

 

[Fordy20]

I thought Simona was named on the bench so that when Manly inevitably rip Tedesco's head off his shoulders, we will have some one quick and dangerous to replace him with.

 

[TYGA]

Simona will start with Lawrence Lulia drops out Akuala on the bench.

 

[Vic Mackey]

The mole is indicating Lawrence is the one who's out

 

[851]

The mole is indicating Lawrence is the one who's out

About bloody time,a stint in reggies might shake him up a bit.

 

[macnaz]

The mole is indicating Lawrence is the one who's out

I think he will pull out as a hammy injury .

 

[madunit]

Wouldn't be surprised if he's carrying a hammy strain