2004 three quarters problem (a good one to have)

[Meth]

Tony Martin has provided us with a bit of a selection headache.

At the time of his purchase, he was exactly what we needed...a center to accompany Toopi and a goal kicker. But Vinnie Anderson was the most improved player in the team last year and it would be a major loss to the team to not have him on the park.

What to do, what do do?

Martin and Toopi are starters for mine. What are our options for Anderson? Could he become a Koopu type player, from the bench?

 

[ozbash]

be wasted on the bench i reckon. vinnie is still developing and needs that intensity of week in, week out.

i dont have an answer really, can martin play fullback and put webby on the bench for impact...

 

[Meth]

Anderson is a center, through and through, isn't he?

I like Webb at fullback...he is great at finding those gaps.

How about Martin on the wing....goodbye Mr. Fa'afili

 

[Robster]

Anderson and toopi for me.

 

[EJS]

Webb must be a shoo-in at fullback now Motu Tony is gone
Without the kicking duties, I'm expecting him tyo have a good season

I think Anderson on the bench, with Toopi and T Martin

I expect that Martin will be on notice that if he doesn't perform, he'll be benched.

 

[ozbash]

goodbye Mr. Fa'afili



say it isnt so,,,,,,

 

[kiwi knights fan]

Anderson is a center, through and through, isn't he?

I like Webb at fullback...he is great at finding those gaps.

How about Martin on the wing....goodbye Mr. Fa'afili

Thats just what i was thinking. It seems like the best move Anderson is good at center and Webb is to good to take out of fullback and be put on the bench. He should replace Fa'Feli or meli on the wing depending on form.

 

[da mad maori]

As long as he is injury free,then Martin will definitely replace Vinnie.The latter will be on the bench as a utility for either the forwards or backs.
Wairangi and Feta will also be on the bench.Leaving space for either Latu or PJ.[first three or four rounds only].If Martin does not shape up as was mentioned he will not be benched,he will go straight to B/Card.From reports I have, he is doing well at training and performed well in the 7s too, so lets hope he comes on from there.

 

[Iafeta]

Tony Martin will definitely be in there. By far our best player at the sevens, I'd hasten to say he was quicker than Webb and Toopi, and he had a slick side step on him. Add in 80% goal kicker and he'll be one of the first selected. And deservedly so. From the video of him from the UK, memories of his stint with the Storm, and an even better up close and personal look at him in the Sevens, Tony is an absolute shoe in and I think a future Origin representative. $5 on him for highest NRL pointscorer 2004. I don't think his spot is under any pressure, the two back line positions not assured are Henry's wing with Vinnie Mellars, Manu Vatuvei and Justin Murphy snapping at the heels, and Lance Hohaia's spot at five eighth. I think Hohaia is first picked on the matches he played when his mind was screwed together at the beginning of the season, and the fine games he played against Newcastle and St George at the end of the season.

Vinnie Anderson is a natural second rower for mine, and I think the Warriors think along the same lines also. He probably lacks a yard of pace to be a fine attacking centre, but he is quick enough to cause damage in the ruck. Given he's probably one of the, if not the, most consistent and hardest working Warriors defender, he'll be a good asset to have in the pack, especially our pack that can at times get loose with many ball players. I think he'll warm the bench with Wairangi Koopu, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Sione Faumuina. Considering three of those four have the ability to play centre, that'll be ample cover for the backline.

 

[Anonymous]

Put Martin in for Anderson and play Anderson off the bench in place of Koopu.

 

[Meth]

I don't know about that....

Anderson has proved his worth...he needs to be on the park. He is solid on defense and is a go-to- man on attack. I want him starting, with Martin on the wing.

Koopu is great of the bench...very fit, and a quick play of the ball specialist. I'd like him to retain his place

Once again, I say goodbye Mr. Fa'afili

 

[Marty]

I agree with Iafeta about Anderson. He is to slow to be in the backs but has rock solid defence and would be ideal for the second row. My only concern is that at this point he does not carry the ball to the line very strongly. He tends to hit the line without much punch...though i'm sure he would improve considerably in that area.

 

[Meth]

'He is to slow to be in the backs but has rock solid defence and would be ideal for the second row '

I disagree. I think he adds much needed stability into the backline and is a bit of a 'clean up' guy. With guys like Martin, Toopi and Webb we're not lacking for pace....

Is he simply want Wairangi Koopu was? Just doing a stint in the centers....because we are overstaffed in the second row department as is. Lauiti'iti, Faumuina, Guttenbiel, Koopu, Betham- and that's just the established ones.

 

[ozbash]

i would have faumuina at lock mixing it up with our centers. thats why i reckon ando should be careful, if he breaks up that combo, faumuina,meli,toopi and sometimes henry it would take a bloody good replacement to better it..those guys have the x factor,, does martin ?

 

[Meth]

If his sevens form is an indication, it looks as if he does....but the jury is out on that one.

To be perfectly honest, I'd like Betham on the bench, with Sione at lock and Ali and Awen at second row. Its not going to happen though

 

[AliN]

It's a decision the staff will be sweating on a little I reckon.
I'd say attitude off the park will play a big part in who's in the starting 13.

 

[Phillips]

Anderson out of the top 17 and used as cover for injuries

 

[Iafeta]

Looking at how good he was for Melbourne helping them to a premiership, his continued form in London, his block buster display in the Sevens - he was far quicker than Webb and Toopi and had a beauty of a step - Martin is a shoe in.

On the Vinnie doesn't hit the line hard enough, I thought most of his busts/tries came from hitting the line hard. Coming back on an angle and powering through with the hips is his best attacking trait. Its not a toe race with him. He's a second rower through and through.

 

[tHe_MaC]

Martin and Toopi.

Anderson is a waste in the backline. Move to the Bench
Also Get Rid of Fa'afili. Overated.

 

[Marty]

Iafeta

As to his lack of punch when hitting the line you are right in saying he scores his tries by hitting the line hard at a gap and powering over... I was thinking more in terms of making meters up the field. When I have seen him running for meters he tends not to muscle through the tackle and pick up the extra meter or two...maby he is under instructions to get the quick play.

I guess when you look at forwards like Jerry or Awen they run with a type of internal balance that allow them when hitting the line to keep the momentum going forward and get a good play so the team is moving ahead on the front foot. I just think Vinnie might be dominanted in the tackle when running at the line as opposed to running at the hole in the
line.

Like I said though I think he would make a fine second rower...he just might have to learn a few new things.

Scuba

He does do a lot of clean up work on defence and does add stability but I think he could play just about the same role out there as a second rower on the right side with Martin playing right side centre along side him.

I guess I'm a little concerned about how many times Girdler got past him in the Final. If he had not let him get passed him those two or three times and really physicaly dominanted him in the tackle I wouldn't disagree with you about him being the starting right centre but because he couldn't nail Girlder I think he would be better off playing in the forwards.