2012 NSW soo side..

[Allstar Knights]

Maybe i need to clarify. What i mean by straight is hard and straight at the opposition forwards not the sideline followed by a step and meek surrender in the tackle.
Watmough does this consistently.

Yeah, that's a big part of Watmough's game for Manly. But, he still makes big strong runs straight up the middle when he has to though, and I think he tends to run straighter in Origin, than he does for Manly.

I don't see Scott run sideways very often for the Dragons, if at all, and he didn't for NSW.

Bird's always played like a 3rd prop for NSW, with the occasional footwork every now and then.

 

[THE CHAMP]

Im not saying Harrison is a great player but compare the way he takes the ball up to Scott and Watmough. Even when Harrison only makes 4 metres he still hurts defenders.
The only NSW backrower that comes close is Bird.

 

[Dragon2010]

*grab's a fold out chair, sit's down and grabs popcorn*

This could get interesting. Point is this thread is for team discussion not bashing. Each is entitled to their own opinion whether it be +/- and that's that.

 

[caylo]

I think Merritt should also be in with a shot, I always thought he was too small but watching the All Stars game he just has an ability to be in the right place and the right time. I changing my tune on him, I would have Uate and Merritt as my winger (gorden also a chance depending on form). Centres I have to go with Jennings and Lawrence leaving Fullback between Dugan, Stewart and Hayne which depending on form but Hayne is a certainty for me but can play anywhere from 5-8 to fullback and that may mean Stewart or Dugan in the #1 and Hayne in the #6. I think I personally would prefer a backline of

1. Hayne
2. Merritt
3. Jennings
4. Lawrence
5. Uate
6. Campese/Mullen/Soward (up in the air i guess)
7. Carney

 

[Spot On]

It would be nice to see Jennings do something over a number of weeks (months wouldn't hurt) for his club before getting a run for NSW again.

 

[jbl31649]

It would be nice to see Jennings do something over a number of weeks (months wouldn't hurt) for his club before getting a run for NSW again.

Cleary and Gus should get the best out of him. He was looking sharp in the Allstars, but I want on the wing in Origin. Purely to give him enough space to use that speed he has.

But Caylo has a point with Merrit, the bloke finds the try line, when his not looking at himself on the big screen.

 

[typicalfan]

I worry about Merritt having to tackle Yow Yeh, Boyd, Inglis or Hodges. That is my only concern with him. I think Gordon provides a bit of that as well.

 

[jbl31649]

I worry about Merritt having to tackle Yow Yeh, Boyd, Inglis or Hodges. That is my only concern with him. I think Gordon provides a bit of that as well.

Was the first thing I thought of straight after that post. I reakon he could handle Yow Yeh, but the others maybe not. Just tell him go for the ankles every time, don't worry about offloads let the covering defence handle that.

Maybe have Lewis babysit him.

 

[dubbo teacher]

Got to agree with most of what the Champ said - re backrowers. Fact is some blokes can be good club players but just not suit origin/rep football - and vice versa. And of course some are both. Examples...

Terry Lamb - close to the best 5/8 at club level you could see but did FA at origin level. (Was best when team mates knew his game and he theirs).

Wally Lewis - greatest soo player in history but did FA for Broncos in the week-to-week grind of club football before Bennett turfed him out for Kevvie Walters to join Alf in the halves (only then did Brisbane become successful ... but to be fair that also had a lot to do with Lazurus joining them).

BOTH levels of football ... well think of the true champions from both states - Lockyer, Meninga, Thurston, Petero, Alf, Webke, Cameron Smith...Ben Kennedy, Clyde, Daley, Lazurus, Fittler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Chief...hang on - not too many NSW players among the current crop in this bunch is there?

2012 side? Steward/Dugan, Uate, Brett Morris, Lawrence (a must), ??, Soward/Campese, Pearce, Steward, Lewis, Williams, Galloway, Gallen, ?? TLL, Hayne, T.Sims, Mannah

So problem areas are other centre and hooker. And maybe 5/8.
Player NSW DO NOT NEED - Carney, Merritt, Gordon, Sandow, Mullen, Gidley, Anasta, Watmough, Bird, Ferguson and gotta be able to do better than Jennings - not a big match player.

Bottom line is skill is less important than passion at soo level. Who can think clearly and stick to their game under intense pressure is most important. That is maintaining composure and playing what's in front of them. Seizing the moment and taking any opportunity. None of the blokes in the DONT PICK list can do that when it counts (including Gidley).

 

[jbl31649]

Got to agree with most of what the Champ said - re backrowers. Fact is some blokes can be a good club players but just not suit origin/rep football - and vice versa. And of course some are both. Examples...

Terry Lamb - close to the best 5/8 at club level you could see but did FA at origin level. (Was best when team mates knew his game and he theirs).

BOTH levels of football ... well think of the true champions from both states - Lockyer, Meninga, Thurston, Petero, Alf, Webke, Cameron Smith...Ben Kennedy, Clyde, Daley, Lazurus, Fittler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Chief...hang on - not too many NSW players among the current crop in this bunch is there?

2012 side? Steward/Dugan, Uate, Brett Morris, Lawrence (a must), ??, Soward/Campese, Pearce, Steward, Lewis, Williams, Galloway, Gallen, ?? TLL, Hayne, T.Sims, Mannah

So problem areas are other centre and hooker. And maybe 5/8.
Player NSW DO NOT NEED - Carney, Merritt, Gordon, Sandow, Mullen, Gidley, Anasta, Watmough, Bird, Ferguson and gotta be able to do better than Jennings - not a big match player.

Add Kimmorely aswell.
Another player where you had to play around him week in, week out to understand his game.

Glen Stewart can be like that aswell. He'll slot in as a reciever with his brother or vise verse or go sideways, before straighting with runners of him. These things a practiced over long periods of time and when SOO only offers a pre-session group hug and 2 weeks prep it is difficult to try and match players that best complement.


But, I don't I agree with some of the of the players you don't think are suited. Carney just needs to get his act together off the field and I reakon Gal will have a big influence on that. Bird does goo a rep level, last year didn't help his cause with the Tits playing rubbish footy.

 

[THE CHAMP]

SOO requires players to commit to a specialised role and not stray from it. Only offload when the pass is at least 80%. Run hard and straight and hurt defenders. Gallen,TLL have been the only Nsw players that have done this. Qld have Petro, Scott, Harrison, Myles, Shillington, Costigan and even Tonga takes hard straight runs. Tongas contribution is often overlooked in this department. Nsw lack of quality front rowers has forced a great backrower (Gallen) to shift up front. Gallen HAS to be selected in the backrow with Bird, TLL runs on at prop with the stand out club prop at the time of selection.

 

[goosie]

gordon will be in there somewhere. as will jennings.

 

[Spot On]

SOO requires players to commit to a specialised role and not stray from it. Only offload when the pass is at least 80%. Run hard and straight and hurt defenders. Gallen,TLL have been the only Nsw players that have done this. Qld have Petro, Scott, Harrison, Myles, Shillington, Costigan and even Tonga takes hard straight runs. Tongas contribution is often overlooked in this department. Nsw lack of quality front rowers has forced a great backrower (Gallen) to shift up front. Gallen HAS to be selected in the backrow with Bird, TLL runs on at prop with the stand out club prop at the time of selection.

You said it yourself. NSW can pick whoever they want from the backrow to the fullback but the prop rotation is our problem. We have no one worth talking about with the exception of the great man. Hopefully some of the blokes being mentioned in the above 400 posts grow a set this season.

 

[RecordBreakingMaroons.]

:lol::lol: Some of these posts are just priceless

Scott's costly blunders are priceless.

Please have him in the NSW side for years to come.

 

[Springs]

Well shit...........this is a great response. I think you know as well as i do there is no chance of Hindy getting picked tho. The point you make in your last paragraph is something ive been trying to explain to some other much less intelligent posters. Maybe you have a better chance.

Nsw may have a better backrow on paper but once the game has kicked off this has been proven to be incorrect over the last few series. This is a fact, those who disagree are docile, geniused or a combination of the two.

Hindmarsh will never get picked again but f**k, in his last game he was our best player along with Gallen and got dropped for Bird and co for whatever stupid reason. Not to mention he and Fitzy were our second rowers for most of the three years we dominated. To compare our backrow now to that of Hindmarsh, Fitzgibbon, Kennedy, Simpson etc is just embarrassing.

Even now I'd pick Hindmarsh and a retired Fitzy ahead of Bird and Watmough and Creagh. Hell I'd even pick Menzies. Those three have more passion for NSW than any of our 10+ backrowers we have used over the last few years will ever have. And real passion, not the niggly, dirty shit tactics Bird has that people mistake for 'passion'.

And I'd like to see a good reason why Scott should be in the side. He came in as a replacement centre and never justified why he should have stayed. Fighting Inglis is not an excuse for passion either.

 

[Springs]

And saying 'look at game 2 look at game 2' should not be a reason why a player should be kept in the side. Especially if they performed shithouse in the other 2 games. If we say look at game 2 then f**king Mini should be fullback again. The only reason a player should stay in the side, to have earnt his spot, is if he played consistently well. So Gallen, uhhhhhhhhhh.... Perhaps Hayne, Mannah, Lewis, Leoroyd-Lahrs... Jennings maybe as he played well but was then injured. The halves, hookers, props, backrowers etc should have to justify their spot. At the moment the only certainty should be Gallen.

And saying Scott is a better player than Hindmarsh - laughable. Scott adds f**k all in attack either. Hindmarsh is a far better defender and cover defender/everyman and has far better leadership skills.

 

[timka4]

Our current backrowers aren't better than the likes that we had in 2000-2007 ish. But the thing is they are gone.
It's a bit harsh to say they have no passion, they play hard. Sure they might have a bit more niggle in their game but it doesn't mean their shit or have no passion. Bird is clear example of a player that has passion for his state.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Gotta agree with RecordBreakingMaroons. Beau Scott..lol.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Bottom line is skill is less important than passion at soo level. Who can think clearly and stick to their game under intense pressure is most important. That is maintaining composure and playing what's in front of them. Seizing the moment and taking any opportunity. None of the blokes in the DONT PICK list can do that when it counts (including Gidley).

I agree, passion is what makes a good SOO player

Problem is, how can you judge that from only seeing their club games? Is it all up to the players to instil the pride in the jersey or is it more about the coach and the other blokes around him? Its a combo of both imo and I think Ricky, even with all his silly media comments, is actually doing a good job of bringing that back to the NSW side.

Some poor selections in key positions have let us down but the pride is coming back and it showed last series. Props have been the big weakness and I think the answer to that is to bring in Chief, Spud and Lazzo to work with the guys who are selected throughout the Origin camp and hopefully some of the old mongrel will rub off.

I cant wait for this years series to start. Im f**king pumped

 

[watatank]

Passion continues to be overrated...talent comes first.