2012 NSW soo side..

[Joker's Wild]

Would it be so bad having Gidley at hooker instead of Farah or Ennis?

I know he is everyones favourite SOO whipping boy, and I mostly understand why given where he has been played in the past, but the time he has spent at hooker in previous games coupled with how well he went replacing Smith in the '09 (?) Anzac test makes me think he would go pretty well. He provides so much energy to a team and if he can just reel in his impulsiveness a bit it could work well.

We all know he is likely to be there barring injury so we might as well get the best out of him

 

[timka4]

I wouldn't mind. Especially if Farah isn't going to be there. Ennis is doing jack shit in origin. He passes and tackles and thats it. We need some flair from hooker as our halves haven't shown a great deal of creativity.
It would be very handy to actually have a hooker that can at least attempt to create an opportunity. Just as long as Gidley doesn't kick we will be fine (Terrible kicker lol, unless he improves if he plays 7 at the Knights this year).
9. Farah / Gidley I wouldn't mind either one

 

[goosie]

whoever gets the fullback spot at penrith i believe will be nsw fullback this year.
so gordon or coote

 

[Joker's Wild]

Over Stewart, Dugan or Hayne?

 

[sputneek]

lol Coote

 

[timka4]

Gordan could, but he would be better used in the centres or wings.

But he is definitely one of the most under rated players in the competition. Before his injury he was killing it.

 

[umina panther]

Stewart or Gordon and I'll be happy. Coote's future is in the halves

 

[RWB]

Hmm yeah that worked when they played beau scott there

Beau Scott was never really a centre though, someone with more than 1 years experience like Luke Lewis or Mitchell Aubusson would surely be better suited to the role.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Beau Scott was never really a centre though, someone with more than 1 years experience like Luke Lewis or Mitchell Aubusson would surely be better suited to the role.

can someone put that pug dog here too please?

 

[Allstar Knights]

Beau Scott was never really a centre though, someone with more than 1 years experience like Luke Lewis or Mitchell Aubusson would surely be better suited to the role.

I don't get this losing mentality of putting in defensive orientated players to stop QLD. I'd rather fight fire with fire and that's picking the best available centre at that time. Aubusson is a fringe first grader nowaday and Lewis is one of the better attacking backrowers in the game. We'll lose another series before it starts if we go in with that mentality.

 

[hutch]

Has ennis ever played a good origin game? He offers nothing in attack and not much more in defence.

 

[timka4]

He is lucky he played 'solid' in the winning game 3 of 09. 2010 and 11 he has been shit

 

[RWB]

can someone put that pug dog here too please?

Why because my argument is different to everyone elses?

Why not just take it on its merits and argue the point (if you wish)?

 

[RWB]

I don't get this losing mentality of putting in defensive orientated players to stop QLD. I'd rather fight fire with fire and that's picking the best available centre at that time. Aubusson is a fringe first grader nowaday and Lewis is one of the better attacking backrowers in the game. We'll lose another series before it starts if we go in with that mentality.

Why is a defensive mentality a losing mentality? The dragons defensive mentality won them a premiership in 2010. A lot of the best sides in recent years have been built on defensive mentalities, after all in theory you spend just as much time defending your line as you do attacking the oppositions. Why is attack valued more highly than defence when in reality stopping a try is equal to scoring one?

Greg Inglis averages nearly a try a game in SOO and the amount of times he's set up his outside man I've lost count of. Their left hand fringe of Harrison/Thurston/Inglis/Boyd with Slater chiming in every now and again has torn us to shreds in the past few years, putting up a strong defensive combination would go a long way to beating them.

If you could name a centre whose attack was just as good as Inglis's or close enough then we could fight fire with fire, but considering our options it's more like a bonfire Vs a bushfire.

Lewis is one of the better attacking backrowers in the game agreed, but his performances at origin level in the backrow haven't been anything to write home about. We can still pick a strong backrow without him.

As for Aubusson being a fringe first grader based on what? He was one of the best backrowers in 2010, unfortunately he was injured this season but not sure why you'd think he's a fringe first grader. He has one of the highest tackling efficiencies in the comp and is a very capable hole runner.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

1. Josh Dugan
2. Akuila Uate
3. Michael Jennings
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Michael Gordon
6. Terry Campese / James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Paul Gallen (c)
9. Robbie Farah
10. Tim Mannah
11. Greg Bird
12. Luke Lewis
13. Glen Stewart

14. Jarryd Hayne (nothing against him, just think he could really trouble QLD off the bench)
15. Anthony Watmough
16. TLL
17. Kade Snowden

 

[timka4]

Origin is different though RWB, both teams are packed with the best players in the state who are good defensively and offensively (most of the time anyway). So you want players that can do both efficiently. Regarding the Dragons, club level is completely different.
Players like Jennings, Lawrence, Hayne and Gordon can defend and attack so no real point in putting in a pure defensive player. Inglis was no trouble from memory last year (he only played like 1 or 2 games though). Hodges will be selected next year and imo he is not the threat he use to be in the rep arena, even though he still came into origin underdone this year.
I'd consider Lawrence the best all round centre in NSW, he is solid, fast, good with the ball and defends well.
Jennings played awesome game 1 and Hayne played good in game 3, to me he (Hayne) is the best man to match and beat Inglis.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Why is a defensive mentality a losing mentality? The dragons defensive mentality won them a premiership in 2010. A lot of the best sides in recent years have been built on defensive mentalities, after all in theory you spend just as much time defending your line as you do attacking the oppositions. Why is attack valued more highly than defence when in reality stopping a try is equal to scoring one?

Greg Inglis averages nearly a try a game in SOO and the amount of times he's set up his outside man I've lost count of. Their left hand fringe of Harrison/Thurston/Inglis/Boyd with Slater chiming in every now and again has torn us to shreds in the past few years, putting up a strong defensive combination would go a long way to beating them.

If you could name a centre whose attack was just as good as Inglis's or close enough then we could fight fire with fire, but considering our options it's more like a bonfire Vs a bushfire.

Lewis is one of the better attacking backrowers in the game agreed, but his performances at origin level in the backrow haven't been anything to write home about. We can still pick a strong backrow without him.

As for Aubusson being a fringe first grader based on what? He was one of the best backrowers in 2010, unfortunately he was injured this season but not sure why you'd think he's a fringe first grader. He has one of the highest tackling efficiencies in the comp and is a very capable hole runner.

You make some very good points there. I know how hard it is to stop Inglis and we do need someone there who can hold their own in D. I don't value attack more than defence, I would just rather a centre that can attack, as well as defend. As for stopping Inglis, if he gets enough room to move, not even a backrower will stop him. It's more about putting pressure on Thurston/Cronk/Slater and stopping them from getting good ball to Inglis. But you're right in that we need a decent defender to go up against Inglis. I don't mind Hayne or Jennings to be honest. I don't think Hayne would get pushed off that easily and Jennings defence has improved a lot IMO.I thought he did well in Origin this year.

As for Lewis, he has been a bit ordinary for NSW. I think he's a very good backrowr though. Apologies on Aubusson, I wasn't really sure what's been up with him after seeing him have a brilliant year in 2010.

 

[timka4]

Blues Emering Squad for 2012
Forwards:
Luke Douglas
Andrew Fifita
Tim Grant
Aaron Woods
Dan Hunt
Trent Merrin
Darcy Lussick
Tony Williams
Tariq Sims
Joel Thompson
Ryan James
Ryan Hinchcliffe

Backs:
Terry Campese
James Moloney
Tim Moltzen
Josh McCrone
Kyle Stanley
Blake Ayshford
Blake Ferguson
Jarrod Croker
Michael Gordon
Lachlan Coote
BJ Leilua


http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...-by-ricky-stuart/story-e6frf3ou-1226242306635

 

[Hutty1986]

Why is a defensive mentality a losing mentality? The dragons defensive mentality won them a premiership in 2010. A lot of the best sides in recent years have been built on defensive mentalities, after all in theory you spend just as much time defending your line as you do attacking the oppositions. Why is attack valued more highly than defence when in reality stopping a try is equal to scoring one?

Greg Inglis averages nearly a try a game in SOO and the amount of times he's set up his outside man I've lost count of. Their left hand fringe of Harrison/Thurston/Inglis/Boyd with Slater chiming in every now and again has torn us to shreds in the past few years, putting up a strong defensive combination would go a long way to beating them.

If you could name a centre whose attack was just as good as Inglis's or close enough then we could fight fire with fire, but considering our options it's more like a bonfire Vs a bushfire.

Lewis is one of the better attacking backrowers in the game agreed, but his performances at origin level in the backrow haven't been anything to write home about. We can still pick a strong backrow without him.

As for Aubusson being a fringe first grader based on what? He was one of the best backrowers in 2010, unfortunately he was injured this season but not sure why you'd think he's a fringe first grader. He has one of the highest tackling efficiencies in the comp and is a very capable hole runner.

Snaring a couple of easy tries in Game III last year over-rated GI's game big time, of course there's no denying his previous form in SOO. But I don't agree with all this defensive bullsh*t, we need someone like a Jennings or Lawrence there to create our own opportunities against this incredibly relentless Qld side.

F*ck putting a bloke out of position to try & combat Inglis, we need a speciallist centre there because realistically we will probably need 18/20+ points to beat the Maroons. Our backline next year will be outstanding, I can't wait.

 

[goosie]

jennings is training the house down doing extra work and started back at training a couple of weeks early with 12 other panther team mates. he stated he is 100% fit and keen for a big year along with tim grant also desperate for a big year and earn a nsw jersey.