2013 Newcastle Rep Stars

[Rolla]

Is Aku the best nrl winner in the game? Yes, and I say that with absolute confidence.

Is Aku the best choice for origin? No, I say that with less confidence though.

Being on the wing for nsw is a different game that needs different skills. We are outgunned in the centres on both sides so the wingers never really see the ball in attack. Our halves are average too so if the ball is ever going to get out there it will be from a kick. NSW has a great forward pack, so we don't need an extra forward on the wing.

So having taken out aku's running game and work rate (his strengths) due to the nature of origin, what is left that an origin winger needs to do? Defend and be strong in the air (aku's weaknesses).

I don't think origin is aku's game for the reasons above, but if nsw can manage to get quality halves and centres with the ability to forge space for the men on the flank my opinion will change.

 

[Spot On]

Have to agree re Uate's defence and hands not being the best. He can fix these things though. But yes Yosh, the man is a freak finding the try line and I'm glad he plays for us. No brainer there.

 

[chinorocks]

From an origin suitability point of view Jimmy makes a better winger than Aku. He will get over the line given the opportunity. He is great under the high ball. He's a wonderful defender. Yet they will pick Morris and Hayne and they will lose.

 

[Rolla]

From an origin suitability point of view Jimmy makes a better winger than Aku. He will get over the line given the opportunity. He is great under the high ball. He's a wonderful defender. Yet they will pick Morris and Hayne and they will lose.

To be fair I would take both of those over jimmy in a heartbeat.

 

[chinorocks]

So would the selectors. And every year the Qld wingers help themselves to 3 or 4 trys vs about 1. Which is what makes Jimmy so good. He scores more than he lets in. it almost goes unnoticed when the Uates and Naquaimas score long range flashy trys, that our other winger still scores at pretty good rate but rarely lets them in against him.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Jimmy is the one of the best wingers in the game IMO. No one comes close under the high ball and his reading of defence is brilliant and he can finish things off very well. I wouldnt swap him for anyone.

 

[Rolla]

I hope he can hit that kind of form for sure. Last year his defence was decent but not as good as we have come to expect from him. So far so good this year though. He is great under the high ball too, but not the best as you mentioned. I think duffy is out in front there and maybe others but if mullen's crossfield kicks can keep matching it with halves like reynolds and cronk jimmy will get more chances to show what he can do in the air. For too long his aerial ability has only been showcased in defence (and that isn't jimmy's fault)

 

[jonno_knights]

Is Aku the best nrl winner in the game? Yes, and I say that with absolute confidence.

Is Aku the best choice for origin? No, I say that with less confidence though.

Being on the wing for nsw is a different game that needs different skills. We are outgunned in the centres on both sides so the wingers never really see the ball in attack. Our halves are average too so if the ball is ever going to get out there it will be from a kick. NSW has a great forward pack, so we don't need an extra forward on the wing.

So having taken out aku's running game and work rate (his strengths) due to the nature of origin, what is left that an origin winger needs to do? Defend and be strong in the air (aku's weaknesses).

I don't think origin is aku's game for the reasons above, but if nsw can manage to get quality halves and centres with the ability to forge space for the men on the flank my opinion will change.

Exactly, when you have Gallen and Watmough combining for 50 hitups a game, Uates value drops off a bit. And its not like Hayne/Morris are weak ball runners either.

I want to see Uate in origin just as much as anyone, but its harder for him to make an impact with the much tighter defence. He cant exactly tear the QLD origin team to shreds like he can some NRL outfits.

 

[Joker's Wild]

So would the selectors. And every year the Qld wingers help themselves to 3 or 4 trys vs about 1. Which is what makes Jimmy so good. He scores more than he lets in. it almost goes unnoticed when the Uates and Naquaimas score long range flashy trys, that our other winger still scores at pretty good rate but rarely lets them in against him.

Im not sure I agree that both Morris and Hayne have let more tries in than they have scored.

I love Jimmy and i agree that a wingers defence is undervalued a far bit but there are better wingers NSW couuld select