5/8??

[Shaun Hewitt]

Did anyone catch one news, i believe it was yesterday or the day before?

Basically then said Rovelli has been doing well in training, and will keep Fien under pressure for halfback. They also mentioned that Hohaia has been groomed as Hooker.

So we're looking at

6. Faumuina? Rovelli? Webb? unknown?
7. Fein ....Rovelli
9. Hohaia....Gatis

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Last I heard Faumuina just got the nod over Ropati for the five eight spot so that would put Jerome second in line for five eight. Of course if Rovelli continues to impress there could be reason to justify his move to that position if Faumuina is injured/suspended/lacking form etc.

 

[Daza_06]

i think the position should be between
Ropati, Rovelli and Fein
Faumuina is more of a lock and doesnt have the right skills to play five eight. I think that Faumuina is the best player the warriors have at the moment. The Warriors do need a five eight as no player in there squad 1st choice position is five eight

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

Last I heard Faumuina just got the nod over Ropati for the five eight spot so that would put Jerome second in line for five eight. Of course if Rovelli continues to impress there could be reason to justify his move to that position if Faumuina is injured/suspended/lacking form etc.

Where did you hear this?

 

[LeagueNut]

From the NZ Herald:

League: Stand-off and be counted

05.02.06
By Michael Brown

When Sione Faumuina was told he would be playing at stand-off for the Warriors, he asked the club's video analyst to put together a highlights package featuring the likes of Brad Fittler, Trent Barrett and Darren Lockyer.

Although it would have been a video good enough to grace the library of most rugby league fans, Faumuina never got the chance to sit back and enjoy the show. When new Warriors coach Ivan Cleary heard about the idea, he put a stop to it.

"He told me not to do it," Faumuina explained. "He said, 'I want you to play No 6 the way you think it should be played and not the way someone has done it in the past', so that's what I'm going to do."

There are more than a few sceptics who doubt whether the 1.90m-tall, 101kg second-rower-come-lock-come-centre can mould himself into a quality stand-off but neither Faumuina nor Cleary will die wondering. The 24-year-old will start in the pivotal position when the Warriors kick off their season against Melbourne on March 12 and, as far as Cleary is concerned, he will still be there when they wrap things up in September or October.

"There are some doubters out there and I don't know why," Cleary said. "I've always seen him as a good player who reads the game well and he just needs time there.

"Sione's built for it. He's a big guy but he's athletic and the really good ones over the last 10 years - Laurie Daley, Fittler and Barrett - are bigger guys. They not only have the passing game but when they run the ball they're also a danger."

Faumuina is certainly a dangerous runner with the ball in hand. He can break a line or offload in the tackle and pose a problem to opposition defences, creating chances for his team-mates in the process.

It's his kicking, communication, decision-making and reading of the game that will be tested and they are aspects he has worked tirelessly on during the off-season.

Even at training on Friday, Faumuina found himself out of position because he was naturally thinking like a second-rower, while his team-mates wondered where he was.

"It's coming more naturally now," he said. "I feel like I'm developing a good combination with [halfback] Nathan Fien."

Cleary has outlined his plans in key positions with Lance Hohaia at hooker, Fien at halfback and Faumuina at stand-off, but he does have other options with new-boy Grant Rovelli covering all three positions and the versatile Jerome Ropati another possibility to take over at stand-off if needs be.

Finding a quality stand-off has been problematic for both the Kiwis and the Warriors. It's a position that, below a handful of superstars in the game, lacks depth.

Cleary contemplated buying a specialist but found no one to his liking, or who would fit into a tight salary cap.

Under former coach Tony Kemp, the Warriors rarely had a settled look to the halves, largely because of form, suspension and injuries.

While Stacey Jones owned the No 7 jersey when he was fit, Hohaia, Ropati and Fien were all tried at stand-off in the opening rounds before Faumuina was given a chance against the Roosters in round 10.

It was a short-lived switch with Fien taking over for the majority of the rest of the season before Faumuina was handed the reins for another five games before the Warriors' disappointing season drew to a close.

"It's exciting," Faumuina said, thinking ahead to the season kick-off in March. "I always knew I had the skills to play there.

"I have to change my style a bit because I'm normally pretty aggressive playing in the back-row but it's more about distribution and setting players up around me now. "

The Warriors intend playing an exciting brand of rugby league in 2006. With Faumuina in the driving seat, it's pretty much a guarantee.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY

 

[Skinner]

Well, I just don't know what he is doing. He has a natural born number 13
that he going to shoe horn into a number 6. He has others who go well at
stand-off that I don't know what he's going to do with.......:?

~scratches head~

Skinner

 

[LeagueNut]

I think Cleary is right on one point though ... the best 5/8ths over the last decade or so have been bigger guys. Although nowadays we see guys like Preston Campbell and Benji Marshall doing the job just as well.

The dearth of the "specialist" 5/8th has a lot to do with it as well ... a lot of players have filled in at 5/8th for various rep teams (Talau, Vagana, Timmins, Wing) with varying success. I guess at the end of the day, your #6 is only as good as the players around him.

It seems that Cleary has a definite plan though. Looks like we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

On one hand, I agree that Ropati should be 5/8th, and Sione would be better at lock.

On the other, I don't really agree that Sione isn't suited to stand-off (5/8th is a union term ffs). I don't agree with the article that says his strength is running the ball and offloading etc, that's bullsh*t. Even playing at lock Sione tended to pass the ball before the line probably 60% of the time. He isn't an Ali Lauiti'iti who either busts the line or offloads, he's more of a playmaker, like say a Travis Norton, or John Sutton, who have both alternated between 6 and 13. So yeah, I think he can make a good first of the position, and as mentioned earlier in the thread I think it's all about having your best players in the crucial positions.

 

[Iafeta]

If you think about it, out of all the positions in the NRL, IMO #6 is the least specialised.

Brisbane have Lockyer converted into the role from fullback.
The Roosters will play Anasta there, who is more than capable of playing lock, and also Ashley Harrison could play there at a pinch who is also a lock
The Storm will play Scott Hill there, who's also spent time at lock
The Dragons will play Barrett there, who could play lock IMO quite well, and Timmins as a back up who has played lock/centre for most of his career but has repped successfully in the #6 jersey
Even Penrith, Campbell has established himself as a #6, but he couldn't get a regular gig in that jumper at Cronulla, going from fullback, wing, hooker...
Canberra will play Jason Smith there, who's played a fair bit of lock in his career
The Cowboys will probably put Jonathon Thurston to 6, he's a five eighth, but have dabbled with Myles in the past (centre, but now gone), Norton who's a lock, and Justin Smith who's a back rower

Some of the other guys regarded as more specialised, like Michael Witt just flat out aren't that good.

And as Cleary mentioned, a couple of the all time greats in Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley came into the #6 jersey after playing at lock and centre.

The true test of modifying a backrower into playing #6 is having kicking options surrounding him. I think the Warriors have that with Nathan Fien as number one kicker, Hohaia can kick out of dummy half, and I'd suspect Brent Webb will also move up towards the end of a set of six to play as an option kicker, he showed at various times on the Kiwis tour that his kicking has some potential, also either Gatis or Rovelli, whichever one makes the bench can kick as well. IMO Sione is probably the most all-round talented player at the Warriors, he can pass well, he can offload, he can step, and he seems to read a game relatively well. Hopefully though the off season he's worked on his kicking, although we have the previously mentioned options it'd be a feather in his cap to truly nail the spot down if he's developed a kicking game. I've seen him kick a couple of times for the Warriors, and do a good job at it. A couple of bombs last year from memory came up with very near misses on tries, notably one that was ruled a knock on against Louis Anderson in goal.

I reckon he can do it, and do it quite well. My only concern is where this leaves Jerome Ropati, who I think is also a very good all-round player but who just has to grow a kicking leg to grab the #6 jersey off Faumuina and establish himself long term at the club and as a squad member for the Kiwis.

 

[Humphrey]

Heard talk at the 7s today just mugs talk I guess but word said Jerome Ropati is the number 6 for 2006

 

[ozbash]

Heard talk at the 7s today just mugs talk I guess but word said Jerome Ropati is the number 6 for 2006

certainly hope they are right. mind you i wouldnt mind seeing johnboy specialise in the position. he would create havoc.

 

[speedy1]

Sione has the potential to be great in the position but will lack a field kicking game. I cant understand why Ropati hasnt been given a decent go at standoff, having watched him several times in Bartercard he seems to have all the skills, he just needs the opportunity of several games in a row. He covered very well at centre for much of last year but he's the long term answer at standoff imo

 

[Skinner]

Sione has the potential to be great in the position but will lack a field kicking game. I cant understand why Ropati hasnt been given a decent go at standoff, having watched him several times in Bartercard he seems to have all the skills, he just needs the opportunity of several games in a row. He covered very well at centre for much of last year but he's the long term answer at standoff imo

Jerome.........is that you...

Seriously speedy, you echo my thoughts exactly, but there are few on this
board who actually agree with us. Probably, more importantly, there are few
at Ropati's club who agree with us.

I remain ever hopeful that Cleary is the judge that I believe he is (based
on his Roosters PL success) and installs our boy as stand-off.

Cheers
Skinner

 

[Iafeta]

One skill he hasn't shown me is his kicking game.

I see him in the same boat as Faumuina to be honest, a good strong fleet footed backrower. Infact, I wouldn't mind seeing Jerome used in the Rod Jensen style role, off the bench into the back row, there's no reason why he couldn't be used as a running dummy half, coverage for the outside backs, halves, or at a very big pinch fullback. Three things I'll give Jerome, he's strong, he's got good footwork out of dummy half a trait I thought Henry Fa'afili had nailed quite well, and he can tackle. He got exposed at centre towards the end of his run there last year primarily due to poor positioning, rather than bad tackle technique I thought.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Ropati to stand off for me as well. I hope that whoever starts the season there plays well and cements the spot, but if it were my choice it'd be Ropati hands down. Best of luck to Sione if he is chosen there though.

 

[Skinner]

I have to admit that while I am a huge fan of Ropati at stand-off (and that comes
from a lot of years watching him in that spot and in competition with a few goodun's)
AND a fan of Sione at loosie......I do think Sione COULD grow into a number 6.

Twill be interesting...

Cheers

 

[Iafeta]

Could Jerome turn into a lock forward? I can't see why he couldn't.

Could be the best of both worlds?

 

[Skinner]

Could Jerome turn into a lock forward? I can't see why he couldn't.

Could be the best of both worlds?

For mine, a good number 13 should be a "hard man" workoholic. Nett - he
runs and tackles all day and doesn't back down from any intimidation (but
is not a thug or "enforcer" - how I hate that term). He is the critical link
between the forwards and the backs (and that is becoming blurred as each
season goes by). That pretty much sums up Sione.

Could Jerome grow into that role - possibly, but I question why you would expend time and effort re-training two players when they fit roles anyway.

Cheers

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I have to admit that while I am a huge fan of Ropati at stand-off (and that comes
from a lot of years watching him in that spot and in competition with a few goodun's)
AND a fan of Sione at loosie......I do think Sione COULD grow into a number 6.

Twill be interesting...

Cheers

Agree 100% with this post.

I think that Ropati is more a 6 than Faumuina, and Faumuina more a 13 than Ropati. Iafeta, I agree that Sione could be a 6 and Ropati could be a 13, but really they would be better the other way around.

 

[Iafeta]

Yes, in the Kevin Campion mould a lock is your gigantuan of defence I guess.

I was thinking more the Sonny Bill, Ben Kennedy style - note, I'm not pretending for a second Jerome has those ball skills - even for a more recent and more fitting example, Shontayne Hape in the Tri Nations, another close example although he's played more second row than lock of late is Rod Jensen. Someone with acceleration off the mark, the ability to beat the defenders with footwork, is strong upper body to make good contact in the tackle, and has the knowledge of playing five eighth to ball play. I think it kind of fits in our side where we have three hard working "stat" man backrowers in Koopu, Guttenbeil and Anderson behind even harder working props in Price and Wiki, one man with that extra explosiveness that Ropati could provide. I dont' think they'll go that way, but its an interesting throught none the less.

Again, where I think he lacks is kicking. If Jerome had have shown to me an average kicking game in his time in the NRL I'd say hands down Ropati. Perhaps Faumuina is considered more a natural kicker??