Adam Bleh

[TimmyB]

I'm not kicking him, just discussing what he brings to the side. I have never, ever questioned his effort. He is a wholehearted player who always gives 110 per cent but IMO we suffer with both he and Fulton in the same team.

Almost every time Heighington takes a hit up I feel as though it is basically a waste of a tackle. Like Tiger Hawk said, I would not have an issue with Heighington if our pack went forward and dominated every week but it doesn't. We are relying on him for go forward and he doesn't provide it.

The running at the markers worked in 2005, seven years later and Sheens is still using it as a ploy. You just have to shake your head.

Didn't mean to say it was a cheap shot.

I'm just not sure it's as significant an issue as you think.

The team is an absolute mess thus far this year. I'm not so sure there's any point in identifying who is weak and who is not. A largely similar team should have won a qualifying final last year.

What has gone wrong in the space of 5 months?

 

[Hanscholo]

Your analysis is based on the idea that all fowards are out there to do the same thing. Clearly sheens has Blair playing a wide running role. I am not surprised his stats dont compare well to highnington who is essentially doing hitups and tackles in the middle all game.

If your questioning blairs effectiveness then it should be all about line breaks, try assists and trys scored. Then, if he isnt working, blame the coach not blair. Its not his fault he is playing wide. Imo, the best blair every played was at prop.

As usual sheens wants all of his forwards to be halfbacks.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Your analysis is based on the idea that all fowards are out there to do the same thing. Clearly sheens has Blair playing a wide running role. I am not surprised his stats dont compare well to highnington who is essentially doing hitups and tackles in the middle all game.

If your questioning blairs effectiveness then it should be all about line breaks, try assists and trys scored. Then, if he isnt working, blame the coach not blair. Its not his fault he is playing wide. Imo, the best blair every played was at prop.

As usual sheens wants all of his forwards to be halfbacks.

+1.

Also Blair has been told to stay on the left side and we have hardly gone that way all year.

The one time I remember us going left early, Blair scored a try.

 

[Packy]

He has the talent to do it all. His defensive stats show that his effort isn't there. Possibly a hard guy to motivate? Possibly stress of it getting to him.

Anyway, I hope for your sake he plays to his potential, cos he does have a lot.

 

[N.C.]

I wouldn't go as far as calling him a passenger, I just think we have to realistically alter his role.

His lack of leg drive is a huge issue IMO, everytime he hits the line he almost always drops immediately. He is easily dominated with the ball.

For mine he is not and never was an 80 minute player. He should be utilised in short bursts off the bench. But look at the other starting locks in the NRL and see what they offer, e.g Fensom at the Raiders, Stewart at Manly etc. They have high workrates but the difference is they dent the line in attack and are very aggressive in defense. Heighington always has excellent stats but stats have never measured impact and IMO he provides little of it.

Just my opinion. I don't mean to bag the guy as he has a heart of gold and always puts in, I just think he is very ineffective for us.

Fair enough. Your comment that every time he carts the ball up is a wasted tackle had me worried. I reckon he was one of the best on the ground against the Dragons, both in effort and execution. When he's not running at the markers he runs it hard, and he's often more than a handful.

 

[madunit]

I'm sorry, i can't accept the excuses for Blair's laziness. Good players go looking for the ball and have some impact with it.

He's just not bothering.

 

[Billythekid]

Blair had been average for a few years for the storm as well so i'm not sure how he comanded such a high salary. There is no doubt he has a lot of talent but eventually you have to question whether he is capable of showing it anymore.

I really wish Fulton would be given a starting spot already, such an under-rated player.

 

[DanOz]

Premierships are not won in March or April, but so far Blair is underperforming and that is being kind. Gibbs was more than twice the player for half the price.

 

[N.C.]

Well he's been given a bit of a rocket by Benji in the papers today, along with his other backrow partners. But given the work that Heighington and Ellis get through, I think it's clear that Benji's really only talking about Blair...

 

[Mr Saab]

IMO Benji also needs to take a look at himself also

 

[hutch]

Blair is a softcock, weak as piss in attack, lazy in defence, absolute pussy. Disgrace to the jersey, and today was his best so far which is embarrassing.

 

[Tiger05]

I thought we got a major improvement out of him today. He really put in. He did miss a pretty easy tackle at one point and I think Luke scored off the back of that miss.

In saying that I thought he busted his gut.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

He had a good first half IMO, but went missing in the second. Not good enough.

 

[hutch]

He just doesn't seem to have a clear role. When we need go forward, he just ambles up. When we need to tighten defence along the edges, he is caught out of position. Poor discipline, poor leadership, waste of money. Never been a fan of his and he has done nothing to change my mind!

 

[Tiger05]

hutch - its hard to fault your comments in that he isn't a great player. I think he might be a solid player for us but he is not much better if any than Fulton and Heighington.

 

[madunit]

IMO Benji also needs to take a look at himself also

Can't expect your halves to make much impact behind a pissweak pack.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

hutch - its hard to fault your comments in that he isn't a great player. I think he might be a solid player for us but he is not much better if any than Fulton and Heighington.

Sorry but he's much better than Heighington. He needs to be shipped to the UK ASAP.

 

[Tiger05]

Can't expect your halves to make much impact behind a pissweak pack.

Our pack was weak but they tried - they just lack a little punch. I really think BMM has to get a starting role.

Benji though showed for most of that game what a great half can do behind a pack that isn't really having an impact.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Blair made 33 tackles and took 11 hit ups. Much improved.

 

[Hooch]

He was pretty well in woeful form all last year, and no one seemed to get spooked as the negotiations dragged on and on and he kept playing shite.

Storm just kept mum and held onto Sika Manu.