after watching both grades our HALVES have no class!

[GAME FIRST]

After trecking out to peanrith stadium-and watching closely T Smith and C Thorman in reserves and Witt and Wagon in firsts- all our halves lack real class and control- they dont know how to dominate and do not look like controlling anything and seem like going through the motions too much!

We were up against Penrith weakened sides and A Roberts in firsts especially looked twice the player that Witt and Wagon looked- i was very dissapointed with not so much the loss but the way we played in the halves- we did not deserve to win either grade- our first grade shows no creativity and controll in the halves-they do not lead us and call for the ball enough and when they do they do little!


I am convinced and happy that Morris is a very good player though- he has lifted and looked dominant out there- but our next year will only improve by fixing our halves and not buying centres and forwards!

 

[Y2Eel]

i agree 100% with you on wagon witt and thorman but i watched tim smith last night and he had 2 guys outside him all nightr and had to play at 5/8 behind thorman who directed the majority of the play,

he talked alot in attack and defence and the few times he touched the ball was when we were on the back foot not on the front in attack...

give him some time at half back and we'll go allright..

to add to that ben smith was one of the few who went ok on sat night in all 3 grades looked dangerous...

 

[Eelectrica]

If Tim Smith is to be our long term half back then he needs to play there. No point in experimenting him at 5/8th.

Realisticly our first grade team won't make the finals this year so I just wonder if Smith should put Witt back to Premier league at 5/8 and allow him to form a combination with Tim Smith? After all these two are our hopes for the future.

 

[Eels Dude]

I don't think you can make a judgement on someone from just one game. After watching both premier league and first grade the halves definately didn't dominate and need some improvement. I'd like to see what JT has to say, as an experienced halfback in the coaching staff he should be helping them and showing them the way to go a little better.

 

[WA Eel]

I don't think you can make a judgement on someone from just one game. After watching both premier league and first grade the halves definately didn't dominate and need some improvement. I'd like to see what JT has to say, as an experienced halfback in the coaching staff he should be helping them and showing them the way to go a little better.

JT can probably help them with their positional play and skills, but I think "dominance" is not something that can be taught - you either have it or you don't. I remember when JT was just coming into grade at Wests, although his execution wasn't always perfect, he was always the dominant player on the field.

 

[GAME FIRST]

Eels dude-are you asleep or what-- just one game eh?
Our halves have been like this since the late 80's- you are being funny arent you?
How much time do you want to give them? This year is gone- next year will be gone if our halves dont change- you are missing the point!

Besides i like T Smith and M Witt- however they dont improving in a lot of areas- Witty doesnt dominate and talk enough for a halfback- T Smith is better but is not individual- he may have a better chance to make a mark in firsts as his personality is more dominant -and that what we desperately have needed for years-

Eels dude- just one game you are kidding!!

 

[Eels Dude]

Eels dude-are you asleep or what-- just one game eh?
Our halves have been like this since the late 80's- you are being funny arent you?
How much time do you want to give them? This year is gone- next year will be gone if our halves dont change- you are missing the point!

Besides i like T Smith and M Witt- however they dont improving in a lot of areas- Witty doesnt dominate and talk enough for a halfback- T Smith is better but is not individual- he may have a better chance to make a mark in firsts as his personality is more dominant -and that what we desperately have needed for years-

Eels dude- just one game you are kidding!!

Perhaps it has been from the 80's but that's cause we keep changing our halves every year. Of course players aren't going to settle if their combinations keep change. If you're going to say every young halfback should leave our club then our turnover of players would be worse than it already is. And I don't think you should be criticizing personalities, it's what they can do on the field that should count.

 

[GAME FIRST]

Matey have you played a game of footy?
A halfback especially needs to be dominant in personality and/or organisational skills-we actually have neither!

How do you control your attack if noone is orgainising-setting up the next plays or if you cannot control the bloke next to you where and when to run-there is none of this in our attack- even with 60% of the ball- THAT IS AN ATTACKING PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE OVERCOME UNLESS SMITHY GOES!

 

[WA Eel]

Hold on, you've just said that the lack of a dominant half has been a problem since the late 80's. How to you manage to link that argument and Smithy having to go??

 

[GAME FIRST]

Smithy does not prefer any of his players to have a dominant spirit especially his halback- he selects the wrong players eg-Wagon at 5/8 when we have T Smith ready to at least develop as we know Wagon is no 5/8!

His coaching stiffles all free spirit-just ask all the players who have played with him!

 

[Utey]

Your an idiot GF. You are entitled to your own opin ion but your dont back yourself up.

 

[eeelectroshooting?]

if i asked all the player who have played with him, i highly doubt they would all say he stifles their free spirit.

 

[Eels Dude]

Matey have you played a game of footy?
A halfback especially needs to be dominant in personality and/or organisational skills-we actually have neither!

How do you control your attack if noone is orgainising-setting up the next plays or if you cannot control the bloke next to you where and when to run-there is none of this in our attack- even with 60% of the ball- THAT IS AN ATTACKING PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE OVERCOME UNLESS SMITHY GOES!

You're lacking in knowledge Game First. What is your motivation for coming here? Do you actually want to discuss football, or are you just trying to outdue yourself by making each post more ridiculous than the last?

 

[Utey]

Smith needs to stay becuase we currenlty have no other coaching options avaliable

 

[CrazyEel]

Smith needs to stay becuase we currenlty have no other coaching options avaliable

That statement is ridiculous on both counts IMO. Neither does Smith NEED to stay as you put it but there are also plenty of other options available.

If you want to make a case for Smith do so by all means but at least put forward some rationale other than simply stating there are no other coaching options.

My rationale for him going is that he is inconsistent in his team building from year to year and has delivered absolutely nothing over 8 years. He's had more opportunity than any coach in the NRL but simply hasn't delivered and nothing I have seen leads me to believe it will ever be any different whilever he remains.

 

[The Godfather]

Smithy does not prefer any of his players to have a dominant spirit especially his halback- he selects the wrong players eg-Wagon at 5/8 when we have T Smith ready to at least develop as we know Wagon is no 5/8!

His coaching stiffles all free spirit-just ask all the players who have played with him!

Correct.

Brian likes to have programed robots in the halves, where they will do what he demands.

Back in his St.George days, took them to the 93 Grand Final where he played Tony Smith ( his brother ) at 5/8, instead of the gamebreakers - Anthony Mundine or Andrew Walker.
The Broncos had Kevvie Walters at 5/8.

The rest is history.

 

[Sean7]

Smith is afraid of skill. He likes to play solid toilers who won't take too many risks. His mindset seems to be that we'll stay in games if we don't take too many risks. Unfortunately you need to take risks, otherwise you just can't compete with the top sides.

 

[eeelectroshooting?]

Godfather and Sean 7, what evidence do you have for those claims. it may appear that way, but i think he likes discipline. many coaches have different methods. its worked pretty well for most of his 8 years at the club, barring the last 2/3.

Ricky Stuart doesnt take much crap, and is a coach that regards discipline highly. Whereas Hagan takes a much more laid back approach. That is why different players work better with different coaches. Steve witt claims to prefer the style at the knights, but players like widders need a harder coach to 'motivate' him to keep the weight off and play to his best.

you dont know what he asks the halves to do, dont assume he wants them to be robots just because of what appears to be stricter game plans. Smith does appear to be a good all round coach with the exception of the most vital postion(s): the halves. Theres the limiting factor.

 

[eeelectroshooting?]

and just to get picky

Smith is afraid of skill. He likes to play solid toilers who won't take too many risks. His mindset seems to be that we'll stay in games if we don't take too many risks. Unfortunately you need to take risks, otherwise you just can't compete with the top sides.

we are a team that regularly (more regularly than other teams) try the short kick off... to no avail recently :roll:
i remember cross field kick to the winger in final mins of play to win a game this year.. the particular game eludes me. theres some risky play. Structured, and calculated; but risky

but SMART play is not taking risks with a team down on confidance and form. you'll find risky plays dont come off in those situations.

A hypothetical example: Graham's athletic display to catch the ball on the full close to our line against the panthers, and then even get back in the field of play. 5/6 weeks ago the player may have missed it and it would have probably lead to a try.