Are we that far off?

[macavity]

Short answer - if you ain't first you are last.

And we ain't finishing first any time soon.

 

[The Showstopper]

Clydesdale seems like another Ethan Cooke for mine. A wonderful junior but not good enough for a sustainable first grade career. I am sure I read somewhere someone said he was similar to Cam Smith in skill set once. That is a proper gee up.

 

[Spot On]

Clydesdale seems like another Ethan Cooke for mine. A wonderful junior but not good enough for a sustainable first grade career. I am sure I read somewhere someone said he was similar to Cam Smith in skill set once. That is a proper gee up.

100% someone said it and I've waiting a while to see any resemblance of C.Smith play in his game.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

To be fair, it was a number of years in the NRL until people even really saw Smith was a good player. He didn't exactly burst onto the scene like SBW.

 

[slotmachine]

? He played a few games in 2002, then starting from 2003 (when he was 20) he has been the QLD hooker for 11 years straight.

I don't see Clydesdale starting an 11 year run as NSW hooker any time soon.

 

[K-Man]

I'm not about to say Clydesdale is a world beater, given that I put our hooker rotation as one of our biggest issues heading into the season (at which point somebody listed about 5 'options' at hooker as evidence we were strong in that area).

BUT, I do think so far this season it's been a case of demonstrating his value by what happens when he's not there.

Clydesdale doesn't tear teams apart with speed up the middle, but he's not a bench impact hooker and I don't think he needs to. What he does is offer faster and more reliable service from dummy half than anyone else in the club. I think he is showing the signs of that ability to engage defenders and get his forwards on the front foot. We have momentum when he's on the field, and we lose it the second he goes off.

He also has two tries darting over from dummy half in a very short first grade career - that to me is a player who plays what he sees - something we sorely lack in other key positions with Mullen and Gidley.

He's never going to be a highlight reel hooker, but I think he's on the right path to be a genuine first grader.

I like Randell but I'm not totally convinced about his dummy half service yet.

 

[Noname36]

^ Completely agree.

I don't think anyone thinks Clydesdale is a world beater but I don't understand the criticism he gets. He's sorely missed when he's not on the field and I think that alone highlights his value for us. He has vision, a pretty crisp passing game, and his defensive ability for such a small player is remarkable really. He's not going to tear teams to shreds with his speed or anything which is why I think we need a hooker on the bench to come on later on whose a bit more nippy - Roberts would do a good job there, as would Levi when he gets a bit older.

Realistically the only players whose work out of dummy half I like is Clydesdale and Roberts (although Tyrone's defence wouldn't last long minutes at hooker). Gidley kills us there and I wasn't overly impressed with Randall there in 2 out of his 3 games at hooker (although granted he's new to the position and I think he's holding himself as well as could be hoped there). Although saying that I'd prefer Randall on the bench to play hooker over Sione just on the basis that it doesn't stuff around our whole spine.

 

[perverse]

Clydsdale is the least of our worries, although I'd like to see him introduce his kicking game to the NRL more. He has the ability to put grubbers in behind the line a-la Robbie Farah, and we could REALLY use it right now. Don't know where his kicking game has gone, tbh... he was a prolific kicker in the lower grades.

 

[Joker's Wild]

It's clearly been coached out of him, question is why?

I think if the interchange is going to 6 then we can probably consider moving T Sims to the prop rotation and bring in another back rower. He played there for country and was really good.

 

[Spot On]

I think Clydesdale has a lot of good attributes as have been listed above but I can not understand the reluctance this club has in developing a 9 with a kicking game. Just don't get it.

 

[Rolla]

? He played a few games in 2002, then starting from 2003 (when he was 20) he has been the QLD hooker for 11 years straight.

I don't see Clydesdale starting an 11 year run as NSW hooker any time soon.

I don't think anyone suggested he was as good as Cam Smith. Could be wrong though.

Somebody who has seen a bit of him in NYC may have said he seems to have a similar style to Smith as opposed to your Isaac Luke types - and that is probably a fair call.

 

[macavity]

Clydesdale is keeping the seat warm for Levi for about another 6 months if we are serious.

 

[Swarzey]

So what happens when Levi doesn't show immediate signs of greatness which seems to the measure around here?

Not every play can be Smith, not ever player can show up day dot and be a world beater or even show signs of it. Never rated Jake Friend until Robinson and now I wouldn't have anyone before him.

 

[1qaz]

I'm not going to give up on Roberts just yet.
His best game in first grade was against the Roosters when Mullen went of injured and Gagai filled in at 5/8th.
I think it's time for Mullen to sit back and let Roberts run the show.
The only try last week was on the back of a Smith offload to Roberts looping over to the right. Roberts needs to be allowed to play on both side and not just be restricted to the left.

 

[voltron]

even guys like Segeyaro wasnt the best in north queensland
and he became something more when he moved to penrith.
i think we're being hard on clydesdale. I think he's good and will improve.

 

[Yosh]

I don't think we're THAT far off. All our problems seem very fixable.

Our defense is great. I think all the great teams are based on a good defense.

We need have the right resources. More so in the backs than in the forwards. Our forwards aren't that bad. If we get an injury or two, we could be in trouble but we do have guys who are capable of taking us into a top 4 position.

Backs are almost the best in the comp.

Halves have the skills but seems to not be backing themselves. If we get the 2013 Mullen and that Rooster's game Roberts and any decent version of Kurt, we're set.

Gameplan should be:

Kick long from deep often. Let us find space with Mullen's kicks and back ourselves to pin them down in their half with our defense.

Counter attack often with early ball to the centres.

Between 20 metres and 40 metres out from their tryline, put up a massive bomb. Usually towards McManus's side.

Inside the 20, just kick it along the ground in behind them.

Play with one bench hooker and 3 forwards. OR put BJ on the bench instead of Sione and play BJ as an impact forward and Sione at centre.

I loved our try last Friday. Hit it up straight in the middle, turn and get a good offload. The backs can spread the ball and we can score easy tries like that.

How can I send Stone my notes?

 

[Swarzey]

Question though, if we did what we did Aku's try, would this thread exist? Because that single play was the most expansive piece of football we had played in the two weeks combined. Think we tried it a few times prior throughout the game (not going to even dare watch the replay to back that up) but kept at it and it eventually worked. Not saying the game was won or lost because we didn't throw it around more, but it could have been closer.

 

[macavity]

So what happens when Levi doesn't show immediate signs of greatness which seems to the measure around here?

Not every play can be Smith, not ever player can show up day dot and be a world beater or even show signs of it. Never rated Jake Friend until Robinson and now I wouldn't have anyone before him.

Levi is already better and has a style of play that translates better to seniors,

 

[Jono078]

I feel like Clydsdale is kind of like Scott Dureau. In that he has the tricks and tools, but doesn't use it often enough and is physically not up to NRL.

 

[Swarzey]

Levi is already better and has a style of play that translates better to seniors,

Mate in 2013 those exact words were being said about Clydsdale :lol: