Ben Walker

[Paulmon]

What does everyone think about the possibility of signing Ben Walker ? Manly are have now confirmed that they are letting him go and he will be on the lookout for a new club. Only problem is that he's recovering from a knee reconstruction and may not be fit for the start of the season.
Can't really remember how well him and Kimmorley worked together as a halves combination at the Northern Eagles in 2001, but he would solve the goal kicking problem.
Anyone 'in the know' at the club that can ask if we'd be interested ?

 

[carcharias]

I suppose it couldn't hurt if he was going cheap. How old is he now? who else has he played for??? was it broncos?
I would still think his brother is a complete tool regardless though.
The one who slutted himself out to the roosters that is.
The one with the facial hair seems alright.

 

[King of the Hill]

Well I heard that he will be missing a big part of the season.

If that werent the case, I'd probably take him.

 

[Alan Shore]

If he's cheap. He could teach Aitken a bit too.

 

[Special K]

No thanks.

I don't think he would add much too us...

 

[Biscuits]

I am not too upset at losing Ben. His defence is ordinary and he doesnt create too much but is very good at backing up breaks. His goal kicking is great but i wonder if a knee reco could affect it. He will be missing for atleast half of the season next year and the second half would be spent trying to get back some confidence, strength and fitness.
To answer Paulmons question, Ben was top point scorer in 2001.

 

[ghoti]

His goalkicking could really help us. To tell you the truth, i'd prefer Walker than Bird or Aitken wearing the 6 next year. He didn't do too much this year, but if we signed him on an incentive based contract, it could be pretty good. Don't play him this year, but leave him till 2004...then we'll reap the benefits.

 

[Sheros los Deros]

I'd prefer to encourage our youngsters. Remember Bird is only 19, and I think he started to show glimpses of good form late last year. I think Birdy will have a top year in 2004, and may just solve our 5/8 dramas.

 

[Macca]

You can't judge the partneship Walker and Kimmorley had at the Eagles. They were behind a usless pack of forwards IMO. We all know Noddy is a little short when he doesn't have the big fella's doing their job, so his combinations were irrelevant that year.

I do rememeber Walker being top pointscorer or very close to it that year though. It's not as if we couldn't do with some stability in that regard depending on how well Merritt goes.

The only :?: I have is why did Manly let him go? If they don't want him, why would anyone else?

I like Greg Bird, he has potential to be someone big in the game, needs Mick Speechley or ET to teach him how to tackle though.

Don't rule out Matt Hilder starting at 5/8th either with Bails going to lock.

 

[Special K]

You can't judge the partneship Walker and Kimmorley had at the Eagles. They were behind a usless pack of forwards IMO

Geez. I never knew O'Meley, Stringer, Muir, Menzies etc were usless

 

[imasharkie]

I like Greg Bird, he has potential to be someone big in the game, needs Mick Speechley or ET to teach him how to tackle though.



Geez we could use mick now to help Birdy with both his offence and defence, does anyone know if speech is still connected to the club or at least in the shire

 

[King of the Hill]

Didnt speechley go to Parramatta?

Bird's main problem is that he doesnt pass. He's the link to the outside backs and he doesnt know how to pass. Kick him off the team I say.

 

[Disco]

You can't judge the partneship Walker and Kimmorley had at the Eagles. They were behind a usless pack of forwards IMO. We all know Noddy is a little short when he doesn't have the big fella's doing their job, so his combinations were irrelevant that year.

I do rememeber Walker being top pointscorer or very close to it that year though. It's not as if we couldn't do with some stability in that regard depending on how well Merritt goes.

The only :?: I have is why did Manly let him go? If they don't want him, why would anyone else?

I like Greg Bird, he has potential to be someone big in the game, needs Mick Speechley or ET to teach him how to tackle though.

Don't rule out Matt Hilder starting at 5/8th either with Bails going to lock.

O'Meley
Toovey
Stringer
Muir
Bailey
Menzies

geez thats not too bad a pack mate


and the reason why Manly let Ben go is the fact that next year was the last on his contract and he was going to miss around half the year thru injury

 

[Macca]

That pack has some big names, but they didn't aim up in 2001. They were useless.

 

[Sharkie73]

McSharkis wrote;

[/quote]I like Greg Bird, he has potential to be someone big in the game, needs Mick Speechley or ET to teach him how to tackle though.

I agree he needs some serious work on his defence, also I was watching a replay of the Sharks v Steel Dragon's game I recon Sullivan could step up to the 1\\2 position quite easly if Noddy spits the dumby and leaves if Ando go's.

 

[Macca]

Kimmorley is under contract he can't leave unless released.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

That pack has some big names, but they didn't aim up in 2001. They were useless.

They weren't useless actually. Far from it.
After having a brilliant ball player in their backline for over a decade, those players could not adjust to a half-back who continually sent them hospital passes, kicked ineffectively & insisted on dummying to runners & opting to pass to inside players standing still.
They weren't useless, they were rendered ineffective.

 

[Macca]

They weren't useless, they were rendered ineffective.

So what happened when Kimmorley was at Melbourne, BTR? How come those forwards went so well with him? Don't just say because they had a bigger salary cap either because those Eagles forwards were all big names.

I'll answer that one for you. Melbourne was built around Kimmorley, the Eagles weren't, and they didn't give him the same opportunities. They didn't aim up and were useless/ineffective. IMO, ofcourse.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

Melbourne was built around Lazzo.
& Lazzo had no problems with the way Kimmorley plays because that was what he was used to in his role at Brisbane.
He also had no problems with Kimmorley what-so-ever, but when the big guy spoke on the field, no-one ignored him.
So when Lazzo said, you F&^%$n dummy to me one more time, I'll F@#%*n ........." you get the picture.
Melbourne was much more of a shared experience & team effort that since then, Noddy thinks he is above.

 

[Macca]

Melbourne was built around Lazzo.
& Lazzo had no problems with the way Kimmorley plays because that was what he was used to in his role at Brisbane.
He also had no problems with Kimmorley what-so-ever, but when the big guy spoke on the field, no-one ignored him.
So when Lazzo said, you F&^%$n dummy to me one more time, I'll F@#%*n ........." you get the picture.
Melbourne was much more of a shared experience & team effort that since then, Noddy thinks he is above.

I suppose you could be right. I still think that with the right forwards Kimmorley will win another comp. He certainly does need to be more team orientated.