Bennett's snubbing of McGregor

[BennyV]

So when Bennett puts a back rower in the centres or Hasler puts Tony Williams in the halves it's a stroke of genius but when Mary does it it is poor coaching. Pretty sure I read a few posts asking for De Belin to start in the halves as it worked against the Warriors. So he took the punt and it did not work. Now move on to the next game.

What rubbish! Playing a backrower in the centres is very different; they play next to each other, both defend out wide, and generally need to have a similar skillset. And even despite this, noone has referred to the move as anything other than necessary out of desperation - certainly not a stroke of genius. As for Tony Williams in the halves; again, I challenge you to find a single person who referred to it as genius.

Face it, playing JDB as halfback was weak, inept coaching at its finest. I dont hate Mary, I think he has done week this year for the most part, but that selection was ridiculous. It damaged our general attack, weakened our right edge defense (defending in the middle is very different) and effectively nullified one of our most potent weapons in Tyson Frizell. On top of that, it damaged the morale of a young half-in-the-making much more than giving him a full game would have. It was terrible, and overall stupid. And those who were calling for him to be named based on a game against a very popr Warriors side seemingly had less clue again (and this was mentioned by a number of us prior to the game).

I get that you want to stick up for Mary and all that, but it is what it is. I jusy hope to hell he's eating the humble pie that was dished up to him and learnt from it (despite the crap he spoke in the press conference)...

 

[hazzbeen]

What rubbish! Playing a backrower in the centres is very different; they play next to each other, both defend out wide, and generally need to have a similar skillset. And even despite this, noone has referred to the move as anything other than necessary out of desperation - certainly not a stroke of genius. As for Tony Williams in the halves; again, I challenge you to find a single person who referred to it as genius.

Face it, playing JDB as halfback was weak, inept coaching at its finest. I dont hate Mary, I think he has done week this year for the most part, but that selection was ridiculous. It damaged our general attack, weakened our right edge defense (defending in the middle is very different) and effectively nullified one of our most potent weapons in Tyson Frizell. On top of that, it damaged the morale of a young half-in-the-making much more than giving him a full game would have. It was terrible, and overall stupid. And those who were calling for him to be named based on a game against a very popr Warriors side seemingly had less clue again (and this was mentioned by a number of us prior to the game).

I get that you want to stick up for Mary and all that, but it is what it is. I jusy hope to hell he's eating the humble pie that was dished up to him and learnt from it (despite the crap he spoke in the press conference)...

Well said Benny

 

[The Nick]

So when Bennett puts a back rower in the centres or Hasler puts Tony Williams in the halves it's a stroke of genius but when Mary does it it is poor coaching. Pretty sure I read a few posts asking for De Belin to start in the halves as it worked against the Warriors. So he took the punt and it did not work. Now move on to the next game.

Season is not over yet. Mary could still disappoint a few and make the top 8. One thing for sure we won't be fighting for a spoon as some assumed they would do under Mary's coaching.

Not to mention when Wayne Bennett played Tonie Carroll at 5/8, Gus Gould played Shawn Timmins at 5/8, Nathan Brown played Trent Barrett at hooker...

Tactically MacGregor's selections were brilliant for a moment - we dominated possession and field position in the early stages. IMO where McGregor went wrong is he didn't pull the trigger early enough and bring Hutchison into the game to capitalise and put some points on the board.

However selection of Green anywhere in the 17 was a massive blunder that cannot be defended. Hopefully Mary never makes this mistake again.

 

[Mr Red]

Tactically MacGregor's selections were brilliant for a moment - we dominated possession and field position in the early stages.

where is the evidence that the selection of a prop at halfback directly contributed to the field position and possession?

just applying your logic ..... pure speculation without the desired level of facts that you demanded earlier on a very similar topic...

 

[The Nick]

where is the evidence that the selection of a prop at halfback directly contributed to the field position and possession?

just applying your logic ..... pure speculation without the desired level of facts that you demanded earlier on a very similar topic...

Hmmm well JDB ran the ball 17 times for 145m. In comparison his opposite number (Ben Hunt) only ran the ball 11 times for 93m.

In fact JDB ran the ball for more metres than anyone in the entire Broncos forward pack.

Plus we completed at 81% compared to Broncos 72%. We even missed fewer tackles (13 to 26).

Where we were beaten however, was on the scoreboard. Which goes back to my original point that our biggest error was not bringing on Hutchison right after the softening up period to capitalise on said possession and field position.

 

[BennyV]

Hmmm well JDB ran the ball 17 times for 145m. In comparison his opposite number (Ben Hunt) only ran the ball 11 times for 93m.

In fact JDB ran the ball for more metres than anyone in the entire Broncos forward pack.

Plus we completed at 81% compared to Broncos 72%. We even missed fewer tackles (13 to 26).

Where we were beaten however, was on the scoreboard. Which goes back to my original point that our biggest error was not bringing on Hutchison right after the softening up period to capitalise on said possession and field position.

Those are impressive numbers...if only there was a position on the field that traditionally requires larger, stronger guys to make an increased number of runs and try and acheive more metres gained...HMMMM...

We made field position on the back of our forwards, including JDB playing as a forward. One of the reasons the selection was such a dumb one was that we were unable to capitalise on that because we only had 1 half playing the game. Its not a halfbacks job to make metres. There is no way to justify the selection, it failed....simple as that. In fact, with the increased completion rate, fewer missed tackle and forward-like performance of our halfback (coupled with the number of tackles we had in their red zone), your stats actually back that up!

 

[The Nick]

We made field position on the back of our forwards, including JDB playing as a forward. One of the reasons the selection was such a dumb one was that we were unable to capitalise on that because we only had 1 half playing the game.

Yep goes back to my point:

our biggest error was not bringing on Hutchison right after the softening up period to capitalise on said possession and field position.

Glad we agree.

 

[Fingerbang]

Damned if you do....damned if you don't. If Mary had made the more logical decision of running out with Drew at halfback, and the Broncos still ran roughshod over us, he would still be copping it deluxe in here about going with inexperience at halfback. It's just the way this place works.

 

[Fingerbang]

We were in contention for the 8 around the August period last year too, when McGregor's coaching was woefully exposed in a few key games and we fell away. The good teams (and coaches) are really cracking the whip at this time and the signs were certainly there on Friday night that we are potentially in trouble

Like the coaches you wanted to see get our first grade gig instead of Mary.....Jason Taylor, Neil Henry? Their whips must be made of silk, because I can't hear them cracking.

 

[hazzbeen]

It has happen a couple of times were they have dominated field position and completed their sets and have come away empty............ if you cant score points when your parked in the oppositions quarter you do have a problem with your attack.......again comes down to coaching....

 

[BennyV]

Yep goes back to my point:



Glad we agree.

What defines the 'softening up period'...we had several attacking sets in the first 15-20 minutes that failed because our halfback was a forward! If we had a half playing halfback, might have been a different story...

Damned if you do....damned if you don't. If Mary had made the more logical decision of running out with Drew at halfback, and the Broncos still ran roughshod over us, he would still be copping it deluxe in here about going with inexperience at halfback. It's just the way this place works.

Doesnt mean it wasnt a ridiculous selection!

 

[Fingerbang]

What defines the 'softening up period'...we had several attacking sets in the first 15-20 minutes that failed because our halfback was a forward! If we had a half playing halfback, might have been a different story...



Doesnt mean it wasnt a ridiculous selection!

I agree. Stupid decision. Just saying that Mary would have copped the same even if he went with Drew in the 7. There are still many here just wanting him to fail.

He wasn't the first coach to make a dud decision, and he won't be the last. Btw....Warren Ryan is my pick for biggest blunder by a coach.

 

[The Nick]

What defines the 'softening up period'...we had several attacking sets in the first 15-20 minutes that failed because our halfback was a forward! If we had a half playing halfback, might have been a different story...

Softening up period is usually the first 10-15 minutes where legs are fresh and defensive line-speed and play the balls are generally at their quickest. You will see in the first 10-15 minutes that a set of 6 may last around 45-50 seconds and most sets will result in under 50m gained. After this period fatigue sets in, defensive line speeds slow down, gaps open up etc.

And here's the catch-22 - if we had started with Hutchison at half we might not have enjoyed the field position that we did in the first 15-20 mins of the game!

 

[grouch]

Like the coaches you wanted to see get our first grade gig instead of Mary.....Jason Taylor, Neil Henry? Their whips must be made of silk, because I can't hear them cracking.

Both coaches who have reached (and won) finals before... each at 2 separate clubs. Struggling for cattle in their current gigs but undoubtedly better resumes than Mehry

 

[Slippery Morris]

I think the selection was a disaster I am not backing the call but hey at least he tried something. WOuld have preferred he try Hutch from the start but that was not the case. Hopefully he learns from this and does not make a selection like that again. I would not have minded the move by Mary if it was only for the first 10-20 mins but to leave JDB at 7 for that long a period was a pretty bad move. Its as if he forgot about Hutch. Geez Hutch is a big man for a No.7. Biggest No.7 I have seen.

I hope Benji is OK for this weeks game.

 

[Fingerbang]

Both coaches who have reached (and won) finals before... each at 2 separate clubs. Struggling for cattle in their current gigs but undoubtedly better resumes than Mehry

And we aren't struggling for cattle this year? Better resumes in the terms of experience only. As for performance this year, Mary is the better choice. And his experience after his first full season is on the up. Can't see those other 2 doing any better than Mary anytime soon.

Oh, and welcome back grumblebum

 

[grouch]

Thanks love. :hg:

I expected the Tigers to do better but their young halves are still a bit inconsistent, and Farah has been out or less than fit. Definitely think they are on the up though. The Titans are on a hiding to nothing just about.

McGregor has done reasonably well on the whole - some woeful errors and awful attack aside - for a rookie. I just still find it a shame that we are the work experience club.

 

[The Nick]

Both coaches who have reached (and won) finals before... each at 2 separate clubs. Struggling for cattle in their current gigs but undoubtedly better resumes than Mehry

I guess that's why both coaches ended up getting sacked by previous clubs.

And cattle certainly wasn't an issue for Henry when he was at the Cowboys.

 

[grouch]

I guess that's why both coaches ended up getting sacked by previous clubs.

And cattle certainly wasn't an issue for Henry when he was at the Cowboys.

"At their current gigs"

Taylor was sacked for off-field tomfoolery if you recall - the learning curve of a young rookie coach (sound familiar?). In any case, is simply being sacked enough to rule someone so incompetent that a complete rookie is preferred? btw I'm pretty sure David Waite was sacked by the Knights a couple years before we hired him. He turned out pretty well

 

[winnie the pooh]

btw I'm pretty sure David Waite was sacked by the Knights a couple years before we hired him. He turned out pretty well

Yes grouch indeed he did.

I've seen enough of Mary to be confident he'll be a very good coach. But this thread isn't about that.