Bird straight back in.

[blacktip-reefy]

Sure .
Just deal with it if someone shoots it down in flames with facts.
I don't even know what the stats are.
My opinion is that Gallen offloads more tha nBird.
Stats will tell me if I am correct or not.
I will do it it if you want.

 

[NthCronullaLocal]

I already posted the stats Reefy. I dont think stats do justice to creativity though. There is more to it than just offloads.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

I dont think stats shows creativity but here you go Reefy (taken from the NRL site).

Paul Gallen from 9 games has 21 offloads. This is an average of 2.3 per game. In the last 5 games though his offloads have dropped to an average of 1.8 per game. You could make an argument that his use as an attacking 5/8 has fallen and he is there purely for defensive reasons. He has made 3 line breaks from his 9 games.

Greg Bird from four games has an average of 1.8 offloads (exactly the same as Gallens effort in the last 5 matches) with 3 line breaks which is nearly one per game. This was at a time when the team was going terrible and he wasnt getting much of a platform to work from.

Make your own mind up from them Reefy.

The other problem there NCL is that when Bird played, he was dedicated 5/8th at all times of the match.
Since his brain explosion, the reshuffle has caused many 5/8ths within the same game.
You may see Bailey out of the scrum & taking it out when close to our line.
Or you may see Peach when close to the line.
Irrespective of what Gallens stats are, 1.8 is not good enough, no matter who it is.

 

[NthCronullaLocal]

Yeah i agree that is way too low an average with Bird Reefy. I just currently think he is the best option 5/8 while Kimmorley is out and Aitken is at half. Like I said I just think he adds a little bit more creativity compared to Gallen.
Once Kimmorley comes back Aitken should be 5/8 i think we both agree on that. What happens to Bird then remains to be seen. Im not a Pro Bird person I just think he is a better option at the moment and Gallen is better off in the forwards where he belongs.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

I actually think Gallen goes well at 5/8th & in particular centre.

 

[JemimaPuddleduck]

the duck believes popular opinion does not necessarily equal correctness.

everyone thought columbus was wrong too


yes. we are all individuals.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Hopefully opposition teams haven't caught on that Bird doesn't pass much. But he has scored alot of tries in the past when in the opposition 20 with a fake pass and stepping back inside to wrong fot the defence.

I'd love to see one on Sunday thanks!

 

[PHaTMaN]

I agree with NCL on this one. I think Bird is more creative than Gallen. With Kimmorley at halfback Gallen went well at 5/8 but at this early stage of his career I dont think Aitken will have the same dominating prescence on the field as Noddy. Add to this Peachey being out and I think we need all the creativity we can get. Stats dont always tell the picture and personal opinion leads me to say Bird is better option at 5/8 with noddy out.

 

[drratoxic]

I think its good that bird is back. When BK is also fit he and bird will get a really good partnership going. Bird is just immature, hopefully his time off has changed his perspective.

 

[incredible_holc]

i think dumas was better than both of them at 5/8th

 

[Foz]

Me too Holc.

 

[Marty Moose]

Statistics say that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the World population

 

[carinashark]

I can t see why Gallen was not chosen. The only thing I can think of is that they may switch , with Gallen doing the defence and Birdy the attack. But I can only see a Penrith win with Bird playing. Penrith will just go at him (Bird) all afternoon knowing he will crack under the tackiling pressure. These days the 5/8 is a big defensive play and the Hooker the big attacking play, not like the old days when the hooker was just another forward ( playing one out and dummy half).
Carinashark

 

[shadowboxer]

the situation is like " your damned if you do and your damned if you dont". Either way sunday night the forum will be full of praise for bird or calling for his head. He hope he goes well. I hate him to pieces but i still think he has something to offer.

Obviously rapers thinks he is a go-er or he wouldnt be there.

I just hope he passes the ball.

 

[Macca]

I'll be happy if he goes well. I guess we will find out one or the other tomorrow. Gee they are young halves aren't they?

 

[Me Luv Stevo]

Bird will play and have a HUGE game. Lets support the bloke instead of burning him.

here here
hope he has a great game
good to see him back in firsts already

 

[beekershark]

He is a player of ours who comes back from 10 weeks suspension.

No other bastard in the league worl is going to let him forget his suspension and give him encouragement, so how about we, the fans of his OWN CLUB be the ones who at least give him a chance to prove himself ??

Come on guys, He's far from perfect and far from the next great 5/8 , but he has a long way to go yet, and will be playing for a contract too, so he may well surprise tomorrow, we NEED him to stand up if our TEAM is to win, so let's get behind him, get that cocky little tail of his up high, and let him arrogantly, egotistically , HOG his way to 3 tries and a win for all I care ! A confident , arrogant , FIRING young 5/8 is far better than the options we have run out for the past 10 weeks.

He needs to tackle, tackle , tackle, and provide a genuine option on the short side, working well with Hilder.

 

[beekershark]

He is a player of ours who comes back from 10 weeks suspension.

No other bastard in the league worl is going to let him forget his suspension and give him encouragement, so how about we, the fans of his OWN CLUB be the ones who at least give him a chance to prove himself ??

Come on guys, He's far from perfect and far from the next great 5/8 , but he has a long way to go yet, and will be playing for a contract too, so he may well surprise tomorrow, we NEED him to stand up if our TEAM is to win, so let's get behind him, get that cocky little tail of his up high, and let him arrogantly, egotistically , HOG his way to 3 tries and a win for all I care ! A confident , arrogant , FIRING young 5/8 is far better than the options we have run out for the past 10 weeks.

He needs to tackle, tackle , tackle, and provide a genuine option on the short side, working well with Hilder.

 

[DJDL]

Well said Beeks.
I'm hoping he does well. I thought he was pretty unfairly lambasted prior to the kneeing incident.

In a well beaten side he was consistently the one looking most likely to break the line. He was looking for supports but finding no-one to pass to (hence the lack of passing), and he is also very heavily marked. Check it out. He consistently has 3 defenders in his face when he gets the ball.

Name me another back who can get the ball away under those circumstances.

 

[King of the Hill]

Name me another back who can get the ball away under those circumstances

Name me another 5/8 who ONLY runs and NEVER feeds the centres