Blair to Prop?

[Magpies Forever]

Well, in various threads we have exhausted any possibiity of WT buying another 'quality' player to fill the void in our prop ranks due to injury to Galloway and the young guns not yet fully ready. So, do we end up promoting a second rower to prop temporarily? Blair would seem the most obvious candidate to prop and then promote someone from lower grades into the second row rotation. Sheens must be thinking of this somehow now Mason is out of the equation- after all his previous thoughts were of no need for specialist props and a fast moving forward pack. As a temporary stop gap this must now be the only solution.

 

[Tiger05]

I'm not sure. I really haven't seen Blair kill them once yet so I am unsure if he could fill in at Prop.

He has good footwork and a good play the ball. He is mobile. He isn't a big player though. Still we need to do something to get our forwards going forward. I'd like to see BMM promoted to the run on team.

 

[37916319]

Blair has not shown much but if/when he does it will be on the edges.

The dissapointing this is with all his experience he should see we're getting bashed in the middle and help out a little, find the ball and take the odd run.

 

[madunit]

No. I'd rather have Heighington at Prop tbh. At least he'll get in there and tackle and run the ball up a shitload of times.

Blair is starting to look a lot like Te'o when he was here.

Bludging at outside centre waiting to run at some smaller player.

He needs to put his hand up and have a f**king go and tonight is the time to do it.

Come on Blairy, show what you can do you softcock!

 

[Magpies Forever]

Could Heighington do it? has he ever played prop? I'm not against that suggestion just that I know Blair has filled in and played prop in the past.

 

[madunit]

Hino's never played there before.

Balir has played at prop 18 times for NZ and 10 times at Club level

 

[gronkathon]

I think the major issue with Blair is that he has played so many years in such a regmented system at Melbourne.

The mentality there is to do your own job and know that everyone else will do theirs.

We won't see any real benefit from him until he is swapped with Ellis and he has about half a season behind him

 

[madunit]

I agree, but even still, Blair isn't even doing his own job at this stage.

He needs to lift big time.

Raiders have a massive pack, our forwards need to aim up for 80 minutes tonight.

 

[Fordy20]

Heighington seems to play as a third prop at lock anyway. He's no Paul Gallen, but he take a decent share of hit ups and makes plenty of tackles.

If Blair was named in the side at prop, wouldn't it be clear that he has to get more involved?

 

[851]

I think the major issue with Blair is that he has played so many years in such a regmented system at Melbourne.

The mentality there is to do your own job and know that everyone else will do theirs.

We won't see any real benefit from him until he is swapped with Ellis and he has about half a season behind him

Thats right,there are a lot of passengers at the minute,when evryone does there job,we will win,hopefully with a new halfback that will stsrt tonight.

 

[Radical Rat]

I agree, but even still, Blair isn't even doing his own job at this stage.

He needs to lift big time.

Raiders have a massive pack, our forwards need to aim up for 80 minutes tonight.

I disagree. I reckon Blair is doing his job. Unfortunately at the moment we need/expect him to be doing more than that.

If we had a fully functioning forward pack then Blair would be doing just fine. He's being judged super critically because of his alleged massive pay packet (which if the figure is true is ridiculous).

But yes I would like to see a bit more from him. But it's early days in his Tigers career. I'm keeping the faith with him.

 

[Tiger05]

He's being judged super critically because of his alleged massive pay packet (which if the figure is true is ridiculous).

This is the real issue isn't it. He looks like a good player but based on his salary I was expecting a player ala Gareth Ellis or Paul Gallen. He simply doesn't appear to be at that level.

I'm expecting him to win us games. I think that this expectation will have to be downgraded significantly.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Heighington seems to play as a third prop at lock anyway. He's no Paul Gallen, but he take a decent share of hit ups and makes plenty of tackles.

If Blair was named in the side at prop, wouldn't it be clear that he has to get more involved?

Heighington basically plays as a prop, yet has zero impact in both attack and defense.

I would be moving Blair to prop until KG is back but only until then and only as a stop gap, and only because we went into the year two props short.

 

[madunit]

I think blair would be more effective at lock at this stage. Hino is as good a prop as anyone else in the team thats fit to play right now.

 

[macnaz]

How bout Blah to VB cup... Missed a shitload of tackles and thats not mentioning the ones he didnt even lay a hand on them to actualy count as a miss tackle.

 

[God-King Dean]

No. That would require taking a hit up.

 

[madunit]

I'm wondering how Blair ever played test footy.

I'd rather have Halatau back.

 

[Tiger05]

I'm wondering how Blair ever played test footy.

I'd rather have Halatau back.

They have to break his contract on the back of his performances so far. And yes Halatau offered a lot more than Blair has for us.

 

[aids]

Chris Patterson offered more than Blair, and on about 1/10th the pay

 

[hutch]

5 hit ups in 80 minutes. That's absolutely pathetic!