Brown v Utai

[BuffaloRules]

Utai continues to get a start ahead of Mitch?

Another Sheens decision where I just shake my head in disbelief...

Utai went OK yesterday and he seems to put in a 100%, but I'm always apprehensive about his play.. There were a lot of occasions where he was defending next to Lui last night... dont tell me that the better teams wont be targeting that...

On the other hand,Brown defense seems very safe to me...

I know Lawrence will be back in the run on side for the big games ahead ( and hopefully stays fit), however Brown must be on the bench ahead of Utai...

 

[macnaz]

Agreed

 

[Tiger Hawk]

They're a much of a muchness for me. Brown has had some very good games, but also has a tendency to drift in and out. Utai has had some very good games but has had a couple of shockers as well.

Utai's biggest strength is his dummy-half / early tackle running, consistently getting us good metres. Brown's biggest strength would be his low error rate - I can honestly say there's nothing about his game that gets me excited, he's just "safe".

 

[netic]

I agree Brown should be getting his run ahead of Utai, but that said both have done a good job for us filling in while the bigger names have been out

 

[N.C.]

Interesting interview with Sheens on Triple M after the game last night.

Brown is seen more as a cover for Moltzen at 1, which is all part of a broader plan to cover Benji if he breaks down in a final.

Was a good interview. Gave a bit of insight into how he sees the team - eg instructing them to go for the try instead of taking the penalty goal when it was 22-10, because he didn't want them to feel safe and switch off...Detractors of the man (and I count myself among them) would do well to have a listen, if there's an mp3 of it anywhere on the webs.

*edit* Podcast here

 

[Mao the Tiger]

Brown due to versatility, with lote and Lawrence plus benji as per sheens comments above, utai has been good I'm a fan of his after this year plays with alot of heart and can now catch a insane inside ball from benji

 

[Tigerm]

I have no problems with Utai, but Brown offers us a better game IMO, certainly offers pace.
I thought Utai wasn't going to make the try line the other night:lol:

 

[super_coach]

When Benji put Matty Bar Fridge into space the other night,I have never seen a outside back struggle so much to cover the ground. Okay he got the bacon, but how slow is he. I would like to see the roles reversed, Utai the impact bench player and Brown the starting centre.

Come final time, I think Sheens has shown his cards and Utai will be the back on the bench barring any injuries and that worries me big time, the better sides will dine out on him all night and all day

 

[jason taylor]

Is he slower than Covell?

 

[Vic Mackey]

both very different players

utai:

strengths -
great dummy half running
hard to stop close to the line
experience in big games
always plays at 100 miles an hour

weaknesses -
under the high ball
prone to silly handling errors and brain explosions (i.e trying to start a fight with dean young when we're up by 2 with 30 seconds to go)
really lacks genuine pace

brown:

strengths:
generally safe, good hands, solid defender
can cover 3 positions very adequately
is deceptively quick
back up goal kicker (absolutely nailed the conversion last night)
played well in all 3 finals last year

weaknesses:
will never really be a spectacular player
doesn't add much of an x factor

i really dont know who sheens will go with for the finals, he may even go left field and pick mckinnon, you never know with him. its a tough one really. if you were up by 2 in a grand final with 10 to play i would feel much more comfortable with brown out there, however if were down by 2 and bringing it off our line id love a utai tank like run out of dummyhalf.

personally i think brown deserves it more, he has been great in every game for us over the last 2 years. utai has experienced grand finals and tests, its mitch's turn imo

 

[magpie guy]

both very different players

utai:

strengths -
great dummy half running
hard to stop close to the line
experience in big games
always plays at 100 miles an hour

weaknesses -
under the high ball
prone to silly handling errors and brain explosions (i.e trying to start a fight with dean young when we're up by 2 with 30 seconds to go)
really lacks genuine pace

brown:

strengths:
generally safe, good hands, solid defender
can cover 3 positions very adequately
is deceptively quick
back up goal kicker (absolutely nailed the conversion last night)
played well in all 3 finals last year

weaknesses:
will never really be a spectacular player
doesn't add much of an x factor

i really dont know who sheens will go with for the finals, he may even go left field and pick mckinnon, you never know with him. its a tough one really. if you were up by 2 in a grand final with 10 to play i would feel much more comfortable with brown out there, however if were down by 2 and bringing it off our line id love a utai tank like run out of dummyhalf.

personally i think brown deserves it more, he has been great in every game for us over the last 2 years. utai has experienced grand finals and tests, its mitch's turn imo

It's hard to pick...however, for the finals Mitch Brown would only really be a cover back. I can't see too much impact if he comes on. Plus we have the cover if he isn't there.

ie - wing down is a straight swap. Fullback goes down and Ryan goes back. centre goes down and utai/ryan fill in.

What Utai adds is some impact and forward-like runs when the forwards may be getting tired. I think those discount his mistakes.

I would prefer Mitch Brown starting though if we had any pre-game injuries.

 

[westie]

Utai continues to get a start ahead of Mitch?

Another Sheens decision where I just shake my head in disbelief...

Utai went OK yesterday and he seems to put in a 100%, but I'm always apprehensive about his play.. There were a lot of occasions where he was defending next to Lui last night... dont tell me that the better teams wont be targeting that...

On the other hand,Brown defense seems very safe to me...

I know Lawrence will be back in the run on side for the big games ahead ( and hopefully stays fit), however Brown must be on the bench ahead of Utai...

I must admit, I missed a lot of the game... but wasn't Utai at left centre and Lui at his normal 3 in from the right?

Utai is killer close to the line. I said reasonably tongue in cheek a month or two back that Utai should be our right centre. It was based on a draw and pass for a try inside the 10 that lead to a try. Utai only appeared to be there for one play, presumably a c**k up, if I remember correctly.

But it was the first time since around 2006 that our right centre had an opposition winger shitting himself and racing off his line to make a tackle.

I'd probably just have Brown at fullback, or nothing. And it's too late to change it all up now.

 

[BuffaloRules]

I must admit, I missed a lot of the game... but wasn't Utai at left centre and Lui at his normal 3 in from the right?

Lui defended on both sides at various stages.

Was defending next to Utai for a bit of the match...

Sometimes Lote and Utai switched as well, with Utai on the wing and Lote one in...

 

[Matchball]

Without Utai getting us out of our 20 consistently, i think we would not be in the 8 right now.

 

[macnaz]

Welcome Matchball
Im sure he has added something to the team but I wouldnt claim he is the reason we made the 8. I know he trys and runs hard BUT I cant think of anything really great that has won a game, ive seen manny errors that could of cost us games. I think quit while we're ahead b4 he does cost us.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Brown should be our fullback, IMO.

 

[Matchball]

Welcome Matchball
Im sure he has added something to the team but I wouldnt claim he is the reason we made the 8. I know he trys and runs hard BUT I cant think of anything really great that has won a game, ive seen manny errors that could of cost us games. I think quit while we're ahead b4 he does cost us.

Thanks for the welcome.
My username was inspired by my grand final match ball from the 2005 Tigers premiership signed by Prince and Norton. Grass stains and line paint have me staring at it every time i go home. I love it so.

Utai.
It's the small things, he gets us in better field position for the kick like no other in the team.
I can think of many times where he makes 20 or 30 meters per set and our kick becomes an attacking one, either scoring or applying pressure close to their line.
Without him, we would have been kicking from our 30 or 40 meter line with our ordinary long kickers.
Our short kicking game is our only kicking game.

In saying that, he is a turnstile and makes stupid mistakes but is a crucial link for hard goal line meters.

 

[westie]

Cheers Buffalo,

Did Lui look to combine with Ellis? I reckon that's a key play that will come back to the fore in the semis.

P.s. My GF memorabilia is the seat I broke off jumping up and down like a mad thing.