Cameron Mcinnes

[TruSaint]

I say we should keep McInnes as our number 9 but not as our captain. I would like to see Griffin and his coaching staff work on McInnes's attacking game and ensure some of the defence up the middle is not so dependant on McInnes.

If the above can be effected without weakening our defence up the middle, McInnes will have more time and energy to attack from dummy half which would be good for our attack.

I'd also like to see McInnes cut out some of those silly penalties which at times has costed Saints dearly.

Having said all of that, McInnes is our best defender by far and nearly always leads the line-speed duties when it really matters. So keeping those good things and at the same time addressing some of the negatives will only strengthen the effeciency of our forward pack.

Who deserves the "C" next to his name ?

Have a look at our leadership group and tell me who deserves the honour more than Cam.

 

[muzby]

Who deserves the "C" next to his name ?

Have a look at our leadership group and tell me who deserves the honour more than Cam.

1. Dufty
2. Ravalawa
3. Lomax
4. Silverman (c)
5. Periera
6. Bird
7. Hunt

8. Vaughan
9. McInness
10. Lawrie
11. Sims
12. Ford
13. Merrin


There’s your 2021 primers right there

 

[getsmarty]

• St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says Dragons unlikely to chase Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith
  Shockwaves were sent through the NRL on Monday when a secret email revealed that Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith would be granted an early release.
  
  Matt Logue
  NCA NewsWire
  December 8, 202010:29am
• Video
• • Image
  
  
  St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says it is unlikely the Dragons will pursue Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith for the 2022 season, but the club has the salary cap space to make a couple of purchases over the off-season.
  
  Shockwaves were sent through the NRL on Monday when a secret email sent to 14 clubs revealed that Smith would be granted an early release from the Storm.
  
  Melbourne will allow their champion hooker to leave after next season provided the club secures “commensurate compensation” in return.
  
  The return of Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant has prompted Smith to look for another club, with his manager Stan Martin saying in the email his client wants to “play exclusively at hooker”.
  
  Smith, 24, will remain at Melbourne next season before seeking a release from the final year of his deal in 2022. He is earning around $425,000 a season but could attract more money on the NRL open market.
  
  
  
  
  Brandon Smith wants to play exclusively at hooker. Picture: AAP Image/David CroslingSource:AAP
  
  Griffin confirmed St George Illawarra also received the email about Smith’s release but admitted the club hadn’t discussed his name.
  
  He said the Dragons were focused on signing at least two players over the summer with space in the salary cap.
  
  “I don’t know about (Smith),” Griffin told The Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday.
  
  “We’ve got people like Cam McInnes, Ben Hunt. and a couple of young hookers in the system.
  
  “That is something we haven’t addressed, but we do have some capacity left, which we are being patient with.
  
  “Over the off-season we will pick up a couple of more purchases, but we certainly haven’t been down that path to look at Brandon.”
  
  Griffin, though, was happy to have a laugh about Smith’s release email being sent to most of the competition.
  
  
  
  
  St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has revealed he is leaning towards shifting million-dollar man Ben Hunt back to halfback following his stint at hooker last season. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.Source:Getty Images
  
  “It is a nice story that one – everyone got an email,” he said.
  
  “I think everyone got an email because they are covering their tracks by the sounds of it.”
  
  On the field, Griffin revealed he was leaning towards shifting million-dollar man Ben Hunt back to halfback following his stint at hooker last season.
  
  Hunt played eight of his 19 games last season at starting hooker, including another four games off the interchange bench.
  
  Griffin, though, believes the Queensland and Australian representative is a No 7.
  
  “Ben is a halfback who has played finals football, grand finals and Origin,” he said.
  
  “He can do it at halfback, and he is coming to a point in his career where he is 30, so to really fulfil his career it is important for him to play his best football over the next two to three years.”
  
  https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/s...h/news-story/a5c008e3ef93400af941766820f326fd

 

[possm]

Who deserves the "C" next to his name ?

Have a look at our leadership group and tell me who deserves the honour more than Cam.

I'm glad that I don't have to make that decision. Griffin and his coaching staff have been around for a very long time and so, I'm sure will be able to select a player to be captain.

However, to answer your question, for a long time now, I have thought that Sims would make a good captain and that such an appointment would likely improve his game.

While I'm at it, I'd like to see Griffin bring back Leilua. With a little bit of work I believe he would be a good fit in our prop rotation or a good partner on the edge with Sims.

 

[TruSaint]

I'm glad that I don't have to make that decision. Griffin and his coaching staff have been around for a very long time and so, I'm sure will be able to select a player to be captain.

However, to answer your question, for a long time now, I have thought that Sims would make a good captain and that such an appointment would likely improve his game.

While I'm at it, I'd like to see Griffin bring back Leilua. With a little bit of work I believe he would be a good fit in our prop rotation or a good partner on the edge with Sims.

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree.

IMHO, Sims is lucky to start in the 13 based on form. I know he had a great season a few years back, but he is nowhere near consistent enough.

He will start though because our stocks are low and he brings experience.

You mentioned Cam giving away dumb penalties.
How about Sims ?

 

[possm]

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree.

IMHO, Sims is lucky to start in the 13 based on form. I know he had a great season a few years back, but he is nowhere near consistent enough.

He will start though because our stocks are low and he brings experience.

You mentioned Cam giving away dumb penalties.
How about Sims ?

Mary and his staff kept playing Sims injured. Sims should have been kept off the field until he was fully recovered. The Club, the Team, the fans and Sims himself, were not done any favours when playing him injured. We still lost so many games for different reasons and Sims was part of the problem because of this.

I say, watch Sims perform this season and watch the leadership he displays on the field trying not to be bias in your analysis.

 

[TruSaint]

Mary and his staff kept playing Sims injured. Sims should have been kept off the field until he was fully recovered. The Club, the Team, the fans and Sims himself, were not done any favours when playing him injured. We still lost so many games for different reasons and Sims was part of the problem because of this.

I say, watch Sims perform this season and watch the leadership he displays on the field trying not to be bias in your analysis.

I hope he plays well.
I hope they all play well.

I dont think Im biased by the way. I call it as I see it.

If Cam wasn't putting in year in year out, I would call him out like I have Hunt, Norman, and others.
I was a massive fan of signing Hunt, and gave credit to the club at the time. Its not bias to suggest that some players just do their job week in week out at the highest level.

He leads by example, and our terrible position on the ladder would be even worse without him.

 

[possm]

I hope he plays well.
I hope they all play well.

I dont think Im biased by the way. I call it as I see it.

If Cam wasn't putting in year in year out, I would call him out like I have Hunt, Norman, and others.
I was a massive fan of signing Hunt, and gave credit to the club at the time. Its not bias to suggest that some players just do their job week in week out at the highest level.

He leads by example, and our terrible position on the ladder would be even worse without him.

I have found over the years that leading by example is not so effective when your team does not follow your actions. A true leader is one who has won the respect and loyalty of his team, and because of this, would follow his actions, words and commands.

 

[blacksafake]

Who deserves the "C" next to his name ?

Have a look at our leadership group and tell me who deserves the honour more than Cam.

No one

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Who deserves the "C" next to his name ?

Have a look at our leadership group and tell me who deserves the honour more than Cam.

Can McInnes should be Captain for the next 5 years.
After that I predict the best Centre in the game Zac Lomax to be Captain around 2026.
McInnes I think will develop into a Ben Hornby type of Skipper.

 

[BLM01]

I'm glad that I don't have to make that decision. Griffin and his coaching staff have been around for a very long time and so, I'm sure will be able to select a player to be captain.

However, to answer your question, for a long time now, I have thought that Sims would make a good captain and that such an appointment would likely improve his game.

While I'm at it, I'd like to see Griffin bring back Leilua. With a little bit of work I believe he would be a good fit in our prop rotation or a good partner on the edge with Sims.

No Leilua is too loose in the head and switches off in defence. Yeh he can offload but that ship has also sailed for me out of Wollongong and Kogarah harbour.
But @possm I was with you with Sims originally before they selected Csm
I thought Sims would make a good captain, fire em up and say follow me.
But after watching him play injured or not past 3 years he sits back and waits for work in attack so now no.
After watching Cam over the same time there is no one else I would rather.
He will grow into the role and if there was anyone in that side that deserves to give a spray to others behind the try line it’s Csm.
All our forwards should watch him on field and be inspired and say “I’d better look to help him out.”

 

[Old Timer]

No Leilua is too loose in the head and switches off in defence. Yeh he can offload but that ship has also sailed for me out of Wollongong and Kogarah harbour.
But @possm I was with you with Sims originally before they selected Csm
I thought Sims would make a good captain, fire em up and say follow me.
But after watching him play injured or not past 3 years he sits back and waits for work in attack so now no.
After watching Cam over the same time there is no one else I would rather.
He will grow into the role and if there was anyone in that side that deserves to give a spray to others behind the try line it’s Csm.
All our forwards should watch him on field and be inspired and say “I’d better look to help him out.”

Mc Innes will grow as a captain this year because Hook will empower him and disempower loafers like Norman who were able to call the shots under Mc Fookknuckle.

Norman had far too much sway and I agree with you re Sims being less enthusiastic and slowing up.

Our team will be far more disciplined and far better drilled under Hook and therefore a captain will be allowed to do exactly that.

 

[Slippery Morris]

McInness has more than proved himself to be a great capt. There is nothing more he could have done.

As for his attack, I thought he did well at lock as he could read what his hooker was up to and was always in support. I would rather Hunt at hooker and McInness at lock but that is not going to happen. I also think Fittler picked McInness because he played hooker as he showed some versatility. Before that he was pigeon holed into being just a hooker.

 

[possm]

Mc Innes will grow as a captain this year because Hook will empower him and disempower loafers like Norman who were able to call the shots under Mc Fookknuckle.

Norman had far too much sway and I agree with you re Sims being less enthusiastic and slowing up.

Our team will be far more disciplined and far better drilled under Hook and therefore a captain will be allowed to do exactly that.

Mark my words, Sims will fire up this year with Mary gone and Griffin ensuring that injured players are kept off the field until fully recovered and fit to play.

 

[Forster Dragon]

Dragons should sign McInnes long term as player and captain.Absolute role model and I am sure if his teammates put in as he does every week we would be a very hard team to beat.

 

[possm]

McInness has more than proved himself to be a great capt. There is nothing more he could have done.

As for his attack, I thought he did well at lock as he could read what his hooker was up to and was always in support. I would rather Hunt at hooker and McInness at lock but that is not going to happen. I also think Fittler picked McInness because he played hooker as he showed some versatility. Before that he was pigeon holed into being just a hooker.

1. McInnes fully concentrates on his own game.
2. From dummy half, he often sends the ball the wrong way.
3. He often gives away silly penalties in the ruck.
4. With McInnes as Captain, we have finished very poorly over the last two years.
5. His defence is very solid but when Hunt is at dummy half, he provides more go forward and better variety kicking in general play.
6. The main problem has been, the team has not followed McInnes's lead in defence or line speed.
7. The most notable thing for me is, McInnes does not stick up for his team when poor referee decisions are made and rarely challenges players who do dumb things on the field.

 

[Inisai Toga]

1. McInnes fully concentrates on his own game.
2. From dummy half, he often sends the ball the wrong way.
3. He often gives away silly penalties in the ruck.
4. With McInnes as Captain, we have finished very poorly over the last two years.
5. His defence is very solid but when Hunt is at dummy half, he provides more go forward and better variety kicking in general play.
6. The main problem has been, the team has not followed McInnes's lead in defence or line speed.
7. The most notable thing for me is, McInnes does not stick up for his team when poor referee decisions are made and rarely challenges players who do dumb things on the field.

Points 2,3,5,5,7 agree! I’d go Simms, not through a platter of available choice, but the responsibility may change is attitude and his approach to his own game in the Autumn of his career.

 

[TruSaint]

At 95% efficiency.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Being captain is is light years away from just yelling and screaming on the football field at players and Refs.
The captain is also the focal point of the clubs values off the field. They are the Clubs representative at functions etc. They must speak well and have 'some' intelligence and knowledge, hence why Widdop was captain. Yes, on-field performance is always key as lead by example and I think McInnes does this exceptionally well. Again yes, he has some 'flaws' in his game that need to be addressed, but I'm confident Hook and Co have this on their minds (this applies to all our squad).
I'm confident of McInnes as captain, and I'm also confident our next captain is being groomed.

Sims, may be an aggressive type player, but that alone doesn't create a captaincy button. Vaughany would also fall into this catagory. However, every good captain requires some good vice-captains (the lieutenants), this is where Sims and Vaughan fit into the scheme of things.

As I have stated many times, we are in new territory, we have a real coaching crew who will take us on a completely different road to what we have known (players included). Let's not judge baaed on our recent past, let's look to what our new future brings.

 

[ALSGI]

Being captain is is light years away from just yelling and screaming on the football field at players and Refs.
The captain is also the focal point of the clubs values off the field. They are the Clubs representative at functions etc. They must speak well and have 'some' intelligence and knowledge, hence why Widdop was captain. Yes, on-field performance is always key as lead by example and I think McInnes does this exceptionally well. Again yes, he has some 'flaws' in his game that need to be addressed, but I'm confident Hook and Co have this on their minds (this applies to all our squad).
I'm confident of McInnes as captain, and I'm also confident our next captain is being groomed.

Sims, may be an aggressive type player, but that alone doesn't create a captaincy button. Vaughany would also fall into this catagory. However, every good captain requires some good vice-captains (the lieutenants), this is where Sims and Vaughan fit into the scheme of things.

As I have stated many times, we are in new territory, we have a real coaching crew who will take us on a completely different road to what we have known (players included). Let's not judge baaed on our recent past, let's look to what our new future brings.

100% spot on mate.

I’d definitely stick with McInnes for a 2yr extension as Capitano. I’d like to see our new coaches tweak his running game and voice on the field (think Hornby screaming at players and refs) and Soward work on a short kicking game.
He’s not only currently our best option as Hooker and Capt but a bloody good one at that imo.

Agree our new Capt is currently being groomed and Lomax will make a great one on current trajectory. He’s already in the senior playing group at his age (21yo) just imo.