Connor Tracey - fullback

[coolumsharkie]

Gee Kennedy showed some lovely hands at times making the extra man to put the winger over.
Very skilful.
Maybe fullback just ain't his spot in NRL

He sure did, knows when to chime in, great footy brain just is lacking in other areas as a modern winger. His HU's out of our 10 were terrible, not the safest hands in a contest and woeful positioning in defense.

 

[ghoti]

I’m probably the only merkin that hasn’t given up on Kennedy but good to see some options to put some pressure on him regardless.

Yep I'm a Kennedy fan...I feel like the forum doesn't give enough credit to how quickly he was put in firsts last year and how much of a tough job he had at the back with one of the worst defences in the comp in front of him. I thought he linked well in the backlkne (years ahead of Holmes' development in his early years in that regard), supported well and for the most part did his job defensively. He was overwhelmed at times...also likely exhausted from a combination of the rule changes, the long time off and having to do more work than any fullback should have to. He was always an all round standout for the Jets and by all rights should have had another year with them last year instead of being thrust into first grade.

Maybe he just doesnt kick on as a first grader, but i thought he did everything right for where he's at.

 

[coolumsharkie]

On top of that he's got that natural footy brain, which is kinda rare.

 

[txta2]

Tracey isn't big enough for fb

 

[Goblin_Shark]

Tracey isn't big enough for fb

183cm and 87kg.

He is 2cm taller and 7kg heavier than Papenhauzen.

5cm taller and 2kg lighter than slater at slaters career end.

 

[Eion]

Yeah size is not his issue. Include barba and a bunch of others in that discussion.

The real question is defence. Not just the high ball and his own positioning, but talking and organising.

 

[Tiger Shark]

imo who ever wins the spot out of Tracey or Kennedy we still need a massive upgrade in that position for 2022 to go back to being a Top 4 contender.

We have the hooker, we have the 5/8th albeit his injured and might not be the same, we have a halfback contracted for the next 3 years whether we like it or not.

Now we need a fullback.

Don't ask me who, got no idea. Hynes ?

 

[txta2]

183cm and 87kg.

He is 2cm taller and 7kg heavier than Papenhauzen.

5cm taller and 2kg lighter than slater at slaters career end.

The 2 most evasive and fastest fullbacks in the last decade. I get your point , but Tracey is not even close to these guys skill wise. Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[DJDL]

Yeah size is not his issue. Include barba and a bunch of others in that discussion.

The real question is defence. Not just the high ball and his own positioning, but talking and organising.

This is my concern. I thought Kennedy was fairly good last year, without setting the world on fire.
As has been pointed out, he probably was expected to spend another year in reggies working on the areas of his game which need improving.

I've not seen anything of him in the lower grades, but as Ghoti said he was a standout there by all reports.

I'm prepared to give him a little more time to see how he develops. It's nice to have competition for the spot though.

 

[ghoti]

This is my concern. I thought Kennedy was fairly good last year, without setting the world on fire.
As has been pointed out, he probably was expected to spend another year in reggies working on the areas of his game which need improving.

I've not seen anything of him in the lower grades, but as Ghoti said he was a standout there by all reports.

I'm prepared to give him a little more time to see how he develops. It's nice to have competition for the spot though.

Seeing the Jets play at Henson Park over the years, Kennedy was scoring and making breaks at close to the same level Val Holmes was.. and I think he's way ahead as a ballplayer too. I guess he doesn't have he acceleration or natural strength to break tackles that Holmes did, but if maybe persevering with Val (who was very average at fullback) was a lesson that Bomber learned by observation? He must think WK isn't quite up to it if he's looking for quick fixes

 

[Chimp]

Seeing the Jets play at Henson Park over the years, Kennedy was scoring and making breaks at close to the same level Val Holmes was.. and I think he's way ahead as a ballplayer too. I guess he doesn't have he acceleration or natural strength to break tackles that Holmes did, but if maybe persevering with Val (who was very average at fullback) was a lesson that Bomber learned by observation? He must think WK isn't quite up to it if he's looking for quick fixes

See this brings up one of the challenges Bomber (and us fans) have this year.... With Bomber being in the last year of his contract and no certainty to be retained, he needs quick fixes, preserving and accepting some short term pain for the long term benefit is a very risky play for a rookie coach who needs a new deal. But that could lead to some very short sighted decision making. Be interesting to see how it plays out - but is exactly why a club should never let their coach get into the last year of their deal. For me, if you’re undecided, you flick them this off season and get a new man in, going into a season with the coach not knowing their position is fraught with danger.

 

[Quicksilver]

See this brings up one of the challenges Bomber (and us fans) have this year.... With Bomber being in the last year of his contract and no certainty to be retained, he needs quick fixes, preserving and accepting some short term pain for the long term benefit is a very risky play for a rookie coach who needs a new deal. But that could lead to some very short sighted decision making. Be interesting to see how it plays out - but is exactly why a club should never let their coach get into the last year of their deal. For me, if you’re undecided, you flick them this off season and get a new man in, going into a season with the coach not knowing their position is fraught with danger.

The managers would f**king love that.

 

[ghoti]

See this brings up one of the challenges Bomber (and us fans) have this year.... With Bomber being in the last year of his contract and no certainty to be retained, he needs quick fixes, preserving and accepting some short term pain for the long term benefit is a very risky play for a rookie coach who needs a new deal. But that could lead to some very short sighted decision making. Be interesting to see how it plays out - but is exactly why a club should never let their coach get into the last year of their deal. For me, if you’re undecided, you flick them this off season and get a new man in, going into a season with the coach not knowing their position is fraught with danger.

I partially agree, but think rather than flicking him they should just give some clarity. Either they want him or they don't, this 'lets see at round 10' thing has almost never worked for club stability has it? Good management would be to either re-sign him for 2022 so he can coach properly (as you indicated), or sign the replacement and tell Bomber this is his last year to do what he pleases with the next coach working on 2022.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Article saying he’s been wanting to make the move to fullback for a while but realises you need a full offseason to prepare. He hit up Bomber and he was already planning it. Thinks it’s his best position.

Atleast he’s buying into it

 

[Goblin_Shark]

He hit up bomber?

See confidence.

Does WK speak?

 

[crazy pineapple]

Connor Tracey reminds me of Brett Kearney

not a long term prospect but can make do a job with unknown speed and flair

i think Kennedy deserves first shot back there, reshuffle accordingly when SJs back

 

[bluefox68]

Connor Tracey reminds me of Brett Kearney

not a long term prospect but can make do a job with unknown speed and flair

i think Kennedy deserves first shot back there, reshuffle accordingly when SJs back

Nah - this “the incumbent deserves first shot” line does nothing for me...

I think we’d all love to see Tracey kill it at 1...

AND Moylan play the way he’s being talked up...

Then, when SJ comes back, Chaddy can play for the Jets...

 

[Goblin_Shark]

Imagine the vlog about the jets game on the weekend...

 

[bluefox68]

Imagine the vlog about the jets game on the weekend...

WASSUPPP!!!!!

 

[imasharkie]

Nah - this “the incumbent deserves first shot” line does nothing for me...

I think we’d all love to see Tracey kill it at 1...

AND Moylan play the way he’s being talked up...

Then, when SJ comes back, Chaddy can play for the Jets...

YAY someone talking sense.