Corey Payne: Your Opinion

[brokendigit]

Does anyone have huge wraps on Corey Payne?

He seems to be travelling along without being noticed, & doing a pretty good job, but is that because he's an average player in a dominating pack, or a top-quality player in his own right?

He is only 21, & he was re-signed this year until the end of 2007, so he is obviously held in high regard by the Club - Doust mentioning things like "leadership material" when he was re-signed.

I'm interested in hearing some opinions from fans who may have seen him play more than I have...

 

[weasel]

He was in great form in the early part of the season but has been in and out with injury since and hasn't really returned to that level yet. He's got size and speed and he hits the line hard. Willing defender. Also very aggressive, and he'll do well in his career if he can harness that aggression and use it constructively, e.g. trampling defenders, instead of negatively, e.g. giving away silly penalties.

 

[brokendigit]

weasel, has he lost size due to his injury problems?

He's listed as 96kgs (same as Ben Creagh!), but seems to play lighter than that...

 

[Willow]

Very impressive no nonsense stuff. He just carts the ball up and softens them up around the ruck. Justin Poore and Michael Henderson are the same.
Every team needs a few guys like that in the squad, although Payne seems to have some extra skills there and bit of a step when needed.
Lots of potential.

 

[Jamesy]

Lots of potential.

We said that about Brett Firman and look how he ended up. I'm still not 100% convinced with Payne yet, he's yet to do anything special in my books.

 

[brokendigit]

We said that about Brett Firman and look how he ended up. I'm still not 100% convinced with Payne yet, he's yet to do anything special in my books.

I still think Firman will have a big impact - when he can string a couple of seasons together...

I'm ready for the bucketing! ;-)

 

[Ribs]

I think he has huge potential. His enthusiasm alone stands out in my opinion and he gets stuck in.... looks to be a good ball player and very mobile to go with it. Perfect bench player.

 

[Saint 60]

yup..yup another youngun i like him, id like to see him not get hurt a bit more tho -
altho i reckon he feels like that two - lol

 

[Southernsaint]

I'm a big fan.

He's been hampered by injury & hasn't had enough game time to show his real potential...

 

[Slippery Morris]

Payne is very impressive. Hits the line hard and good in defence. Scored a couple of good barnstorming tries early in the season.

A player of the future as he will be a definate starter once Timmo retires.

 

[Dragonheart]

He's got size and speed and he hits the line hard. Willing defender. Also very aggressive, and he'll do well in his career if he can harness that aggression and use it constructively, e.g. trampling defenders, instead of negatively, e.g. giving away silly penalties.

This could have easily been written about Jason Ryles 2 or 3 seasons ago

 

[Drew-Sta]

This could have easily been written about Jason Ryles 2 or 3 seasons ago

I know I'm going to get flamed for saying it, but Jason Ryles is overrated. For a guy so big, he just doesn't hit the line with any intensity at all, and his sporadic charges of strength usually end up with a dropped ball, penalty or offload to nobody that ruins the good work he just did.

My cousin and a friend pointed out a reason why he is 'soft' when tackling or hitting the ball up. You look at the size of his quads, and he's got chicken legs when compared to his upper body. If he could get some leg power into the equation it might see him hit the line and actually push himself through.

You look at his tackling technique too, and compare it with say Thommo. Thompson has a lot of technique and drives in his tackles, Ryles just grabs players and falls on them.

 

[Godz Illa]

He's overrated because you're expecting too much from him. You see his immense size and expect nothing short of total destruction of his opposition. In actuality, when he is in form (ie the last month) he is an extremely effective prop. He is an accomplished yards-maker, renowned for his offloading ability, gets a quick play-the-ball away, and a solid, hard-working defender. A valuable member of our team.

 

[Dragonheart]

.....and a loyal club man.

 

[Wobbygong]

I can tell you Ben Creagh no longer weighs 96kgs, don't rely on the official website for accurate weights and heights. Manu is listed as 101 cms tall lol.

Creagh's up around 103-105kg

 

[Dragonwest]

Ryles might not be such a hard hitter all the time but hes bloody good around the ruck and secures the middle better than any prop around.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Corey Payne is a good, honest player among great players IMO. Solid, workhorse & hits the line hard. When there's a salary cap limiting you're money you need to find these kind of guys to fit into the squad and he does it well.

As for Ryles and comments about him - he is at his best when the team are moving forward. He gets buckled back all too often when he is running at an advancing defence. However He had his best game in ages against the cowboys last week, and this was when we were trampling the defence and constantly on a roll forward. He rarely gets us out of trouble with big runs, more keeps the momentum going. Defencively he goes well.

I actually think he would be more suited in the second row, running wide.

 

[Jono078]

Tell you what I hate, and im not even a Dragons supporter, though I dont hate them either. But Payne is getting way more wraps than Poore, Poore has been complete opposite of his name. He is the one with a massive future imo.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Tell you what I hate, and im not even a Dragons supporter, though I dont hate them either. But Payne is getting way more wraps than Poore, Poore has been complete opposite of his name. He is the one with a massive future imo.

I actually think the opposite as far as wraps are concerned, but agree he will have a big future, and will step in to no 8 nicely when we lose Bailey.

 

[Jono078]

Probably, I dont follow the wraps that youse give your juniors, but from what I hear on telly, Poore gets none. And I think he is a great front rower, always over the advantage line on avg and solid in defence.