Dugan/Widdop/Marshall/Farrah Spine??

[Get2dachopper!]

In 2005 BM had a guy by the name of prince on his inside. He was in career best form, the guy had the ball on a string. Go back and watch their charge to the GF in 2005, Prince was unbelievably good. It then took sheens 5 years to figure out that to get the best out of Marshall, he needed an organising 7. Again no supprise when Lui is the half in 2010 and 2011 they were again very dominant. It's not too hard to figure out, Marshall is not and will never be an organising halfback. How do we fix our current problem in the halves? Widdop needs to be halfback with Marshall as a running 5/8.

 

[The Nick]

I think Widdop would make a good halfback.

 

[TruSaint]

I think Widdop would make a good halfback.

I think so as well, although many pundits smarter than I suggest his best spot is at FB.

 

[Old Timer]

TruSaint

For mine Benji is like a rabbit in the headlights because trying to play to a structure is completely foreign to him.

Organisational skills are not part of his DNA. The try scoring stats for last year clearly show that we lacked structure at critical times and that was the half's job.

Mary has to pick Widdop or Benji at 6 and then send the other to the Cutters to mentor the young one's unless that is of course what he got Mc Crone for although I firmly believe he will be on the bench for 1st grade.

Get2dachopper! has really hit the nail on the head re how it really was at Balmain and I agree that 6 is by far and away BM best position.

I disagree with him that if BM is 6 that GW should be 7 as the same thing will happen we will have a half playing behind the line. IMO GW is not robust enough for the rigours of playing 7 he has "silky" skills and that's why 6 is good for him.

I've said many times when it comes to 1st grade pick the specialist for each position.

In conclusion just because someone commands a big pay check doesn't mean that we have to play him in 1st grade and force others to play out of position to accommodate him it just means we were stupid in our purchasing policy.

 

[Vasilevsky]

In 2005 BM had a guy by the name of prince on his inside. He was in career best form, the guy had the ball on a string. Go back and watch their charge to the GF in 2005, Prince was unbelievably good. It then took sheens 5 years to figure out that to get the best out of Marshall, he needed an organising 7. Again no supprise when Lui is the half in 2010 and 2011 they were again very dominant. It's not too hard to figure out, Marshall is not and will never be an organising halfback. How do we fix our current problem in the halves? Widdop needs to be halfback with Marshall as a running 5/8.

I agree. Not sure why Mary hasn't already done it.

 

[watatank]

Our halves have too much responsibility and I don't think our halves are capable enough to have all that...everyone knows that we are working our plays to set them up for a big shift and a big play off Widdop or Marshall. We need help at fullback and hooker, we need to look at players that will take pressure off the halves, not players that rely on the halves to do all the thinking, directing, ball playing, kicking, etc. That should be the focus. It makes little sense to change the halves now.

 

[giboz71]

In conclusion just because someone commands a big pay check doesn't mean that we have to play him in 1st grade and force others to play out of position to accommodate him it just means we were stupid in our purchasing policy.

But surely you don't buy a player for 500k plus to play them in the Cutters? That's what would happen if either Benji or Widdop were dropped.

Benji is a great player but I've said all along, he was not the right fit for us at the time, as we already had Widdop who was having an outstanding year playing in Benjis position. I know it was tempting to get someone of Benjis stature to come on board, but in reality it's just contributed to our already unbalanced spine.

Widdop to half could work, but 5/8 is where belongs. If I had to choose between the two it would be Widdop as he is younger and likely to his peak in the next year or 2. And he is also our goal kicker.

I hope Benji and Widdop can work out how to play together as they are both great players. But I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Old Timer]

But surely you don't buy a player for 500k plus to play them in the Cutters? That's what would happen if either Benji or Widdop were dropped.

Benji is a great player but I've said all along, he was not the right fit for us at the time, as we already had Widdop who was having an outstanding year playing in Benjis position. I know it was tempting to get someone of Benjis stature to come on board, but in reality it's just contributed to our already unbalanced spine.

Widdop to half could work, but 5/8 is where belongs. If I had to choose between the two it would be Widdop as he is younger and likely to his peak in the next year or 2. And he is also our goal kicker.

I hope Benji and Widdop can work out how to play together as they are both great players. But I'm not holding my breath.

You've answered your own question I am afraid.

If it doesn't work 1 to the Cutters is the only alternative.

 

[giboz71]

You've answered your own question I am afraid.

If it doesn't work 1 to the Cutters is the only alternative.

1) Will never happen. The fallout of putting a 500k player to the Cutters would be too much (given we've just fixed our cap issues). They will just persist playing someone out of position.

2) Who is the alternative to play 7? Hutchison? Given Mary's reluctance to give him FG time, hardly think its' likely he would replace a former Golden Boot winner, no matter how screwed our attack is.

 

[grandorient]

I just don't think Hutcho is ready yet.

GO

 

[Old Timer]

1) Will never happen. The fallout of putting a 500k player to the Cutters would be too much (given we've just fixed our cap issues). They will just persist playing someone out of position.

2) Who is the alternative to play 7? Hutchison? Given Mary's reluctance to give him FG time, hardly think its' likely he would replace a former Golden Boot winner, no matter how screwed our attack is.

Alas I agree with you it most probably will not happen but if it were my team it certainly would happen

 

[Old Timer]

I just don't think Hutcho is ready yet.

GO

Interesting to see if Hutch thinks he is ready and if any other club thinks he is ready.

If we dont blood him we will never know and just like the Bird fiasco will find out when it is all too late

 

[TruSaint]

I just don't think Hutcho is ready yet.

GO

Tend to agree GO.
Big lad with big wraps on him.
To be honest, havent seen anything yet to excite me, but must say havent seen enough of him as well.
An option moving forward maybe.

 

[Vasilevsky]

I agree Benji is playing out of position and he should move to 5/8 with Widdop to 1/2 but the bottom line, for all the talk about Benji playing out of position, last season he was one of the Dragons best, probably the best back by some margin though Dugan was also good, playing at 1/2.

What going on with that Lebanese homie any way??? FFS, the club needs to get him signed up!

 

[saints4ever]

I agree Benji is playing out of position and he should move to 5/8 with Widdop to 1/2 but the bottom line, for all the talk about Benji playing out of position, last season he was one of the Dragons best, probably the best back by some margin though Dugan was also good, playing at 1/2.

What going on with that Lebanese homie any way??? FFS, the club needs to get him signed up!

Reports are officially staying put. Sorry Vas. No homie for you

 

[nrlnrl]

Reports are officially staying put. Sorry Vas. No homie for you

Yep.

Dean Ritchie reporting that an announcement to be made within 48 hours that Farah will play out his NRL career with the Wests Tigers.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-comes-to-an-end/story-fni3gpz1-1227628846158

Robbie Farah staying at Tigers as contract stand-off comes to an end
an hour ago
Dean Ritchie ExclusiveThe Daily Telegraph

STAR hooker Robbie Farah will officially play out his NRL career at Wests Tigers.

The stunning development will be formally announced by Wests Tigers management in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Daily Telegraph can reveal the club will issue a media statement confirming Farah will now fulfill the final two years of his contract at Concord.

The cease fire ends an ugly three-month standoff between Farah and the club. The Tigers initially told the star hooker he was free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs. The saga has threatened to rip the Tigers apart and made the club a laughing stock. But the revelation that Farah will stay will delight fans and members. Wests Tigers will now pay Farah his $1.9 million contract money for seasons 2016 and 2017.

The Daily Telegraph understands Wests Tigers will also apologise to fans and members for their treatment during the Farah drama. There won’t be any official apology to Farah. Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe was contacted on Monday night by The Daily Telegraph but declied to comment.

Farah asked for a release to join another club only last week. Any interest the Sydney Roosters had in Farah subsided though with relevations incumbent hooker and co-captain Jake Friend was unsettled at the club’s approach to Farah.

Pascoe has worked overtime in the past month to rectify the differences between the club and Farah. It was a saga Pascoe inherited — not initiated. Farah will now have to battle away to win his place in Wests Tigers team to start next season. After earlier telling Farah he would play reserve grade next season, the Tigers bought Manly hooker Matt Ballin last month.

It remains to be seen how Farah’s retention will affect head coach Jason Taylor. Taylor and Farah have been at loggerheads since the coach told his then captain to move on from the embattled club. The pair will simply be forced to tolerate one another.

Farah, 31, will now end his successful career at Wests Tigers as a one-club NRL legend. At 33, when his contract expires, Farah will either retire or play a final season in England’s Super League. Farah wanted to remain in the NRL at least next season to have one final crack at playing State of Origin for NSW. Throughout the entire drama, Blues coach Laurie Daley stood staunchly beside Farah.

The Farah-Tigers situation split the club, some players almost being pushed to support either Farah or Taylor. Farah stood down as captain last month. It would appear Wests Tigers can now finally move forward, leaving the entire Farah controversy for the history books.

 

[Vasilevsky]

Reports are officially staying put. Sorry Vas. No homie for you

Ok. What about that Cherrington homie they were planning to be a long-term replacement for Farah? Can he pass from dummy half?

 

[BennyV]

Ok. What about that Cherrington homie they were planning to be a long-term replacement for Farah? Can he pass from dummy half?

Very good young hooker, great passing and running game. Would sign, but I'd say he will continue to be blooded into first grade properly, off the bench with Farah as a mentor.

 

[Jubileeboy]

Why don't we wait and see how Havili works out?
We have enough hookers ATM.

 

[giboz71]

The only reason we went after Farah was that he is a significant upgrade on Rein. Not sure there any more hookers out there that fit this bill. Best to move on now, Rein backed up by Havili isn't too bad.

Better now to focus on the Roberts/Hiku option, This will help the team significantly.