Dummy half options

[Dragonslayer]

Hunt is an average at best full time hooker. Ok for a sub or maybe during a game for a variety play.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Then we'd lose his kicking game. When he wasn't in the halves our kick metres dropped drastically.
But he's a competent hooker.

If we couldn't get Macca, how does a group of 13.McInnes/JDB 7.Norman 6.Widdop 9.Hunt sound? Between Widdop, Norman and Hunt we should cover our kicking, Widdop can guide the young halves, isn't young enough to block pathways too much and will allow Sullivan a chance to hone his game in CC with the odd appearance if he gets injured or during rep footy. I wasn't interested in Widdop before but I certainly think 9.Hunt 7.Norman 6.Widdop looks more dangerous than 9. McCullough 7. Hunt 6. Norman and if Norman were to not produce a Clune/Widdop or Widdop/Sullivan combo looks a lot better to me than Hunt/Sullivan or Hunt/Clune. I hope Hunt proves me wrong but I just don't see him being a dominant enough halve to take Sullivan under his wing just yet whereas Widdop would do it no problem.

 

[muzby]

Hunt is an average at best full time hooker. Ok for a sub or maybe during a game for a variety play.

And yet, we won more games with him at DH than Cam...

 

[Dragonslayer]

And yet, we won more games with him at Fake than Cam...

That is true, however 50% win rate is still 'average'.

Interestingly, he started 4 times for the Broncos in 2017 at hooker for 50% win/loss. Started 8 times last season for 50% win/loss.

Even more interesting last seasons 'wins' as hooker were against:
Manly - finished 13th
Dogs - finished 15th
Eels - finished 3rd
Broncos - finished last

 

[possm]

Griffin seems confident he can get Hunt and Norman firing. The beauty is that if wither of them don't fire, we have some great talent to replace them. So I'm will to go with Griffin and see how the halves perform and go from there.

In my opinion, if McInnes is to see this season out at the Dragons, and if we don't sign another hooker, then Cam should play in the 9 positions to the instructions that the coaching staff have got for him. Surely there are some good hookers/locks in other parts of the world that we can sign.

 

[George Sancti]

Griffin seems confident he can get Hunt and Norman firing. The beauty is that if wither of them don't fire, we have some great talent to replace them. So I'm will to go with Griffin and see how the halves perform and go from there.

In my opinion, if McInnes is to see this season out at the Dragons, and if we don't sign another hooker, then Cam should play in the 9 positions to the instructions that the coaching staff have got for him. Surely there are some good hookers/locks in other parts of the world that we can sign.

There is a pretty good hooker in Melbourne Possm, but I am not sure that his running style of play is what Anthony Griffin is looking for.

 

[Maxwell]

Yeah I am sure he will get a run regardless of what happens at some stage. I just wonder who if anyone Cronulla would swap for Cam? It would need to be a 500K player and with Brailey at hooker and Rudolph at 13 I really don't see how they even need McInnes. I would take either...

Yeah mate agree with you there,but they are saying he signed on as lock. Don’t understand him at all, is it a dummy spit because Mary was ousted or does he feel he doesn’t want to play for Hook. Makes you wonder about his decision

 

[kit66]

If we couldn't get Macca, how does a group of 13.McInnes/JDB 7.Norman 6.Widdop 9.Hunt sound? Between Widdop, Norman and Hunt we should cover our kicking, Widdop can guide the young halves, isn't young enough to block pathways too much and will allow Sullivan a chance to hone his game in CC with the odd appearance if he gets injured or during rep footy. I wasn't interested in Widdop before but I certainly think 9.Hunt 7.Norman 6.Widdop looks more dangerous than 9. McCullough 7. Hunt 6. Norman and if Norman were to not produce a Clune/Widdop or Widdop/Sullivan combo looks a lot better to me than Hunt/Sullivan or Hunt/Clune. I hope Hunt proves me wrong but I just don't see him being a dominant enough halve to take Sullivan under his wing just yet whereas Widdop would do it no problem.

If Hunt goes to 9 then I'd want Sullivan in the halves, he's the future not Widdop. We have to start from scratch not just buy in a bunch of players in some reckless win at all costs endeavour.
In the early rounds I'd like to see how our incumbent spine of 1. Dufty 6. Norman 7. Hunt 9. Cam go under a new coach, I think that's where we have to start.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

If Hunt goes to 9 then I'd want Sullivan in the halves, he's the future not Widdop. We have to start from scratch not just buy in a bunch of players in some reckless win at all costs endeavour.
In the early rounds I'd like to see how our incumbent spine of 1. Dufty 6. Norman 7. Hunt 9. Cam go under a new coach, I think that's where we have to start.

I agree we have to look to the future and if we pick Sullivan I will be stoked but I also think he needs a bit of a stint in CC and a good mentor. I believe Widdop on a two year deal would be perfect. This year it is Widdop and Norman, in the case of a drop of form or injury Sullivan gets a run here or there while learning from Widdop at training and honing his skills against men week to week in CC. 2022 Norman is gone and our halves are Sullivan/Widdop with Amone pushing Widdop and there is backup. By 2023 Sullivan and Amone are well established as our starting halves, and the likes of Ramsey, Feagai and co are now seasoned NRL players with a couple of pre seasons under the belt. Lomax by this stage will probably be captain. We could probably have a title crack in 2024 onwards.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Yeah mate agree with you there,but they are saying he signed on as lock. Don’t understand him at all, is it a dummy spit because Mary was ousted or does he feel he doesn’t want to play for Hook. Makes you wonder about his decision

Personally if I were in charge at the Sharks I would be more than happy with Rudolph at 13 and Brailey at 9. McInnes is a great player but he would have been much more useful somewhere else like the GC. Oh well good for him, his future is sorted so I wish him well.

 

[muzby]

Personally if I were in charge at the Sharks I would be more than happy with Rudolph at 13 and Brailey at 9. McInnes is a great player but he would have been much more useful somewhere else like the GC. Oh well good for him, his future is sorted so I wish him well.

Soft.

If I was in charge at the Sharks I’d move them to Perth.

 

[kit66]

I agree we have to look to the future and if we pick Sullivan I will be stoked but I also think he needs a bit of a stint in CC and a good mentor. I believe Widdop on a two year deal would be perfect. This year it is Widdop and Norman, in the case of a drop of form or injury Sullivan gets a run here or there while learning from Widdop at training and honing his skills against men week to week in CC. 2022 Norman is gone and our halves are Sullivan/Widdop with Amone pushing Widdop and there is backup. By 2023 Sullivan and Amone are well established as our starting halves, and the likes of Ramsey, Feagai and co are now seasoned NRL players with a couple of pre seasons under the belt. Lomax by this stage will probably be captain. We could probably have a title crack in 2024 onwards.

Sounds reasonable if a little complicated. But Sullivan has been playing against men for quite some time playing bush footy with his dad ( yeah, same team ), it's not first grade I know but there's some big tough boys out there and he handled it no problem.
This is a link to a facebook page with the 2019 Koori Knockout Grand Final featuring Jayden Sullivan and Andrew Fifita among others. Sullivan puts in a great performance, well worth a watch if you've got the time.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Sounds reasonable if a little complicated. But Sullivan has been playing against men for quite some time playing bush footy with his dad ( yeah, same team ), it's not first grade I know but there's some big tough boys out there and he handled it no problem.
This is a link to a facebook page with the 2019 Koori Knockout Grand Final featuring Jayden Sullivan and Andrew Fifita among others. Sullivan puts in a great performance, well worth a watch if you've got the time.

I know he plays in the knockouts but week in week out is a different proposition. He definitely doesn’t lack toughness but I would just like to see him in CC for a bit for his development. For all we know Clune could be next cab off the rank anyway.

 

[possm]

There is a pretty good hooker in Melbourne Possm, but I am not sure that his running style of play is what Anthony Griffin is looking for.

Maybe Griffin will adjust his game plan or get B Smith to adjust his running style from dummy half. The main thing would be to have a good young and talented replacement for McInnes at 9.

 

[Morotti]

As good a player as cam is, my preference is for him to go early. Cant be good for team morale to have your best player and club captain decide to leave.

Hunt goes to 9.

Clune to 7.

I think norman gets a chance at 6 but if CC is not being played, suggest carrying sullivan on the bench to help him along.

Does Dufty start at 1? Or are we priming Ramsey for that spot?

The games i saw BB play, i was not impressed with speed from dummy half. Dont think he is the answer.

 

[Paddles]

Has Jack Bird ever played hooker?

 

[redandwhite4evr]

There is a pretty good hooker in Melbourne Possm, but I am not sure that his running style of play is what Anthony Griffin is looking for.

Yes- the three core skills of a good dummy half are run, pass and kick. Cameron Smith is the master although his running game is not what it was- but I would argue that his leadership makes up for whatever shortfalls have developed in his game.

The key is to keep defences guessing which of the three options you will choose and then execute to cause maximum disruption to the defence. At the moment, Brandon Smith is primarily a running hooker- admittedly devastating in that one area- but doesn't threaten so much with a selective passing game or kicking game. However, he is only 22/23 and can develop these skills and I believe, also develop into the on field leader we need.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Yes- the three core skills of a good dummy half are run, pass and kick. Cameron Smith is the master although his running game is not what it was- but I would argue that his leadership makes up for whatever shortfalls have developed in his game.

The key is to keep defences guessing which of the three options you will choose and then execute to cause maximum disruption to the defence. At the moment, Brandon Smith is primarily a running hooker- admittedly devastating in that one area- but doesn't threaten so much with a selective passing game or kicking game. However, he is only 22/23 and can develop these skills and I believe, also develop into the on field leader we need.

Now that we have signed Macca for 3 years we won't be signing the cheese unfortunately.