Dureau article in Sun Herald

[CJG 182]

nail on the head JM. Top post.

 

[perverse]

you don't think tomkins or myler would be worth having a little chat to JM?

im impressed with both of those kids. very young, very skillful.

they are pretty small, though..

 

[CJG 182]

and just in my opinion, neither were anywhere to be seen when their team was struggling. You would have struggled to notice Tomkins was even on the field until the second half.

 

[perverse]

and just in my opinion, neither were anywhere to be seen when their team was struggling. You would have struggled to notice Tomkins was even on the field until the second half.

that's a fair call.. but to be fair again.. the bloke is 20 years old, thrown up against the best team in the world and had his forwards absolutely creamed in front of him. he would be something REALLY special if he could thrive in that environment in the first half.

when his forwards gave him some room he was excellent imo. his kicking game is absolutely pin point, he can pass and... even though he is small... he takes on the line with his step and elusiveness.

 

[CJG 182]

hmm good points.. Either way i was more impressed with him than Myler who was average against france. Age is on both of their sides. Then again both our halves are only around 22, something that seems to be overlooked frequently in here..

 

[chinorocks]

I'd be very surprised if management haven't been on the lookout for a quality halfback...the trouble is there aren't many out there.

People might talk about Todd Carney and Tim Smith, but the reasons are obvious why we steered clear of them, even if you or I don't necessarily agree with them. That's the way management seems to have gone.

Anyone suggesting signing an English halfback is out of their mind...

Didn't stop them from recruiting Mitchell Sargent or Milton Thaiday...neither of which had the potential to improve the team the way Carney, Smith or any other competent albeit troubled halfback could.

 

[Johns Magic]

Didn't stop them from recruiting Mitchell Sargent or Milton Thaiday...neither of which had the potential to improve the team the way Carney, Smith or any other competent albeit troubled halfback could.

Firstly, that was the old management back when media scrutiny wasn't as bad as it is today.

Secondly, Sargent and Thaiday were angels compared to Carney and Smith.

 

[Johns Magic]

you don't think tomkins or myler would be worth having a little chat to JM?

im impressed with both of those kids. very young, very skillful.

they are pretty small, though..

To be fair I haven't seen much of those two, so can't really comment on them as individuals. But the English game is so much different to the NRL at the moment, particularly the style of attack, that I just can't see English playmakers transferring their success over here. I think obviously it would be possible, but that it would not be an easy thing to do and could take a few seasons to do. I don't follow the ESL closely enough to know where he is these days, but that Thorman kid that came over to the Eels a few years back as a talked-up young halfback was an absolute flop.

Further to the point, the top couple of young English halfbacks aren't gonna sign for the Knights for a small paypacket. The huge risk and outlay just make the whole idea seem a bit of a pipe-dream to me.

 

[Joker's Wild]

To be fair I haven't seen much of those two, so can't really comment on them as individuals. But the English game is so much different to the NRL at the moment, particularly the style of attack, that I just can't see English playmakers transferring their success over here. I think obviously it would be possible, but that it would not be an easy thing to do and could take a few seasons to do. I don't follow the ESL closely enough to know where he is these days, but that Thorman kid that came over to the Eels a few years back as a talked-up young halfback was an absolute flop.

Further to the point, the top couple of young English halfbacks aren't gonna sign for the Knights for a small paypacket. The huge risk and outlay just make the whole idea seem a bit of a pipe-dream to me.

Totally agree JM.

We need to be looking at the NYC rather than the ESL for our next recruitment. Trouble is, all the good NYC halves are locked up on 2-3 year contracts and the ones that are left are no better than what we currently have.

Its a very lean market right now in terms of halves.

 

[Serc]

All arguments aside, I'm just looking forward to watching the first few rounds of next year to see how things go

 

[Alex28]

I'm not talking an established halfback that can walk straight in to the team - that's not going to happen. Even a quality, proven NYC halfback that we can ease in to the team potentially? We don't appear to have even been able to achieve that!

It appears to me that management seem happy with the two inept options we have...

 

[Alex28]

Lol love the irony.

One Scotty fanboy supporting another without adding any quality debate to the discussion. Expect nothing less.

 

[CJG 182]

aw didn't mean to upset you princess but if you look below that post that got the tears flowing you'll see i actually discussed the issue with people capable of reasonable arguments.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Yet you still reply. Says more about you than me champ.

I'm just highlighting that we have made a crucial error in not recruiting a new halfback for 2010. We seem to be happy recruiting forwards - of which we have a plethora of - when what we don't have anywhere near enough of is halfbacks that can compliment Mullen, of which we have none.

Of course the Scotty Fan Club's opinion differs to mine, and that's fine. We participate in a forum which is all about expressing and debating opinions - of which Sneaky a response such as "F*** your boring" is not really debating (l'll leave your apparent inability to spell alone).

So...besides having a first grader waiving back to you in the car park on a consistent basis...what does Scotty actually add to the first grade squad?

(Hope that was a little more entertaining for you Sneaky)

There's a fan club? All I have heard over the last 6 months is people bagging him out. Who is actually in this "Fan Club" you speak of?

 

[Newie is God's Country]

I'd be very surprised if management haven't been on the lookout for a quality halfback...the trouble is there aren't many out there.

People might talk about Todd Carney and Tim Smith, but the reasons are obvious why we steered clear of them, even if you or I don't necessarily agree with them. That's the way management seems to have gone.

Anyone suggesting signing an English halfback is out of their mind...

If that is a reference to my comments on Tomkins then I should point out I was merely commenting on his talent. Not that we should sign him. I was actually having a stab at Russell Crowe and his Burgess recruitment. Burgess has along way to go before he will be considered a world class prop or backrower, although I rate him highly. John LAng is hardly the coach he needs for that.

 

[Whats Doing]

To be honest I would even go for Holdsworth who has been released. As least he is a half back to allow Mullo to 5/8, is an ok organiser, has a good kicking game, is a much stronger defender that Scott and slightly quicker. For $50k, he would improve the half back dilemma we currently have.

 

[Yosh]

We don't need extra garbage in my opinon. With a little gametime I think Scotty will be at least as good as Holsworth by early next season. I guess it is very unfair to judge Scotty as he wasnt given a go week in week out in his 7 shirt.

 

[Rolla]

We don't need extra garbage in my opinon. With a little gametime I think Scotty will be at least as good as Holsworth by early next season. I guess it is very unfair to judge Scotty as he wasnt given a go week in week out in his 7 shirt.

For that to happen he needs to stand up and earn it....he hasnt. hopefully this will be the year, hopefully he has it in him to improve. (for the sake of our season cos his consistant performance is our only crack at top 4 in my opinion)

 

[Serc]

There's a fan club? All I have heard over the last 6 months is people bagging him out. Who is actually in this "Fan Club" you speak of?

Yeah mate I was one of its first members

You wouldn't have heard much out of myself and others because we've thrashed to death that topic during 08 and 09. For me I don't think there's much to be gained by carrying on about it until we see him play the first few games of next season.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Yeah mate I was one of its first members

You wouldn't have heard much out of myself and others because we've thrashed to death that topic during 08 and 09. For me I don't think there's much to be gained by carrying on about it until we see him play the first few games of next season.

Speaking of thrashing things to death, I hear Sean Rudder played plenty of football in the halves and is only 30/31. Maybe he could be the answer to our problems whilst we wait for a halfback to come through the grades :sarcasm: