Dureau's position only safe up to a point despite heroics

[Frederick]

Dureau's position only safe up to a point despite heroics
By ROBERT DILLON

HE was Newcastle's matchwinner against Manly but there is no guarantee rookie halfback Scott Dureau will retain his spot for Friday night's NRL blockbuster clash with Parramatta.

Dureau was mobbed by his teammates after sealing Newcastle's second straight victory with a memorable golden-point field goal to sink the Sea Eagles 13-12.

In only his third NRL game, the 21-year-old also threw a deft short ball to create the Knights' opening try, to back-rower Chris Houston, nailed a 40-20 kick and was solid in general play.

But Knights coach Brian Smith has maintained since the pre-season that his halves pairing was likely to rotate on a regular basis, and he said yesterday that Chris Bailey would be considered for the Parramatta Stadium clash.

Bailey had a big game on Saturday for Central Newcastle, who beat the Bulldogs 40-18 in the NSW Cup.

"I think they [Dureau and five-eighth Jarrod Mullen] improved a bit on the previous week, both as individuals and as a combination," Smith said yesterday.

"But we're just two games into a season and trying to play eight, 10, 15, 20 games [with one halves combination] that ain't going to happen.

"It's not just them, it's Chris Bailey as well.

"Bails played some outstanding footy yesterday. He looked like Goliath playing in that grade."

Smith said it was "possible" Dureau would make way for Bailey this week.

If that happens, Dureau indicated he would be willing to go with the flow and bide his time until he gets another opportunity.

"Hopefully I get another shot at it next week, but if Brian thinks I should have a week off or someone else should come in, that's fine by me," Dureau said yesterday.

"He's spoken to me about building my career.

"It's not all going to just take off in one season, it's going to happen over time.

"We've had plenty of chats about it, in the pre-season and leading up to games, and I think he knows that I'm pretty happy to go with what he wants.

"I know where he stands."

The former Port Macquarie Sharks junior nonetheless said he felt full of confidence after his heroics on Saturday night.

"I had a really good week at training and felt confident going into the game," he said.

"I was pretty disappointed with how I played the previous week, and I tried to make up for it this week.

"I did a few nice things, which was good.

"Every touch of the ball and every tackle I make, I'm starting to feel more and more like I'm up to that standard."

Dureau, who is a free agent at season's end, said he had kicked a few field goals in the past, including one that put Newcastle into the 2005 Jersey Flegg grand final.

But he said it was a "dream" to land his first one-pointer at NRL level with the game in the balance.

"Last time I played Manly they beat us by 50, so to win like that was just mind-blowing," Dureau said.

"I struck it pretty nice. We were practising them in the wind the other day, mucking around, and I think that might have helped."

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[Pumba]

Mind games from Smithy me thinks.

Fair Dinkum you couldn't drop him!

 

[Jono078]

You think it would be idiotic of the highest order if Smith drops/'rests' him now.

The players seem to love him being their commander, he is getting better (just came off a MOTM performance ffs).

No need to change a winning formula!

We are building this current team, if we change the halves it'll be like going to round 1 again with everyone adjusting to the new halves pretty much.

 

[Yosh]

Yeah defintately cant see him being dropped from the team altogther... BUT if Bailey did play that well this week in NSW cup, maybe he will earn a bench spot for either Ciraldiotoieuslknad (whatever that dudes name was) or Taia... I only saw the first half but Taia didnt seem to have THAT much impct... did he improve in the 2nd half?

 

[Spike]

Smith might be trying to keep him level headed and focused rather than letting him get too confident (If that makes sense) The last thing you want to see after a game like that is Dureau pushing the miricle play when it's not on.

With that in mind though, would Bailey come onto the bench for say Hilder?

 

[gords]

I can see Smith dropping him. He would do the same at Parra. Two weeks for Luke Burt in first grade then back to reggies for 2 weeks. It's one of the reasons h hasn't wone a premiership

 

[Karmawave]

Dureau didn't even pull a point in Dally M scoring - bit of a suprise really.

He should of at least got 1 point surely.

 

[~knights~]

what

who got the points karma?

and who was the guy picking them?

 

[roopy]

I thought Bailey was more impressive in the game v Balmain, but i agree that him and White are both looking like men amongst boys in the NSW cup.
I can see why Smith wants to give Bailey some top grade time, but i can't see why he would disrupt the combination that is developing between Dureau and Mullen.
Maybe he could drop Bails into that troublesome centre spot and have him and Mullen swapping a bit during the game.
Bailey is obviously bigger, stronger and more skillful than previous years - possibly our biggest improver.

 

[Terminator]

Smith if you are reading this for f**ks sake leave Dureau where he is, and put bails in on the bench somewhere

 

[Karmawave]

what

who got the points karma?

and who was the guy picking them?

Wayne Pearce picked them.

Chris Houston got 3, Watmough 2, Faaoso 1.

 

[antonius]

How the hell did Watmough get two??
On the subject of the halves combo, Smith would have rocks in his head if he intends rotating halves every couple of weeks. Seriously if there is any position you want consistancy then it's there, and that wont happen switching them around every week or so.

 

[Rusty]

See thats what annoys me about Smith. Why would you even consider changing the current halves combination when all they need right now is game time? The more Dureau and Mullen play together the better the combination becomes. Unless these are all mind games I can't see what we gain from this.

 

[Terminator]

Smith is a good coach, but I get the feeling he's not mentally stable.

 

[strewth_mate]

I wouldn't expect Dureau to get 3 or even 2 points in the tally, but I suppose he would have been in the frame for 1 - might have been very close in the eyes of Pearce but not quite there.

 

[Jono078]

The thing is..

Say he changes the halves for this Friday and we get belted, what does he do the next week? Drop Bailey and put Walsh in there? Then if we lose that game the media will be onto Smith and then we will go on that downward spiral of every media drilling us and saying players arent happy with Smith and sh*t.

IMO you just have to leave the halves as they are. If they somehow show no improvement then try a Bailey off the bench and possibly Dureau to hooker to cover for Bedsey, then when he comes back on just throw Bailey to #13.

 

[Karmawave]

Smith is a good coach, but I get the feeling he's not mentally stable.

The problem with him, is he is manipulative.

He plays mind games with the players, and the mind games lead to fake motivation ( competing with your team mates for spots ), which ultimately leads to an uptight team not playing for each other.

Fake motivations from mind games is the first way to crumble the spirit of a team.

That is what makes Brad Fittler such a refreshing coach - blokes like him are honest and there is no fake motivation from head games with players.

 

[Master Vippo]

What about Baily at Lock?

 

[Hanscholo]

Mind games. He wont be dropped after that performance. Smith is making sure he gets his feet back on the ground asap. Im glad Bailey is going well but Taia was, well, nothing short of superb against Manly so i cant see him being dropped either.

 

[Karmawave]

This sort of propoganda sh*ts me.

The Newcastle Herald is already a public mouthpiece for all things positive for the Knights, and now Smith the " fake motivation King " decides to use the Herald for his stupid mind game propoganda to supposedly motivate the players.

It is as obvious as day what Smith is trying to do - and its wrong.

What coach talks about dropping their halfback after winning the game in OT and playing so strong throughout - a f*cked up in the head one thats who :lol:

Here we go again...