eels vs warriors trial

[Suitman]

The thing that amazes me about all this is that these are trials.
Aren't trials for "trialling"?

And one would suspect that Wags has played enough five eighth for Brian Smith to know what he is (or is not) capable of at five eighth.

So what in the hell is he in there taking up valuable trialling time?

Wouldn't it be a better use of trial time to be blooding Thorman and co instead??

Suity

 

[The Colonel]

Wouldn't it be a better use of trial time to be blooding Thorman and co instead??

YES - the voice of reason has spoken and hallelujah - he has hit the nail square on the head! :lol:

 

[Suitman]

Thanks Sanders.

I just don't understand why Wagon of all people is playing that position at this stage of the season.

I'm keeping an open mind this year STILL about Brian Smith (or still using my "Get out of Jail free card" as Hollywood J would have everyone believe), but selections like this really shit me.

There are so many options at Parra at the moment but we are bombarded with the same old same old.

Boring.

Suity

 

[Twizzle]

Doesn't say much for Smithy's imagination.

 

[Pazza]

Parra have 2 talented fresh young halves, they might be a bit green for first grade but they gotta be better than a rough defencive forward that has near 0 creativity and a player that is so fragile that he could recieve a magor injury getting out of bed.

Thorman and Witt are the way to go

 

[eelandia]

remember that Smith is looking for size and bulk this year - not necessarily skill. As long as he feeds the backs (unlike last year - agreed) it'll be ok.

No, it will NOT be OK.
Apart from just feeding the backs, could we also ask the 5/8 to:

- read and set up the play
- dart through a gap with a bit of speed
- have a decent kicking game

Wagon just does not rate against Anasta, Fittler, Campbell, Lockyer, Barrett, etc . To really top it off, we've also forced an ex-Dally M 5/8 out of position so that we can fit Wagon into the starting lineup.

I think the game has changed a little - don't know if you really need a 5/8 to do all those things. Dykes can do it all from half - it'll be with Morris keeping them guessing from hooker. Wagon will attract more than one defender (unlike Dykes) and like I said, as long as he pops the ball more the play will be set up by our very good outside backs.

If you want our D to improve, you'd rather someone with a bit of size so the other teams don't steamroll us like last year. Our little fellas were always getting targeted last year - and invariably stomped on.

 

[Pazza]

I know we are putting alot of emphasis on going forward, but there is alot more to going forward than big forwards running hard and straight.

Kicking game is also very important. Cant see too many kicking options with just Morris and Dykes there. Thorman and Witt are needed to offer some variety. A superior kicking game will help us gain so much more ground. Look at how good we were in 2001 thirving off Taylor,Buettner, Marsh, Hodgson and Drews kicking. The roosters kick so well, no wonder they have been to 3 grand finals in the bast 4 years.

Creating gaps is also very important, obviously if you are breaking the defence then you are getting down the paddock a hell of alot quicker, insted of running into opposition players over and over again. Also the aim of the game is to out score the opposition team, bashing them off the field is great but we need to score points.

Running game, I cant see any dangerous running abilities with Wagon and Dykes in the halves. We need players willing to carry the ball in both hands and use some fancy footwork to get pass players. Speed that will turn half gaps into full gaps.

Wagon and Dykes just arnt right for where this team is going, Witt and Thorman need to be in the team. Dykes would be alright at 5/8 but you gotta have Witt and Half and Thorman on the bench ATLEAST!

 

[Hurriflatch]

Until about round 25 last year Dykes was never fully fit.

In the last two rounds and again in the 7's Dykes' improved a lot. He ran the ball much more.

I like the idea of having Wagon on the 1st 20 mins against the bigger teams, then once things quiet down brining Witt on to carve up the other teams.

against Souths Witt would be able to carve them up from the 1st min.

Thorman has played about 20 mins in Australia and people are already calling for him to replace both Wagon who has played for QLD, selected for a Kangroo Tour and has played 139 NRL games with 111 for Parra and Dykes who has won a Dally M (5/8 of the year 2001) and played in 154 games.

 

[Pazza]

no, what we are saying is this:

6.Dykes
7.Witt

13.Wagon

14.Thorman

Wagon at 5/8 is a big big no no

 

[Eelectrica]

I don't like the idea of have two inexperienced halves on the field at the same time throughout the regular season. In a trial it makes sense because it is a situation that could crop up in (hopefully) rare occasions during the regular season and it's something to prepare for.

Dykes and Witt should be our no.1 halves combo as much as is possible throughout the year. Witt will learn the position a lot better pared with Dykes who is a good and experienced player. Dykes just needs to prove he can stay on the field without copping another bad injury and everything else will fall into place.

Not sure what to do with Wags but a number lower than 8 ain't it. I thought the second row but there is no way he displaces Caylo or Hindy. Really only leaves the bench or lock.

 

[Suitman]

Geez there has been some crap written here tonight.

I am open minded about a million things.
But I will not stand for Wagon at 5/8th.

It is the most backward step since reality TV became a buzz word.

Suity

 

[El Diablo]

Geez there has been some crap written here tonight.

I am open minded about a million things.
But I will not stand for Wagon at 5/8th.

It is the most backward step since reality TV became a buzz word.

Suity

One wonders why we sign a bloke like Thorman if Smith is going to put Wagon at 5/8.

 

[Phillips]

well, ive seen wagon play great games at 5/8th......pity it was in the NRL game on my PS2 #-o

 

[bartman]

no, what we are saying is this:

6.Dykes
7.Witt

13.Wagon

14.Thorman

Wagon at 5/8 is a big big no no

Yep, exactly!! Dykes' two good games at the end of last year were at 5/8. Wagon's last good game at 5/8 was... um... a very long time ago!

Witt played well at half last year, a lot better than Green did. Leave him there! If it ain't broke don't fix it - or at least don't try and fix it with something that never worked (Wags at 5/8 . That's where Thorman should come into the equation (if needed).

 

[Parraren]

Thanks Sanders.

I just don't understand why Wagon of all people is playing that position at this stage of the season.

I'm keeping an open mind this year STILL about Brian Smith (or still using my "Get out of Jail free card" as Hollywood J would have everyone believe), but selections like this really sh*t me.

There are so many options at Parra at the moment but we are bombarded with the same old same old.

Boring.

Suity

Couldn't agree more. Wagon has been named at 5/8 for the past 2 trials now when it's blatantly obvious to all bar Brian Smith that this is his weakest position. Thorman, Witt & Dykes need to spend as much time as possible playing together in the halves in these trials so that come Round 1 they have had plenty of time to work on combinations etc...

Dykes & Witt didn't play much football together at all last year and I would consider them to be our best halves combo at this stage. They need to be playing in these trials together. Throwing Wagon in at 5/8 makes no sense to me at all! Thorman still needs more time to settle in.

Having said that, I never try to second guess Brian Smith because for all we know Wags & Dykes will play all the trials in the halves and then come Round 1, well who knows who will start......???? :roll:

 

[Freak]

There is credit in NAMINIG Wagon at 5/8. As it has all you guys guessing it is also having the same affect with the opposition.

Hopefully come Canterbury all will be revealed and we will get a better understanding of Smith's intentions.

It's way to early to be concerned about field positioning.

The other point to consider is that Smith may be protecting Thorman and Witty.
No need for injuries at this time of the year. He may feel Wags can look after himself a little better.

 

[PB]

I like the fact that we are playing the Warriors in a trial. its a good test for the defence because of the ad-lib style of play the Warriors use.

 

[Twizzle]

well, ive seen wagon play great games at 5/8th......pity it was in the NRL game on my PS2 #-o

And that's the only place it will ever happen.