I really think as bad as Parra are going, a few changes to the team structure and line-up could really help to kick-start them....For example, I had high hopes Esi Tonga could develop, wow was he a disappointment on the weekend. Sure we could give him or Ryan Morgan more time in the centres, but right now, we cannot afford to carry players, so that left centre spot really needs fixing, as do a few other positions
A reshuffle like this could potentially work...and sure some will say its too much of a change, but let's be honest, what do we really have to lose at this point of the season???
1. Burt
2. Sio
3. Roberts
4. Tonga
5. Blair
6. Hayne
7. Sandow
Luke Burt is a first-grader. Sure he does have weaknesses in defence and at times under the high ball at Fullback, but I believe the positives and experience he brings to the side outweigh those negatives. He needs to be back in the team this year.
Ben Roberts can be a useful player in our team. However, he has never been able to lead a team from the halves consistently over long periods, which has been my major criticism of him as a player. He really is rocks or diamonds as some have suggested - its a good analogy. I think his mistake-riddled game when calling the shots down the stretch against the Sharks proves that theory in comparison to his good game against Manly. However, his strengths are running the ball and his solid defence. Right now, we have a glaring hole at left centre right now and Roberts plays mainly on the left side. Sure Roberts has never really played centre, but the position suits his strengths and should limit his weaknesses. Apart from trying him at Hooker or even Lock, I seriously think he could add value to the team in the centres.
Jarryd Hayne has done a 360 in terms of his thoughts about him being a 5/8. I say thank the Lord. He can and ultimately will be successful in that position/role and it MUST happen for Parramatta. The major stumbling block to this in the past was Jarryds unwillingness to play there full-time - now it seems this doesn't phase him as much. I hope he embraces it.
8. Mannah
9. Keating
10. Allgood
11. Hindmarsh
12. Moimoi
13. Maitua
Fuifui Moimoi is actually playing wide left backrow in the main currently and has been for the past few weeks - let's make it a permanetn move. He has the size, speed and mobility to play there in short bursts and right now the team is craving some strikepower in the backrow. Hindy plays as the middle backrow (or pseudo third prop), Reni Maitua plays the wide right backrower, so its not much of a change. Matt Keating is really frustrating the hell out of me right now, especially with that silly offside play the he did 2 or 3 times on the weekend and luckily only got pinged for it once. At the moment, he is our best option at Hooker. Allgood and Mannah are going well enough. Hindy is Hindy.
14. McGuire
15. Paulo
16. Ryan
17. Poore
Sure that type of bench is probably shot on a front-rower, but Hindy plays like one anyway and can still play 80 mins. This bench gives us some versatility and creativity with Paulo (as much as I still believe he is really is a reserve-grader masquerading as a first grader) and McGuire. Matt Ryan looks solid.
Thoughts?
A reshuffle like this could potentially work...and sure some will say its too much of a change, but let's be honest, what do we really have to lose at this point of the season???
1. Burt
2. Sio
3. Roberts
4. Tonga
5. Blair
6. Hayne
7. Sandow
Luke Burt is a first-grader. Sure he does have weaknesses in defence and at times under the high ball at Fullback, but I believe the positives and experience he brings to the side outweigh those negatives. He needs to be back in the team this year.
Ben Roberts can be a useful player in our team. However, he has never been able to lead a team from the halves consistently over long periods, which has been my major criticism of him as a player. He really is rocks or diamonds as some have suggested - its a good analogy. I think his mistake-riddled game when calling the shots down the stretch against the Sharks proves that theory in comparison to his good game against Manly. However, his strengths are running the ball and his solid defence. Right now, we have a glaring hole at left centre right now and Roberts plays mainly on the left side. Sure Roberts has never really played centre, but the position suits his strengths and should limit his weaknesses. Apart from trying him at Hooker or even Lock, I seriously think he could add value to the team in the centres.
Jarryd Hayne has done a 360 in terms of his thoughts about him being a 5/8. I say thank the Lord. He can and ultimately will be successful in that position/role and it MUST happen for Parramatta. The major stumbling block to this in the past was Jarryds unwillingness to play there full-time - now it seems this doesn't phase him as much. I hope he embraces it.
8. Mannah
9. Keating
10. Allgood
11. Hindmarsh
12. Moimoi
13. Maitua
Fuifui Moimoi is actually playing wide left backrow in the main currently and has been for the past few weeks - let's make it a permanetn move. He has the size, speed and mobility to play there in short bursts and right now the team is craving some strikepower in the backrow. Hindy plays as the middle backrow (or pseudo third prop), Reni Maitua plays the wide right backrower, so its not much of a change. Matt Keating is really frustrating the hell out of me right now, especially with that silly offside play the he did 2 or 3 times on the weekend and luckily only got pinged for it once. At the moment, he is our best option at Hooker. Allgood and Mannah are going well enough. Hindy is Hindy.
14. McGuire
15. Paulo
16. Ryan
17. Poore
Sure that type of bench is probably shot on a front-rower, but Hindy plays like one anyway and can still play 80 mins. This bench gives us some versatility and creativity with Paulo (as much as I still believe he is really is a reserve-grader masquerading as a first grader) and McGuire. Matt Ryan looks solid.
Thoughts?
