Forward Pack

[Eels Dude]

I dont see where the man love for Lasolo comes from. He never seems to be able to break the line.

After 2 games (per NRL website), he has only racked up 125 metres on the ground from 20 hit ups which equates to a meek 6.3 metres per hit up (contrast from Horo - 195m average of 6.8 metres per HU, Smith - 78 meters average of 7.1 metres oer HU, Shacks - 207 meters, 7.1 meters per HU, Allgood - 206 metres, 7.4 meters per HU, FFMM 225 meters, 8.7 meteres per HU, Hindmarsh 195 meters - 7.0 meters per HU and Mannah - 211 metres, 7.3 meters per HU).

For a second rower who plays wide off the ruck these are actually poor numbers. I am telilng you he is not first grade material.

He could be though. He's playing way too many minutes for a player with little experience. Smith should be in the starting side, Lasalo on the bench. He'd be better used that way, less pressure on him, and with limited game time and used as an impact player he'd be better suited to that.

 

[hindy111]

If Ben Smith starts i dont mind.But off the bench id rather Webb.Smith doesnt give you impact.Its like MK.Start or drop them.I think Ben smith is a good player but in our team where we already have Hindy who is our tackle machine im not sure we want another one.
If we where all coaches we all would pick different teams for different styles.I would also consider shacks at 12 and Webb on bench as extra prop-Of course until reni is ready to go

 

[The Engineers Room]

Ben Smith is ineffective if he doesn't run at the gaps out wide. His best attacking play is to get a flat ball approaching the line and try and run at the gap or draw defenders in as a dummy runner.

 

[Eels Dude]

If Ben Smith starts i dont mind.But off the bench id rather Webb.Smith doesnt give you impact.Its like MK.Start or drop them.I think Ben smith is a good player but in our team where we already have Hindy who is our tackle machine im not sure we want another one.
If we where all coaches we all would pick different teams for different styles.I would also consider shacks at 12 and Webb on bench as extra prop-Of course until reni is ready to go

I wouldn't. Shacks has been a gun as a reserve prop in our past two games. He's made more impact in attack in two games than Webb has made in the last two seasons. Not only that, but he can make a s**tload of tackles too, something Webb cannot do. Our prop rotation has been terrific this year, especially considering Poore is out. It's just a matter of how you shape the back row.

 

[Eelementary]

I thought we did well with a back-row of

11. Hindmarsh
12. Morrison
13. Robinson/Wagon (can't remember who started)

Two tackling machines and one warrior who never stopped, in attack or defence.

A back-row of

11. Hindmarsh
12. Smith
13. Horo

is pretty good, IMO. Horo is the attacking gun; Benny the defensive enforcer who can cause problems out wide; and Hindy, I feel, would be more effective playing a Nathan Cayless role (ball-playing at and before the line, etc). Hindy just doesn't have the line-breaking ability any more, sadly.

Anyway, my point is that I think Ben is a very good second-rower, and I think he's fine in attack. Not in the Whatmough or Lewis moulds, but he does his job - makes decent metres, scores a try and just smashes everyone in defense.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I dont see where the man love for Lasolo comes from. He never seems to be able to break the line.

After 2 games (per NRL website), he has only racked up 125 metres on the ground from 20 hit ups which equates to a meek 6.3 metres per hit up (contrast from Horo - 195m average of 6.8 metres per HU, Smith - 78 meters average of 7.1 metres oer HU, Shacks - 207 meters, 7.1 meters per HU, Allgood - 206 metres, 7.4 meters per HU, FFMM 225 meters, 8.7 meteres per HU, Hindmarsh 195 meters - 7.0 meters per HU and Mannah - 211 metres, 7.3 meters per HU).

For a second rower who plays wide off the ruck these are actually poor numbers. I am telilng you he is not first grade material.

I don't know what you're talking about?

The guy has played 4 career first grade games and has 1 line break.

That's not a 'good' number, but it's not terrible either. And far too small a sample size to be criticising him on.

Did you want to use the 2 games this year to make the case that he doesn't make any run meters?

What about his 2 games last year where he made 7.93 meters per HU? So only Moi Moi would make more meters according to your numbers for this year...


I think he's worth persevering with - I think he'll only improve as the year goes on!
Ben Smith is a walking penalty waiting to happen.

 

[Spot On]

I don't know what you're talking about?

The guy has played 4 career first grade games and has 1 line break.

That's not a 'good' number, but it's not terrible either. And far too small a sample size to be criticising him on.

Did you want to use the 2 games this year to make the case that he doesn't make any run meters?

What about his 2 games last year where he made 7.93 meters per HU? So only Moi Moi would make more meters according to your numbers for this year...


I think he's worth persevering with - I think he'll only improve as the year goes on!
Ben Smith is a walking penalty waiting to happen.

Yep. About all he is good for. A high shot to the head at the worst possible time. Needs to stop doing it.

 

[strider]

well we need someone to hit a bit hard in defense and put a bit of fear into the opponents .... ridiculous to start smith from the bench tho - there's no point to that