General Discussion Thread

[Iamback]

They have the best halfback in the world on that side...

Maybe critta just isnt as good as we all want to believe or think!

I mean, has he ever carved up like tago has so far?

Yes i know he has kiks but tago is carving players up all on his own at this point..

Martin is a SOO second rower. He is straight out of the boyd cordner mould.

I dont know what the answer is on the right but its not lack of class of the inside men..

I mean capewell was a great 2nd rower. He was also a SOO player.. was a skillful ball runner and player... didnt fire last year much either so your idea is flawed and doesnt add up..

People last year wanted to think critta was close to manus level but i said last year hes not even close and nothings changed my opinion of that.. hes a good better than avg solid defensive centre.

Some short memories on here

2020 - On the left
22 games. 17 tries. 7 try assists. 113 run metres per game.

So to answer your question yes he has. Whoever is left centre carves up. How to get the right going is the question

2019 - Ivan moved Kiks to the right to ignite it
2020 - Critter was on the left. The right a few options got tried
2021 - Again tried a few different options

Despite what a few people here think Cleary can't do everything.

Look at the left. Kikau has 3 try assists himself. Defence can't read if he is going to get it himself
Set up the outside guys or kick it

Compare that to the right. Martin is going to run the line that is it. Easy to come and smoother it because it is predictable

 

[Iamback]

I have no doubt in the world that Martin is a middle

Yep doesn't offer anything other then a hard runner.
No surprise Yeo has popped up on the right more now

 

[CCJohnC]

Interesting that four ex-Panthers were Dally M Judges last week-end. Is that a record?

 

[Crashtest]

Critter has been very underwhelming but with Fatrell and maybe Turbo out he has a shot at a NSW spot if he fires

If Crichton is selected, then they might even start Martin at second row, instead of him coming off the bench.

Then it would be Yeo, Cleary, Martin, Crichton to combine on right hand side plays.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

If Crichton is selected, then they might even start Martin at second row, instead of him coming off the bench.

Then it would be Yeo, Cleary, Martin, Crichton to combine on right hand side plays.

I would think they would likely start the new centre in the left; that is where Mitchell played last year..

 

[Crashtest]

I would think they would likely start the new centre in the left; that is where Mitchell played last year..

With Mitchel and Turbo both out injured, we may need 2 new centres for game 1

 

[ColdWetPanther]

With Mitchel and Turbo both out injured, we may need 2 new centres for game 1

Is Turbo definitely out? Thought he was only out a month?

 

[Crashtest]

Is Turbo definitely out? Thought he was only out a month?

He should return before game 1, but will Manly want to release him to play it given his injury history?

 

[TheEroticGamer]

He should return before game 1, but will Manly want to release him to play it given his injury history?

Not up to Manly.

 

[Iamback]

If Crichton is selected, then they might even start Martin at second row, instead of him coming off the bench.

Then it would be Yeo, Cleary, Martin, Crichton to combine on right hand side plays.

I don't rate Martin as a backrower but the other options aren't performing.

The fact we will have both halves and the lock in the side can only help him and Critter get starts

 

[Fangs]

The all penrith right side would be tempting for NSW. Could even possibly have To'o.

If Fittler wont choose the injured players who lack game time then it will be very interesting to see what he comes up with.

Lomax is well off Origin selection atm. Staggs doing a bit better but not up there. If he wants experience then Wighton and Dylan Walker come to mind but neither have played fulltime centre for a long time and aren't in the freakish category of Tom/Latrell.

Jesse Ramien might be a chance. Pretty sure he is NSW.

Last and definately least would be 'King' Gutho at centre.

 

[Iamback]

Crichton looks to be quiet but decent enough numbers. Once Cleary gets up to speed he will benefit

132m a game ave. Behind only Edwards and May
3 tries.
3 linebreaks
6 tackle busts
3 errors
0 penalties

The big one for me is 20 possessions a game.
Only the spine and Yeo are in front.

He is coming in and looking for work atleast which is what you want

Compared to the other centres mentioned in this thread he stacks up well.

Even Manu has less run metres, less touches and less line breaks

 

[Iamback]

The all penrith right side would be tempting for NSW. Could even possibly have To'o.

If Fittler wont choose the injured players who lack game time then it will be very interesting to see what he comes up with.

Lomax is well off Origin selection atm. Staggs doing a bit better but not up there. If he wants experience then Wighton and Dylan Walker come to mind but neither have played fulltime centre for a long time and aren't in the freakish category of Tom/Latrell.

Jesse Ramien might be a chance. Pretty sure he is NSW.

Last and definately least would be 'King' Gutho at centre.

Origin sides are often picked on combinations. Incumbents should get in for this reason with a couple of games under their belt.

To'o back round 9. Gives him 3 games to prove his fitness

 

[WestyLife]

Some short memories on here

2020 - On the left
22 games. 17 tries. 7 try assists. 113 run metres per game.

So to answer your question yes he has. Whoever is left centre carves up. How to get the right going is the question

2019 - Ivan moved Kiks to the right to ignite it
2020 - Critter was on the left. The right a few options got tried
2021 - Again tried a few different options

Despite what a few people here think Cleary can't do everything.

Look at the left. Kikau has 3 try assists himself. Defence can't read if he is going to get it himself
Set up the outside guys or kick it

Compare that to the right. Martin is going to run the line that is it. Easy to come and smoother it because it is predictable

Which makes most people assume players on the right aren't as good. Maybe Momirovski was a victim of it as well who knows.

 

[Smug Panther]

The all penrith right side would be tempting for NSW. Could even possibly have To'o.

If Fittler wont choose the injured players who lack game time then it will be very interesting to see what he comes up with.

Lomax is well off Origin selection atm. Staggs doing a bit better but not up there. If he wants experience then Wighton and Dylan Walker come to mind but neither have played fulltime centre for a long time and aren't in the freakish category of Tom/Latrell.

Jesse Ramien might be a chance. Pretty sure he is NSW.

Last and definately least would be 'King' Gutho at centre.

If he picks Guffo I hope QLD win

 

[Iamback]

Which makes most people assume players on the right aren't as good. Maybe Momirovski was a victim of it as well who knows.

That is it hopefully a fit Edwards and Cleary getting up to speed help it.

Other metrics need to be used. Crichton is having more involvements than Tago. More run metres and a few other things are the main thing

Tries alone Tago 4. Crichton 3.

so even despite the right being less dangerous it isn't like he is having a terrible year

 

[Fangs]

If he picks Guffo I hope QLD win

2020 was the worst year of the century so far and we all know why.

 

[snickers007]

That is it hopefully a fit Edwards and Cleary getting up to speed help it.

Other metrics need to be used. Crichton is having more involvements than Tago. More run metres and a few other things are the main thing

Tries alone Tago 4. Crichton 3.

so even despite the right being less dangerous it isn't like he is having a terrible year

The same conversations happened last year. Claims that our right side attack was terrible etc. But the numbers don't lie. We scored 120 tries last season:
40 were left edge players
42 were middle players and halves
38 were right edge players

The left side stuff looks a lot prettier, we tend to have more bodies in motion, deeper runners, crisper passing. But we often have Cleary, Yeo and Luai setting up left side raids, we very rarely see Luai do the same for the right. Our entire shape and plays differ from left to right for a variety of reasons.

As you've said, there are more metrics than just tries scored. Tago and May are making double the errors, and giving away double the penalties. Staines and Crichton's PCM % is higher.

Honestly I think Critta gets a bad wrap sometimes because he doesn't appear to have a lot of urgency. His speed is deceptive because he has such long legs - he takes fewer strides, almost looks like he's in slow motion. But his involvement this season has been great. And considering he's had 2 different halves inside him, and a second rower who doesn't pass, I'm more than comfortable with where he's at.

 

[Iamback]

The same conversations happened last year. Claims that our right side attack was terrible etc. But the numbers don't lie. We scored 120 tries last season:
40 were left edge players
42 were middle players and halves
38 were right edge players

The left side stuff looks a lot prettier, we tend to have more bodies in motion, deeper runners, crisper passing. But we often have Cleary, Yeo and Luai setting up left side raids, we very rarely see Luai do the same for the right. Our entire shape and plays differ from left to right for a variety of reasons.

As you've said, there are more metrics than just tries scored. Tago and May are making double the errors, and giving away double the penalties. Staines and Crichton's PCM % is higher.

Honestly I think Critta gets a bad wrap sometimes because he doesn't appear to have a lot of urgency. His speed is deceptive because he has such long legs - he takes fewer strides, almost looks like he's in slow motion. But his involvement this season has been great. And considering he's had 2 different halves inside him, and a second rower who doesn't pass, I'm more than comfortable with where he's at.

Stats back up that assessment

take the Left

May/To'o - 6 tries, 1 TA
Tago - 4 tries, 2 TA
Kiks - 2 tries, 3 TA
Luai - 1 try, 6 TA

Compare to the right

Staines - 1 try, 0 TA
Crichton - 3 Tries, 0 TA
Martin - 3 Tries, 0 TA
SOS - 0 tries, 3 TA
Cleary 0 tries, 0 TA

So you have 12 try Assists to 3 on the left.

Yeo put Martin over on the right.
Edwards 3 try Assists are all on the right

Of course Cleary will end up with some too.

So will end up closer as the year moves on

 

[ColdWetPanther]

The all penrith right side would be tempting for NSW. Could even possibly have To'o.

If Fittler wont choose the injured players who lack game time then it will be very interesting to see what he comes up with.

Lomax is well off Origin selection atm. Staggs doing a bit better but not up there. If he wants experience then Wighton and Dylan Walker come to mind but neither have played fulltime centre for a long time and aren't in the freakish category of Tom/Latrell.

Jesse Ramien might be a chance. Pretty sure he is NSW.

Last and definately least would be 'King' Gutho at centre.

So the King it is then?