Grothe vows he's going nowhere

[bartman]

Grothe was never to blame for all of our defensive problems, or even most of them, and did cop more of a bagging than he deserved for that.

But if he ends up not going anywhere and rotting away in reggies for the next two years on a high contract, without having worked on the deficiencies in his own game that became obvious (kick chase, brain explosion passes), then that comes down to his fault, Not no-one else but the club's fault.

Injuries happen from time to time, but he does needs to get some form on the board/field as far as showing football motivation is concerned. He should have been really owning that Jim Beam Cup (or whatever it's called these days) during his stint, with the talent the guy has that earned him Australian/NSW selection.

Here's hoping 2009 is year of the guru, but if it isn't the excuses have to stop and he needs to be pushed.

 

[Parra Guru]

I didn't mean it in that way, I believe the club wasted extra money when they re-signed him.

Seriously, the guy barely copes with the schedule of league, could you ever have seen him going to Rugby, where he'd have to learn a whole bunch of new rules as well?

He played his hand beautifully IMO.

 

[fish eel]

actually, just reading that article, this really jumped out:

'if you ever want to go elsewhere and get another offer that's better than the one you're on now, we'd never hold you to this one'

Do we tell that to everyone? FMD!

 

[Parra Guru]

:lol: Professionalism at it's best!

 

[fish eel]

Why dont we just sign everyone to ten year deals and tell 'em they can leave whenever. FMD.

 

[strider]

cos then we'd be stuck with alot of duds for 10yrs when our coaching staff never improve them :lol:

 

[fish eel]

cos then we'd be stuck with alot of duds for 10yrs when our coaching staff never improve them :lol:

so the status quo!

cool

 

[jk13]

its up to you eric, either improve yor defence or try and get a contract with playstation for guitar heroes 4

 

[HevyDevy]

You do realise that the second-rower and centre have far more say on the defence than the winger don't you jk?

Grothe made some mistakes but he was also a victim of Joel Reddy's poor reads.

 

[forward pass]

Was Grothe named in the 35 man squad? If not - how does that work?

 

[Stagger eel]

Was Grothe named in the 35 man squad? If not - how does that work?

yes - why wouldn't he??

 

[jk13]

hevy, i see your point, but i would luv to go thru a reel of erics tackles. if he can't use his hip and shoulder, he is one of the most awkward tacklers in the game. makes me cringe watching it as his jersey grabbing technique leaves him clutching at dust. i want eric in the team next year and his success does rely on having a strong defender next to him. but by strengthening his main weakness, it will also lessen the pressure on the guys around him

 

[forward pass]

yes - why wouldn't he??

I just couldn't remember seeing his name - thats all.

 

[HevyDevy]

hevy, i see your point, but i would luv to go thru a reel of erics tackles. if he can't use his hip and shoulder, he is one of the most awkward tacklers in the game. makes me cringe watching it as his jersey grabbing technique leaves him clutching at dust. i want eric in the team next year and his success does rely on having a strong defender next to him. but by strengthening his main weakness, it will also lessen the pressure on the guys around him

Well that's why he needs someone like Ben Smith alongside him, because Eric lacks the ability to cover for any errors his inside man makes. It's why that side can look like a shambles at times because all three of them f**k it up together.

 

[Pazza]

it didnt matter who we put on that right wing, they all did a sh*t job!

 

[Redback71]

what he lacks in defence he more than makes up for in offence and that was evident this year when he was gone.

 

[Ryan]

Grothe is a great winger IMO. Like others have alluded to, Ben Smith makes a great deal of difference to him. Actually, it would be tough for any winger to have to go through the number of changes in the backline that happened to you last year.

Example. Michael Robertson struggled to get across the line in Canberra because he was in and out of the line up more than Jenna Jameson on a weekend shoot.

He comes to manly, plays something like 70 odd games straight without injury or major backline changes, and he scored like 17 tries this season.

Ben Smith has the capability of (whilst not being finesse), fending an opponent, just getting through the line with a tackler attached, meaning an outside defender generally comes on him as well, leaving Grothe well and trully free to run hard. One damaging runner (Smith) opponents can deal with. TWO (Smith & Grothe), teams struggle.

I can't remember a Manly vs. Parra game in recent years when the two play, that you don't see the play I mentioned above. It pisses me off. Grothe running down the sideline fending off Robbo, Stewie, and Burns it was back then.

In my personal opinion, he should never have been dropped. Fully fit, your backline should ALWAYS be IMO:-

1. Burt
2. Hayne
3. Inu
4. Smith
5. Grothe
6. Mateo
7. Finch

and Hagan - STICK with it. Build some combinations and chemistry for goodness sakes. That is an international strength backline.

 

[HevyDevy]

On 2008 form, Burt can't be there.

You can't have a fullback running for 50 metres a game.

 

[The Engineers Room]

Hayne and Inu did no better than Burt.

Ryan, I like the backline but not Finch at 7. He is one of the major problems we had. Sure he is all heart and grit but we were way too one dimensional and I think he was a major part of that.

 

[jk13]

to me inu seems to be a winger, keep hayne at fullback, burt backup at wenty. need to promote a new centre from either wenty or toyoata cup. mite b way off but can horo play centre? Please leave mateo in the forwards, we need another organiser to complement funch