Hoffman to Warriors

[JJ]

Phil Blake and John Simon too.

Forgot Blake, but again as I recall he played just one game, off the bench in 89?

Simon should never have been near origin, but yeah forgot about him altogether

 

[Iafeta]

Trivia:

There were a number of Kiwi Warriors playing in the Superleague rebel SOO series of course....the one where we got ripped off by the Ref stopping a a late NZ Try to prevent Millions in losses for a NZ final.

An anomaly of the History books , though they did play the real Queensland team with the majority of the Queensland side being Broncos......Nth Queensland the Dogs and Canberra all sported significant Queensland Reps in the Superleague.

the ARL SOO was equally as limited in it's relevance that year since it had a patch work Queensland team in lieu of the Kiwis playing the real one.

Nothings really changed now mate. Its State of Choice. Just without New Zealand being a formal part of it.

 

[JJ]

Trivia:

There were a number of Kiwi Warriors playing in the Superleague rebel SOO series of course....the one where we got ripped off by the Ref stopping a a late NZ Try to prevent Millions in losses for a NZ final.

An anomaly of the History books , though they did play the real Queensland team with the majority of the Queensland side being Broncos......Nth Queensland the Dogs and Canberra all sported significant Queensland Reps in the Superleague.

the ARL SOO was equally as limited in it's relevance that year since it had a patch work Queensland team in lieu of the Kiwis playing the real one.

Being an ARL follower, I disagree... the Superleague SOO was a non-event, the real one in which Vautin coached the bunch of no names to beat a VERY strong NSW side was magic - I've always supported NSW, but that was very special

 

[shiznit]

Being an ARL follower, I disagree... the Superleague SOO was a non-event, the real one in which Vautin coached the bunch of no names to beat a VERY strong NSW side was magic - I've always supported NSW, but that was very special

That was the 1995 series...

The SL/ARL split season occurred in 1997.

While that 1995 series contained only ARL players... It's unfair to compare that series which was the marquee domestic rep series of that year to SL series that happened in the split season.

You should be comparing the origin series in 1997.

 

[sup42]

Interesting to hear Dean Bell on Radiolivesport confirm Hoffman was one of McFaddens targets ( McFadden / Ricky Henry and Elliot were involved in the recruitment spotting ).

McFadden made a request when he took over as interim coach that they go all out for Hoffman.

 

[reykaine]

the real one in which Vautin coached the bunch of no names to beat a VERY strong NSW side was magic - I've always supported NSW, but that was very special

Yeh, that was the series where Ben Ikin was selected as the youngest ever player and he met the other players and Coach Vautin in the elevator at the training ground and they asked him who he was here to see.

 

[JJ]

That was the 1995 series...

The SL/ARL split season occurred in 1997.

While that 1995 series contained only ARL players... It's unfair to compare that series which was the marquee domestic rep series of that year to SL series that happened in the split season.

You should be comparing the origin series in 1997.

Fair enough, all a blur to me now, knew that was to do with SL, and stopped being interested for a few years after that tbh

 

[sup42]

anyone see the Lowrie comparisons last night ?

Thought he was top three SOO forward myself.

Outstanding signing.

 

[JJ]

:lol: yeah. I trust the he's not elite, he's overpaid, he's only any use with the 'big 3' and he's just another Lowrie discussions can be ended now...

A fine back rower, very fine

 

[Meth]

For sure, he was one of the best onfield and is certainly a big step up from Lowrie.

The only question in my mind is whether we really need another back rower. But yeah...perhaps with elite players it's a case of 'beggars can't be choosers' for us at the moment

 

[Meth]

All in all, I was against Hoffman's signing, but am warming up fast

 

[Izz]

I'm reserving judgment until next year.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

he will bring more professionalism to the club, plus hes mates with sam tompkins and thomas from the wigan days so he will fit in sweet

 

[typicalfan]

My tip is he will be great for you guys especially the first year. Got to remember he plays on the left for the Storm when Cronk and Slater are more right side players. Hoffman has had to look good outside the likes of Finch, Roberts, Hampton etc. Widdop is class but not quite at the big 3 level.

 

[hitman82]

For sure, he was one of the best onfield and is certainly a big step up from Lowrie.

The only question in my mind is whether we really need another back rower. But yeah...perhaps with elite players it's a case of 'beggars can't be choosers' for us at the moment

Same question I had. Never doubted the man as a player, but we already have big bucks invested in our back row. Surely a prop or elite centre is more crucial to us.

But yeah beggars > choosers. FML

 

[shiznit]

:lol: yeah. I trust the he's not elite, he's overpaid, he's only any use with the 'big 3' and he's just another Lowrie discussions can be ended now...

A fine back rower, very fine

:lol:

Nothing is proven yet...

That Lowrie/Nielsen comparison will end when he performs for the Warriors next year.

I remember Dane Nielsen also coming off a great performance in origin before coming to the Warriors.

 

[sup42]

But Dane didn't get voted players player in any Origin match.

That's high honors in a team with Gallen Bird and Luke Lewis in it.....a prince of second rowers, i know we love Simon but I have never seen him put in an eighty minute running and defensive game of that quality.....high quality but not above players that got more ball than him with much bigger reps.

Simon is a star among small fish....Hoffman deservedly went one better amidst arguably some of the best forwards to have played the game in this era.

That performance also puts paid to the big three theory.
Hoffman played well because he is a tough bastard.

Cleary Daleys plan was for his forwards to grind the game out.....that fell upon the shoulders of Gallen / Bird / Lewis and Hoffman.

In the grind Hoffmans team mates voted him as The MAN.

The Warriors have been short on grind specialists.....had we played Hoffman last week I believe the team would have been less likely to fold to the default short kickoffs.....because if we have two Mannerings out there.....we are geared up for taking eighty minutes of punishment.

The reason Hoffman is rated the Storms fourth most important player is that he insures them against the ebb and flow momentum swings.....that dude is like Steve Price......an anchor in a shit storm.

That's probably the type we need more than any other.

 

[JJ]

:lol:

Nothing is proven yet...

That Lowrie/Nielsen comparison will end when he performs for the Warriors next year.

I remember Dane Nielsen also coming off a great performance in origin before coming to the Warriors.

Hoffman has been playing at this level for years, it's not just one game..

He is as good or better than Mannering, and a quality leader - he'll add a lot. I think the comparisons with Price are reasonable

 

[vvvrulz]

Hoffman is so far ahead of Lowrie and Nielson isn't not even a comparison.

 

[Iafeta]

:lol:

Nothing is proven yet...

That Lowrie/Nielsen comparison will end when he performs for the Warriors next year.

I remember Dane Nielsen also coming off a great performance in origin before coming to the Warriors.

Hoffman has 233 games, 10 Origins, 5 tests.

Nielsen had 3 Origins and 79 games, and 0 tests.

They're miles apart on so many scales its not funny. Nielsen was also effectively only in Origin as an injury replacement. Hoffman has been selected irrespective of who else is available.

Nielsen has never had an Origin performance like the Hoff had on Wednesday.

Frankly, Wednesday convinced me he is a very good signing. I already thought he would be an exceptional signing for his leadership around the club and guiding some of the younger blokes through, but that performance also shows me is still a world class player.