Hooker Rotation

[possm]

I'd ask members to keep a close eye on McInnes in the last ten minutes of each half tonight. This is the period where I believe a fresh Robson would provide an up tempo element to the attack and defence of the Dragons. It is also the period when a tired McInnes seems to make mistakes and give away unnecessary penalties. McInnes seems to be less effective when under fatigue.

 

[Brutalitops]

Robson will be gone before June 30 time to let it go. Cowboys threw big BIG money at him

 

[Brutalitops]

Also that is the story of every single hooker in the NRL. It's the nature of the game. As long as his defence doesn't slide too much in those last 10 it's not that bad.

Even over 80 mins McInnes is great. Both he and potentially Robson are 80 minute hookers.

 

[Walpole]

Damn, I thought "hooker rotation" was going to be something a lot more interesting...

 

[The Damo]

Mcinnes gave away 3 penalties last week
Minutes were 8, 36, 62
So 1 of 3
The week before he gave away two right before half time, but they were deliberate as we were defending our line and it was smart to do so.
The week before was none
The week before that was none
Round 2,3 and 4 none
Round 1 at minute 7.
So from 8 games he’s given 3 penalties in the last ten of the first half and none in the last ten of the match. And I think 2 of those 3 were deliberate. He’s played 5 80 minute games with zero Penalties given.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Robson will be gone before June 30 time to let it go. Cowboys threw big BIG money at him

No way you let him go, start of the year we didnt know where to put all our 5/8s, now Widdop and Norman injured, as soon as we release Robson, McIness will get injured its Murphy's law, if he is unhappy suck it up...

 

[Dragonslayer]

Robson will be gone before June 30 time to let it go. Cowboys threw big BIG money at him

I tend to agree with thus, plus Robson non-selection in the 21 consistantly now backs that theory up imo.

Whilst I'm sad to see him go he was never going to get a starting gig over McInnes. Big $$ and a starting hooker role v average$$ and 95% of games played in CC. Add to that an NRL premiership winning coach v a coak league winning coach...mmmm. i know what my decision would be.

So, back-up hooker for McInnes in case ge gets injured or called up for rep duty or suspended is an interesting debate. To me, using McGregors thinking (having a back on the bench), is that the back-up has to he happy playing CC but ready to go when required. My guess woukd he that when Robson goes they will promote Lovodua to the NRL squad from the DS. He can play hooker and 2nd row and is an international player for Fiji. It will also create a space in the DS for one of our star juniors to be added. Which makes sense to me.

 

[SBD82]

Mcinnes gave away 3 penalties last week
Minutes were 8, 36, 62
So 1 of 3
The week before he gave away two right before half time, but they were deliberate as we were defending our line and it was smart to do so.
The week before was none
The week before that was none
Round 2,3 and 4 none
Round 1 at minute 7.
So from 8 games he’s given 3 penalties in the last ten of the first half and none in the last ten of the match. And I think 2 of those 3 were deliberate. He’s played 5 80 minute games with zero Penalties given.

You must have taken a wrong turn on your way to a forum where facts are relevant.

 

[Crush]

Mcinnes gave away 3 penalties last week
Minutes were 8, 36, 62
So 1 of 3
The week before he gave away two right before half time, but they were deliberate as we were defending our line and it was smart to do so.
The week before was none
The week before that was none
Round 2,3 and 4 none
Round 1 at minute 7.
So from 8 games he’s given 3 penalties in the last ten of the first half and none in the last ten of the match. And I think 2 of those 3 were deliberate. He’s played 5 80 minute games with zero Penalties given.

Damo, love your posts mate. You use facts to back up your opinion.
It's rare and refreshing.

 

[The Friz]

If we agree that the top 3 sides are Roosters, Rabbits and Storm, then see that they don’t carry a dummy half on the bench. The elite teams have a 9 that plays the 80.
Our boy can play the 80.
No wasting a bench spot to give the 9 a spell. It’s outdated.

 

[SBD82]

If we agree that the top 3 sides are Roosters, Rabbits and Storm, then see that they don’t carry a dummy half on the bench. The elite teams have a 9 that plays the 80.
Our boy can play the 80.
No wasting a bench spot to give the 9 a spell. It’s outdated.

The roosters use Radley and the Storm use Brandon Smith to spell their starting 9’s while keeping them on the field.

Not sure we have the player in our roster who could do the same. It would need to be someone who would be good enough to take a bench middle position on his own merit.

 

[j0nesy]

Mcinnes gave away 3 penalties last week
Minutes were 8, 36, 62
So 1 of 3
The week before he gave away two right before half time, but they were deliberate as we were defending our line and it was smart to do so.
The week before was none
The week before that was none
Round 2,3 and 4 none
Round 1 at minute 7.
So from 8 games he’s given 3 penalties in the last ten of the first half and none in the last ten of the match. And I think 2 of those 3 were deliberate. He’s played 5 80 minute games with zero Penalties given.

Get out of here with that logic and those facts ;-)

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

If we agree that the top 3 sides are Roosters, Rabbits and Storm, then see that they don’t carry a dummy half on the bench. The elite teams have a 9 that plays the 80.
Our boy can play the 80.
No wasting a bench spot to give the 9 a spell. It’s outdated.

What’s the paradigm between the three clubs you’ve named?

All have outstanding coaches and depth,

SGI doesn’t. The side (especially McInnes) would greatly benefit from a contingency hooker who is capable of also playing in the back row,

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I'd ask members to keep a close eye on McInnes in the last ten minutes of each half tonight. This is the period where I believe a fresh Robson would provide an up tempo element to the attack and defence of the Dragons. It is also the period when a tired McInnes seems to make mistakes and give away unnecessary penalties. McInnes seems to be less effective when under fatigue.

Old as Methuselah.

 

[getsmarty]

If we agree that the top 3 sides are Roosters, Rabbits and Storm, then see that they don’t carry a dummy half on the bench. The elite teams have a 9 that plays the 80.
Our boy can play the 80.
No wasting a bench spot to give the 9 a spell. It’s outdated.

Correct...but it would be better than aitken on the bench...that is a wasted spot.

 

[possm]

What’s the paradigm between the three clubs you’ve named?

All have outstanding coaches and depth,

SGI doesn’t. The side (especially McInnes) would greatly benefit from a contingency hooker who is capable of also playing in the back row,

But some on here say Millward has done a great job assembling our squad and Mary has stated he has the squad he wanted.

 

[j0nesy]

But some on here say Millward has done a great job assembling our squad and Mary has stated he has the squad he wanted.

Come on mate, we’re struggling (slightly) for depth because we have JDB, Widdop, Norman and Sims all out. Yet we still have young guys like Field and Lawrie stepping up. It would be nice to see Timm and Kerr given a go ahead of Lats. It would also be nice to see Robson ahead of Aitken. Use of the bench, the coaches selection policy and resultant fatigue are the main issues, not depth. What do you want Millward to do? Buy 5 or 6 middle forwards and 5/8ths just in case.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

But some on here say Millward has done a great job assembling our squad and Mary has stated he has the squad he wanted.

Not me.

I’ve always maintained Millward has done a shit job. The results speak for themselves.

 

[possm]

Come on mate, we’re struggling (slightly) for depth because we have JDB, Widdop, Norman and Sims all out. Yet we still have young guys like Field and Lawrie stepping up. It would be nice to see Timm and Kerr given a go ahead of Lats. It would also be nice to see Robson ahead of Aitken. Use of the bench, the coaches selection policy and resultant fatigue are the main issues, not depth. What do you want Millward to do? Buy 5 or 6 middle forwards and 5/8ths just in case.

What I have always wanted is for key management positions to be allocated to the best applicant and not a job for the boys system. Millward was a job for boys appointment.

I have a firm belief that you first spend time and money recruiting/promoting/retaining players for the top 17 positions. These positions to be filled by good first grade proven players. Once this is done, the next step is to consider juniors and other player on the market for fringe our reserve grade side with a mind focused on these players being ready replacements for our first grade players.

 

[D4L_Dave]

I'd ask members to keep a close eye on McInnes in the last ten minutes of each half tonight. This is the period where I believe a fresh Robson would provide an up tempo element to the attack and defence of the Dragons. It is also the period when a tired McInnes seems to make mistakes and give away unnecessary penalties. McInnes seems to be less effective when under fatigue.

I agree and i posted about this adnausiam last season, which is why the make up of the bench needs urgent attention. While Norman is out injured, Robson must be given a bench spot, once Norman returns, assuming he will go back to 6 straight away, Field will take a bench spot and Hunt go to hooker, Field into the halves.

If McInnes is looking fresh enough or injuries require him to play on, he can play lock as was announced by McGregor and so far not implemented. I am very concerned that McGregor's judgement is being clouded by his closeness to the players.

Making a best fit for team performance improvement decision, isn't a form withdrawing support for McInness as the first pick #9 nor is saying anything about his leadership or overall skills.

Its jusy accepting the real that using the 2009-2011 Bennett era tactic of not using the bench, no longer has any team performance benefit in 2019. It's a shame Mary doesn't see the forest for the trees and fix this starting this week. We are not far off form wise, making a big surge towards the top 4 but the bench issue must be fixed now