Houston is he a big loss?

[Bring it home Knights]

IMO he is barely a loss at all. I've read many pages of comments from Knights fans and going by these comments you'd swear he is destined to be the next Gordon Tallis or Ben Kennedy.

People use the argument that he was selected as 18th man for NSW as a demonstration of his so called quality. The fact he was selected as 18th man just shows how inept the blues selectors are and I am amazed that they still have a job! They really are hopeless..

Another thing I've read is about him becoming a future leader in the team. I must be watching a different game if he is classed as a future leader. IMO a leader is a player that motivates the players around him. Andrew Johns was a leader as he would scream at players who weren't putting in. Paul Harragon was a leader in the fact that he would put on some massive tackles, or inspiring runs when the team needed a lift. Ben Kennedy was in this mould as well.

Houseton is quiet as a mouse on the field. Doesn't come up with big hits when the team needs him and runs the ball in slow motion as well as demonstrating an ability to give away plenty of penalties.

IMO Houseton is no real loss other than the fact he is consistent and rarely is involved in handling errors.

I'd consider half a dozen back rowers in our club that are far more important to the team than houseton.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Undecided, seemed to be developing well, however all too often would be as u stated invisible in a tough game.

 

[Alex28]

Easy to say that now he has left.

Was Wicks a loss? God no.

Was Houston a loss? Yes. Sure he played a role whilst Pato was out and we made the top 8, but it would have been great to have both of them at the top of their game this year.

He was a leader of sorts - I think that's what we'll miss the most from him. We have some great workers in the forwards but no one to lead them.

 

[Johns Magic]

He was a leader of sorts

What makes you that?

Edit:

What makes you say that...

 

[sneaky_is_here]

What makes you that?

club captain? seemed to be respected by his team mates.

 

[Johns Magic]

Club captain means he's liked socially and presents well to the media, that's what a club captain is.

I haven't seen evidence of on-field leadership from Houston, either verbally or through actions.

 

[sneaky_is_here]

he did say leader of sorts. Not on field leader of sorts. House was always a player of the future anyway its why smith signed him and why other around here are upset his gone. Not just because of what he has done for the club so far. Can you really say you sore no potential in him?

 

[Newie is God's Country]

I think I wanted House to be better than he actually was. For a guy with his frame his defence was moderate where it could have been punishing. Not to be. Fas is the guy I would miss most from our pack along with Zeb, Isaac and Waltzing. More so than the other forwards. Those four plus another couple of star props and we would match anyone in the engine room.

 

[red and blue]

I think I wanted House to be better than he actually was. For a guy with his frame his defence was moderate where it could have been punishing. Not to be. Fas is the guy I would miss most from our pack along with Zeb, Isaac and Waltzing. More so than the other forwards. Those four plus another couple of star props and we would match anyone in the engine room.

I total agree but I dont think we had seen the best of houston last year .This year with cross and tolar back I think he would have been able to play more of his natural game in the back row not the front row were he was put last year because of injuries. I think him and pato runing on the edges would have been outstanding and almost unstoppable. I think well miss him but I certanly do think that we should not be wooden spoon favorites because of it. There more to this knights team then wicks and houston.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Easy to say that now he has left.

Was Wicks a loss? God no.

Was Houston a loss? Yes. Sure he played a role whilst Pato was out and we made the top 8, but it would have been great to have both of them at the top of their game this year.

He was a leader of sorts - I think that's what we'll miss the most from him. We have some great workers in the forwards but no one to lead them.

A leader of sorts? What did you see that I didn't that makes him a leader of the forwards? Was it the fact he rarely ever made 10 meters in attack, or was it how his defense was as soft as a 2 minute egg?

Between Wicks and Houston I consider Wicks to have more ability. He just very rarely used it.

 

[roopy]

I think we can cover him on the field, but as a clubman he is a huge loss.
This year we have lost Timmy Natusch and House - which leaves Doogs as our only Uni graduate.
We want these guys to act as mature adults, and having a couple of smart guys leading the way would be a good thing.
Simmo and Gids will do the job i suppose.

 

[sneaky_is_here]

A leader of sorts? What did you see that I didn't that makes him a leader of the forwards? Was it the fact he rarely ever made 10 meters in attack, or was it how his defense was as soft as a 2 minute egg?

Between Wicks and Houston I consider Wicks to have more ability. He just very rarely used it.

lol. You are 100% correct i can tell you did you research.

I can see it now. Bar Drug conviction

NSW 2010 Origin Team

17. Danny Wicks

 

[Johns Magic]

House was always a player of the future anyway its why smith signed him and why other around here are upset his gone.

Smith also signed Wicks, Naiqama and Lulia for that reason...

Can you really say you sore no potential in him?

He has potential in his frame and ballskills. But he never played like a champion, and never played like he wanted it. He didn't fire up, he didn't
look to hurt in defence, and he ambled up to the line when taking it up.

I see no more talent in him than I do in someone like Ciraldo, and I see far more potential in Paterson.

 

[doggone]

I think I wanted House to be better than he actually was. For a guy with his frame

his defence was moderate where it could have been punishing. Not to be. Fas is the guy I would miss most from our pack along with Zeb, Isaac and Waltzing. More so than the other forwards. Those four plus another couple of star props and we would match anyone in the engine room.
__________________

Well said. I think Ciraldo if not injured may surprise. He is a big lad.

 

[Alex28]

What makes you that?

Edit:

What makes you say that...

Whether you like it - or see it - he was a leader within the club and was obviously being groomed for that role (he was captain when Gidley and Mullen were both out).

Whether he was an effective leader - that is another story.

 

[Johns Magic]

Whether you like it - or see it - he was a leader within the club and was obviously being groomed for that role (he was captain when Gidley and Mullen were both out).

Really...who else was there?

Whether he was an effective leader - that is another story.

But one that still is crucial to whether or not he was a big loss.

 

[Serc]

Not a big loss, but a loss nonetheless (so thats how my vote ended up being no). One of the reasons for this is that the team has depth across the park such that even a loss of a pretty handy player like Houston, we can cover it without too much fuss.

 

[Dummy Spit Johns]

Houston is a loss, Don't know about Houseton though!

 

[Alex28]

Really...who else was there?

Who else was there...what? In the team? Being groomed as a leader? Not sure what you are getting at...

But one that still is crucial to whether or not he was a big loss.

He was one of the better second rowers that we had last year. I hope that the likes of Pato can step up this year so we don't miss him too much. Yes he did some dumb stuff (like giving away a fair few penalties a game) however he was pretty effective as well.

You know what will tell whether he is a big loss or not? How the team plays without him in the squad after everything that has happened. If we lose our first 6 games - it doesn't matter how good or bad a player he was...he'll be a big loss purely on the basis of what he has done to the team.

 

[Johns Magic]

Who else was there...what? In the team? Being groomed as a leader? Not sure what you are getting at...

Sorry, for the captaincy when Gids and Mullen were out.

He was one of the better second rowers that we had last year.

i.e. the second best of two...

I hope that the likes of Pato can step up this year so we don't miss him too much. Yes he did some dumb stuff (like giving away a fair few penalties a game) however he was pretty effective as well.

Effective is not a word I'd use to describe him. If anything it was quantity over quality, and he wasn't a huge workhorse. How many big hits or gamebreaking plays do you remember from him?

You know what will tell whether he is a big loss or not? How the team plays without him in the squad after everything that has happened. If we lose our first 6 games - it doesn't matter how good or bad a player he was...he'll be a big loss purely on the basis of what he has done to the team.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the loss of morale because of losing Wicks, the drug allegations, and our captain and best player being out...