Is Cleary a dud?

[age.s]

When I say I'd take Cordner for depth I'm not talking about the depth of the butt on his chin.

 

[TheFrog]

The Panthers need someone who is a winner like Boyd Cordner

It must be acknowledged that for his footballing and communication ability to become Australian captain is an outstanding achievement.

 

[Valheru]

Cordner would improve the depth of Penrith greatly.

Imagine a bench with Kikau on it.

 

[mxlegend99]

Cordner would improve the depth of Penrith greatly.

Imagine a bench with Kikau on it.

Roosters are surely enquiring about making that a reality.

 

[macnaz]

The Panthers need someone who is a winner like Boyd Cordner

But most clubs cant buy every winner and get away with it like you merkins !

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Not with the hooker you have. seriously they are shyte.

Need a hooker ASAP or season over.

Nah if anything hooker is a more instinctive thing than halfback if you play there right. You have to decide when it's best to engage the markers and, it's best to pass straight away and when you go yourself. Cleary doesn't really have that instinct of what's the best choice to make in reaction to the defense. Either he'll pass from dummy half straight away and not engage the markers making trivial for the defense to get numbers on the ball carrier or you tell him to run it and he runs too much. He doesn't react to what the defense is doing.

 

[Pomoz]

Nah if anything hooker is a more instinctive thing than halfback if you play there right. You have to decide when it's best to engage the markers and, it's best to pass straight away and when you go yourself. Cleary doesn't really have that instinct of what's the best choice to make in reaction to the defense. Either he'll pass from dummy half straight away and not engage the markers making trivial for the defense to get numbers on the ball carrier or you tell him to run it and he runs too much. He doesn't react to what the defense is doing.

A good, thought provoking post. Cam Smith is the best hooker I’ve ever seen. He gets when to pass and when to engage right 99% of the time. He plays hooker like a halfback, but is a great tackler as well and with a huge work rate. Cleary could do work rate, tackling and kicking, but picking when to run and pass...........I think you’re right, he will struggle.

 

[age.s]

I think it's impossible to know whether Cleary would have the football brain for hooker. Even if you take it as read that he doesn't have the vision of an elite Halfback, it doesn't follow that he won't have the vision/instincts of a great Hooker. The way his footballing brain works might not be naturally suited towards making good decisions when receiving the ball one or two out from the ruck, but it might be perfectly suited to making decisions from the ruck. You'd really need to see him there for a decent length of time to be sure.

 

[Kilkenny]

Cleary played hooker when he first played in the Harold Matt’s.

 

[Panfa]

Cleary is our future halfback luai our future 5/8 if you are going to shift someone shift maloney hes only got 1 yr left hes 32 yrs of age move him to hooker that way it strengthens the team because we get 3 good players starting instead of 2

 

[Panther_Daz]

Ivan admitted today that Nathan's that the "main part of his game is defence".

This is very concerning, 5 year contract for close to $5M for a halfback who specialises in defence?!

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Ivan admitted today that Nathan's that the "main part of his game is defence".

This is very concerning, 5 year contract for close to $5M for a halfback who specialises in defence?!

Surely that's better than having a Luke Walsh style of defence.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Surely that's better than having a Luke Walsh style of defence.

Of course but Luke Walsh was on no where near a million per season.

 

[franklin2323]

Of course but Luke Walsh was on no where near a million per season.

Luke Walsh also had a weapon to be a point of attack.

 

[Bob]

Ivan admitted today that Nathan's that the "main part of his game is defence".

This is very concerning, 5 year contract for close to $5M for a halfback who specialises in defence?!

Hey Daz, I get the feeling that you don’t rate Nathan, I could be wrong but that’s what I’m picking up from your posts

 

[Flashstep]

Ivan admitted today that Nathan's that the "main part of his game is defence".

This is very concerning, 5 year contract for close to $5M for a halfback who specialises in defence?!

Concerning yes, but if he said anything else I doubt any of us would eat it up, at least he told the truth, fact is Clearys strongest point right now is his defence, he has a very long way to go.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Luke Walsh also had a weapon to be a point of attack.

By not engaging the defensive line you mean ?

 

[Panther_Daz]

Hey Daz, I get the feeling that you don’t rate Nathan, I could be wrong but that’s what I’m picking up from your posts

I am a very concerned Diamond Member to be honest. Our next 5 years is pretty much dependent on him becoming elite.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Some of these comments would drive a saint to drink.

It's almost got me sitting down sucking my thumb cuddling a blankie like Linus.


Yes we are playing poorly.

Can it be fixed.

I believe so.

 

[Fangs]

Will be interesting to see if Maloney stays in 2020. Gus was our recruitment guy but Ivan looks to be pulling the strings at Penrith now.

Would Ivan want to release Maloney a year early? Nathan Cleary will have to step up massively in his absence and help Luai with only 5 first grade games.