Is Matt Orford...

[Ice777]

As you said it's a team thing. And if you 'choke' next week, perhaps Orford wasn't the problem at Melbourne. Perhaps it's a team thing... ;-) Give the Dragons credit. They played outstanding football.

Even if we do lose next week, that doesn't change the fact that Orford as and his individual game goes missing in finals which is the topic of this thread and nothing else. Like i said and i thought i made it quite clear, i know very well it's a team thing and i'm in NO WAY blaming him for any of the losses, but as far as his own game goes in the big ones it's well below par.

If you want to start another thread about the Storm as a team or Manly as a team then go right ahead, but that's not the issue at hand in this one. I do give Dragons credit, they played every bit as good football as what Manly played bad.

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

I believe it is the issue.

I saw him get the ball and run and the only player he had was a winger out wide. We had no runners. Manly were spent in defence again.

He wasn't great... sure. But his options were limited. I'm not going to crucify him for last night. His only fault in big match games is he rolls the dice on the tough options. Like the 20m tap kick. Bad option. But then he made the intercept at the start. Good option even if he didn't hold it. It's not like he passed the ball 5m behind his runners or constantly dropped it. That would be choking IMO. Anyhow, no point talking about this as everyone has their opinions and they mean nothing anyway.

 

[Earl]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Mr Saab]

Are you for Scuba

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

Are you for Scuba

what?

 

[Mr Saab]

Go and watch the movie "along came polly"

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

Go and watch the movie "along came polly"

Oh.. now I get ya... its spelt four* you goose!:lol:

 

[thehattrickrabbit]

Orford was Orful, he will be pretty hopeless for the kangaroos, if he cant perform well in a semi-final match, let alone the grand final if they made it that far, i dont know if cooper cronk can step up to that level that fast, without having any other rep experience

maybe craig gower is a safe choice for the number 1 half

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

A total misinterpretation of what you said Saab. What did you mean by....

Are you for Scuba

??

 

[Mr Saab]

Thurston and Lockyer...they did it in Origin (i thought Thurston was player of the series) and they will do it again in Oct/Nov
Gower can play rah rah for Italy.

 

[kia ora storm]

I believe it is the issue.

I saw him get the ball and run and the only player he had was a winger out wide. We had no runners. Manly were spent in defence again.

He wasn't great... sure. But his options were limited. I'm not going to crucify him for last night. His only fault in big match games is he rolls the dice on the tough options. Like the 20m tap kick. Bad option. But then he made the intercept at the start. Good option even if he didn't hold it. It's not like he passed the ball 5m behind his runners or constantly dropped it. That would be choking IMO. Anyhow, no point talking about this as everyone has their opinions and they mean nothing anyway.

When Orford tries the stupid little clever things during tight games they never work...he needs to do the basic things right before trying to be the hero.;-)

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

When Orford tries the stupid little clever things during tight games they never work...he needs to do the basic things right before trying to be the hero.;-)

I definately agree with that. Like ANY halfback would have found it difficult last night to perform under Manly's circumstances. I don't think we can solely blame the result on one Matt Orford. I think he didn't play too badely. He went missing, sure, but the Dragons outplayed us in every asset of the game, what can you expect?

 

[Kid]

He did go missing, and thats his problem. Thats why he will never be suited to Origin. Unfortunately it's not a one off for him either. Manly looked quite disorganised last night, and that has to come back squarely on the shoulders of the number 7.

 

[t-ba]

He's MIAness last night was spectacular.

But then again, besides Beaver and Kite, the entire side was MIA last night...

 

[brokendigit]

Johns wouldn't have won Manly the game last night. A try or two, perhaps, but Manly were beaten across the park. Manly need another option on the other side of the ruck in 2007 to be serious threats.

 

[Burwood]

Warren Ryan has been a critic of Orford's game in the past, and it is clear why. In the City v Country match this year the game was there for the taking and Orford tried some very low percentage plays to win the game. Anybody else remember him trying a little chip kick on the 3rd tackle that was instantly gobbled up by the Country team's defence?

He has a habit of not making very smart decisions when the pressure is on, and unfortunately it is not something that you can teach a player.

 

[Mr Saab]

Orfords fate was perhaps sealed in that city country game.
He was up against a Finch and Gidley and did nothing.

 

[Burwood]

Orfords fate was perhaps sealed in that city country game.
He was up against a Finch and Gidley and did nothing.

Yep. Gower and Orford were pretty much the two NSW halves before that match, but they managed to play themselves out of a sky blue jersey. All they needed to do was have a solid game and they would have been selected.

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

Mattai has come on. Bell is great. Lyon will probably go to 5/8. Burns to the bench next season. He may take Dunley's spot.

Defensively Willow is great. He has absolutely no penetration in attack though. He isn't suitable coming off the bench for 20 minutes. Rose should have got his spot.

To be honest We should cut the crap and find a proper hooker. Monaghan has been a great player for us this year, but if he can't play 80 minutes, then he isn't good enough. Personally I think he should be 80 minutes. Is Gorrell still off contract??? :crazy: