Jarrod 'Messi' Mullen

[Zoidberg]

He's also got the biggest biceps out of any half

I have noticed that for about 18months. I'd kill to have his biceps (so would my missus, for me to have em).

Love how Mullo and Tyrone have such great defence, Mullo especially. Really makes me confident even if opponents aim some of their big men out that way.

 

[Rolla]

No doubt, but Nuffy is usually the one demanding we sack Bennett and half the roster after every loss. Very ironic he's the one to declare we'll beat melb in melb in sudden death footy.

Setting yourself up for a huge let down with that mindset, no matter what happens saturday this season has now been a success and turning point in our clubs history. If we win, you f**king beauty but if we don't - meh... bring on 2014. Massive, massive task this saturday night to stay within 10 points of melbourne let alone win it.

Don't be scared of a little disappointment! Man up and get excited ;-)

 

[Knight Vision]

Can I just add that on this corresponding Sat afternoon in 1997, we beat the Bears to make the ARL grandfinal and on the same Sat night in 2001 we beat Cronulla to make it into the 2001 grandfinal.

We can do this and if we climb Everest on Sat night, then nothing is out of the question.

And I believe that when we beat Manly in the GF they had won the previous 7 encounters

 

[Knight Vision]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how Mullen goes on Saturday. He's got arguably the best defense of a 5/8 in the comp. His long kicking game is the best in the comp also. His bullet passes are hitting the mark. His short kicking game has improved massively, plus he is starting to run the ball more.

Bring on Saturday!!

Let's hope he runs it even more. He's a great runner of the ball I just wish he did it more often.

 

[perverse]

To me... every week of finals footy this year is and has been our Grand Final. If we went on to win the big one this year, I will dead set feel like we've won 4. This year is a win already... and I liked what RABK said about it being a turning point. It very much feels like that. We've found something that wasn't there before.

 

[perverse]

I'd love to see Mullo run more again, too. I think he's more concerned with his rising responsibility over the team and controlling the game at the moment. A lot on his plate.

When Bennett first got here, his first big changes were to get Mullo running the ball more and then shifting him to 5/8th. I'm sure we'll see him run again, but he's doing such a massive job for us at the moment... how much are we ever going to ask from this bloke? lol.

 

[RABK]

I just touched on this subject a bit in the 2013 or bust thread.

Mullen if he runs it on a spread out of the ruck will do it on the 3rd tackle, it's quite predictable actually. But there is a very good reason why and it's part of the reason he is now the comps best long kicker. Mullen will be the kicking option right of the 5th ruck and the ball will go to him 90% of the time. However what we don't see is during the 5th tackle Mullen is looking at the oppositions back three and playing out his kick placement in his mind.

By limiting his running game he is better to prepare a good 5th kick, if he was heavily involved running the ball past the third he'd be limiting his ability to set up a good end of set kick. However that is why i asked about clydedale's kicking game. I think Tyrone has a fairly poor long kicking game, it's adequate to get the ball down the other end but it's often on the full and starting their set on their 30m.

If Clydesdale posseses a good long DH kicking game it gives Mullen the ability to really test their line every 3 or 4 sets of six with unpredictable running and linking up with Boyd and Tyrone. We can't expect Mullen to be such a brilliant kicker and not sacrifice some of his running ability. It's what made Daley and Fittler such great players, 5+ sets in a row with the occasional run but mostly catch and pass then bang, on the 4th or 5th tackle take on the line with speed. They had great kickers a longside them which helped too. Just my opinion.

 

[perverse]

Yeah, that all sounds reasonable, RABK. Insightful, even. It's possible that he'll continue to improve at picking his kicks, or perhaps picking the times when he doesn't need to get the best kick ever away if it gives him a chance to run a particular set and can bring his running game back a bit more, who knows. That's another thing I'll give him too, he's never stopped improving. He seems to work on his game meticulously and thoroughly.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Mullen > Johns

Yeah I said it.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

But seriously.. Give Mullen our current back line with Simpson and Kennedy and Buderus in his prime..
Who knows..

I have said it before but Andrew johns status in the game was helped a lot by bedsy. It's no coincidence that Mullen has improved immensely since bedsy has arrived.

Wayne has a lot to do with it too, but bedsy influence on mullo can not be underestimated

 

[Silent Knight]

All that you said makes good sense RABK. S*** gets real this Saturday, the Bulldogs were the warmup this is the real deal now. There are no easy games from here on in. This is effectively David vs Goliath stuff, the odds are stacked heavily against us.

But I just remember a young bloke by the name of Andrew Johns who believed that no opponent was unbeatable. And this was in an era with far more formidable teams decked out with international players. Teams like the Broncos, Roosters and Sea Eagles of the 90s and early 00s would have wiped the floor with this current Storm team.

So let's wind up that slingshot...and take aim at the Melbourne Goliath.

 

[Knight Vision]

I just touched on this subject a bit in the 2013 or bust thread.

Mullen if he runs it on a spread out of the ruck will do it on the 3rd tackle, it's quite predictable actually. But there is a very good reason why and it's part of the reason he is now the comps best long kicker. Mullen will be the kicking option right of the 5th ruck and the ball will go to him 90% of the time. However what we don't see is during the 5th tackle Mullen is looking at the oppositions back three and playing out his kick placement in his mind.

By limiting his running game he is better to prepare a good 5th kick, if he was heavily involved running the ball past the third he'd be limiting his ability to set up a good end of set kick. However that is why i asked about clydedale's kicking game. I think Tyrone has a fairly poor long kicking game, it's adequate to get the ball down the other end but it's often on the full and starting their set on their 30m.

If Clydesdale posseses a good long DH kicking game it gives Mullen the ability to really test their line every 3 or 4 sets of six with unpredictable running and linking up with Boyd and Tyrone. We can't expect Mullen to be such a brilliant kicker and not sacrifice some of his running ability. It's what made Daley and Fittler such great players, 5+ sets in a row with the occasional run but mostly catch and pass then bang, on the 4th or 5th tackle take on the line with speed. They had great kickers a longside them which helped too. Just my opinion.

Good observation, it makes sense.

 

[The Showstopper]

Mullo can write a huge chapter in his career tonight. He is the key. Has to turn the Storm around all night. We all know that. Slater cannot get any breathing room. Bully him.

 

[Mr Angry]

With my sharks gone, I jump on the Newcastle bandwagon.

Go Mullo.

 

[hugzy]

Welcome aboard the Daniel's Wagon

 

[Nuffy]

No doubt, but Nuffy is usually the one demanding we sack Bennett and half the roster after every loss. Very ironic he's the one to declare we'll beat melb in melb in sudden death footy.

Setting yourself up for a huge let down with that mindset, no matter what happens saturday this season has now been a success and turning point in our clubs history. If we win, you f**king beauty but if we don't - meh... bring on 2014. Massive, massive task this saturday night to stay within 10 points of melbourne let alone win it.

Just saying, I told you all that we'd win

 

[Knight Vision]

The yearly Mullen SOO article - I think he's ready

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/andrew-johns-says-jarrod-mullen-should-be-nsw-fiveeighth-for-state-of-origin/story-fndv33vy-1226882780053

 

[Zoidberg]

He's been ready since last year. Being a QLD'er I hope it doesn't happen. But I would love to see Mullo given another shot and shine because he deserves it.

 

[Jono078]

Mullen is the best half NSW has.

 

[The Showstopper]

Mullo is ready. If He isn't selected then Daley should be sacked. Simple as that. He is the answer NSW have been looking for. The best pass left to right i have ever seen and his kicking game is the best on the planet right now. Great defender. the other options have nothing on him. QLd will definitely be working harder in defence with Mullo well versed in making people run out of pockets in the field.