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keary a dragon

thebigredv

thebigredv

First Grade
Messages
5,407
Old Timer said:
True but Soward wore 6 & Hornby wore 7 and the reference was about Hornby not Soward I believe.
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True but Soward played more the halfback role all that time. I'd take the current Soward over the current Marshall. I don't know how we stuffed that one up. We should have persisted.
 
R

rasaint

Juniors
Messages
1,118
Back to Benji. Let's not over cook the issue.

He is still a class player, but has picked up a chronic hammy problem and is not consistently running freely. I have been a Benji fan for years but how can the club pay him his probable asking price of around $450k when this injury will likely shadow him until formal retirement. I understand the club made a fair offer of $300K which balanced the risk to the club vs the reward that the injury resolves and we have a further season or two of one of leagues most exciting players in the red v at a low cost.
 
thebigredv

thebigredv

First Grade
Messages
5,407
rasaint said:
Back to Benji. Let's not over cook the issue.

He is still a class player, but has picked up a chronic hammy problem and is not consistently running freely. I have been a Benji fan for years but how can the club pay him his probable asking price of around $450k when this injury will likely shadow him until formal retirement. I understand the club made a fair offer of $300K which balanced the risk to the club vs the reward that the injury resolves and we have a further season or two of one of leagues most exciting players in the red v at a low cost.
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He is finished. He had a good run last year. I wouldn't offer him 300k.
 
Old Timer

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,989
thebigredv said:
True but Soward played more the halfback role all that time. I'd take the current Soward over the current Marshall. I don't know how we stuffed that one up. We should have persisted.
Click to expand...

Trying to stay up after winning the comp and being competitive the year after was always going to be difficult.

Soward went through a slump for various reasons as did others and we cast him adrift because he wasn't part of the click.

Benji fitted into the click really well but IMO was a bad buy because his best was a long time ago and never repeatable.

In a real reality world Benji has delivered very little value for money on the paddock for us.

A few glimpses yes but absolutely no consistency week in week out and that to me was not unexpected as his from at the end for the Tigers showed that weakness already.
 
thebigredv

thebigredv

First Grade
Messages
5,407
Old Timer said:
Trying to stay up after winning the comp and being competitive the year after was always going to be difficult.

Soward went through a slump for various reasons as did others and we cast him adrift because he wasn't part of the click.

Benji fitted into the click really well but IMO was a bad buy because his best was a long time ago and never repeatable.

In a real reality world Benji has delivered very little value for money on the paddock for us.

A few glimpses yes but absolutely no consistency week in week out and that to me was not unexpected as his from at the end for the Tigers showed that weakness already.
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I recall well the slump in 2013, and I was probably one of those calling for Jamie to go. Knowing what I know now we would have done better keeping him. At least he plays every week, at least he still has a decent kicking game, at least he doesn't throw balls over the sideline a couple times a game and at least he has passion for whatever club he plays for. He too is past his best but he still stamps his mark on the game and has a bit of purpose about what he doing rather than running sideways.

I remember not being too keen on Marshall for the same reason as you. As fans we all accepted it and tried to will it on as a success. To me, it feels the same now with the possible Keary signing. Not because he is past his best but because he is unproven and seems to be a patchy player just like Benji. 3 years since getting rid of Soward and it all still smells of desperation to me.
 
Old Timer

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,989
thebigredv said:
I recall well the slump in 2013, and I was probably one of those calling for Jamie to go. Knowing what I know now we would have done better keeping him. At least he plays every week, at least he still has a decent kicking game, at least he doesn't throw balls over the sideline a couple times a game and at least he has passion for whatever club he plays for. He too is past his best but he still stamps his mark on the game and has a bit of purpose about what he doing rather than running sideways.

I remember not being too keen on Marshall for the same reason as you. As fans we all accepted it and tried to will it on as a success. To me, it feels the same now with the possible Keary signing. Not because he is past his best but because he is unproven and seems to be a patchy player just like Benji. 3 years since getting rid of Soward and it all still smells of desperation to me.
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Keary has a few things going for him.

Youth, speed, and vision.

Will this outweigh the negatives is the question?
 
S

SBD82

Coach
Messages
17,855
thebigredv said:
True but Soward played more the halfback role all that time. I'd take the current Soward over the current Marshall. I don't know how we stuffed that one up. We should have persisted.
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On what basis do you say Soward played the halfback role? His kicking game?

No. Hornby was the half. He was the general. The question was asked and 2010 is the answer.
 
S

SBD82

Coach
Messages
17,855
giboz71 said:
Hornby was a fair player tho, even out of position at 7.

In fact didn't he play his only test match starting at half?
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That's true. But it was a game that is probably best forgotten.

Hornby was our halfback for the premiership. He did exactly the job that needed to be done and he was what we needed in that team. But to call him an "awesome" halfback (which is what the original question was) is a bit of a stretch.
 
giboz71

giboz71

First Grade
Messages
9,677
thebigredv said:
I recall well the slump in 2013, and I was probably one of those calling for Jamie to go. Knowing what I know now we would have done better keeping him. At least he plays every week, at least he still has a decent kicking game, at least he doesn't throw balls over the sideline a couple times a game and at least he has passion for whatever club he plays for. He too is past his best but he still stamps his mark on the game and has a bit of purpose about what he doing rather than running sideways.

I remember not being too keen on Marshall for the same reason as you. As fans we all accepted it and tried to will it on as a success. To me, it feels the same now with the possible Keary signing. Not because he is past his best but because he is unproven and seems to be a patchy player just like Benji. 3 years since getting rid of Soward and it all still smells of desperation to me.
Click to expand...

This is where recruitment really need to know what they are doing.

Take the Sharks, they got a brand new halves pairing this year, even though they were a game from the top 4 last year. Maloney and Townsend have been outstanding, a lot better than I thought they were. And remember they have never played together.

We need the same foresight to determine if Keary and Widdop are the best way forward. I had doubts that Benji and Widdop (2 5/8's) would work and clearly Price and Doust didn't think it through.

Hope we don't make the same mistake.
 
mobels

mobels

Juniors
Messages
696
Rumor going around is that Hastings is being shopped around by the Rooster. We should look into getting him back as he would be much cheaper than Keary and is only 20 and still has a lot of improvement in him.
 
Smirrors

Smirrors

Juniors
Messages
224
I am not crash hot for this signing but in a time where halves are at a premium hes the only option that might have more upside than downside. He's won a premiership and might just need a fresh start given all the recent rumours. I just hope that in a team lacking some stars he will be able to perform at the same level when Souths were at their peak.
 
S

Saints Forever

Bench
Messages
3,921
Smirrors said:
I am not crash hot for this signing but in a time where halves are at a premium hes the only option that might have more upside than downside. He's won a premiership and might just need a fresh start given all the recent rumours. I just hope that in a team lacking some stars he will be able to perform at the same level when Souths were at their peak.
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Keary is a better half than we have at present.

Hastings is another option. Only 20 with plenty of first grade experience. Can kick goals.

I would grab both. Hastings will be a cheap option for us.
 
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