Ryan:
Hi guys, I'm an Eagles supporter, but have been glued to this post, as I could tell where it was going to head. I'm also respectfully understanding of where some of you are coming from, and agree with the sentiments.
Kimmorley unfortunately has his own style of play that actually worked when he was at Melbourne, because the style was fresh and innovative at the time. Unfortunately, styles change in the game of rugby league, and Brett Kimmorley wanted his known style of play to continue with him wherever he went. Unfortunately in todays game, a true half back needs to be able to adapt to new playing styles. Manly was ridiculously dominant in the mid 90's for example, but their style of play today would be slaughtered.
Kimmorley bought his flat style of play to The Northern Eagles, and it didn't work. He was our marquee player. Legendary players like O'mealey & Beaver just couldn't work it out. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to gel with The Sharks way of play either. You guys have an awesome back row, and when fit, a great powerhouse front row. If you guys snared a 1/2 back like Kurt Gidley, who plays with a team who also has a similar style of play to yours, I think you'd be doing much better. That's why you have been winning without him there.
The funny thing about this thread, is that it's like I'm reading stuff I used to read years ago on The Northern Eagles forum. I don't know what you can do about it though guys. He's probably your most highly paid player, and I doubt he would ever spend time in Premier League. Maybe Dykes could go into 1st receiver more often. He seems to be able to play ad-lib a bit more, and execute it quicker. I'd say your best 1/2's combination would be Dykes 7, Vagana 6. Then buy a big gun centre in Jamie Lyon or something.
Excellent analysis Ryan.
Unbiased, relevant and empathetic.
Without a doubt history will record Brett Kimmorely is the Sharks most decorated halfback in it's history. Country Origin, SOO and Australian representative and tourist. The only one to have won a Premiership and the Clive Churchill medal to go with it.
But as mentioned above -
the game has changed.
It isn't BK's style of game anymore and we are the poorer for it.
He will not play rep footy again. Even if Johns, Gower, Orford, Thurston and Prince all went over a cliff in the same bus he would not get a rep jumper. The game has changed.
Take our last 3 first grade halfbacks (sorry, not counting Brett Kearney). Kimmorely, Dykes and Campbell. As I said Kimmorely's achievements are light years ahead of the other 2 on paper.
But when it came to the style of football we play at cronulla - it just comes so natural to the other 2.
We don't play BK ball or Ando ball or whatever it's called - and it should have a name because it is definately an art of it's own. Nor can we adapt to it. Heck, we have tried so hard that we have had some success. But we will never get to the stage where we adopt it and make it work enough to be one of the top 3-4 teams.
Because the game has changed.
And commentators like Gould and sports journos like the guy who wrote the piece in todays's SMH can even see it.
Bk and his flat ball rubbish to forwards 2 steps off the opposing forwards is akin to Bjorn Borg's comeback in trying to win Wimbledon with a wooden racquet 10 years ago.
Dykes has shown in the past 5 weeks how the Sharks play. We racked up over 110 points in 3 weeks.
Why some supporters don't want more of that is beyond me.
And that argument about the Cowboys, Panthers, dragons and raiders not being very competitive is a poor one. There is a very worrying trend beginning to develop in our results and when BK plays. It started when he got dropped after SOO1 last year.
I am obviously not saying when he's out we win - or when he plays we lose, but the trend is developing and it isn't something some so-called biased anti-BKers have dreamt up.
But if it continues and we slump, the return of Adam Dykes will bring some serius foruming.
