kris keating future with the eels?

[strider]

Since I was born... Cronk (twice), Wing, Sherwin, Kevin Walters, Polla-Mounter, Hasler, HAGAN

yeah they were nearly all at the top of the halfbacks in their time :lol:

 

[parra pete]

Five internationals...

 

[84 Baby]

How are Cronk and Sherwin not dominating halfbacks? Sherwins kicking game at the time rivaled Johns' and Cronk has played for Australia.

yeah they were nearly all at the top of the halfbacks in their time :lol:

Sherwin had one and a half good seasons, hardly a dominating performance.
Cronk isn't a dominating halfback because he doesn't even dominate the playmaking in his own team, take Smith and Inglis out and Melbourne are rubbish.
Wing was barely a halfback and had Fittler
Walters wasn't a halfback and played for a team with a thousand other dominating players
Polla-Mounter had Lamb and Dymock either side of him
Hasler had Lyons
And Hages... well he was a better player than coach but that don't say much.
They're all good players but hardly in the same breath as Langer, Stuart or Sterlo in terms of the halfback mould

 

[IFR33K]

Since I was born... Cronk (twice), Wing, Sherwin, Kevin Walters, Polla-Mounter, Hasler, HAGAN

Give yourself an uppercut.

Sherwin had one of the best short kicking games.

Walters, Hasler, Wing speak for themselves.

Hagan played for his state, and if Im not mistaken, Polla mounta came from the 15 man game.

And ill have Cronk in my team any day of the week.




By far, the most important player in the team, is the Half Back, especially 1 that can pass, run and kick.

 

[yy_cheng]

By far, the most important player in the team, is the Half Back, especially 1 that can pass, run and kick.

In this day and age I would say playmaker.

I think Robbo fits in well with this team but we are missing a player who has a strong kicking game especially in attack and especially to build pressure.

 

[strider]

Sherwin had one and a half good seasons, hardly a dominating performance.
Cronk isn't a dominating halfback because he doesn't even dominate the playmaking in his own team, take Smith and Inglis out and Melbourne are rubbish.
Wing was barely a halfback and had Fittler
Walters wasn't a halfback and played for a team with a thousand other dominating players
Polla-Mounter had Lamb and Dymock either side of him
Hasler had Lyons
And Hages... well he was a better player than coach but that don't say much.
They're all good players but hardly in the same breath as Langer, Stuart or Sterlo in terms of the halfback mould

you can still be a very very good, dominant halfback without being a superstar

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Shane Perry wasnt very dominant.

I see our kicking game as a weakness too, but its our inexperience in the halves and hooker that worries me.

And Iv spoken to 3 NRL coaches and they all agree that the smartest player on the field needs to be your hooker.

 

[lucablight]

Shane Perry wasnt very dominant

I see our kicking game as a weakness too, but its our inexperience in the halves and hooker that worries me.

And Iv spoken to 3 NRL coaches and they all agree that the smartest player on the field needs to be your hooker.

He was playing alongside Lockyer so it didn't really matter much.

 

[84 Baby]

Give yourself an uppercut.

Sherwin had one of the best short kicking games.

Walters, Hasler, Wing speak for themselves.

Hagan played for his state, and if Im not mistaken, Polla mounta came from the 15 man game.

And ill have Cronk in my team any day of the week.

you can still be a very very good, dominant halfback without being a superstar

To me, to be a dominant halfback you need to be the chief playmaker, direct play and be the attacking leader. A lot of halfbacks in the list directed play well, part of the reason why there teams won premierships, but when Lyons, Fittler, Lamb, Cameron Smith & anyone in the Broncos' backline of the 90s said something these 'dominant' halfbacks were forced to listen.

And wow Sherwin had a great short kicking game, no wonder I was confused, I totally misunderstood what makes a dominant halfback. Sterlo and Mortimer both had fairly ordinary short kicking games... I guess I better change my list to add these 2 players

 

[yy_cheng]

tbh, I thought sterlo had a good short kicking game.

He used to stab into the in goal without it rolling over the deadball line and get repeated sixes.

 

[Eelementary]

I understand in principle why you think a dominant halfback or 5/8 is needed. But our style of play relies on two things: (1) second phase play, and (2) getting our impressive outside backs one-on-one and creating opportunities out wide.

I know many would disagree, but in my opinion, Parramatta under Daniel Anderson is THE best team in the NRL when it comes to offloading and second phase play. Hindy, Caylo, Hayne, Mortimer, Robbo, Mateo, Fui, Grothe, Inu, Tahu - they all have a good offload on them. When we can hit holes and then pop an offload and then run teams ragged, we're in our element. Hell, we nearly beat the Storm - considered by many as the team of the decade - in the decider by playing in this fashion.

True, our kicking could use work. But we have a heap of options available: Robson, Mortimer, Hayne, Kris Keating, Matt Keating, Mateo...And I have watched highlights of Robson's game very closely over the past few weeks and he is pretty decent there, particularly with his short kicking. Watch the tapes - he knows how to put a perfect grubber in the in-goal or pop a short bomb/chip. He's not as skill-less and many say. OK, he's no Andrew Johns. But I dare say Andrew Johns would not work as well in our current structure as he did at Newcastle - a side where there is no true dominant playmaker (Hayne or Mateo not counting) and the team throws the ball around? That wouldn't fit Joey's style.

Ando has managed to forge a team that gets results and, perhaps more importantly, entertains the fans - we were all glued to our seats last year watching this amazing team perform the feats they did, and it was done with no "real" halfback.

I, for one, have complete faith in Jeff Robson and Daniel Anderson and I, for one, truly, honestly believe we CAN go all the way with him at halfback.

 

[yy_cheng]

I understand in principle why you think a dominant halfback or 5/8 is needed. But our style of play relies on two things: (1) second phase play, and (2) getting our impressive outside backs one-on-one and creating opportunities out wide.

I know many would disagree, but in my opinion, Parramatta under Daniel Anderson is THE best team in the NRL when it comes to offloading and second phase play. Hindy, Caylo, Hayne, Mortimer, Robbo, Mateo, Fui, Grothe, Inu, Tahu - they all have a good offload on them. When we can hit holes and then pop an offload and then run teams ragged, we're in our element. Hell, we nearly beat the Storm - considered by many as the team of the decade - in the decider by playing in this fashion.

True, our kicking could use work. But we have a heap of options available: Robson, Mortimer, Hayne, Kris Keating, Matt Keating, Mateo...And I have watched highlights of Robson's game very closely over the past few weeks and he is pretty decent there, particularly with his short kicking. Watch the tapes - he knows how to put a perfect grubber in the in-goal or pop a short bomb/chip. He's not as skill-less and many say. OK, he's no Andrew Johns. But I dare say Andrew Johns would not work as well in our current structure as he did at Newcastle - a side where there is no true dominant playmaker (Hayne or Mateo not counting) and the team throws the ball around? That wouldn't fit Joey's style.

Ando has managed to forge a team that gets results and, perhaps more importantly, entertains the fans - we were all glued to our seats last year watching this amazing team perform the feats they did, and it was done with no "real" halfback.

I, for one, have complete faith in Jeff Robson and Daniel Anderson and I, for one, truly, honestly believe we CAN go all the way with him at halfback.

Someone else had posted that the 09 eels played an expansive game just as the 80s eels.

However, the 80s eels had a general.

That general, knew when to throw to kenny, knew when to run around and put on a play, knew when to grubber in goal for a repeat 6, knew when to throw out a cutout pass to a flying Grothe.

A 1-13 of Taylor, Grothe, Cronin, Ella, Kenny, Sterlo, Price
had the same or actually better strike power as
Hayne, Grothe, Tahu/INU, Reddy, Burt, Mortz, Robson, Mateo.

Sterlo had potent men outside him as well but he did not get in the way.

Sterlo was 2-3 plays in front of everyone else and that made the difference. When to take control when to let his outside men do the work.

They grabbed 4 Premierships, lost 1 GF.

Is that what the current team is missing? That little creme on top? We are now playing an adhoc game. Relying on individual brilliance to make a break. Sterlo's team was not so adhoc. More on strategy and vision

Robson gets the ball to the outside men really well, but does he have the vision when we need it? Even if he does have the vision, can he execute it technically?

Time will tell. If we win 2010 or if we don't, the answer will unfold.


That's what I think is missing but I don't mind giving Robson first dabs at achieving it.

 

[yy_cheng]

I've also started watching the run home of 09 and I noticed somethings. Towards the end, Burt would run away from Hayne and go himself whereas before the finals, he linked with Hayne.

As someone said, the hooker is the main player.

If Mortz, Robson, Hayne and Mateo all call for it, who does he give it to?

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Ok then, robsons f**ked. Be his fault if we lose. Who else do we need to weed out.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

And I forgot to add the f**ker can't kick or pass any good. What a wanker!

 

[parra pete]

Let's all round up Robson and stone him......Bastard...

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Just a note i have on Robsons vision, the last pass he threw to win the Prelim against the Dogs, he could either pass it to Hayne or Mortimer. Hayne was infront of Mortimer, he was the IT player of the comp, he is the go to man, but why the hell throw it to Mortimer? Turns out, his vision was perfect and it paid off.

Its a DA coaching tactic, when ever one of the halves get the ball (and there is not intendtion to spread the ball wide), the other half will run in the other direction and look for the inside ball. It worked for us pretty will, it phased the defence line, throw in Jarryd Hayne at the time and the play was simple and effective.

 

[born an eel]

so, if we need a dominant half, we will need to spend about $450K, who do we let go to afford another marquee player.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Theres a slight chance that KK and or Morts could become those star halves.

 

[JoeyJoJo83]

I'm gonna feel sorry for Robo when we lose our first game, there will be shouts of, "off with his head" lol