Kurt Mann @ 5/8

[gitano]

Our centres should be Mann (left) and Lomax (right) .. Both have more complete games than either of the dolts we currently trot out. They both can run, are strong, have attacking passing games and general game awareness. Nene for one wing and that just leaves the other wing …

Wrong. Lomax will be the best centre in the competition in 5 years. Aitken and Laf are easily our best options right now, hence no hint of changing them.

 

[gitano]

Possum said;

“What about rotating Widdop/Dufty during games with Dufty having orders to run straight. A run around Dufty - Lafai - Dufty may well be a very potent attackingmove in the right circumstances.”

———————————————————————————————-

Possum I think there are a number of variations that could be tried. The other teams appear to have well and truly worked Dufty out from fullback. Your idea of Widdop and Dufty swapping for periods has merit, Dufty would offer a whole new dimension around the ruck IMO. The other idea I like was putting Hunt in as dummy half at some stage, and giving McInnes a spell, (Mann in the halves)

The last two months we have become very predictable.

Dude, there's an easier way to quote people. Just click 'Post Reply' and type your response below the quoted bit.

 

[This Year?]

Mann had a great game on Saturday and looked hard to tackle. I hope he can do it again on Sunday.

 

[Red V for life]

Mary on NRL360 tonight talking about many things including Mann.

Said that Mann is often disappointed not to be out there in the starting 13 and could probably rock up to another club and play 5/8 and quote “reach his full potential”. Hmmm...

He said he doesn’t want to lose him, but it’s the nature of the game. Kurt would leave a better person and player.

Reading between the lines, enjoy the time he has at 5/8 cause once Widdop’s back, normal transmission resumes. Don’t be surprised if we lose him sooner rather than later.

SIGH

 

[Old Timer]

Not trying to have a go OT, but this is one of those occasions stats are useful. Lafai has pulled way back on his offloads this year no doubt. But he’s sixth at centre for offloads with 22, and has the equal highest success rate of effective offloads with 20 which is 91% same as latrell. I don’t think almost non existent is anywhere close to accurate a description.

So if he can’t / doesn’t pass and only offloads on an average of 1 per game I think my point is valid
You compare his offloads with Mitchell but don’t do a comparison of how many passes each does which I think is mportsmt in doing an evaluation

 

[hewi]

Mary on NRL360 tonight talking about many things including Mann.

Said that Mann is often disappointed not to be out there in the starting 13 and could probably rock up to another club and play 5/8 and quote “reach his full potential”. Hmmm...

He said he doesn’t want to lose him, but it’s the nature of the game. Kurt would leave a better person and player.

Reading between the lines, enjoy the time he has at 5/8 cause once Widdop’s back, normal transmission resumes. Don’t be surprised if we lose him sooner rather than later.

SIGH

Firstly IMO Widdop might play again in the finals however I’m sure he will be tentative for a week or two, that shoulder dislocation is a big deal , personally I would leave Mann there . Secondly even McGregor couldn’t surely be so stupid as to leave Mann out and play either of the two centres who are adding nothing to the team. I know, silly thought, sorry.

 

[The Damo]

So if he can’t / doesn’t pass and only offloads on an average of 1 per game I think my point is valid
You compare his offloads with Mitchell but don’t do a comparison of how many passes each does which I think is mportsmt in doing an evaluation

It would be interesting - the best stat I can see fo that is general play passing. I think he does have a passing game though, and again not having a go, but perhaps it’s worth considering if your perception of his offloads (almost nonexistent when he’s actually the 6th most prolific centre) was wrong, your perception of his passing game may be also wrong?
Lafai is 7th at centre for total passes in general play with 82.
Mitchell is 20 something with 46. Mitchell actually passes less overall than Aitken which is a surprise. This is a good example of why I do look at stats, they can show you things you don’t expect and help keep preconceived ideas from skewing your thinking.
That stat says nothing about the quality or outcome of the passes of course. I’d bet heavily that Mitchell’s passes have much better results than Aitkens. But again it can’t be considered accurate to say Lafai can’t or doesn’t pass when there’s only 6 players full time in his position who’ve passed more. Lafai has an equal number of try assists to Latrell too - equal 3rd for centres. Just food for thought.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Widdop is a better 5/8 than Mann.

Mann is a better left centre than Lafai.

End of story.

 

[Saintsified]

Widdop is a better 5/8 than Mann.

Mann is a better left centre than Lafai.

End of story.

But would he be if Mann played week in week out at 6? Widdop has been given a shot to be what he is, Mann not so much. I think Mann is a better athlete overall and would trump Widdop as a 6 if he played even half the matches Widdop has at 6.

Anyway both are decent players and i believe Mann is disrespected as a player, underrated and all that jazz. The good thing is though, Mann does not seem to worry, shows the character in the MANN.

 

[Old Timer]

It would be interesting - the best stat I can see fo that is general play passing. I think he does have a passing game though, and again not having a go, but perhaps it’s worth considering if your perception of his offloads (almost nonexistent when he’s actually the 6th most prolific centre) was wrong, your perception of his passing game may be also wrong?
Lafai is 7th at centre for total passes in general play with 82.
Mitchell is 20 something with 46. Mitchell actually passes less overall than Aitken which is a surprise. This is a good example of why I do look at stats, they can show you things you don’t expect and help keep preconceived ideas from skewing your thinking.
That stat says nothing about the quality or outcome of the passes of course. I’d bet heavily that Mitchell’s passes have much better results than Aitkens. But again it can’t be considered accurate to say Lafai can’t or doesn’t pass when there’s only 6 players full time in his position who’ve passed more. Lafai has an equal number of try assists to Latrell too - equal 3rd for centres. Just food for thought.

So who is the more effective centre and what part do the stats you have quoted play in that evaluation?

 

[mickeylane]

But would he be if Mann played week in week out at 6? Widdop has been given a shot to be what he is, Mann not so much. I think Mann is a better athlete overall and would trump Widdop as a 6 if he played even half the matches Widdop has at 6.

Anyway both are decent players and i believe Mann is disrespected as a player, underrated and all that jazz. The good thing is though, Mann does not seem to worry, shows the character in the MANN.

if Mann plays 2 more games like he did against Tigers and Dufty plays another 2 games like he played against tigers, then Widdop will be your FB come 1st semi final...

 

[mickeylane]

Firstly IMO Widdop might play again in the finals however I’m sure he will be tentative for a week or two, that shoulder dislocation is a big deal , personally I would leave Mann there . Secondly even McGregor couldn’t surely be so stupid as to leave Mann out and play either of the two centres who are adding nothing to the team. I know, silly thought, sorry.

dont be surprised Widdop comes back at FB if Mann keeps up his form...Dufty is totally out of sorts and an easy target come semis by the top teams...

 

[muzby]

So who is the more effective centre and what part do the stats you have quoted play in that evaluation?

Mitchell.

His lower passing stats are due to the fact he just runs over the top of his opponents to score.

 

[RedV Resurgence]

Wrong. Lomax will be the best centre in the competition in 5 years. Aitken and Laf are easily our best options right now, hence no hint of changing them.

Not sure if you've been watching the games but:

Aikten puts the ball under one arm and runs, yes hard but there is no depiction. He has become easy to read and tackle.

Lafai is slow and hasn't broken the line on his own in a couple of months.

They are not working and are not NRL standard ( at least at the moment).

Time for Mann and Lomax to replace them.

I would be if Bennett was coach he would change these guys, at least to sock them into the realisation , if you don't perform someone else will replace you. Remember what he did with Ben Hunt at the Broncos.

 

[Crush]

Mann had a great game on Saturday, the best I can remember him playing perhaps. But let's wait and see how he backs it up. Kurt has a great game in him from time to time no doubt but he also has a shocker in him.
If he plays like he did last week every week I'll too be flying the Mann flag with Como Connection but only a few weeks back he was woeful.
Let's see if he can put together a month of great footy at 6.
I bloody hope so!

 

[RedV Resurgence]

Mann had a great game on Saturday, the best I can remember him playing perhaps. But let's wait and see how he backs it up. Kurt has a great game in him from time to time but o doubt but he also has a shocker in him.
If he plays like he did last week every week I'll too be flying the Mann flag with Como Connection but only a few weeks back he was woeful.
Let's see if he can put together a month of great footy at 6.
I bloody hope so!

Would be nice to have him play 8-10 games in a row in the same position for 80 minutes. And not in the front row. McGregor has never allowed him that luxury. Imaging playing second row (second change) with limited minutes then jump into then wing for 1.5 games then back to forward rotation. Then a game at 5/8. All players need to be playing regular minutes and in similar positions week-in, week-out. Why are the same standards not been applied to our centres?

 

[boardlumps62]

My opinion not many Dragons players like Kurt Mann who can run hard as 5/8 like he showed against the Tigers. His defence has always impressed me. We wont miss Widdop that much as we make the charge if Mann can maintain that effort.

 

[Dragons 09]

dont be surprised Widdop comes back at FB if Mann keeps up his form...Dufty is totally out of sorts and an easy target come semis by the top teams...

I can't see it mate. Mary is too conservative and one dimensional to take such a risk. Widdop is Mary's one and only choice at 5/8 and if there was to be an injury or a total loss of form from Dufty, Mary would go with Nighty at fullback and Kurt would be back to the bench.

 

[Dragons 09]

Not sure if you've been watching the games but:

Aikten puts the ball under one arm and runs, yes hard but there is no depiction. He has become easy to read and tackle.

Lafai is slow and hasn't broken the line on his own in a couple of months.

They are not working and are not NRL standard ( at least at the moment).

Time for Mann and Lomax to replace them.

I would be if Bennett was coach he would change these guys, at least to sock them into the realisation , if you don't perform someone else will replace you. Remember what he did with Ben Hunt at the Broncos.

Don't argue footy with gitano mate, you'll end up becoming a circle jerker like the rest of us if you do.

 

[muzby]

Widdop is a better 5/8 than Mann.

Mann is a better left centre than Lafai.

End of story.

No!!

Don't end story!!

This looks like fun..

Lafai is a better right centre than Aitken.

Aitken is a better bench option than Nightingale.

Nightingale is a better waterboy than Head.

Head is a better coach than Mary.

Mary is a better painter than this kid: