Kyle Flanagan

[Mojo]

An organiser in the halves is VITAL. The players that can change the momentum, slow the game down when in control, speed it up when required, kick a field goal to make the opposition have to score an extra score to win. Think Cleary in GF vs Broncs, he kicked up a few gears and won the game for them. Think Adam Reynolds vs us in 2018 in the semi final when he kicked 3 field goals. Think Ben Hornby cutting out Gasnier, twice, because he knew Roosters rookies Linnett and Leulia would be wanting to shut Gasnier down and tis allowed Nightingale to score twice untouched in 2010 GF. Think DCE in last year's semi vs the Dogs...... digs all over the Sea Eagles and force a drop out. Everybody thought DCE was going the short drop out.....NO, he went an 80 metre bouncing kick that ended up pinning the dogs on their in goal. Dogs lose the ball, sea eagles score, game changed, eagles win. Loads of examples ....... This was the biggest negative with Ben Hunt.....excellent footballer, but could never come up with the clutch play.

Ok. If that’s what everyone means by an ‘organising half‘ fair enough. In brief, a smart player who has a feel for the state of play and is clever enough to pull a rabbit out of a hat when a bit of magic is needed. Gem quality players. If that’s what we’re looking for I think we may as well apply the old trial and error method. These sort of guys generally emerge as surprise packages - Thurston, Sterling, Hornby, DCE … they’re quick thinkers first and foremost. I think our KOE 6, Glover, might well have what it takes - and I wouldn’t write-off Ilias and King Togia - with Atkinson coming-in - there’s a halves combination there somewhere. Meteorites are exciting but they also burn bright and disappear. We need to develop a sustainable combination

(Personally, I have never considered Bunt in this category. I don’t even rate him a a great player in general).

 

[Wolfgang90]

An organising half & an elite kicking half are vital. Sometimes it's the same player i.e. cleary & moses, other times it's someone like a sexton who does the organising & burton with the elite kicking.

That wasn't the only field goal Atkinson kicked. He also kicked one in golden point for their win over Newcastle last year, and in that game he scored a try, had 1 try assist, 3 goals and kicked for 379 metres. Such a dud. Then he led them to a 44-0 win over Gold Coast with Cam McInnes in the halves next to him, again notching 2 try assists and over 500 kicking metres. Terrible stuff. He's younger than both Hynes and Trindall so obviously less experienced, so I thank the Sharks for continuing to build his FG experience for us this year instead of putting the so-called dud in NSW Cup.

Folks, don't buy into the rubbish that the scum from the shire are selling in here. After almost 50 years they're still petty bitches with a chip on their shoulder. The Italian is a stallion

He's a footy nerd, has been following our games & comes from the melb storm system. I think him being used as a utility is a silver lining as he's learning how other positions operate & demands of those positions. He has 1st hand experience now.

Everything I hear & see about Atko says we've got a natural footy player. High IQ who might be in a similar vein to a Ben Hornby. All I want to see is the top level kicking from him next year. All our younger players have high IQs, Egan, Stewart, Couchman x 2, LKT. All are natural footy players imo. I think Atko will be a great buy for us, great cultural fit too.

 

[offiah]

We just need to follow the Canberra model. They have a similar (less desirable) location challenge as us. They’ve addressed it by buying strong forwards from the UK and then going for the best young halves and backs (eg junior Blues and maroons) coming through that are not going to get a shot at FG. Eg Ethan Sanders.

How we let Tamale go I have no idea?? We should be all over these guys and we had one right here.

We probably need an actual recruitment manager as well I guess… seriously what the f do we expect?

 

[I'm Hornby]

We just need to follow the Canberra model. They have a similar (less desirable) location challenge as us. They’ve addressed it by buying strong forwards from the UK and then going for the best young halves and backs (eg junior Blues and maroons) coming through that are not going to get a shot at FG. Eg Ethan Sanders.

How we let Tamale go I have no idea?? We should be all over these guys and we had one right here.

We probably need an actual recruitment manager as well I guess… seriously what the f do we expect?

I like the idea of signing junior blues/maroons.

Unfortunately for us the average age of new recruit under this coach is 28 years old, the youngest players signed have been 24 year olds (Tuipulotou and Illias).

Our typical recruit is a relatively young player or an aging player who are getting a second, third or fourth chance.

I hope for our sake we start signing younger players without pathways to first grade but I doubt it will happen while Flanagan remains coach.

 

[possm]

Are organising 7’s as important in today’s game?
I feel with the six agains added to the game maybe having two attacking halves could be the way to go in future.

Yes, maybe Reed and Atkinson.