Line-up for 2011

[Eels Dude]

Morts was roadkill this year after some of the hits he took..

I'd like to see Tim Mannah as a starting prop to eventually captain the side for 10 years :3

Not as bad as Sandow. Morts is actually a solid defender for his size and makes a stack of tackles, he deserves credit for that despite his other failures. Sandow on the other hand for 3 years straight has taken the mantle for most missed tackles in a season, and by a fair margin too.

 

[mrpwnd]

Not as bad as Sandow. Morts is actually a solid defender for his size and makes a stack of tackles, he deserves credit for that despite his other failures. Sandow on the other hand for 3 years straight has taken the mantle for most missed tackles in a season, and by a fair margin too.

There-in lies the harsh compromise.
Morts has become a solid defender at the cost of having 0-zilch attack.
I wouldn't mind Morts missing more tackles or making less as long as we're scoring more points, plus Sandow now has an incredible pack to back him up in defense.
We also have a great pack, Morts should use them more in defense rather than trying to be a hero by 'trying hard' in 1 on 1 tackles only to become a speed bump.

 

[Eels Dude]

Comes as a trade-off, you either focus on developing your attack and risk being hammered alot in defense, or you become a Pearce-like halfback and just have all your assets defending like a 9.
This is where defense tactics come in handy, you generally need a prop or a 9 getting to the player before he hits the halfback in defense.
Halves aren't tackling machines and generally should be spared from defensive efforts as much as possible.

That's exactly right. It's best developing both so that the defensive skills are good enough that if they are targetted, they can hold their own to a certain extent, as opposed to being mowed over every time because they're seen as such a weak link that opposition players target them every run, a la Sandow. Morts can at least hold his own in defence. But yes it does wear him out to the point where it hurts his attacking game.

 

[Eels Dude]

There-in lies the harsh compromise.
Morts has become a solid defender at the cost of having 0-zilch attack.
I wouldn't mind Morts missing more tackles or making less as long as we're scoring more points, plus Sandow now has an incredible pack to back him up in defense.
We also have a great pack, Morts should use them more in defense rather than trying to be a hero by 'trying hard' in 1 on 1 tackles only to become a speed bump.

If there's a one on one tackle you have to make it, plain and simple. Morts as a playmaker is still limited in his ball playing skills, he can do a bit of this and that solidly rather than brilliantly. His main strength is his support play. I don't think anyone is convinced that Morts will become a brilliant attacking half at this stage.

 

[lingard]

1-hayne
2-tahu
3-reddy
4-loko
5-grothe
6-humble
7-murray
8-poore
9-mcguire
10-moimoi
11-hindy(c)
12-smith
13-horo

14-mortimer
15-mannah
16-shakleton
17-webb

18-mitchell
19-burt

murray robson compete for half spot if all else fails mcguire. morts as a hooker/half option but mitchell will be at his heals. burt as much as i love him i cant see a reason other then goal kicking to keep him. id like tahu on the wing because with him and guru and hayne at the back we have 3 solid options.

If the Luke Burt of 2010 turns up, I agree. If it`s the 2009 version, I strongly disagree. But, in any case, do we have another reliable goal-kicker in the team?

 

[mrpwnd]

If there's a one on one tackle you have to make it, plain and simple. Morts as a playmaker is still limited in his ball playing skills, he can do a bit of this and that solidly rather than brilliantly. His main strength is his support play. I don't think anyone is convinced that Morts will become a brilliant attacking half at this stage.

Such a harsh reality...

 

[mrpwnd]

If the Luke Burt of 2010 turns up, I agree. If it`s the 2009 version, I strongly disagree. But, in any case, do we have another reliable goal-kicker in the team?

Hayne apparently always does the rounds in training with Inu and Burt together, I daresay he's been doing it for a while now just never got the shot behind 2 brilliant kickers. I'm pretty sure he'll be our 2nd option if Burt's out.

 

[lingard]

It's obvious that the 6 and 7 pairing over every team listed here is inexperienced and not totally proven.

What type of Style would you guys see us playing with these halves pairing considering that only Hindmarsh and a touch of Horo will be the only 2nd phase creaters left after losing Mateo and Caylo?

Basically, we may not have the skills to play 2nd phase anymore.


Would you say we go the yesteryear of Newcastle. Big forwards who just ruck it up and hopefully Hayne will do some magic EVERY GAME.

In the GF, I noticed that Brian went for the old 2001 ploy of quick men running from dummy half.

I actually like this because the forwards don't get as knackered as fast as the faster men help out more.

But at the end of the day, it will be Throw to Hayne and see what he can do.


Everyone knows that I like Hayne at 6 so that we don't F around all year trying to find a pair of halves but if Hayne is to stay at 1 I will really really really consider this

1. Hayne
2. Loko
6. Burt
7. Murray/Humble/Mortz/Robbo.

Burt is the only one out of the above 7 that I have seen who can do something. He can kick long and short as well.

HOWEVER, my biggest problem with BURT has always been his size and defense and so either he hops back to the wing in defense or he stands next to Benny or Hindy.

The trouble with Burt at five-eight is that he NEVER makes a clean break. If you put him through a gap, that`s fine, he`s got the speed and the skill to make something of that. But he NEVER makes a break for himself. I think your five-eight needs to be able to do that from time to time. That`s what Mortimer couldn`t do this year. But Humble can do it.

 

[lingard]

I can see Humble at 5/8 but I think he would be wasted at halfback because he has such a good running game.

Prefer Murray at half, at least he is a specialist half.

Absolutely. Humble is a specialist five-eight, there`s no doubt about it. He`s going to be our next Brett Kenny if he`s given a go. If Daniel Anderson had given him the 6 jumper at the start of the year and left him there like he did with Mortimer, we wouldn`t even be talking about a halves combination now. And we would have made the top four, too.

 

[Djay]

Absolutely. Humble is a specialist five-eight, there`s no doubt about it. He`s going to be our next Brett Kenny if he`s given a go. If Daniel Anderson had given him the 6 jumper at the start of the year and left him there like he did with Mortimer, we wouldn`t even be talking about a halves combination now. And we would have made the top four, too.

Comparing him to Kenny is pretty huge wraps. You really reckon his that good?

 

[lingard]

Comparing him to Kenny is pretty huge wraps. You really reckon his that good?

Not sure. But I reckon he`s going to be as influencial to the team at five-eight as Kenny was. Yes, I do. (Obviously, I wouldn`t have a f**king clue, but if other people are allowed to make outlandish predictions and then fall flat on their arse, then so am I. :lol: ) That`s my fearless prediction - that one day Tom Humble will be compared to Brett Kenny, just as Hayne has been compared to Ken Thornett ( a comparison that I agree with, by the way, having seen Thornett play).

 

[Eels Dude]

The trouble with Burt at five-eight is that he NEVER makes a clean break. If you put him through a gap, that`s fine, he`s got the speed and the skill to make something of that. But he NEVER makes a break for himself. I think your five-eight needs to be able to do that from time to time. That`s what Mortimer couldn`t do this year. But Humble can do it.

It would be hard because Hayne plays the same rule, but I'd like to Burty come into the middle in attacking plays sometimes. He has a very good long and short kicking game which we lacked this year, so him playing a roaming role in attack on the last play would be an asset. Easy in theory, hard in practise though.

 

[The Colonel]

Loko has played half a dozen games for the NYC side and he is making first grade sides now? :lol: Premature ejaculation at its finest. He will need at least 12 months in the NYC side to prove himself as a regular Toyota Cup player first and foremost.

The same goes for Brad Murray. The only three players I can foresee having a decent chance of pushing there way into first grade at this stage are Rory O'Brien, Pat O'Hanlon and Ken Sio.

1. Hayne
2. Burt
3. Reddy
4. Tahu
5. Grothe

6. Mortimer
7. Robson

8. Poore
9. Keating
10. Moimoi
11. Hindmarsh
12. Smith
13. Horo

14. McGuire
15. Shackleton
16. Mannah
17. Webb

The bench and backrow will be interesting when Maitua becomes available mid-May as I beleive with so much to prove Maitua will takeover the 13. jersey.

Our depth will be further tested again next year...... Peletelese, Allgood, Manuofakoa, Te Maari and others will definitely need to step up.

Unless as rumours suggest we pay the transfer fee for Orford I believe we will face a similar season next year as we did this year......... Humble, Murray, Mortimer and Robson are all too inexperienced at the NRL level to make us a force next year. As limited as he is Orford would provide leadership and direction that we sorely lacked.

 

[The Colonel]

The argument many will have in regard to Brad Murray is that he was a standout in the NYC. If someone is able to name me two halfbacks that have stood out in the NYC in the past three years and have now made a successful transition into first grade in their CHOSEN position then I will see some merit in his miraculous rise to first grade.......

 

[Djay]

Loko has played half a dozen games for the NYC side and he is making first grade sides now? :lol: Premature ejaculation at its finest. He will need at least 12 months in the NYC side to prove himself as a regular Toyota Cup player first and foremost.

The same goes for Brad Murray. The only three players I can foresee having a decent chance of pushing there way into first grade at this stage are Rory O'Brien, Pat O'Hanlon and Ken Sio.

1. Hayne
2. Burt
3. Reddy
4. Tahu
5. Grothe

6. Mortimer
7. Robson

8. Poore
9. Keating
10. Moimoi
11. Hindmarsh
12. Smith
13. Horo

14. McGuire
15. Shackleton
16. Mannah
17. Webb

The bench and backrow will be interesting when Maitua becomes available mid-May as I beleive with so much to prove Maitua will takeover the 13. jersey.

Our depth will be further tested again next year...... Peletelese, Allgood, Manuofakoa, Te Maari and others will definitely need to step up.

No Mitchell? I just believe if there good enough there old enough.

 

[The Colonel]

No Mitchell? I just believe if there good enough there old enough.

The signing of McGuire suggests to me that the playing staff at this stage are not as assured of Mitchell being a regular first grader as many on the forum are..... me included. Huge fan of the kid and would have hoped he would have been used much earlier than he has been. I'd rather see McGuire used in Wenty and Mitchell used at 14. I am not totally sure it will happen yet.

 

[Djay]

The signing of McGuire suggests to me that the playing staff at this stage are not as assured of Mitchell being a regular first grader as many on the forum are..... me included. Huge fan of the kid and would have hoped he would have been used much earlier than he has been. I'd rather see McGuire used in Wenty and Mitchell used at 14. I am not totally sure it will happen yet.

Yer was just wondering why you didn't have him the squad at all. That's understandable though.

 

[yy_cheng]

The trouble with Burt at five-eight is that he NEVER makes a clean break. If you put him through a gap, that`s fine, he`s got the speed and the skill to make something of that. But he NEVER makes a break for himself. I think your five-eight needs to be able to do that from time to time. That`s what Mortimer couldn`t do this year. But Humble can do it.

you have a good point there but I recall the times when he and hayne used to switch around as 2nd fullback option and he was very successful. The defence watches hayne but then Burt comes in and gets the ball out to the centres and wingers.

I saw something in Humble too that was Kenny-like. But don't forget Kenny had a one P.Sterling inside of him. Kenny struggled big time when Sterlo retired.

I think Humble too will struggle without a decent halfback as both Kenny and Humble weren't/aren't players who controls the plays.

They, like Hayne, are more opportunists than organizers.

Maybe then

6. Humble
7. Burt

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Humble is a great player,he should be in the starting team

 

[mrpwnd]

you have a good point there but I recall the times when he and hayne used to switch around as 2nd fullback option and he was very successful. The defence watches hayne but then Burt comes in and gets the ball out to the centres and wingers.

I saw something in Humble too that was Kenny-like. But don't forget Kenny had a one P.Sterling inside of him. Kenny struggled big time when Sterlo retired.

I think Humble too will struggle without a decent halfback as both Kenny and Humble weren't/aren't players who controls the plays.

They, like Hayne, are more opportunists than organizers.

Maybe then

6. Humble
7. Burt

Burt at 7!?!?
TBH, I just can't comprehend that haha. Being a halfback is more than just linking with the outside backs, you need to guide your forwards, run them at decent angles and be able to have a wide-enough perception/vision to see when an opportunity arises so you can weight a ball for players on the run. Burt, IMO doesn't have that, infact, the closest thing we have to that is Hayne