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They both need to kick. You need 2 options, so that your main kicker doesn't get swamped (with the exception of world class halves like Johns, Thurston, Cronk - who could generally manage to do all the work). Pearce should be second fiddle with the boot, though - especially in the red zone.
I think half the season why he gets smashed is he just doesn't run the ball with any intent or conviction whatsoever, he loves the little shuffle, run side ways and doesn't fight at all in the tackle, I mean I'm not sure if I'd class that as commitment
Certain things that work in juniors don't work in first grade.
He doesn't have the strength to fight anything.
Ponga cops it a bit but has the ability to break some. He also goes to ground a bit to avoid it. Sometimes Ponga goes to ground and jumps back up.
Going back a bit but Robbie O was small and got tossed around sometimes, but he brought so many other things to the team.
Jarrod Croker has the physicality of a wet paper bag, but comparing Hoy's physicality to him is insulting to Croker.
There is certain second rower who is in exactly the same boat. I don’t blame either though. Any kid given the same chance would take it with both hands regardless of alleged ‘advantage’. Fitz, to his credit, has proven he can play first grade without being a world beater. He is very strong in the wrestle and contact, according to many in the club, and if I were having punt on a club who might pick him up it is the Storm. Bellamy could really turn him into a quality backrower.
We’ve had worse players than Fitz over the years but ultimately if we want to be a team that people take seriously as a premiership contender then Fitz can’t be a starter. My biggest issue is that his baseline performance is just too low. He is virtually unnoticed in most games, and it’s not like he’s one of those workhorse players who makes 50 tackles and 100m and you don’t notice him because he’s always there, it’s more that his hitups are ok, his defence is ok and every now and then he runs a good line in attack and scores a try, and then there’s a few really basic errors too. But I don’t recall the last time Fitz made a linebreak on his own (without taking a short ball from Ponga) or broke a tackle on his own or even fended someone off and made extra metres. He just doesn’t have anything above average in his game.
