Match Discussion: Round 9 vs North Qld @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

[NoSchitSherlock]

Does anything think there might be a late switch - Ponga to 6, Hoy at fullback?

I've been thinking just that.
Talk of not playing Ponga at 6 because Milford is coming is lame.
Plenty of fullbacks filled in at 6 before taking up the spot permanently. Lockyer is one.
Then, with Clifford on the outer, might see Ponga and Milf in the halves but that isn't balanced to me.
I reckon Clifford will come back.

 

[PhilGould]

AOB said they've been discussing moving Ponga into the halves according to Buzz on 360 last night. Also Hoy had been playing 6 in reserve grade but switched positions with the fullback McKenzie Baker out of the blue last game.

Reckon there'll be a few changes on game day.

 

[Apey]

Crossland at halfback, I can't even.

I can confidently say if this was a home game I would just not attend. Which is a rarity.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Somehow I feel like the Hoy to 5/8 thing is Joey's idea lol

 

[mozza91]

Young, Fitzy and Croker back too so not all bad.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I'm surprised so many people are critical of Clifford being dropped. He's been woeful. Yes the Hoy/Crossland combo looks terrible but I'd rather the coach swings the axe a bit and sends the message that continued poor performances won't be tolerated. Yes, I know that Crossland has been rubbish as well but it's not like AOB has many options to work with. Also not ruling out the possibility of a positional switch maybe with Pythian coming in at half and maybe Ponga & Hoy swapping.

I couldn't see us winning this one anyway so I'd rather AOB puts some accountability into them at least.

 

[PhilGould]

Hoy was great on the weekend at fullback, and has been solid at worst in his 2 first grade games this year. I'll put it this way - I've got more confidence in him than I do in 2 other members of our spine.

 

[Yosh]

Nice side. Very happy with it. I want AOB out of here asap and it looks like he is doing all he can to get fired.

 

[slotmachine]

Hoy was great on the weekend at fullback, and has been solid at worst in his 2 first grade games this year. I'll put it this way - I've got more confidence in him than I do in 2 other members of our spine.

He'll try to make something happen at least.

We might even get across the stripe this week, to go along with the errors and brain snaps that are part of the text hoy experience

 

[Woosh]

I'm surprised so many people are critical of Clifford being dropped

Clifford shouldn’t be the scapegoat though.
He at least contributed to the 2 wins this year.
What has the twins done this season?

 

[Loose Cannon]

Tuala at right centre is not something I have been pining for. Would have rather kept Sasagi, and let the defensive combination of Simi and Dom allow those same tries in.

 

[slotmachine]

The most memorable thing Crossland has done all year is get himself put in the bin.

 

[Jono078]

I'm surprised so many people are critical of Clifford being dropped. He's been woeful. Yes the Hoy/Crossland combo looks terrible but I'd rather the coach swings the axe a bit and sends the message that continued poor performances won't be tolerated. Yes, I know that Crossland has been rubbish as well but it's not like AOB has many options to work with. Also not ruling out the possibility of a positional switch maybe with Pythian coming in at half and maybe Ponga & Hoy swapping.

I couldn't see us winning this one anyway so I'd rather AOB puts some accountability into them at least.

I think the timing is off. He's coming up against his former club and if I were AOB I'd say look we need you for this one and you get to show them what they're missing, you also know them better than anyone else in our team.

He's 100% the scapegoat here because if AOB was fair dinkum there would have been others before him or along side him this week.

Also in regards to the 3 players returning - that's great but they will be underdone and coming up against a fit and fast Cowboys outfit that'll make them wish they were injured for a couple weeks longer.

In saying all that, I really hope they all kill it and give it their all in a well structured manner. That would be a a nice start.

 

[Willie Ray]

That 9, 7,6 and 14......JFC.....
laugh now....
cry later.

 

[Sir Galahad]

AOB rewards good trainers.

and here I was thinking Mann had compromising photos of AOB and a goat

 

[Sir Galahad]

Clifford shouldn’t be the scapegoat though.
He at least contributed to the 2 wins this year.
What has the twins done this season?

AOB should have been dropping players who dont maintain standards - WIN LOSE or DRAW shouldnt make a difference.

Leaving it to this late stage before maintaining standards and dropping players is one of the factors why we are, where we are.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Clifford shouldn’t be the scapegoat though.
He at least contributed to the 2 wins this year.
What has the twins done this season?

Maybe AOB has seen more from the twins on the training field than Clifford. No idea what goes on behind the scenes. Someone from the regular starting side had to be dropped after the diabolical performance over the last 5 weeks. I'm sorry that it's Clifford but it had to be someone. AOB already demoted DSaf to the bench a couple of times so not out of the question that the twins might be next on the chopping block.

 

[Burwood]

Is Clifford officially dropped? Hasnt been named in Nsw cup either.

 

[aqua_duck]

The most memorable thing Crossland has done all year is get himself put in the bin.

i said a month ago that 20 something games in 1st grade and i cannot recall a single memorable thing he's done and thats still the case. He was straight up awful in the manly and dragons games.
This is the worst spine in the NRL by a long way, take KP out and its arguably the worst spine I've seen in the NRL in probably 15 years

 

[mozza91]

Is Clifford officially dropped? Hasnt been named in Nsw cup either.

Out for personal reasons apparently. There’s a Telegraph article about it.