Missed opportunity?

[Timbo]

We're still well under the cap - the fact we were still in pursuit of a big name outside back after Orford signed being evidence of this - so when I consider three players who returned to the NRL this year in Riddell, Berrigan and McGuire I can't help but feel we missed the boat there.

One position we're missing a quality player is hooker. On Friday night our service from dummy-half was (and I'm being kind in my description here) woeful. Waddell was marked very early on as the future in the #9 for us but I don't think I've ever seen him play the house down at hooker in FG. His service just isn't good enough.

Buttriss is better, but he seems to lack the fitness to play the full 80. When you consider that we let go the likes of Lincoln Withers and Ryan Hinchcliffe, who are both streets better than what we currently have it makes me further confused.

I can't help but wonder - how much does the lack of desire to chase a quality rake have to do with Tongue? There's been some consensus for a while that Tongue is the elephant in the room in regards to our problems at hooker. When it became apparent that Fensom was simply too bloody good to not be playing 80 minutes at lock he had to be in there. But this was at the same time that Tongue had come off a great few years and had been named club captain. So he was shoe-horned into hooker so we could keep him in the side as skipper.

I'm not for a moment begrudging Tongue a place in the side. He's still in our best 17 players but I really believe his best place is off the bench as a forward utility these days. How much better would we look with Berrigan, Riddell or McGuire - or even Withers or Hinchcliffe - at hooker instead of Tongue, Buttriss or Waddell. It seems now we're waiting for McIlwrick or B.Picker to come good in a few years time.

I just can't help but feel we missed out on this one.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

I think you're overstating the ability of Withers and Hinchecliffe. I'd have Buttriss in our side before either one. The only thing notable about the way Withers played were the big hits he'd occasionally pull off. Hinchecliffe never displayed anything while here to suggest he should be kept.

I agree with you on Waddell. He appears to play in slow motion with his service. I dont see a position in our squad for him past this season. I think we might eventually have McCrone off the bench playing an interchange hooker/utility role. We'll also see how Orford goes at half back, I think he should be feeling under the pump from both McCrone and Williams for that halfback spot when Campo gets back. If Orford cant organise the team better and fix his kicking game he is not the player we need in 7. I'd have almost preferred we spent the Orford money on a strong hooker, but I'm saying that in hindsight.

I dont know if we missed an oppurtunity or not with hooker. We have a backlog of players who could fill the gap there with McCrone, Buttriss, Waddell, Tongue and McIllwrick. A few of those options are a bit shadey (Tongue, Waddell) but I think Buttriss is a decent enough player to get us through this season.

 

[shear_joy9]

We're still well under the cap - the fact we were still in pursuit of a big name outside back after Orford signed being evidence of this - so when I consider three players who returned to the NRL this year in Riddell, Berrigan and McGuire I can't help but feel we missed the boat there.

the club was never after a big name outside back. A depth player was all they were looking for.

Buttriss is better, but he seems to lack the fitness to play the full 80.

Buttriss' fitness has improved greatly the past few seasons. He can comfortably play the full 80 without his performance dropping as seen against the sharks where he played 75min straight and was the best on field imo. He also made 34 tackles without a miss.

When you consider that we let go the likes of Lincoln Withers and Ryan Hinchcliffe, who are both streets better than what we currently have it makes me further confused.

Withers wanted to leave. I loved Lincoln as a player but it's tough to criticise Waddell's distribution when Withers' was dodgy at the best of times.

Hinchcliffe streets ahead? I wouldn't say that. He was nothing more than average at Canberra and has been nothing more than solid at Melbourne playing in the backrow where he belongs.

I can't help but wonder - how much does the lack of desire to chase a quality rake have to do with Tongue? There's been some consensus for a while that Tongue is the elephant in the room in regards to our problems at hooker. When it became apparent that Fensom was simply too bloody good to not be playing 80 minutes at lock he had to be in there. But this was at the same time that Tongue had come off a great few years and had been named club captain. So he was shoe-horned into hooker so we could keep him in the side as skipper.

I'm not for a moment begrudging Tongue a place in the side. He's still in our best 17 players but I really believe his best place is off the bench as a forward utility these days. How much better would we look with Berrigan, Riddell or McGuire - or even Withers or Hinchcliffe - at hooker instead of Tongue, Buttriss or Waddell. It seems now we're waiting for McIlwrick or B.Picker to come good in a few years time.

I just can't help but feel we missed out on this one.

The injury to Tongue is a blessing in disguise. I'm confident (hopeful) over the next month buttriss will continue to show he is the club's 9 keeping tongue in the forwards.

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I agree with Shear.

i also think the club will bide its time until McIllwrick is ready