Mullen The Great Myth

[Noname36]

Gagai was re-signed for 575k. He had offers worth 600k+ though so it's not like we're paying above and beyond what any other club would. He's worth it anyway. Does a heap of work and is usually the guy that'll come up with a clutch play when we need one. Not having played rep footy doesn't change his value to us. He would have played SOO last year anyway if he didn't f**king disappear.

 

[Noname36]

Yeah, I read $575k somewhere for Gagai. Top centre in the game type money. To be honest, I can't name a centre playing better at the moment. If he keeps delivering, he's worth it. I think if he can be as good at fullback as I think he could be, he'd be worth every penny and then some. Might struggle under the high ball under pressure, but who in our team doesn't? Won't change a thing there.

To me it just makes sense. Gags is infinitely more ready for fullback than Sione. He played there in the juniors, he's accustomed to top flight football, and he's full of confidence and in great form. Has to be a better option than Sione, who while valiant at fullback... hasn't really provided us with much except good kick returns. You put Sione in at his natural position and I think he will thrive... it's not like he's in poor form, he's just playing out of position all the time.

Yeah, I'd like to see Gagai at fullback, mostly for the reason you said...getting Sione into centre. Saying that though jeez, you'd hate to move him when he's in such good form. Not sure if he'd go for the move either. He's made it no secret he wants to play Origin and with Hodges retiring soon he may want to stay in the centres.

 

[perverse]

I think they'd pick him at centre for QLD even if we did shift him to be honest, unless his form got outrageously bad. I'd back him, I don't think it's a huge risk... but I guess he might.

 

[The Showstopper]

Gagai has been very impressive in standing up to dominant tackles and he has become clearly stronger in his leg drive. His speed and footwork have never been an issue.

 

[Spot On]

You can just save me the time and explain how he was shown up if you like.

If you watch the game you can see for yourself.

Just out of interest to all the Uate supporters out there, how much money are you happy for the club to throw at him next contract???

 

[Spot On]

If Gags is the best centre in the game atm then why would you move him to fullback?

 

[perverse]

Because having one of the best centres is no good to you if you have the worst 1, 7 and 9. Same reason why the Broncos have run Hodges at fullback over the years. Also I believe Gagai has legitimate potential to be a very, very good fullback, and is in a much better position to make a fist of it than Sione at the moment. I don't know why the club has got it in its head that Sione is a fullback. He's capable at filling in there, but it's wasting him. Maybe down the track he can be... but oftentimes clubs will bring even gun junior fullbacks through on the wing, because it's a hard position to play. We're the only club that buys a gun fullback and plays him at centre, then brings through a gun centre and feels like he's a fullback for some reason.

No surprise that all of this tomf**kery centres around accommodating our captain, either.

 

[Noname36]

Just out of interest to all the Uate supporters out there, how much money are you happy for the club to throw at him next contract???

Depends on how he's playing at the time, how long the contract would be for, what our salary cap position was like, etc.

You'd think less than last time we signed him given we were trying to fight off Rugby then.

 

[Spot On]

You left the 6 out of your shitty spine. He needs including in that assessment as well.

Hodges has only filled in at fullback due to injury at times the past few years. He's been at centre as it's been his best position for a long time now. I am aware he played extremely well at the back many years ago but those days are long gone.

The only reason anyone would move the best centre in the game atm (as some are saying) is to rid the side of Gidley.

 

[perverse]

He's not the worst 6 in the comp, which is why I didn't say he was. There are no worse fullbscks, halfbacks or hookers than the ones we run out.

 

[perverse]

The only reason anyone would move the best centre in the game atm (as some are saying) is to rid the side of Gidley.

Yes, exactly. Also, as I've said numerous times, I think Gagai would be the best fullback option at the club.

 

[Spot On]

Depends on how he's playing at the time, how long the contract would be for, what our salary cap position was like, etc.

You'd think less than last time we signed him given we were trying to fight off Rugby then.

I'd think it would be a massive downgrade on his last contract. A huge difference if the club is professional enough to want the best roster it can possible get.

 

[Spot On]

He's not the worst 6 in the comp, which is why I didn't say he was. There are no worse fullbscks, halfbacks or hookers than the ones we run out.

Geez Pervy, are there many worse?

 

[perverse]

Geez Pervy, are there many worse?

Not many at the moment. We do know he can be better, though. At his best he's amongst the best of them... hell it was only last year AND the year before it that we were praising him. The others have flat out never shown us more with the exception of Gidley, and it was 3 or 4 years ago now.

Mullen has shown us that with a good coach and a simple job, he can do very, very well. You can't say the same of the others. The criticism of Mullen at the moment is warranted, but it's over the top and kneejerk. Of 4 spine players, he's our best... even at his worst!

 

[Noname36]

Because having one of the best centres is no good to you if you have the worst 1, 7 and 9. Same reason why the Broncos have run Hodges at fullback over the years. Also I believe Gagai has legitimate potential to be a very, very good fullback, and is in a much better position to make a fist of it than Sione at the moment. I don't know why the club has got it in its head that Sione is a fullback. He's capable at filling in there, but it's wasting him. Maybe down the track he can be... but oftentimes clubs will bring even gun junior fullbacks through on the wing, because it's a hard position to play. We're the only club that buys a gun fullback and plays him at centre, then brings through a gun centre and feels like he's a fullback for some reason.

No surprise that all of this tomf**kery centres around accommodating our captain, either.

Knowing Bennett's commitment to Boyd we didn't have a choice with Gagai. He was never going to get selected there over Darius. Same reason why Brisbane are trying to turn Milford into a half...so Boyd can play fullback.

I don't think the club has it in their heads that Sione is a fullback. That was just the position that opened up for him when Boyd went off the rails last year, and this year we just seem to be trying to get him into the side any way possible (before Stone gave up on that). There's no doubt he's a centre but he's had two pretty good ones in front of him.

 

[Alex28]

Sione is a wing for us. He isn't a good enough fullback. He isn't getting in front of BJ or Gagai.

 

[aqua_duck]

Gagai is a good attacking centre but he won't get picked for Qld ahead of Inglis, Hodges and Chambers

 

[aqua_duck]

Gagai was re-signed for 575k. He had offers worth 600k+ though so it's not like we're paying above and beyond what any other club would. He's worth it anyway. Does a heap of work and is usually the guy that'll come up with a clutch play when we need one. Not having played rep footy doesn't change his value to us. He would have played SOO last year anyway if he didn't f**king disappear.

He wouldn't have been picked ahead of Chambers, no way no how. For all of Gagai's good work as a ball runner, people seem to gloss over the fact he's one of the worst defensive centres in the game, missed more tackles than any outside back last season and is again leading that statistic this season.

 

[Spot On]

He wouldn't have been picked ahead of Chambers, no way no how. For all of Gagai's good work as a ball runner, people seem to gloss over the fact he's one of the worst defensive centres in the game, missed more tackles than any outside back last season and is again leading that statistic this season.

This. I couldn't agree more. He and his 500K wing partner are horrible defenders.

 

[Rod]

If you watch the game you can see for yourself.

Ah yep sweet I didn't think you had any specific examples/evidence.

Anyway on topic, Gidley is actually the least of our problems spine-wise at the moment, he was at least quiet against the Eels and not ostensibly terrible. Mullen and Roberts are a much bigger concern given the implication they're our long term halves, although to be fair to Mullen we could write it off to a form slump for now given he had a brilliant 2013 and a very good 2014.

Roberts is the biggest concern due to him only producing sporadic bursts of form his whole career.