No Dureau, who will be general kicker?

[Serc]

We will see.

I will be watching with interest to see how a number of players (and Smithy's combinations) go over the first month or two. One of the items on that list will be how well organised we are and how well our kicking game goes without Dureau on the field.

No bite from me this time - however I think that, for once, trolling was not the major part of your motivation to post! You will get this out of me however - the Dureau vs Karma tally at the end of 2008 shows you a few points behind, though most definitely you have caught up a large part of that margin with this weeks team list!

 

[Karmawave]

the Dureau vs Karma tally at the end of 2008 shows you a few points behind!

:lol: And I don't get that. See my above post in regards to the coaches ' use ' of the abilities of Dureau last year!

A couple of game winning field goals did not make a good year.

He spent half of it relieved of his duties on rest weeks, or sitting on the bench in key games while Chris Houston played in the halves!!!

And then, there was the SIGNING of Ben Rogers to start with... ( Not forgetting the initial effort to sign Arana Taumata as well )

A few points behind? Well I guess we disagree on that one.

I stand by the statement I made last year that Brian Smith doesn't rate Scott Dureau, and I highly doubt any other coach in the competition would want to automatically swap their starting halfback right now for Dureau...

Not one other coach in the NRL. ( He might get a run at a Todd Carney less Canberra )

I came into this season fully wanting to start 2009 much more positive towards the Knights team, and our performances. I don't want to be as divisive on here, and I'd like to get back to being a bit more positive towards everything on this forum.

However, I remain truly baffled how anyone can sit on here still , after everything that we have seen Smith do in his usage of Scott Dureau, and say that Dureau has the ability that is needed to play a first grade halfback consistently week in week out when he is severely undersize, lacks the strength of similar undersized men ( Orford is as strong as his nickname Ox ) and is a huge defensive liability that his attacking nous simply does not make up for.

Is Ben Rogers the answer? Who knows! He may not be, but if we are relying our season on the alternatives, we might as well start planning for 2010 right now and looking at what halfbacks are on the market - because if Rogers fails, we need help in the halves badly. And it looks like signing someone from elsewhere is the way to go about it if Rogers and Mullen don't fire.

 

[perverse]

blah blah blah... yadda yadda yadda. it's the same sh*t over and over again and you'll always twist the argument to keep it going karma.

personally, i rate rogers in the fact that he can turn on a big play from absolutely nowhere, and has oodles of potential if he can find consistency. i don't know if i will ever be a fan of mullen at halfback (which, for me is essentially what this is all about).. however i'm happy to have the best combination for the team. if we are talking rogers potential vs dureaus potential long term in the NRL i would say rogers has far more talent... however my argument was never thus. my argument was always (especially last year) that it was the best combination for us, as it allowed mullen to play his natural game while dureau had a good boot and could steer the ship well. i can be quoted umpteen times spouting these exact same lines... yet it always fell on deaf ears to you... as you had to have a good ol' argument.

at the end of the day, i want what is best for the knights. rogers at the club has shifted the goal posts immensely and it is a completely different equation this year as opposed to last. if mullen/rogers is the best thing for us.. and smith can find that consistency that rogers has lacked from his game, then the club will be much better off for it. personally, i can't ever see mullen reaching his potential in the #7 jersey... and i honestly believe that the knights are killing his personal career by playing him there. perhaps he will prove me wrong and stand up and lead from the front this year, but i just haven't seen that in him yet.

anyway, as i was last year, i'm done with this discussion. dureau did some really great things for us last year and had some very poor games too, which is to be expected of just about any rookie in the NRL bar the extreme talents. never, ever will you find a quote of me saying that dureau is in that league... but he was what we needed at the time. i wont get dragged into these stupid round-a-bout discussions that go absolutely nowhere because we are both arguing completely different things. you're a fantastic fisherman karma... but your woe is me victim mentality is pretty pathetic. you were wrong last year, in the context of last year. this year is a compeletely different ball game. this is the last bite you'll get from me mate... i hope you enjoyed it.

 

[Karmawave]

blah blah blah... yadda yadda yadda. it's the same sh*t over and over again and you'll always twist the argument to keep it going karma.

Are you suggesting that bringing up factual points about a starting halfback sitting on the bench in key games while Chris Houston played in the halves is not a simple straight down the line point?

Or that common sense would tell us that no other halfback in the NRL would have been used off the bench for 10 minutes in important games if they were actually highly thought of by the coach and perceived to be any good?

I mean seriously - there's no twist in that argument mate.

That's straight down the line facts about exactly what happened last year with Dureau and the Knights.

Surely those 2 key points are all that is needed to show the reality of the situation?

Never mind the signature chasing of Rogers and Taumata.

I'm certainly not saying Dureau's time in first grade is up - I wouldn't even be surprised to see him surface alot sooner than expected, but there's some pretty clear cut basic points that require no twist in summing up the situation.

What other coach right now swaps their starting halfback this weekend for Scott Dureau anywhere else in this competition besides maybe David Furner?

Anyway, I intend to be more positive this year - and this is where my Scott Dureau discussion for 2009 ends as well.

 

[Joker's Wild]

The more things change the more they stay the same

 

[Frederick]

Anyway, I intend to be more positive this year - and this is where my Scott Dureau discussion for 2009 ends as well.

Lol on both counts

 

[antonius]

Smith was on NBN the other night and was asked if Mullen and Rogers were his prefered halves combo, and his words were "Walsh and Dureau would both have big roles to play this season". Read into that what you may.

 

[Karmawave]

After watching Brian Smith coach since the 90's, one thing we can probably all take from his career, is Smith's actions speak a hell of a lot louder than words ( or at least his Big League team sheets ).

He has made a career out of countless ' late changes ' which had actually trained that way all week.

I wouldn't be surprised if the team changes this week.

 

[antonius]

After watching Brian Smith coach since the 90's, one thing we can probably all take from his career, is Smith's actions speak a hell of a lot louder than words ( or at least his Big League team sheets ).

He has made a career out of countless ' late changes ' which had actually trained that way all week.

I wouldn't be surprised if the team changes this week.

Agreed, and I don't know about you but it annoys the crap out of me.

 

[Karmawave]

Agreed, and I don't know about you but it annoys the crap out of me.

Oh Antonius, don't even get me started on how much it annoys me!!! :x :lol:

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Mullo you would think. Really I cannot see why this is even open to debate. Mullo is our best attacking kicker by a mile. Dureau and Walshy must be wondering what has happened to their careers though. Rogers has about a month to cement his spot I reckon.

 

[Dutchy]

If Newcastle are going to challenge the title, Dureau needs to be starting halfback from round 1.

 

[boltsy]

back to the pub with you Dutchy

 

[Yosh]

Well how about we take this argument from a totally different angel. Maybe its not about who is acutally the better player (Rogers and Dureau, Walsh doesnt desereve

a mention imo). Like maybe BSmith has a gameplan in mind for this first game or any other game and Rogers is the better piece of the puzzle then Dureau is at the moment.

I think that we'll see a different combination throughout the year with only Mullen being the mainstay... I think we'll see throughout the year:

Mullen being 6,7
Rogers being 6,7,13,14
Dureau being 7,9,14
Walsh being 7

Making Walsh at the moment in the worst position due to his lack of versitility... Karma your thoughts?

 

[TooheysNew]

 

[aqua_duck]

TBH if they're after a 5/8th who takes on the line Stigmeister>Rogers

 

[Pika]

Stig is a shadow of the player Rogers is at this point.

Another year and the captaincy in NYC may see that not the case by years end, but right now, Sig is not even close.

 

[Medievalknight]

If Newcastle are going to challenge the title, Dureau needs to be starting halfback from round 1.

Dont say that to loud.............especially when karma,s around :lol:

 

[Frederick]

Stig is a shadow of the player Rogers is at this point.

Another year and the captaincy in NYC may see that not the case by years end, but right now, Sig is not even close.

I can't tell if you're praising Rogers or rubbishing Stig

 

[Dutchy]

Dont say that to loud.............especially when karma,s around :lol:

Karma is a wanker.

Dureau will end up being better than Mullen and will be NSW halfback in a few years if Smith opens his eyes.