NZ Warriors to sign Matthew Head

[ucantseeme]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23923549-23214,00.html

Warriors to make play for Head

By Brent Read
June 26, 2008 WESTS Tigers are facing a battle to keep half-back Mathew Head from switching to the side they meet on Sunday - the Warriors.
It is understood the New Zealand-based side has sounded out Head's management after earmarking the 26-year-old as the man to cure their problems in the halves.
News of the Warriors' interest in Head will add spice to the meeting between the two clubs at Leichhardt Oval, which is shaping as a significant match for both sides. The Tigers need to win to maintain pace with the top eight while a loss would leave the Warriors battling to remain in finals contention.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has clearly grown frustrated with the halves combination which guided his side to the finals last year - Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli.
Rovelli has been dropped to New South Wales Cup, with Nathan Fien handed the No.7 jersey.
The Warriors have already signed Brisbane utility Joel Moon for next season and it is understood he has been recruited to play in the halves.
Head, whose career has been stunted by a series of injuries, has been growing in confidence since being given an opportunity by the Tigers this year.
Coach Tim Sheens has told the 26-year-old what is expected of him before the club will table an offer for next season, leaving the door open for Head to be poached by another club.

 

[N.C.]

Fingers crossed that WT pulling out of the race for Te'o is partially inspired by this little snippet...

 

[Spank]

Typical...

 

[innsaneink]

They cannot let Head go.....I hope they pull their digits out soon

 

[Spank]

With Teo gone surely that frees up $$ for Heady

 

[ucantseeme]

I am still not sold on M Head. I know he has a good passing and kicking game but his defense is just so....terrible. We can't hide Benji and Head in defense. Every player has to be able to pull their weight.

Reminds me of Joe Williams at the Bulldogs. Dogs fans were blasting him due to his turnstyle defense.

I'd like Head to stay but he really needs to do more on the field in attack and defense.

 

[N.C.]

He saved a try last week and who knows how that game would have ended if he was on the field in the last ten minutes...

Sorry to bring it up again.

 

[super_coach]

I dont think Sheens rates our Mr Head and I think Sheens would be relieved if the boys from across the pond got his signature. He could than say they they could not match their offer and we will move on with Johnny Boy at no7 in 2009. I have never heard Sheens say a postive word about Head.

Playing seven behind our pack at present would be a challange for even Joey Johns so how he expects Head to play a running game is beyond me (when their is no forward platform been laid)

 

[nyx]

Ridiculous decision if they let Head go. They might even have left it too late now and Warriors will offer him more than we can match.
It's not like there are a whole lot of quality halfbacks lying around waiting to sign with us either.

Another season of Morris in the 7 is just too much to even contemplate

 

[hrundi99]

He needs to step up and take control...

 

[madunit]

if he runs at the line some more, he will be devastating, as it stands, he's pretty much doing the same thing now that Morris has been doing in the halves.

nothing.

 

[rupertpupkin]

...Despite not playing much half-back, Morris is confident he can perform in the role. He has a strong ally in four-time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens...

...“Tim is really confident that even though I have played more at five-eighth than half-back, we can apply those same sort of principles and skills into the number 7 role here...

“Benji has been fantastic.” Morris said... “He is really good at organising the team and in getting his message across. He basically runs the team.
“With Prince there, I thought that was his main role and it probably was, but Benji is really good at that as well, and he has been a huge help for me.”

...Sheens said Morris was could well turn out to be the Wests Tigers’ own ‘Cooper Cronk’... “I think he can be our Cooper Cronk this year... the team will build around him.”

http://sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=577

WESTS Tigers coach Tim Sheens reckons Benji Marshall could be as good as Johnathan Thurston at halfback...

Sheens said the premiership winning five-eighth wasn't being protected from his defensive duties after being switched to halfback.
"No. It's aimed at getting him closer to the ball and improving the team's performance,'' Sheens said...

Sheens believes Marshall has the game and talent to make the transition from pivot to halfback as seamlessly as the man he will mark on Monday, but warned fans to give the 22-year-old player time to return to his absolute best.

"I'm confident that Benji can convert from six to seven as did Johnathan Thurston. I see similar players,'' Sheens said.
"He's going to have a lot more responsibility at halfback. Don't expect the world from him...

"Nothing changes from playing at five-eighth, I'll just be directing them around a bit more and be closer to the ruck and get my hands on the ball and do a bit more...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22127531-23214,00.html

 

[blain]

...Sheens said Morris was could well turn out to be the Wests Tigers’ own ‘Cooper Cronk’... “I think he can be our Cooper Cronk this year... the team will build around him.”

lol

 

[hybrid_tiger]

, as it stands, he's pretty much doing the same thing now that Morris has been doing in the halves.

nothing.

That's rubbish, look at the try assists between Morris and Head and then tell me Head has been doing nothing.

Fair enough - he needs to run at the line more. But if I recall, so did Prince in 2004. It took him a while but he developed that part of his game as he grew in confidence.

 

[8Ball]

Thats alright. A loss you can afford imo. Morris will step right up.

 

[madunit]

That's rubbish, look at the try assists between Morris and Head and then tell me Head has been doing nothing.

Fair enough - he needs to run at the line more. But if I recall, so did Prince in 2004. It took him a while but he developed that part of his game as he grew in confidence.

I did say "Now", not "all season"

Rubbish?

Round 15
Head - 1 try assist, 4 missed tackles
Morris - 5 missed tackles.

Round 14
Head - 2 missed tackles
Morris - 1 missed tackle

Round 13
Head - 2 Try assists, 1 Line break assist, 1 missed tackle
Morris - 1 Try assist, 2 missed tackles.

Round 12
Head - 5 missed tackles
Morris - 1 try assist, 1 line break assist, 1 missed tackle

Total in the last 4 weeks
Head - 3 try assists, 1 line break assist, 12 missed tackles
Morris - 2 try assists, 1 line break assist, 9 missed tackles

They look fairly similar to me.

 

[innsaneink]

You need to show the minutes played also,to gain a true reflection, considering Morris has been off the bench the last 5 weeks

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I did say "Now", not "all season"

Rubbish?

Round 15
Head - 1 try assist, 4 missed tackles
Morris - 5 missed tackles.

Round 14
Head - 2 missed tackles
Morris - 1 missed tackle

Round 13
Head - 2 Try assists, 1 Line break assist, 1 missed tackle
Morris - 1 Try assist, 2 missed tackles.

Round 12
Head - 5 missed tackles
Morris - 1 try assist, 1 line break assist, 1 missed tackle

Total in the last 4 weeks
Head - 3 try assists, 1 line break assist, 12 missed tackles
Morris - 2 try assists, 1 line break assist, 9 missed tackles

They look fairly similar to me.

So what are you trying to say?

That Head isn't doing enough and shouldn't be re-signed?

Although I know Head has to develop his running game, as I said, so did Prince in 2004. It took an extended run of matches, confidence from the coaching staff (something which Head doesn't have) and match sharpness to come after an extended layoff. Head is the same.

Sheens is as much to blame for not giving Head full responsibility in running the show.

 

[The Tax Man]

So what are you trying to say?

That Head isn't doing enough and shouldn't be re-signed?

Although I know Head has to develop his running game, as I said, so did Prince in 2004. It took an extended run of matches, confidence from the coaching staff (something which Head doesn't have) and match sharpness to come after an extended layoff. Head is the same.

Sheens is as much to blame for not giving Head full responsibility in running the show.

Don't you think your making an assumption when you say Sheens is not giving Head full responsibility to run the show? Maybe it is Head's problem that he is not taking the game by the scruff of the throat himself.

In saying this, I do agree that Head is the best halfback option. However he has not set the world on fire to date.

 

[madunit]

So what are you trying to say?

That Head isn't doing enough and shouldn't be re-signed?

Did I say that, did I even imply that? No. I said

he's pretty much doing the same thing now that Morris has been doing in the halves.

nothing.

Where you got your dimwitted asumptions from I have no idea. I provided these stats to prove my point that Head hasn't been doing much of late. Not once have I mentioned He shouldn't be signed or that he isn't the best halfback option.

Although I know Head has to develop his running game, as I said, so did Prince in 2004. It took an extended run of matches, confidence from the coaching staff (something which Head doesn't have) and match sharpness to come after an extended layoff. Head is the same.

Sheens is as much to blame for not giving Head full responsibility in running the show.

Which is partly my point in comparing him to Morris.

I believe they have been given a gameplan to let Benji be the playmaker.

Something Benji cannot do.

In saying that, Head needs to attack the line more. He simply isn't, thus, his game is becoming easy for defences to read, they know he'll pass the ball every time, so they stack defences more heavily one or two players wide of him every time, choking our attack before it gets a chance to do anything. If he ran at the line more often, if would mean defences would spread out more, creating more holes for our outside men.

I believe though that Sheens has a gameplan to have a halfback who will not take the limelight away from Benji, and he wants Benji to be the playmaker, maybe he has plans of switching Benji to half in the future. f**k I hope not, but I keep getting the impressions that this is the ultimate Sheens plan.