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NZ Warriors to sign Matthew Head

hybrid_tiger

hybrid_tiger

Coach
Messages
11,684
Head clearly ran the show when Farah and Marshall were out.

Since they've come back, he's stepped aside and Farah and Marshall have been attempting to run the show. Head's influence, especially on the 5th tackle, has been minimal. Which seems ridiculous to me as most of the time his 5th tackle options are excellent.

Now is it a coincidence that as soon as Farah and Marshall returned Head stepped aside? Why would he all of a sudden not take the game by the scruff of the neck?

Its obviously just my opinion, but I believe its coaches instructions.

Then this week we get this: Sheens on WTV - 'Head is free to negotiate with whoever he likes.'
 
T

The Tax Man

Juniors
Messages
74
hybrid_tiger said:
Head clearly ran the show when Farah and Marshall were out.

Since they've come back, he's stepped aside and Farah and Marshall have been attempting to run the show. Head's influence, especially on the 5th tackle, has been minimal. Which seems ridiculous to me as most of the time his 5th tackle options are excellent.

Now is it a coincidence that as soon as Farah and Marshall returned Head stepped aside? Why would he all of a sudden not take the game by the scruff of the neck?

Its obviously just my opinion, but I believe its coaches instructions.

Then this week we get this: Sheens on WTV - 'Head is free to negotiate with whoever he likes.'
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I see where your coming from. My take on it however is that Farah and Marshall have been playing with ego of late - trying to do too much simply because they think they can. In particular against the Broncos I thought Marshall was overplaying everything in the last 10 minutes resulting in mistakes. Now whether this is just pressure or ego who really knows.

In any case, Head does need to make a more concerted effort to take control. Especially on the 5th tackle. No one else should be kicking the ball on the last (unless we are in our own half). Do a Peni Tagive for god sake and push everyone else out of the way!
 
rupertpupkin

rupertpupkin

Juniors
Messages
512
madunit said:
I believe they have been given a gameplan to let Benji be the playmaker.

Something Benji cannot do.

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.
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Bingo.

It is curious that for whatever reason, Tigers have avoided (apart from what appears to be the temporary Head partial season) securing a dominant specialist HB, since Prince left. In an interesting interview in 2005, Sheens stated that since Prince became Captain-Halfback, he had fully taken over running the team tactically. Sheens felt that Prince's authority allowed for more direct input during the game, but that Prince "didn't always do what he (Sheens) told him to... but the job got done, one way or the other". Can the results of 2005, especially the 2nd half, after Prince got Captain, be attributed more to Prince's influence than the Coaching staff? In any event, Sheens has, with Morris, Marshall, and even Farah, been attempting to mold a halfback along more specific lines. No "loose cannons", so to speak. Just a thought, anyway...
 
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crouching_tiger

Juniors
Messages
779
Perhaps to play AT the line rather than BEFORE the line. To steer the ship as a SENIOR player and not just rely on his brilliant kicking/chasing game.
 
Mish

Mish

Juniors
Messages
1,101
crouching_tiger said:
I think Head is NOT doing what Sheens asks of him. Regardless of how well he plays. This could be the ultimate problem.
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I think Head is between a rock and a heard place, and I believe he IS doing what is asked of him. Why would a guy needing a contract go out there and NOT do what the coach wants of him?

I think if Head goes out there and does things his own way you will see a vastly improved game from him to what we've seen recently.

As for this pulling him out 10 to go, I don't know what is up with that, but it can't be good for him or the team.
 
T

The Tax Man

Juniors
Messages
74
Mish said:
I think Head is between a rock and a heard place, and I believe he IS doing what is asked of him. Why would a guy needing a contract go out there and NOT do what the coach wants of him?
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Because he is worried about his knee and only wants to play before the line and avoid too much contact.
 
M

mean_maori_mean

Juniors
Messages
2,251
The Tax Man said:
Because he is worried about his knee and only wants to play before the line and avoid too much contact.
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I agree with that sentiment.

Whether it is mental or really his knee is still stuffed. Regardless of the coaches game plan - he'd still take on the line more.

And its obvious it aint 100% sheens gameplan he is following or else Sheens would be more happy. Or he wouldnt be subbing him off.
 
nyx

nyx

Juniors
Messages
265
Mish said:
As for this pulling him out 10 to go, I don't know what is up with that, but it can't be good for him or the team.
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Exactly. Who subs their half back with 10 to go and the game on the line for a nuffie with no kicking game?? Madness
 
Lossy

Lossy

Juniors
Messages
753
Just 'cause I can, here's some info' to aid in debating the merits. Apologies for the resolution. If he's going to come to the Warriors I might as well know what he does.

TigersHalves.jpg
 
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westie

Bench
Messages
3,936
Just on the cooper cronk thing. I think Sheens is potentiallyy right there. Cooper throws the right pass and kicks the right kick.

The difference is, he knows what he's doing 3 days before because he has a decent coach telling him what to do. Not an overly gifted player, but smart enough to pull off set plays all game.

Unfortunately... this isn't our style of play... so why would we want a cronk clone?
 
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