Observation from the Trials

[super_coach]

Moltzen is wearing the no7 on his back but sure isnt playing a no7 role. Benji is doing all the organizing and Moltzen is playing more a link role or more like a 5/8th. He certainly is not playing the same role as Lui did last year.

So far it has worked with Marshall on fire,but not sure it will be effective long term. Marshall is at his best when he is allowed to get a little wider rather than be forced to operate from the ruck area.

Also we need a third quality kicking option. Anyway Iam not advocating for Moltzen to be flicked from the no7 role as I think he is probably our best option, I just worry how effective he will be, especially in the first few months

 

[Tiger05]

I think Marshall is very effective playing an organising role so long as every so often he gets out a little wider. I also think Moltzen suits this style of play because he is a great runner of the ball and has a great long pass.

I'm basically not concerned because I think the more Benji is involved the better we are.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Completely agree. Two trial games and Moltzen has not made a single general play kick during a game.

Yet in the warm up before the match he is out there practicing long field kicks?

Our kicking game remains one of my big concerns. Against the Eels I thought Benji kicked superbly, but his kicking against the Roosters on Sat night was pretty poor. Often kicked straight down the fullback/wingers throat.

I said this previously that I think the Marshall/Moltzen halves combination will work well so long as Benji plays well, but if he has an off day we will struggle. Moltzen doesn't do any kicking, not does he run to the line himself like Lui used to do.

I honestly thought Lui was our most reliable general play kicker last season, Farah and Benji can both kick well but they can also kick erratically.

 

[super_coach]

Hybrid, Iam with you,lui's kicking game and especially his mid field kicks were great. Benji's kicking game has always been hot and cold. We need a quality third option

 

[Fordy20]

Moltzen doesn't do any kicking, not does he run to the line himself like Lui used to do.

That needs to change. What good is a halfback that doesn't kick?

Can we get Brett Kimmorley off the Bulldogs to teach Moltzen general play kicking and chasing?

 

[hybrid_tiger]

That needs to change. What good is a halfback that doesn't kick?

Can we get Brett Kimmorley off the Bulldogs to teach Moltzen general play kicking and chasing?

In the warm up Moltzen was practicing both long-field kicks and bombs with Marshall and Farah, so I have no doubt he can probably kick (not sure how well). The problem is he has been directed by the coaching staff to leave it all to Benji.

He did play as a junior kangaroo halfback and while I never saw him play at that stage of his career, surely he would have kicked if he was picked at halfback.

 

[Magpies Forever]

In the warm up Moltzen was practicing both long-field kicks and bombs with Marshall and Farah, so I have no doubt he can probably kick (not sure how well). The problem is he has been directed by the coaching staff to leave it all to Benji.

He did play as a junior kangaroo halfback and while I never saw him play at that stage of his career, surely he would have kicked if he was picked at halfback.

I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Immaterial of whether he can kick well or not, Moltzen has been directed by the coaching staff to leave that bit of the game alone.

Long time ago I thought that Sheens desire to have the game hang off Marshall was dangerous in as much as if he has either an off day or is injured WT are left with players who are rusty at playing to their full game potential. Surely it is easier to have 3 or 4 or how ever many players that can potentially break open a game rather than just rely on Benji all the time. If the opposition close Benji down in the tactics Sheens prefers for WT, it makes WT job of effectively countering this by another player providing the spark, so much more of a problem.

 

[madunit]

Its the kicking game issue alone which should have seen Miller play halfback this year.

I wouldn't be at all surprised though if we see Lawrence doing more kicking at the end of a set this year than before.

 

[Blackdiamond]

I have always preferred Lui to Moltzen at 7, simply because Lui was able to take some pressure off Marshall. As when Marshall & Farah try & do too much, our attack wanders sideways. None of this matters now.
If Molzen doesn't start to produce a kicking game & an organisational game, I feel he is best suited to an impact bench role, using his speed & footwork to target tired forwards late in the halves.
I say bring in a specialst halfback now (Miller) & utilise the early rounds to blood, rather than wait til mid-season.
Just my $0.02

 

[macnaz]

FMD!!! We had Lui for nearly 2 seasons and in my opinion didnt eventuate to anything special, and after a couple of trials people are talking as tho Moltzen at 7 has failed. If given even half the time Lui had I think Moltzen will be a far greater asset than the turnstyle.
As far as the kicking ,it seems as tho it may be a directive rather than an ability thing. To be honest I truly think our halves combo will develope into one of the games best.... As long as our forwards provide them some momentum to work off.
Just curious, did everybody watch the highlights that Azsport posted for the Parra game ? watch the first 3 tries. http://youtu.be/cgOD35DtrX4?hd=1 IF that sort of play doesnt look promising well ya may as well bring Johny Cronk back .

 

[sputneek]

My observation is that your best attacking option is to pass to Beau Ryan and hope.

 

[macnaz]

My observation is that your best attacking option is to pass to Beau Ryan and hope.

f**k OFF WANKER !!!

 

[The Charlatan]

My observation is that your best attacking option is to pass to Beau Ryan and hope.

With a dusty left edge, you're probably right. That will change with match fitness for the likes of Lawrence and Farah.

T'was only one trial, don't start counting your chickens just yet.

 

[DanOz]

FMD!!! We had Lui for nearly 2 seasons and in my opinion didnt eventuate to anything special, and after a couple of trials people are talking as tho Moltzen at 7 has failed. If given even half the time Lui had I think Moltzen will be a far greater asset than the turnstyle.
As far as the kicking ,it seems as tho it may be a directive rather than an ability thing. To be honest I truly think our halves combo will develope into one of the games best.... As long as our forwards provide them some momentum to work off.
Just curious, did everybody watch the highlights that Azsport posted ? watch the first 3 tries.

Couldnt agree more. Give him 1 season, not even the 2 Lui had, then make a decision. If he doesnt cut it then Miller has had 1 more year to mature. Not a bad position to be in.

 

[Das Hassler]

Maybe my memory is off but he seemed to do a pretty good job back in '09? before he did his knee in...shouldn't doubt the power of his determination when you consider the good job at FB in the finals after copping endless buckets of rubbish from the internet intelligensia. I won't be surprised at all if Moltzen stars for the side this year

 

[macnaz]

Maybe my memory is off but he seemed to do a pretty good job back in '09? before he did his knee in...shouldn't doubt the power of his determination when you consider the good job at FB in the finals after copping endless buckets of rubbish from the internet intelligensia. I won't be surprised at all if Moltzen stars for the side this year

Yep im having that feeling... now he has been given the position he considers to be his best i think he will be in for a great year.

PS he was playing fullback and playing it poorly when he done the knee.

 

[innsaneink]

Miller dscored two solo tries thru sheer determination the other nite by taking the line on....Moltz doesnt do this yet

Its the kicking game issue alone which should have seen Miller play halfback this year.

I wouldn't be at all surprised though if we see Lawrence doing more kicking at the end of a set this year than before.

 

[Das Hassler]

Yep im having that feeling... now he has been given the position he considers to be his best i think he will be in for a great year.

PS he was playing fullback and playing it poorly when he done the knee.

Yes i do believe that's right (at the beginning of the '10 season) but pretty sure he saw out the '09 season at HB? I probably remember it wrong. Anyway..he knows he's got a few doubters to prove wrong and quite a few thousand saints supporters (ugly aint they?!) to upset a bit more..also has to measure up to his mate and halves partner so that's pretty good motivation right there..he'll do good

 

[Fordy20]

Yes i do believe that's right (at the beginning of the '10 season) but pretty sure he saw out the '09 season at HB? I probably remember it wrong. Anyway..he knows he's got a few doubters to prove wrong and quite a few thousand saints supporters (ugly aint they?!) to upset a bit more..also has to measure up to his mate and halves partner so that's pretty good motivation right there..he'll do good

You remember incorrectly. Moltzen started at fullback over Shannon Gallant and Shannon McDonnell in 2009. I'm not quite sure of the circumstances, but the Tigers ended up with a spine of Gallant at fullback with Moltzen and Marshall in the halves and Farah at hooker, a spine that strung together five wins on the trot which ended with Shannon Gallant breaking his leg.

Despite the fact the team performed better with a genuine fullback replacing Moltzen at fullback, Sheens chose to promote Robert Lui to the halfback's role, who got to be part of a 56 to 10 demolition of the Sharks before the season ending loss to Parramatta in Round 24. Robert Lui played one more game at halfback before being replaced by John Morris who was instrumental in leading an injury ravaged Tigers squad to victory over the Bulldogs in Round 26 in his last game in the halves for the Tigers.

Probably the biggest disappointment for me is that Sheens wasted two years upskilling a wife beater, when he had a Junior Kangaroo halfback desperately wanting to play in the halves spending time in a position he hated at fullback.

To me it was acceptable to not make the finals in 2007 due to losing Scott Prince, but 2008 will always disappoint me in that we signed Mathew Head and he was never used to his potential. 2009 onwards will always be disappointing that Moltzen was playing fullback when it was clear that it was best for the team that a genuine fullback wore the #1 jersey.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

Obviously, its all about team balance - rather than the best individual players. Its the champion team Vs team of champions argument.

Moltzen has talent, he just needs to build on his consistency. Remember, we all said the same thing about Benji. These are young guys we are talking about.

I suspect that Molz has been told to shy away from kicking to build confidence in the rest of his game. This would mean that at some stage - with no warning - this season, he will unleash our third serious kicking option. '

I think we are looking pretty good for this year and I have to admit I have high expectations for the boys this year.

The starting 17 are all top notch - we have the kiwi captain and VC and five of our starting forwards are internationals.

We have good depth in the inside and outside backs, and in the forwards.

Flagging early my concerns about depth at hooker though. This is our only weakness this year.