Talanexor
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So 2009 is over (I don't even think we're a mathematical chance to make the finals after tonight's loss).
This is the official season 2010 thread. Discuss squad changes, tactics, what went wrong in 2009 and how to fix this in 2010.
2009 POSITIVES
I think we have plenty of potential, and plenty of talented players. The team needs more time to gel and for players to settle into their roles. I think we will be a far better team next year.
Here's my best team for 2010, assuming Carl Webb and Shane Tronc leave and we don't get Farrar back (I'd love to have him back though)
1. Matt Bowen
2. Ash Graham
3. Donald Malone
4. Willie Tonga
5. John Williams
6. Travis Burns
7. Johnathan Thuston
8. Antonio Kaufusi
9. Aaron Payne
10. Matt Scott
11. Steve Southern
12. Scott Bolton
13. Luke O'Donnell
14. Anthony Watts
15. James Tamou
16. Steve Rapira
17. Manuokafoa/Ah Mau 1 or 2/Harris
Backline is a lot better IMO. Bani and Ty Williams are slow, short, and just too small to defend against the monster wingers in the modern game. Malone has only played one game so far this season, and we lost. Despite all that he looks the goods. Showed plenty in attack and looked desperate in defence, we need BOTH in a centre.
The weakest part of Ash Graham's game is his defence: putting him on the wing minimises hos defensive workload. I'd switch him for Farrar in a heartbeat though.
Forward pack has just the right balance of high work rate, solid defence and hard-running metre-eaters. If Kaufusi doesn't pull his finger out, though, Tamou takes his starting spot. He's running out of chances.
The biggest issue for me was again the 6, 9 & 14. Travis Burns has a decent passing game and rock solid defence - he can also play at centre, hooker and would slot nicely into the backrow too. If he can develop an accurate long-kicking game, then he gets the 6 jersey IMO. We need a five-eighth who can tackle hard, pass accurately and take *some* of the playmaking and kicking duties off Thurston and Bowen. With a good long-kicking game, Burns fits the bill perfectly.
The reason Rovelli has been play 5/8th at the back end of this season is his kicking game. He's actually done some playmaking quite well too, but for every good pass he's thrown he's butchered two others. Good backup, but I don't see a spot for him in the full-strnegth side.
Watts has a bit more x-factor, a lot more confidence and is a lot more dangerous with ball in hand than either Rovelli or Burns. Has a better running game too. Also makes a lot of mistakes, but I hope Neil Henry can work on that.
With this in mind, I believe Burns should start at 6. After 20 mins, Watts should come on and Burns moves to the back row. Burns is then used in the back-row rotation unless there is an injury or Payne needs a rest.
I guess what I'm modelling this game plan on is Paramatta. They're playing a very unconventional style of footy at the moment, but it's brutally effective. Their fullback is the main ball-player and their halfback is just a tackling machine. Hayne and Mortimer share the kicking duties and start most of the attack. Robson is solid - throws a decent pass, tackles hard, can kick if he has to. Nothing flashy. Mateo plays in the backrow but has all the ball skills of a five-eighth, and starts most of the attack from offloads or short passes. Matt Keating/Kevin Kingston just provide good service from dummy half.
I see Burns starting as Robson and transforming into Mateo if an opportunity presents itself, but otherwise leaving the playmaking to others.
I've spent the last hour writing all that - man I need to get a life.
What are everyone else's thoughts? What was good about 2009, and where did we go wrong. What changes would you like to see. Do we need to sign any more players or promote anyone from u20's/QLD Cup? Or does Neil Henry just need more time to coach the players into a better team?
This is the official season 2010 thread. Discuss squad changes, tactics, what went wrong in 2009 and how to fix this in 2010.
2009 POSITIVES
- James Tamou - runs hard at gaps, hits the line at full pace and drives with the legs. I've never seen a prop so skinny, but he gives his best week-in-week out and is EXACTLY the sort of player we need in our forward pack.
- Steve Rapira - when he hits opposing players, they STAY hit. Running game has improved a lot too, watch him spin out of tackles and take the line on over and over again. Will only get better with age.
- Willie Tonga - back to his best, solid in defence and in the right place at the right time in attack. One of the few consistent Cowboys this season. I'd like to see him given a lot more ball.
- Matty Bowen - has missed a few games with minor injuries, but thankfully hasn't aggravated his troublesome knee. Kicking and ball-playing is as good as ever, though he doesn't run the ball as much as he used to, and his kick returns are lazy. He'll be a lot better next year.
- Anthony Watts - oozes confidence and x-factor, just needs to get the errors and bad last-tackle plays out of his game. Made a few costly mistakes this season (THAT KICK against the Bulldogs in particular), but has had some great ones as well, especially the chip and chase against the Knights. A genuinely dangerous player. Just ask Robbie Farah
- Re-signing Matt Scott and Scott Bolton - Two very good forwards with a high workrate and plenty of minutes in them. Even more importantly, it shows that North QLD continues to produce outstanding talent and is committed to keeping our juniors in Townsville.
- Backline - Excepting Bowen and Tonga, it sucks. John Williams has had a quiet year after a great debut year in 2008, Ty Williams is past it, Ash Graham's defence is STILL awful and Bani is a deadset failure. We have struggled to put points on as soon as we traded Farrar away to Manly.
- Michael Bani - Isn't good enough for first grade. He's a short, slow winger with questionable defence who just can't seem to find the tryline. We've already got Ty Williams, why do we want two passengers in the backline? Farrar, on the other hand, had rock-solid defence, great pace, could play anywhere 1-5 AND gave us an attacking option in the air. Ever noticed that we have NEVER gone for the bomb or the cross-field kick with Bani and Ty on the wings? And that a lot of tries we concede come from these same tactics?
- Kaufusi and Manuokafoa - Two big-name signings who just haven't lived up to expectations. They are lazy in defence and just don't have any mongrel in attack. They aren't bad players, but Neil Henry will need to do a LOT of work with them over the offseason if they want to keep a spot in the team I think.
I think we have plenty of potential, and plenty of talented players. The team needs more time to gel and for players to settle into their roles. I think we will be a far better team next year.
Here's my best team for 2010, assuming Carl Webb and Shane Tronc leave and we don't get Farrar back (I'd love to have him back though)
1. Matt Bowen
2. Ash Graham
3. Donald Malone
4. Willie Tonga
5. John Williams
6. Travis Burns
7. Johnathan Thuston
8. Antonio Kaufusi
9. Aaron Payne
10. Matt Scott
11. Steve Southern
12. Scott Bolton
13. Luke O'Donnell
14. Anthony Watts
15. James Tamou
16. Steve Rapira
17. Manuokafoa/Ah Mau 1 or 2/Harris
Backline is a lot better IMO. Bani and Ty Williams are slow, short, and just too small to defend against the monster wingers in the modern game. Malone has only played one game so far this season, and we lost. Despite all that he looks the goods. Showed plenty in attack and looked desperate in defence, we need BOTH in a centre.
The weakest part of Ash Graham's game is his defence: putting him on the wing minimises hos defensive workload. I'd switch him for Farrar in a heartbeat though.
Forward pack has just the right balance of high work rate, solid defence and hard-running metre-eaters. If Kaufusi doesn't pull his finger out, though, Tamou takes his starting spot. He's running out of chances.
The biggest issue for me was again the 6, 9 & 14. Travis Burns has a decent passing game and rock solid defence - he can also play at centre, hooker and would slot nicely into the backrow too. If he can develop an accurate long-kicking game, then he gets the 6 jersey IMO. We need a five-eighth who can tackle hard, pass accurately and take *some* of the playmaking and kicking duties off Thurston and Bowen. With a good long-kicking game, Burns fits the bill perfectly.
The reason Rovelli has been play 5/8th at the back end of this season is his kicking game. He's actually done some playmaking quite well too, but for every good pass he's thrown he's butchered two others. Good backup, but I don't see a spot for him in the full-strnegth side.
Watts has a bit more x-factor, a lot more confidence and is a lot more dangerous with ball in hand than either Rovelli or Burns. Has a better running game too. Also makes a lot of mistakes, but I hope Neil Henry can work on that.
With this in mind, I believe Burns should start at 6. After 20 mins, Watts should come on and Burns moves to the back row. Burns is then used in the back-row rotation unless there is an injury or Payne needs a rest.
I guess what I'm modelling this game plan on is Paramatta. They're playing a very unconventional style of footy at the moment, but it's brutally effective. Their fullback is the main ball-player and their halfback is just a tackling machine. Hayne and Mortimer share the kicking duties and start most of the attack. Robson is solid - throws a decent pass, tackles hard, can kick if he has to. Nothing flashy. Mateo plays in the backrow but has all the ball skills of a five-eighth, and starts most of the attack from offloads or short passes. Matt Keating/Kevin Kingston just provide good service from dummy half.
I see Burns starting as Robson and transforming into Mateo if an opportunity presents itself, but otherwise leaving the playmaking to others.
I've spent the last hour writing all that - man I need to get a life.
What are everyone else's thoughts? What was good about 2009, and where did we go wrong. What changes would you like to see. Do we need to sign any more players or promote anyone from u20's/QLD Cup? Or does Neil Henry just need more time to coach the players into a better team?