Our Halves

[yy_cheng]

I think burt kicks and passes way much better than mortz

 

[Stagger eel]

there are a few players who have made the transition from fullback or 5-8 into the centres. It is worth A try imo, what do you think Stagger?

well the positive thing is that he has a tenacious edge to his defence and I think he's capable of slotting in out there but s a long term prospect, but he may struggle competing with blokes twice his size, one on one..

 

[TheRam]

Wow, the idea of Morts at hooker has really caught on.

My biggest critisism of Morts this year has been his slow service and predictable play. At hooker, if he carried those flaws in that position, we would be begging for Matt Keating to come back.

I think Morts could develop into the halfback that Burt probably should have been.

I think the problem with Burt is, as gifted as he is, he can't handle the intense defense that a half position would bring. That is why it has taken him so long to find his rightful position on the wing, well that and di*khead coaching dicision in the earlier part of his career.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Also, Burt doesn't have the instincts for a half. Sure he's got vision in broken play but that suits him better as a finisher or a fullback.

He has never played first grade in the halves (at least, he's never started) - even his junior footy was played at centre (I remember him scoring the last try in the Harold Matthews grand final at North Sydney Oval in '97 or '98) which means he's never felt comfortable closer in.

Being quick and having good technical skills doesn't mean you're going to be a good halfback. Plenty of guys don't have the mental game.

 

[Eelementary]

morts did way too many errors. As a halfback dats too many. His passing is poor- too many short balls NEVER CUT OUT ( passes too slow). And for the first time i saw morts throw a spiral cut out pass to tahu/burt and it spun ever so slowly. By the time it reached the hands of the winger or centre the D is already up in front of you, giving 1metre of space for tahu to \try do something out of nothing.

His dummy half pass once made us lose all our momentum- the ball went to ground before it even reached robson, and his cross field kicks are hopeless cos his feets are way too weak as it the ball cant even reach any heights at all.

IMO another poor game from morts as usual and from the above points = not what a halfback does.

Hayne to five eighth , KK to halfback.

Ridiculous. By that logic Tim Smith is the world's best halfback. He only bloody throws cut-out passes.

There's a time and place for cut-out passes. And really, you don't need to be able to throw them if you can still get the ball out to your backs quickly. And we can.

As for the errors...of course he will make errors. He handles the ball like 50 times a game.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

There's a time and place for cut-out passes. And really, you don't need to be able to throw them if you can still get the ball out to your backs quickly. And we can.

f**k, there's nothing I hate worse than cut-out merchants. Blokes who, when faced with an overlap, would do nothing but throw a long ball.

If you've got numbers and enough space, there's no better option than to put it through the hands - each man touching the ball commits a defender. A cut-out pass commits nobody and unless it's a good, quick pass only gives the defence time to line the receiver up for a hit.

Short passing mate - that's the percentage play.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

f**k, there's nothing I hate worse than cut-out merchants. Blokes who, when faced with an overlap, would do nothing but throw a long ball.

If you've got numbers and enough space, there's no better option than to put it through the hands - each man touching the ball commits a defender. A cut-out pass commits nobody and unless it's a good, quick pass only gives the defence time to line the receiver up for a hit.

Short passing mate - that's the percentage play.

Dont watch the Super League. The Poms kill more overlaps then you would believe, all because they attempt the miracle pass.

 

[caylo]

f**k, there's nothing I hate worse than cut-out merchants. Blokes who, when faced with an overlap, would do nothing but throw a long ball.

If you've got numbers and enough space, there's no better option than to put it through the hands - each man touching the ball commits a defender. A cut-out pass commits nobody and unless it's a good, quick pass only gives the defence time to line the receiver up for a hit.

Short passing mate - that's the percentage play.

That is very true but any quality half should have the ability to throw a long ball. There is nothing worse then a half who has a winger on the touch line and now player within Kue of him and the half cant throw the ball. Mortimer is developing still but ATM I still dont know if he is our halfback for the future and Humble is also an option. Mortimer is there atm and is doing enough to keep his spot and if he does keep improving (esp his passing game) then him and KK can be a very dangerous halves paring.

 

[lingard]

Where are all those wankers after we lost last week calling for us to piss off Morts & KK?

Well, you might be right, you genius, you. You might also have a crystal ball, because until Friday night`s game, they were both playing like under-tens.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That is very true but any quality half should have the ability to throw a long ball.

Agree.

I think Mortimer's skills are best suited to dummy-half and the traditional attacking role of the fullback.

Maybe Hayne and Keating should be the playmakers with Mortimer sniffing around the middle in support? The thing is, while we've got plenty of playmakers, we need an organiser.

With the comments from Anderson, and his persistence with Mortimer at halfback, it looks like Morts has potential as an organiser. If that's the case, and we don't sign anyone better, we might be successful with him as an organising and supporting halfback, leaving the playmaking to others.

 

[lingard]

Well it sounds like from all reports in this string and from what has eventuated on the field with his 3 visits to 1st grade thus far, T Humble is a Mr Fix It 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14. Another Gidley.....???? please.... no no no no no. Going back over the last 30 years or so, there are very few Mr Fix Its that have excelled at the top level for ten years or so and realised their full-potential. It's ok in an emergency but Tom Humble needs his permanent spot in an an organised very well drilled outfit. Craig Wing and NSW's present Mr Fix it Gidley have never reached their full potential at the highest levels for many years because of all the shifting around going on year after year. This is why I don't want Gidley as Captain of the NSW SOO squad or even in the team because he is wobbly (the reverberations of too much moving around still echoing in his game).

Absolutely. I thought it was insane bringing him on to play hooker on Friday night. The guy`s not a hooker. The only reason I can think of is that Keating was playing so well at five-eight that Anderson didn`t want to move him, which is fair enough. But I hope he doesn`t make a habit of it. I still see Humble as a specialist 6.

 

[caylo]

Absolutely. I thought it was insane bringing him on to play hooker on Friday night. The guy`s not a hooker. The only reason I can think of is that Keating was playing so well at five-eight that Anderson didn`t want to move him, which is fair enough. But I hope he doesn`t make a habit of it. I still see Humble as a specialist 6.

I think KK is a waste at hooker, his best attribute is running to the line and offloading to put a player through. ATM Mitchell might need to be rought up if Humble cant fill the role at hooker but unless KK is moved to halfback, humble will struggle to break into the team anyother way.

If it is true that Mitch was very close before he injured himself then maybe Humble will find himself in wenty for a few more weeks.

 

[lingard]

That`s a dilema for the coach, then, because I think Humble would be wasted at hooker, too. And I think Casper`s point is very valid: I hope they don`t try to turn Humble into a utility player and f**k his career.

 

[caylo]

I agree lingard but the problem is Humble is a 5-8/fullback (more a 5-8 IMO) and we have Hayne and KK in those positions so unless KK moves to halfback and Mortz moved into a utility role I dont see a place for him. I must say thou Cronk spent the bets part of 3 years in the 14 before moved to halfback and it didnt ruin him. If Humble stays on to play the utility role and in a year or so he might find himself in the starting team ahead of guys like KK or Mortz.
ATM I prefer Humble over MK but want id like to see if Mitch could handle a call up.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Humble will be the next Queensland long term 5/8. Sign the kid now long term. I believe Parra only have an option on him for next year. Is that correct?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Humble will be the next Queensland long term 5/8.

Awesome, he can partner Michael Witt - the next Queensland long term halfback. :roll:

Humble's shown he will be a first grader but nothing more than that.. yet.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Id like to see Humble play some halfback for Wenty. The way he plays reminds me alot of Trent Barrett whom I rate as a great running halfback.

 

[lingard]

I agree lingard but the problem is Humble is a 5-8/fullback (more a 5-8 IMO) and we have Hayne and KK in those positions so unless KK moves to halfback and Mortz moved into a utility role I dont see a place for him. I must say thou Cronk spent the bets part of 3 years in the 14 before moved to halfback and it didnt ruin him. If Humble stays on to play the utility role and in a year or so he might find himself in the starting team ahead of guys like KK or Mortz.
ATM I prefer Humble over MK but want id like to see if Mitch could handle a call up.

Yeah, good points Caylo. Maybe injuries might solve this little dilema for us.

 

[lingard]

Humble will be the next Queensland long term 5/8. Sign the kid now long term. I believe Parra only have an option on him for next year. Is that correct?

That`s a very big call, Gazzamatta. But.........I agree with you. It`s a good way to earn a reputation as an idiot on this forum, making predictions like this. I think he`ll be our next Brett Kenny (i.e: long-term brilliant five-eight.) I remember the first time Brett Kenny played first grade (was it 1979 or 1980?) I was at Cumberland Oval with my dad, and Kenny played in the centres outside Cronin. I said to my dad, "That guy will play for Australia one day." Humble`s probably not as skillful as Kenny, but he just seems to have that class about him.

 

[CrazyEel]

That`s a very big call, Gazzamatta. But.........I agree with you. It`s a good way to earn a reputation as an idiot on this forum, making predictions like this. I think he`ll be our next Brett Kenny (i.e: long-term brilliant five-eight.) I remember the first time Brett Kenny played first grade (was it 1979 or 1980?) I was at Cumberland Oval with my dad, and Kenny played in the centres outside Cronin. I said to my dad, "That guy will play for Australia one day." Humble`s probably not as skillful as Kenny, but he just seems to have that class about him.

I was there as well, pretty sure it was 1980. First time I noticed him was when he flashed through for the try and recall asking my mate who the hell was that.