Kornstar said:
Look i know Burt has some shocking moments, the thing is though, alot of players suffer from the same problem yet we don't hear people go on about it every chance they get. I don't want people to like Burt if they just don't like is style of play, that is their opinion (and yours). My opinion is that i think Burt has alot to offer as he does have alot of skill, if you have watched the 7's tournaments over the years you would know his potential, unfortunately i don't think we use it properly.
I know exactly why people don't like him and i can see why but i don't think he should be blammed for every lose and every try scored against us, which unfortuantely it seems alot of people put the blame on Burt for everything that goes wrong.
Ummmm.... where to start??
The 7s
is Burt's specialty! He is a broken field runner with tons of speed and ability to change direction and accelerate with the best of them.
HOWEVER that is a VERY different game. I'm sure Burt would be one of the best touch footy players on our team - but the fact is we don't play touch footy, and we don't play 7s - it is 13 a side tackle football!!
It's not my opinion that Burt can excel in 7s football - it is fact!! - and there is nothing that I can do to change that - if I say he's a terrible 7s player, then that a poor assessment of a players ability on my part - and my opinion is 'wrong' and should be changed. I happen to agree that he is a good 7s player and a dangerous runner in broken field play.
It is also a fact that Luke Burt is a terrible defensive player at NRL level (13 a side) - the only thing he offers is that he is in the right spot (and often run over) - and it is a fact that he isn't great under the high ball, that he's not a real good goalkicker, that he makes bad decisions more than average --> these things are all proven - go and watch the last 5-6 years of video footage, track every instance that Burt is involved in the play and it will be clear to you!!
But, as average a goalkicker as he is, he is still, arguably, the best option we have - and we know what he will provide when picked in first grade (as opposed to Williams who is as yet untried). We also know that Burt is a fine finisher when put into open spaces, and is (as the 7s shows) elusive on his feet. His other main strength is that he talks a
lot to his inside man - and uses his experience to position his inside man to help cover his own inability to tackle.
And so he continues to retain his spot, primarily on the strength of his finishing, his positioning and experience.
I'm not arguing that he doesn't do well the things that he does do well - I am merely saying that the
main reason he gets picked is his goalkicking - which is not really good enough to warrant selection as a goalkicker! And there are those of us who see his weaknesses and would rather not have the constant 'heart in mouth' with him on the field --> opinions are opinions, but 5 years of results probably tells a pretty good story....
