Pat Richards

[simon says]

Just wanted to say a big thank you for giving us Pat Richards.I know a lot of punters here bagged him out but gee I am impressed so far.

He is one big unit,apparently he has bulked up quite a bit and doesnt it show.And he is very fast for such a big guy.I was surprised that Lyon,who I regard as a speedster could not get to him in the sevens final.

I know its only early,but I reckon he is going to have a very big year.

 

[The Colonel]

He did have a big sevens. However hopefully he has not only bulked up but worked on his defensive game as well as he will need to have done so to hold a spot. I wish him all the best at his new club.......

 

[simon says]

Whats wrong with his defense???Cant say I have ever really noticed it???Is it comittment,timing,technique,positioning????All of the above??

I thought his tackling was first rate at the 7s.He is that big and strong he was throwing a few players around like he was taking out the garbage.

Please explain????

 

[Goleel]

His positional defense is questionable, he likes coming in from the wing a lot, and close to the line he's a bit questionable. If he can play 26 rounds of footy for you this year I'll be very impressed, but unfortunately the poor guy has injury issues that I don't know if he can overcome.

He's the powerful type of player your team needs though, especially with Covell on the other wing.

 

[Goleel]

Also, I'd still say Jamie is quicker than Pat, Richards is quick, yeah, but he isn't a real noted speedster. He's quick for his size though, and certainly faster than the other 'power' wingers, Grothe Jr, MacDougall, Bai, etc...

 

[simon says]

Thanks Goleel.Interesting on his defense...Ill keep my eye out.

My spies at Leichhardt tell me that Covell isnt a certainty for the other wing and Elford may get it.....thatd be a very big pairing.Elford and Richards,lol.

And on Lyon,Richards did a pretty good job of outpacing him at the sevens GF,and I think you will geta surprise ar the pace of Grothe....he is a flyer IMHO.

 

[mickdo]

Richards is a good attacking player, but yes his defence has always troubled me. After his knee injury he just never seemed the same player. If he can stay injury free, anything is possible though. You had better hope that his centre partner is a good cover defender :lol:

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Gee I hope he gets back to that sensational form he had in 2000 and early 2001, but it'll be shame it wont be at Parra.

 

[Jake the snake]

Richards has no Idea when it comes to defence, his ball security is rubbish but he is quick and strong for a big man. Tigers will find this out but Richards is an improvement on the Rubbish they had before.

If it came down to Richards or Grothe I'd pick Grothe any day. Grothes speed should not be underestimated he is quick over 100m.

 

[bazza]

Not sad to see Pat Richards leave - but hopefully he can improve at the Tigers and stay injury free.
He did play well in the 7s final (though most players pull out a good one against their old club)

 

[The Godfather]

Any Parramatta reserve grade reject looks good in the Tigpies first grade

 

[Paranoid]

Great Attacker, Average Defender. Overall Good Winger.

His knees don't seem to be able to handle his big size though for more than half a season, (for his sake I hope that gets proven wrong).

Would struggle to make the Parra First grade side this season, but should walk into a tiger's winger spot without any problems.

 

[half]

all he ever does is run up to the defensive line, shuffle around and get tackled

and he doesn't know how to use his strength in defense

 

[simon says]

Yeah,lol.I like how he ran up to the Parra line,cut through it upon his busted legs which also managed to carry him 60 meters to the line with one J Lyon trailing behind.

100k richer. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[The Colonel]

100k richer. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Be happy with your win in the sevens - we've been there and done that. Was quite happy to see you guys win however I withdraw my congratulations..... its gone to your head just like it did the Roosters fans. I can't see you winning much else for the next few years anyway. You guys have bought well however you are pinning all your hopes on a wunderkind who I reckon will be talked about in the same way David Baysarri is.

 

[half]

besides, the tigers need that money much more than us

 

[Eelementary]

Enjoy him while you can.

We let him go because his form started to suck (for such a tall dude he sucked under the high ball).

He had a great 7's last year and did nothing in 2003.

Don't get me wrong; when he was fit and confident I loved watching him play. But he never was that fit.

Plus I don't think there's a place for big wingers in the game anymore; the smaller and fatser they are, the harder they are to stop (lower centre of gravity, so when they go down low near the line they are near impossible to stop).

 

[Eelementary]

And simon:

About Pat's defense. He tended to drift in towards his centre and leave himself exposed. He could not read the play very well. And he was never too impressive at cleaning up kicks either, which he has to be good at to be one of the back trio.

 

[BD5733]

My opinion on Richards is that he is one of the best players under a cross kick when attacking.

His size and speed make him capable of being a great player, and certainly a good buy for the Tigers considering who they had prior to signing him.

Defensively, he doesn't seem to number up and doesn't seem at all comfortable in sliding when defending the goal line.

Sure once he gets hold of a player he is fine, no dramas, but it seems he lacks the ability to get into the right position to begin with.

It would have been good if he stayed fit and stuck with Parra, but the facts were that he was rarely fit enough to play consistent 1st grade, always being injured.

For example, Brett Hodsgon.

I have seen quite a few Tigers supporters laughing because we let Richards go, and now he has come good in the 7's. Yet not once have I seen a Tiger supporter say "Gee you were right about Hodgson, he does get injured alot, sorry for laughing at your club for releasing the once great fullback."

 

[Paranoid]

Congrats on the 7s victory. Love talking to Tigers fans at the moment.

They picked up two of our players …..

Fantastic fullback who unfortunately has not been the same since he had a lung collapse during a game two seasons ago. ['03: 10 games, 5 tries]

A big reserve grade/borderline first grade Winger who happens to have short spectacular (often for the wrong reason – defensively) stints in first grade until he succumbs to injury.
['03: 9 games, 2 tries]

And they act like we let the two most talented guys in the squad go !?!