People opinions on our halves

[Craig Johnston]

Robson needs to go, he offers NOTHING in attack.

this

 

[Snoochies]

Is it just me or does it seem like every other team has an actual plan of attack when attacking our line, but when we get close it just seems like a hot potato and see what Hayne can do. We seem to be trying to be too tricky and try and score every set instead of just putting on the pressure and at worst get another set of 6.

 

[The EELiminator]

Is it just me or does it seem like every other team has an actual plan of attack when attacking our line, but when we get close it just seems like a hot potato and see what Hayne can do. We seem to be trying to be too tricky and try and score every set instead of just putting on the pressure and at worst get another set of 6.

for all the criticism against him tahu was the one who went for a repeat set instead of the miracle ball

 

[Avenger]

Matt Keating would be the first bloke I would sack.

 

[CrazyEel]

Is it just me or does it seem like every other team has an actual plan of attack when attacking our line, but when we get close it just seems like a hot potato and see what Hayne can do. We seem to be trying to be too tricky and try and score every set instead of just putting on the pressure and at worst get another set of 6.

That's because we don't have a half back :lol:

 

[Avenger]

If we had a player like Scott Prince or even Cooper Cronk at 7 we win the comp.

 

[CrazyEel]

If we had a player like Scott Prince or even Cooper Cronk at 7 we win the comp.

Without doubt, but we are cursed with our 1/2's since Sterlo.

 

[Avenger]

Without doubt, but we are cursed with our 1/2's since Sterlo.

I still think Mortimer will end up at 7. Guys like Parra Pete will know better then me but Sterling when he started played a bit of fullback and 5/8th. Then Jon Peard bit the bullet, put him in at 7 and the rest is history.

Mortimer reminds me of something similar.

 

[The EELiminator]

Without doubt, but we are cursed with our 1/2's since Sterlo.

we're doomed i tells ya! dooomed!! :crazy:

 

[CrazyEel]

we're doomed i tells ya! dooomed!! :crazy:

You may well be, but I'm not :sarcasm:

 

[CrazyEel]

I still think Mortimer will end up at 7. Guys like Parra Pete will know better then me but Sterling when he started played a bit of fullback and 5/8th. Then Jon Peard bit the bullet, put him in at 7 and the rest is history.

Mortimer reminds me of something similar.

Fearnly played Sterlo at fullback in a semi against Manly but that was only because of injuries. Peard actually preferred Graham Murray at 1/2 over Sterlo for the major part of his coaching reign.

 

[yy_cheng]

In my opinion Robson was the Eels best player in first half...not that he had much to beat.

I definitely thought it was Ben Smith.

 

[yy_cheng]

to be fair today, lyon was all over him like a wet rash...whether he was tackling him as soon as he got the ball, or putting himself between him and tahu, the pass just wasnt there

Lyon reads the plays really well. He got in there and shut out alot of the plays or potential plays

 

[yy_cheng]

If there is to be a shift at half, I'd even toy with keeping Robson in the side at #13 for his defence, and let Mateo have some time from the bench. Robson is needed on there given the way the rest of the side are playing it at the moment.

I totally agree with this. Robson for mine is not a halfback. He is our Lee Hopkins. All heart and determination.

He needs to be in the team but not at half for mine.

I actually would bench him as a backrower with the shack out. I just think that Oake was just wasting time out there. i.e. didn't really contribute.

He should come on for Benny and then we lose nothing out there in defense.


I wouldn't start him for Mateo as that means we would have a backrow of

13. Robson
12. Smith
11. Hindy

which to be brutally honest with Caylo at starting prop, a lack of go forward.

My pack would be:

13. Mateo - no offloads today (i bet it was instructed) but made many metres as a running forward.
12, 11 - Benny, Hindy keeps everything tight in defense
10. Poore - His second half was what I expect from him but he might need Fui to help him just as Weyman had.
9. MK - coz there's no one else
8. Fui - We go forward when Fui is there and a hitup rotation of Fui, Poore then Grothe will keep us going forward.

14. Robson/KK - at present, neither is really owning the halfback spot.
15. Caylo - Sorry but we did more go forward up front. He doesn't need to be our bash and barge player and can come on at 20 and pass before the line
16. Mannah
17. Pele or someone like that - I reckon we need someone who can come on, rip it in and come off as I would prefer Fui, Poore and Caylo to be on with more minutes so this role is for short cameos.

We will struggle big time if Hayne gets injured or can't play due to reps or suspension.

 

[Fathead]

i will probably get slaughtered for saying this, but mortimer is garbage. i have never seen him put a player through a gap, rarely has good kicks, and his only asset is his spirit and backing up. i cant believe no one else can see this. i also cannot believe we will lose mateo for mortimer.

And all I suggested a couple of weeks ago was that he maybe wasnt as good as everyone is suggesting - but you have really put your head on the track !!:shock:


Ok someone said that robson is not a halfback but a small lock ! Presto you have it there... thats the answer.... KK and Morts as the halves and Robbo as lock. mateo to the bench. (sorry if some other genius has said this as I havent read all the posts yet !)

 

[Ant]

I'd have to agree on Mortimer, in both games so far he has not been great and he was extremely poor today in attack.
I think both teams so far have targeted him in attack and defence but you had to expect that.

He just is not quick enough with his decision making at the moment, the amount of times today you saw him get the ball and just take a second too long with the ball meaning he had to try and step and run himself. Mortimer needs to just distribute the ball most of the time to the big outside back runners, as he did last year. If he just gives the ball early to the likes of Mateo, Tahu, Hayne etc. If he does that, then opportunities will come for him either as a support runner or to run himself. At the moment he is second guessing himself, and ends up not passing the ball and just being easily wrapped up in defence. Defenders don't feel the need to slide off him onto the stars outside him, because it is all a little slow.
So Daniel start distributing quick early ball and then it will start to open up for you later in halves.

I actually think Robson is going better than Mortimer, but then again Robson has less talent. His defence has been great.

The halves need to remember where the greatest talent in the side lies, and currently its not with them. The eels have a lot of great runners of the football, many of them just need to be given the ball early. If the halves can concentrate on good quick distribution, and some simple option plays with the big boys in the middle, then more opportunities will open up for them.

So I think they have not been great, and Mortimer in particular is overthinking his role. Boys you are not our game breakers, but if you give lots good ball to the game breakers, defenders will slide off you and you will get the chance.

 

[grapeape]

i will probably get slaughtered for saying this, but mortimer is garbage. i have never seen him put a player through a gap, rarely has good kicks, and his only asset is his spirit and backing up. i cant believe no one else can see this. i also cannot believe we will lose mateo for mortimer.

ouch. i agree sadly.

he should try to become a solid distributor before trying to run at the line like andrew johns

 

[bartman]

I just think that Oake was just wasting time out there. i.e. didn't really contribute.

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed he didn't take the opportunity to have more of a go, like he did in the trial.

My pack would be:

13. Mateo - no offloads today (i bet it was instructed) but made many metres as a running forward.
12, 11 - Benny, Hindy keeps everything tight in defense
10. Poore - His second half was what I expect from him but he might need Fui to help him just as Weyman had.
9. MK - coz there's no one else
8. Fui - We go forward when Fui is there and a hitup rotation of Fui, Poore then Grothe will keep us going forward.

14. Robson/KK - at present, neither is really owning the halfback spot.
15. Caylo - Sorry but we did more go forward up front. He doesn't need to be our bash and barge player and can come on at 20 and pass before the line
16. Mannah
17. Pele or someone like that - I reckon we need someone who can come on, rip it in and come off as I would prefer Fui, Poore and Caylo to be on with more minutes so this role is for short cameos.

I was scared every time Mateo ran the ball, because it looked like he was looking for offloads, but simply ended up dropping the ball instead. I don't think he's adding more than Robson would at #13, better to bring Mateo on from the bench to weave some magic when we really need it.

We do need to look at our prop rotation though, Cayless and Hindy are playing the same role out there in attack... simple straight hit-ups, unfortunately without much effect.

Poore is starting to warm up a bit, potential suspension aside I'd persist with him starting for another fortnight to see if he starts to break the advantage line. We can cope with one workman like prop (Cayless, Mannah) on at a time, but we need impact out of the other two (Moimoi and Poore). We don't have the luxury of playing our two impact props together, because the alternate is very bland.

 

[eel4life]

i will make judgement in about 4 weeks, but i think dummy half is a concern for me at the moment, if we don't have a roll on we struggle, hopefully over next few weeks we get into a rhythm, tigers are going to be hard to beat this week ...

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Wow, Morts is being protected again. He was terrible again today, he was being rushed up on and shut down to easy. But (because he is young) he didnt change his positioning or how he was going to avoid being shut down. He just kept trying to do the same thing, catching the ball flat footed and the tried to pass to Tahu but was wrapped up. His youth is really showing, but he cant be dropped.

Nor can Robson, he was freaking amazing in the first half. Defence yeah, attack not so much, but how much ball and field position did we have in the first half? Not a great deal. And people saying that Robson should be dropped because he is slow and isnt very creative, how bloody creative has Mortimer been?

Kris Keating is the best of the three, doing his job great and is soon to be on his way to taking the number 6 away from Morts.

Id hate to drop Morts now becaue he has just re-signed and is now going to be here long term, his development is now more important so dropping him could be dangerous.

I said this in the off season and I think I deserve the right to boast!

I can see KK becoming apart of our leadership group eventually. Captain material, but id rather Timmy Mannah first. Ability wise I think we over rate him and Mortimer a fair bit, but I judge players the same way Jack did. I simply as myself "can I win with him". I pretty confident that we could win with KK at half or 5/8. Very explosive for his size. The lack of experience in our halves and hookers worries me heaps though so I really hope Robson fires.

7. Robson
6. Mortimer
14. KK

Id bring KK on at five eight, move Morts to half and then Robson to either lock or hooker or straight off. Id like to keep Robson on the field at all times because of his maturity. If I was coach I wouldnt be too comfortable with having Morts and KK running the show just yet, but I can see Morts and KK providing a one two killer blow in games. I think its possible all three can have a role to play in the team, but the development of Ant Mitchell will be a factor to the teams future.