R21 // Rabbitohs 50-10 Knights @ Barlow Park, Cairns // Sun 3pm

[1qaz]

It was Stone's great idea to defend the two worst defenders in the lineup side by side (Roberts leads the NRL in miss tackles).
It was only going to end in disaster.
That wasn't the biggest problem yesterday though. Like it has been for a few seasons now, the Knights were rolled up front.

Getting back to Dane... He's better of taking up the offer at the Bulldogs playing behind a decent forward pack and a not a team requiring him make the most hitups and meters every game like he has been doing for the Knights the past two seasons.
He can also play at much lighter weight. That's one of the biggest mistakes the Knights have made with him. They bulked him up so he can take all those hitups every game. In his first season at the Newcastle, he was much lighter and it actually helped with his defense. He would let the opposition try and beat him on the outside and he would slide across and tackle around the legs. Since bulking up, he would now go in thinking he can use his bigger frame and make the tackle up high.

He's in a fullback body playing a role of a centre and a forward for the Knights.
It's like telling Sam Tomkins to put on 20kgs, chucking him into the centres and tell him to make the most hitups and meters every game.

 

[Spot On]

Bennett is the head coach, take it up with him.

 

[PhilGould]

I don't want to let go of Dane, he has too much potential in attack. But he needs to seriously buckle down in the off-season and either work on his defence if he's staying at centre, or improve his passing/playmaking if he's going back to fullback.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I don't see any more potential in gagai than any other centre getting around in the comp.

I just don't understand why people think he is going to be a great player.

 

[Apey]

If Gagai leaves, do you too 1qaz?

 

[1qaz]

Of course not. I stick by the side through the good and bad times. It's part of supporting a team.
It's a tough decision for him to make. Its even tougher since Macca has made him one of his groomsman

 

[Spot On]

He can't find his way back for the wedding??? Why so tough a decision???

 

[Whats Doing]

One of the reasons Roberts had a quiet game was that he and Gids played left and right side of the ruck all game.This limits Roberts opportunities to control the game like he did against the Roosters where he played both sides of the ruck.

Most coaches including Bennett do this but some coaches allow their halves to play both sides such as Thurston, Johnson and Cronk.

If we want Robert dominate like he showed against the Roosters, lets hope the next coach allows him to roam both sides of the ruck and not be rigidly stuck on one side as with Bennett.

 

[Noname36]

^ Mullen and Roberts link up all the time on both sides of the field...usually with Mullo at first
Receiver and Roberts at second.

Frankly for Roberts I think it's just a case that he doesn't take control when there's a more senior playmaker there. Whether that's what he's coached to do or he just likes taking a backseat I don't know...but he really needs to step up and take control and be dominant because when he is he's brilliant.

He's a bit like Mullo was earlier in his career. When he was on he was brilliant and could win us games, but unfortunately those games didn't happen enough and he went missing too much.

 

[Noname36]

It was Stone's great idea to defend the two worst defenders in the lineup side by side (Roberts leads the NRL in miss tackles).
It was only going to end in disaster.
That wasn't the biggest problem yesterday though. Like it has been for a few seasons now, the Knights were rolled up front.

Getting back to Dane... He's better of taking up the offer at the Bulldogs playing behind a decent forward pack and a not a team requiring him make the most hitups and meters every game like he has been doing for the Knights the past two seasons.
He can also play at much lighter weight. That's one of the biggest mistakes the Knights have made with him. They bulked him up so he can take all those hitups every game. In his first season at the Newcastle, he was much lighter and it actually helped with his defense. He would let the opposition try and beat him on the outside and he would slide across and tackle around the legs. Since bulking up, he would now go in thinking he can use his bigger frame and make the tackle up high.

He's in a fullback body playing a role of a centre and a forward for the Knights.
It's like telling Sam Tomkins to put on 20kgs, chucking him into the centres and tell him to make the most hitups and meters every game.

Seriously what are you talking about?

And this is probably the lightest I've seen Gagai look since he's been at the club. He's still very light on his feet.

His defensive issues aren't just his terrible arm grabbing technique, but also his size. He can't play at a much lighter weight at all. He's too small to make any impact as it is now.

 

[1qaz]

Seriously what are you talking about?

And this is probably the lightest I've seen Gagai look since he's been at the club. He's still very light on his feet.

His defensive issues aren't just his terrible arm grabbing technique, but also his size. He can't play at a much lighter weight at all. He's too small to make any impact as it is now.

This season is the heaviest he has played his whole career. You don't need to be big to make tackles. You can't run with legs. Trim him down, get a couple of forwards. Tell him stay out wide instead of coming in taking hit ups.

 

[Joker's Wild]

The dude is only 23, he is only going to get heavier with age

If his weight is making him an ineffective tackler, which I in no way believe it is, then he is done as afootballer

 

[perverse]

Centre is the hardest spot to defend in the game, and Dane wasn't even a centre before we put him there in first grade.

There's a lot of talent bubbling in him, but I agree that he's been disappointing. I tend to lean towards giving him the benefit of doubt at this point given the shitness occuring around him. I think he's the least of our worries, we shouldn't have been under the pump so often the way we were. Spend more of our time at the other end of the field and we let in a lot less tries.

 

[1qaz]

The dude is only 23, he is only going to get heavier with age

If his weight is making him an ineffective tackler, which I in no way believe it is, then he is done as afootballer

No, that isn't the point so much. I think he's better of trimming down and get used as a centre not as a forward taking hit ups. He will never be the sort of player that beat opposition players with running over the top of them. I will also think it'll help with his defense.. forcing him to go low on tackles like Jennings does instead of thinking he can use his bigger frame rushing in to make the tackles up high.
And perverse is right.. he was a fullback turned into a centre. So he had to never really defend in the front line.
Like I said before, it's like telling a player like Tomkins, Lockyer, Ross, to put on the 20kgs and play in the centres. Some players are better off playing light

 

[1qaz]

The dude is only 23, he is only going to get heavier with age

If his weight is making him an ineffective tackler, which I in no way believe it is, then he is done as afootballer

No, that isn't the point so much. I think he's better of trimming down and get used as a centre not as a forward taking hit ups. He will never be the sort of player that beat opposition players with running over the top of them. I will also think it'll help with his defense.. forcing him to go low on tackles like Jennings does instead of thinking he can use his bigger frame rushing in to make the tackles up high.
And perverse is right.. he was a fullback turned into a centre. So he had to never really defend in the front line.
Like I said before, it's like telling a player like Tomkins, Lockyer, Ross, to put on the 20kgs and play in the centres. Some players are just better off playing light

 

[Joker's Wild]

My point is you dont have to be "lighter" to tackle effectively, he just needs to bloody well do it. Its clear his confidence is down and his heads not in the game. His little drinking session during the emerging origin camp is clear evidence of that

He was fine at centre last year. No reason he cant get back to the same form

 

[Spot On]

So what's Gagai's optimum playing weight then 1qaz?

 

[1qaz]

Ideally he should be playing around 85 - 88kgs. His current playing weight hovers around 93-96kgs.
Tomkins is roughly the same height and he's listed as 82kgs... I think he more like 85kgs though.
If the Knights get a couple of forwards and new game plan, then Dane should definitely lose some weight. It doesn't matter if he gets pushed back in tackles if he's making line breaks and setting up his winger.

 

[Spot On]

I'd be surprised if he's much more than 90kgs.

 

[Whats Doing]

The problem with Gagai is not his weight but his attitude in defence.

He doesn't put his body on the line and lead with his shoulder. He takes the soft option and arm grabs and is being found out big time.