RD 22: Parramatta Eels v Canberra at TIO Stadium Darwin 8.30pm AEST 9/8/14

[TheParraboy]

He's a better defender than all those guys, plus he went better at right half than Josh Reynolds did.

So is Mortimer and Jeff Robson, your point?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So is Mortimer and Jeff Robson, your point?

There isn't really anywhere for poor defenders to hide in Origin - look how James Maloney went.

Pearce's defence, on top of his general play in attack, is why he played so many Origin games. He's as good a player as either of the halves that played in this year's series win. The difference is those two had Hayne (at his peak) at fullback for all three games.

 

[Twizzle]

umm.................Lockyer played Origin for about 10 years

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The exception rather than the rule. And don't forget he played the first six years at fullback - the absolute best place to hide a weak defender.

 

[TheParraboy]

There isn't really anywhere for poor defenders to hide in Origin - look how James Maloney went.

Pearce's defence, on top of his general play in attack, is why he played so many Origin games. He's as good a player as either of the halves that played in this year's series win. The difference is those two had Hayne (at his peak) at fullback for all three games.

Pearce has played in a era of poor halves in NSW, seen as the best of the worst. The better/best halves of the last 5-8 years are all out of QLD or NZ. Id take Brooks over Pearce any day of the week in club football

Id prefer Hodkinson to Pearce for Origin, on par defender, but cooler head with better vision and kicking game. Put Pearce in this years Origin series and the end result is 9-0.

 

[The Phelan Folly]

The exception rather than the rule. And don't forget he played the first six years at fullback - the absolute best place to hide a weak defender.

Its origin theyre talking about. Its all about exception rather than rule.

 

[phantom eel]

Pearce won't play Origin again.

 

[TheParraboy]

Pearce won't play Origin again.

thank f**kin christ

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pearce won't play Origin again.

Don't write him off so soon. He is having a career worst year, which could just be premiership hangover.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pearce has played in a era of poor halves in NSW, seen as the best of the worst. The better/best halves of the last 5-8 years are all out of QLD or NZ. Id take Brooks over Pearce any day of the week in club football

Id prefer Hodkinson to Pearce for Origin, on par defender, but cooler head with better vision and kicking game. Put Pearce in this years Origin series and the end result is 9-0.

I would have both Hodkinson and Pearce. I rate Josh Reynolds but he was absolutely gash in Origin - completely stifled the attack. At least Pearce knows how to catch-pass (or more importantly, when to).

Pearce is a much better right half than Reynolds.

 

[Eelementary]

I would have both Hodkinson and Pearce. I rate Josh Reynolds but he was absolutely gash in Origin - completely stifled the attack. At least Pearce knows how to catch-pass (or more importantly, when to).

Pearce is a much better right half than Reynolds.

I rate Pearce. Not so much as an Origin half, but then it could be the coaching - he had the pleasure of playing under Bellamy (joke of a coach without the big three) and Stuart, so...

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

He's a better defender than all those guys, plus he went better at right half than Josh Reynolds did.

No he didn't. Reynolds had one poor game and that was game 3 and Hodkinson is a better defender then Pearce.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No he didn't. Reynolds had one poor game and that was game 3 and Hodkinson is a better defender then Pearce.

I'd say the three of them are as good as each other, defensively.

 

[TheParraboy]

Reynolds and Hodkinson will be the blues halves next year for Origin 1, unless their form is well down or they are injured.

Pearce has been given so many chances, your now not going to drop the halves that won us the series at their first attempt and go back to him, insanity.

 

[Twizzle]

lol, Reynolds is a shit defender

hopefully he never plays Origin again, he also strikes me as an unitelligent player, he did his best to throw Origin 2 away

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Reynolds and Hodkinson will be the blues halves next year for Origin 1, unless their form is well down or they are injured.

Pearce has been given so many chances, your now not going to drop the halves that won us the series at their first attempt and go back to him, insanity.

Agreed they'll be first choice but either of them could be injured or suspended at some stage of the Origin period.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I truly hope Hodkinson isn't chosen!

I know he won the series with that run, but lets hand the keys of the kingdom over to Brooks. He is clearly on another level as a player. Let him 'sink or swim' on the defensive side -

 

[Gary Gutful]

There is lot of shit to happen between now and the next Orgin series. However, if the incumbents are in form at the time of selection then we would be foolish not to pick proven winners.

 

[hineyrulz]

Brooks would get murdered at Origin if he was selected now, his defence is worse than Sandows.

He would be another Jarrod Mullen who was thrown in way to early.

 

[Chipmunk]

I rate Pearce. Not so much as an Origin half, but then it could be the coaching - he had the pleasure of playing under Bellamy (joke of a coach without the big three) and Stuart, so...

This is probably close to the most ludicrous statement I have ever seen on this forum.

The attention to detail to every single facet of the game that Bellyache has put into Melbourne over several years is one of the major reasons they have been successful for so long.

Sure the big 3 help, but how Melbourne can utilise specific skills of fairly ordinary players is a testament to Bellyache's coaching. He even seems to have Ben Roberts being able to contribute something.

If Parramatta had coaches with the same level of attention to detail to every facet of the game over the last decade we probably wouldn't have found ourselves in the position we were. Our consistent inability for over a decade to win the play the ball area alone is nothing short of a F$%ken disgrace.

Having said that I think our current coach has learnt a thing or two from Bellamy.