Replacing Packer...

[2010]

If Packer continues to play like he has last couple of games then, unless carrying an injury he is not performing. I hope he hadn't switched off.

 

[cussy]

I have seen him a couple of times around where I live. Each time I see him he looks like he has a limp.

 

[The Damo]

The Damo & Milan
Whilst the other player stats you provided are interesting, I do not see they are particularly relevant in this discussion as other teams play a different style of football, have different interchange options and methodology, they have different starting points for their sets etc etc.
As I said in the beginning this is about Packer who had significant surgery in the off season and was put into our system referred to by our coach as "the power game" and Packer is expected to be able to sustain it for the season and in rounds 14 & 15 his HU numbers have taken a significant dive which I suspect is fatigue / injury and I will not be surprised to see his numbers fall further if we continue in the same vain and don't provide him with some recovery time.
Some stats averaged off the internet for Packer
TOG = 43m / game
Tackles = 27 / game
Hit Ups = 10.64 / game
Metres / Run = 9.34
In rounds 14 & 15 his hit ups were 2 & 5 respectively despite his tackle average and TOG remaining close to his season average in both games so something has happened.
The conspiracy people will say he has clocked off and I say that is BS but I maintain our type of footy is taking its toll on our players.
Out of interest here are the same stats for Vaughan
TOG = 45m / game
Tackles = 31 / game
Hit Ups = 15 / game
Metres / Run = 9.8
In rounds 14 & 15 his hit ups were 13 & 10 respectively so lower than his season average whilst both his tackles and TOG numbers for those rounds were significantly higher than season average.
The numbers for Packer & Vaughan indicate to me that when we have the ball they are slowing and not getting to the play as much as they were early in the season with Packer's decline significantly worse.
I would think with some rest they could well come back to early season form and averages.
I believe if we keep playing in the same vein and don't provide some rest for the big guys their numbers in attack will decline further and our attack will suffer significantly as will our results.
My contention has always been we need to get some younger legs blooded so they can play significant game time and lessen the load for our bigger guys to ensure that they can get through the season playing at a high intensity with no drop off in key numbers.
You can reference all the stats you like for other players but none of them are in our training regime or our playing structure so such comparisons are difficult and it is also possible that our style of training might also be having some negative effect on the energy reserves who knows?
To me it is obvious that any reduced output with ball in hand from Packer & Vaughan has seen a significant decline in our on field fortunes and results.

Well I do ageee that it would be good to get some younger players more time, I just can't see that Packer has done anything different to what's expected of a starting nrl prop. If it was down to our bench use he'd be doing more minutes, if it was more runs in the time he's playing then his hit up count would be higher. He may well be carrying an injury, nrl players do that a lot, and mist forwards need a week or two off over a season, he might be due. But I don't think we're gonna agree that cos the coach said Power game a couple of times our props are magically working harder than other teams props.

 

[epDragon62]

OT, fair point, I think that Mary's use of the bench hasn't helped our forwards maintain the drive either to match or outplay other teams.

I really do think we could be blooding another of the young props, if not give both Kerr and Lawrie a taste but not in the same game at this stage.

 

[getsmarty]

OT, fair point, I think that Mary's use of the bench hasn't helped our forwards maintain the drive either to match or outplay other teams.

I really do think we could be blooding another of the young props, if not give both Kerr and Lawrie a taste but not in the same game at this stage.

Agree 100 % and today's game would have been a great opportunity to do that...instead we get Taane Milne on the bench again...This sort of rubbish cut and paste selection is getting really annoying...The coach seems to be going back to the same old patterns in 2016 of pick and stick with the same old players regardless of what happens...let's hope this changes over the next few games.

 

[coast_dragons]

Aslong as Mary is coach not much will change.

He has zero idea he is probably the dumbest coach in the NRL at present.

 

[Dragsters]

He is definitely the least adventurous.

 

[coast_dragons]

He is definitely the least adventurous.

He would be like a trip to disney land.

 

[Maxwell]

In light of Millward's recruitment update today it seems we are looking to retain Mann and not replace Dugan.

It seems we are though "very active in the market" for a forward to replace Packer.

After a quick review of the off contract NRL prop forwards for 2018, these are the ones (in my order of preference) I feel are worth consideration...

Adam Blair

Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Sam Tagatese

Ignatius Paasi

Joe Ofahengaue

Jacob Lillyman

Discuss...

Definitely not Blair was no good at Tigers , ok at Melbourne and good at Broncos, don't think he would produce for Mary . The rest leave them where they are, would rather persevere with Host, or see how Kerr pans out. And definitely not Simms as a prop, yep wouldn't rush in where fools dare to go , just watch and wait and see who gets let go from a club who is over cap.

 

[RedV Resurgence]

He is definitely the least adventurous.

Mary doesn't put the juniors in unless Hus forced, possibly because he had a long apprenticeship, not playing FG until nearly 24yrs old.

 

[Dragsters]

Mary doesn't put the juniors in unless Hus forced, possibly because he had a long apprenticeship, not playing FG until nearly 24yrs old.

Perhaps, but it's not just blooding juniors.

With Aitken due back Mann would be an improvement at 7 over mccrone.

I know Nona got injured yesterday but he isn't young, has plenty of big game experience at cup level and a great boot on him.

Mary has had plenty of opportunities over the past few months to try another option over the flailing mccrone in order to improve the team but for whatever reason has been gun shy and we have slid down the ladder as a result.

If he picks the best 17 tomorrow then McCrones name, if not absent altogether, then should fill a bench spot at best.

4 bench forwards is worth considering also.