As a fan of another team, I've found a lot of Brad Arthur's decisions a bit bizarre this season. I'm starting to feel that he is a bit out of his depth as a first grade coach. Here are some of the thing that I have a big question mark over regarding Brad Arthur:
- Tim Mannah's lack of minutes/use of front rowers: I don't know what it is about him but I feel that he simply doesn't use Tim Mannah enough; how long is he out there for? From the games I've seen, he barely plays 40 minutes! Also, Arthur seems to have too many of his big men off the field at the same time for too long in too many games. The game that stands out the most in that regard was vs Brisbane at Suncorp when the game was in the balance; you had too many ball playing forwards out there and not enough big men who make the metres up the middle.
- Danny Wicks not starting: For me he is your best forward and arguably your most inspirational player; he never stops trying. However, it has only been in the last few rounds that Brad Arthur has started him. Why? I've heard people say that its due to his lack of 'match fitness'. I don't believe that, given his performances. If he can play the way he does coming off the bench then why can't he do it starting the game? Brad Arthur seems quite willing to start Junior Paulo who has been out for the last 6 weeks or so due to suspension from the start, so there goes that logic.
- Tepai Moeroa: Another one of your better forwards, particularly in the opening games, gets dropped to reserve grade why? I've heard its because he was nursing a shoulder injury? If that is the case then why play him at all? Why not rest him? Your either injured or your not.
-Lack of tactical awareness: I just find that Brad Arthur isn't on the ball at times when it comes to tactics and that he doesn't have much of game plan in place. I won't go on about this too much because it could be another topic in itself, but the game vs the titans as Parra stadium sticks out. I thought he got shown up badly when James Roberts continually dusted John Folau and Brad Arthur did nothing. Even Ricky Stuart would have had the common sense to move Will Hopoate into the centres, move Reece Robinson to fullback and move Folau to the wing.
- Joseph Paulo continually being selected: Arguably the worst player in the NRL (with Joel Reddy not far behind) was continually selected when it was clear to 99.999% of observers that he was a liability.
- Anthony Watmough's role in the team: He just seems to be anonymous to me. I always thought he was bought as a back rower to give you a heap of metres up the middle, but he doesn't seem to be doing that.
- The signings he had made: I thought the signing of Anthony Watmough was bit dodgy but signing Beau Scott simply didn't make sense to me. A lot of people will disagree with me but the guy is overrated, injury prone and over the hill. I keep hearing that these old heads are being bought to bring leadership but that is nonsense. Leadership come from being at the club for a number of years and providing inspiration through performances. Beau Scott only has a couple of years left at the top max and will be lucky to see out those years without getting injured. I just don't see how a 31 year old who will be onto his fourth NRL club will provide leadership and inspiration; veterans who play at multiple clubs view their roles as being black and white - they are basically like tradesman who do a job with minimum fuss but no emotion or passion. What I also found bizarre is that you guys didn't make a play for someone like Grevsmuhl, who is off contract at the end of the season. From what I've seen, he is arguably one of the most talented young back rowers in the competition and will probably go on to be twice the player Beau Scott is. More importantly, he is off contract at the end of the season and would surely have joined you guys if he was offered the money that you offered Beau Scott.
) and replace him in the lineup with the young back rowers he has been mentoring while he was here).
