Don't need a classy halfback to win a title but you certainly need one of your halves to be having the season of their lives or you need one half to be a near immortal eg Johns, Lockyer, Fittler.
For every example anyone can come up with of a fairly mediocre half winning a title or making a GF check their halves partners. Guarantee it is some legend or someone having the best season of their career. Hayne 2009, and possibly Barba 2012, is probably the only example of a side been carried to a GF with mediocre halves. Every side needs some brilliance in the halves to be a serious contender.
We don't have a legend however we do have a very talented guy who can dominate a game in Mullen. Some nuffbag outside him, which is exactly what Roberts is, isn't going to cut it because Mullen game quickly deteriorates when his half partner is putting a tonne of pressure on their own side.
Call me made but i consider Mullen to be a lot like Keiran Foran - not in playing styles or strengths but as in his strengths shine so well when his halves partner, DCE, directs the majority of the play and he can inject himself once a set with a quality run, kick or ball movement. DCE is pure quality, players of his quality ain't available very often. But the attitude he has towards his game can be replicated.
I think Mullen needs some 'general' touching the ball 3 or 4 times a set organising the majority of plays and ball movement which allows him to 'inject' himself. A guy who can kick decently, run to the line, support runners and keep the forwards rolling. Call me mad but i actually think Gidley can play this role and it is a huge shame looking back that seeing Gidley develop in the 7 for a full season isn't one of the 'positives' we can draw from 2012.
Laurie Daley is probably the perfect example of a player i can give of a player who allowed a bloke to direct 80% of the ball direction before injecting himself so successfully. I would near guarantee Daley produced a higher ratio of line breaks, tries, try assists and line break assists per receive than any other play in RL history. Mullen is also a quality of quantity man.
Sure Stuart been your halves player and an all international side around you doesn't hurt but my point isn't comparing Mullen and Gidley to them in quality - just in how they could go about their games to be a premiership winning halves pair. Boyd ain't a bad third half either.
I think Tyrone and Mullen together is too much injection not enough direction.
