Does anyone know which Sponsor was incorrect on Leota's Jumper in the 1st half? That's some amateur shit right there!
I was with you until you said average defence. He had a bad read in the first game going for the hero intercept (which none of us complained about in October 21) but outside of that his defence has been outstanding. Against the Rabbits in particular he was very strong against a very good left edge attack.
Martin a line runner? When? He plays like a middle forward on the edge.
I actually wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing Garner and Hosking on the edges for big minutes with Martin playing in the middle rotation. The dismissal of Garner as an option after 1.5 games is insane but very league unlimited Panthers forum.
Right centre for the layman looks to be the hardest position on the field to defend.
Most teams attack better down their left and rely on the centre getting caught in no man's land.
Critter has generally been brilliant there. The fabled Souths left side has only had one good day there the past few years and that was with Cleary out.
In our current squad Martin needs to play backrow 100% but he doesn't run great lines, doesn't have great footwork, doesn't really set up his centre. He's versatile to play both but his skill set suits the middle better.The opinion that Martin is not much of an edge forward is also a very 'league unlimited' opinion. NSW and Aussie selectors currently disagree as does our coach.
He is a very good edge forward, and still underrated there by many. He can and has made some great offloads and passes to his outside. He also has underrated footwork and is deceptively quick especially over 40...there are not many 2nd rowers who can put on a burst of speed like Marto can.
Just because he is very physical (because he can!) doesn't make him a prop. I have seen him play prop a few times and he does okay there but since he is a little smaller than many of them he struggles to dominate - and his other attributes that make him a good edge forward are wasted in the position.
I agree that we shouldn't just cast Garner aside - but the early signs are not promising. Some of us have family or as is my case close friends who are Tigers fans, so we watch Tigers games more than the average neutral - and from what I saw from his play there, it wasn't encouraging.
In our current squad Martin needs to play backrow 100% but he doesn't run great lines, doesn't have great footwork, doesn't really set up his centre. He's versatile to play both but his skill set suits the middle better.
I think he's the perfect replacement for Spencer in the middle next year
Brother-in-law is a long suffering Wests fan (as in, followed the Magpies through the 90s). Take it fwiw, but he's watched Garner closely for several years and his take is:
Very good line runner. Changes angles well and bags more tries than you'd expect.
Defends decently. Mostly good with the odd poor effort now and then.
Poor engine. Not going to be getting through a ton of work and vulnerable later in a game.
Very little power in general play.
Often invisible. Needs the game to come to him.
Overall decent player with flaws.
More or less gels with what we've seen from him the first few rounds. There's enough there to suggest he can play a role, but on the flip side he's not got enough to push out a guy who's put in performances like Hosking has the past couple of weeks and no way in the world you dislodge a dual premiership winning, incumbent Australian international from his most familiar position to accommodate him. No shame in contributing to a squad like this by coming in first drop when injuries and/or fatigue hits the squad or during/post Origin. One of our lovable depth plodders like Huth is and Kenny should be.
I was waiting for his usual diatribe.I didn't need to read that. I already knew Kent was an enormous merkin of a human.