Rumour: Sam Williams signed for 2 years a

[redbreed]

yeah, toughness is the key ingredient. A number of other smaller blokes in the last 25 years have overcome size such as Langer, Campbell & Bowen. Some of them are comfortable mixing it with any of the players on the field, while others just can't cope & have to be hidden / helped in defence or avoid being tackled at all costs. Not having a go at him because he's leaving, but Soward has been terribly guilty of this last point - especially in the last 2 years. ( worried about being tackled & throwing passes of any type to a teammate )

With Quinlan, from what I've seen this year he didn't seem confident of being able to get involved in defence or attack ( after a great first pass for a try )

Exactly nrlnrl. But also you don't expect them to be hitmen in defense because that's not there primary role. But you do expect them to pull up their sleeves and get dirty. I have been critical of fien at stages this year for his creativity but he puts his body on the line week in week out. Imagine how he feels coming of every week knowing he's been bashed from pillar to post then looking at Soward without a grass stain on him feeling sorry for himself.

 

[BennyV]

Exactly nrlnrl. But also you don't expect them to be hitmen in defense because that's not there primary role. But you do expect them to pull up their sleeves and get dirty. I have been critical of fien at stages this year for his creativity but he puts his body on the line week in week out. Imagine how he feels coming of every week knowing he's been bashed from pillar to post then looking at Soward without a grass stain on him feeling sorry for himself.

I agree. Quinlan got clobbered in his first run in that game vs Titans and still showed up to do his role for the rest of the game. A bit more experience and he could be anything in the NRL.

 

[TheRev]

Nothing worse then a sore loser

Yep, hes not the only one though, few blokes on these forums are obsessed with size >>>>>> skill, its obviously nice to have both, but players dont need to be scrap-heaped because they dont fit the ideal mould.

 

[Minh]

Thurston, Alfie and Preston Campbell would not have made it based on size. It's whats between the ears and the size of your heart that determines how far you would go. Quinlan should seriously consider moulding his game into a halves as some of the best small men have played there. This is where a small player is most suited taking on the big men up the middle with good footwork and deception. At fullback there are disadvantages under the high ball with a lack of size.

 

[bottle]

Yep, hes not the only one though, few blokes on these forums are obsessed with size >>>>>> skill, its obviously nice to have both, but players dont need to be scrap-heaped because they dont fit the ideal mould.

Rev, if that's directed at me you need to re-read my posts. I was defending the inference that Soward lacked 'toughness'. He plays the game in a diffeent way to many of the smaller men, granted. However I will never accuse anyone who plays top flight RL of lacking toughness, even Timmy Moltzen. The bloke you replied to on the other hand....

 

[TheRev]

Thurston, Alfie and Preston Campbell would not have made it based on size. It's whats between the ears and the size of your heart that determines how far you would go. Quinlan should seriously consider moulding his game into a halves as some of the best small men have played there. This is where a small player is most suited taking on the big men up the middle with good footwork and deception. At fullback there are disadvantages under the high ball with a lack of size.

Yep exactly, a couple of peeps keep writing off the blooding of any junior being talked about, due to the kg's they weight..

Quinlan is the current one, I agree hes up against it... but I think he can make it anywhere in the backline if he continues to develop like he has been.. halves would be the easiest place to be short though. But.. wherever it is it has to be soon because once Cummins is fit next month, and if Williams rumour is true and the 2014 signings here end of year.. I think there is a window of this year to prove himself before we will likely lose him to another club.

And conversely, Green & Vidot keep being talked about as "must have's" due to size, but I think its short-sighted to select players on size alone, id love to be proved wrong and either one to kick on, but I just dont see a future for either player, not in the backline anyway.

 

[redbreed]

Rev, if that's directed at me you need to re-read my posts. I was defending the inference that Soward lacked 'toughness'. He plays the game in a diffeent way to many of the smaller men, granted. However I will never accuse anyone who plays top flight RL of lacking toughness, even Timmy Moltzen. The bloke you replied to on the other hand....

Come on bottle........no need to continue this crap. I'm not that big on stats like yourself. If they where so important the rep sides would be picked on super coach points. You can always find stats to backup both sides of an argument. Have read plenty of your posts on numerous topics and agree with a lot of your points. If you can dish it out you have to be able to take it. No hard feelings on my side let's just get on with discussing matters without all this.

 

[bottle]

I'm not that big on stats like yourself.

You've missed the point, had nothing to do with stats, had to do with facts.

I'm always willing to help, so I'll remind you....

(referring to Quinlan)
He is as big as Soward, or bigger.

Quinlan: 173 cm, 80 kg
Soward: 177 cm, 92 kg

Uh huh. Never let the facts distort a good story.

http://www.dragons.com.au/playerprof...20Quinlan/5371
http://www.dragons.com.au/playerprof...ie Soward/65

My post was simply to point out that Fiery was wrong, something we're getting used to by the way.

You then started carrying on about 'toughness' and trotted out other info that had no relevance to the reply I made to Fiery's factually incorrect post. I don't know why, although you may. A blokes weight and size are irrelevant to me.

I just don't like people making shit up rather than getting their facts right. I also loathe it when people sit behind keyboards and accuse top flight RL players of lacking toughness. Piss weak in my books. Hence the reply to Rev. That's it.

 

[redbreed]

You've missed the point, had nothing to do with stats, had to do with facts.

I'm always willing to help, so I'll remind you....



My post was simply to point out that Fiery was wrong, something we're getting used to by the way.

You then started carrying on about 'toughness' and trotted out other info that had no relevance to the reply I made to Fiery's factually incorrect post. I don't know why, although you may. A blokes weight and size are irrelevant to me.

I just don't like people making shit up rather than getting their facts right. I also loathe it when people sit behind keyboards and accuse top flight RL players of lacking toughness. Piss weak in my books. Hence the reply to Rev. That's it.

Fair enough bottle I get your point. I should of read back further in this thread. I thought you meant something else.
I'm not a keyboard hero just stating my belief. How else do I get my point across?

 

[Minh]

Yep exactly, a couple of peeps keep writing off the blooding of any junior being talked about, due to the kg's they weight..

Quinlan is the current one, I agree hes up against it... but I think he can make it anywhere in the backline if he continues to develop like he has been.. halves would be the easiest place to be short though. But.. wherever it is it has to be soon because once Cummins is fit next month, and if Williams rumour is true and the 2014 signings here end of year.. I think there is a window of this year to prove himself before we will likely lose him to another club.

And conversely, Green & Vidot keep being talked about as "must have's" due to size, but I think its short-sighted to select players on size alone, id love to be proved wrong and either one to kick on, but I just dont see a future for either player, not in the backline anyway.

Yes size is only an advantage if you know how to use it properly like Inglis, Meninga and Sailor for example. These guys know how to read the game and when to get involved at the right time and when to back it off and play it safe. Last year against Souths early in the season we were leading and looking comfortable with not much left on the clock and looked set to win until Vidot tried for a big run out of his own 20 dropped the ball and Souths scored and went on to win the game, it's these little things and the little errors at the wrong time that would have team mates looking over their shoulders.

Vidot has improved but there are many better footballers than him at the club, I would rather a smaller player that is safe and finishes brilliantly over a big unit that bashes and barges and muscles over the line any day of the week, especially when you know that a guy like Vidot is gonna make errors whether a bad read in defense, a drop ball, suspect under the high ball and not the best technical finisher also lacking genuine speed.