Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and General Drivel XV

[Poupou Escobar]

Didn't Cronin play inside centre? Which was a more 'important' position (or at least more involved) than outside centre. That would mean he was also more involved than modern day centres.

 

[lingard]

Didn't Cronin play inside centre? Which was a more 'important' position (or at least more involved) than outside centre. That would mean he was also more involved than modern day centres.

Yes. In fact, as well as being an exceptional goal-kicker (for the time) and kicker in general play, he was a great defender and was deceptively fast. He acted as a 'pivot' in our attack by regularly standing in tackles and getting the ball away to Sterling, Kenny or Ella. My father once commented that he would make a terrific five-eight.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I reckon if he came through today he would play in the halves or second row.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Yes. In fact, as well as being an exceptional goal-kicker (for the time) and kicker in general play, he was a great defender and was deceptively fast. He acted as a 'pivot' in our attack by regularly standing in tackles and getting the ball away to Sterling, Kenny or Ella. My father once commented that he would make a terrific five-eight.

Yeh, my recollection of the early 80s was that Cronin was indeed the pivot (2nd 5/8th as the kiwi rugby guys would say), and that Kenny, who played inside him performed little of that traditional role. He or Sterlo would loop around behind Cronin and (in the case of Kenny) run like f**k, (on the case of Sterlo) hit Steve Ella or Steve Ella-substitute on the chest with a flat pass. Then again, maybe I only remember the highlights.

He was certainly a great goal kicker for a 'toe-basher'....those old balls were not necessarily as well balanced as today's.

 

[lingard]

I reckon if he came through today he would play in the halves or second row.

He would be the biggest half the game has ever had. Personally, I don't think he would be agile enough for the halves; and he would be wasted in the forwards. I think he would be ideally suited to todays centre position. Great defender; great positional play; had the ability to beat a man one-on-one; and had a deceptive burst of acceleration. Not to mention a very good kicking game. He'd be the ideal modern-day centre.

 

[lingard]

Yeh, my recollection of the early 80s was that Cronin was indeed the pivot (2nd 5/8th as the kiwi rugby guys would say), and that Kenny, who played inside him performed little of that traditional role. He or Sterlo would loop around behind Cronin and (in the case of Kenny) run like f**k, (on the case of Sterlo) hit Steve Ella or Steve Ella-substitute on the chest with a flat pass. Then again, maybe I only remember the highlights.

He was certainly a great goal kicker for a 'toe-basher'....those old balls were not necessarily as well balanced as today's.

Yep. Brett Kenny was a good five-eight, no doubt (even a great five-eight) - but he was a centre first and foremost. That's why, in my fantasy, dream-world, best-ever Parramatta side, I would have John Simon at five-eight and Kenny in the centres (instead of Ella). Kenny never had a kicking game, either.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He would be the biggest half the game has ever had. Personally, I don't think he would be agile enough for the halves; and he would be wasted in the forwards. I think he would be ideally suited to todays centre position. Great defender; great positional play; had the ability to beat a man one-on-one; and had a deceptive burst of acceleration. Not to mention a very good kicking game. He'd be the ideal modern-day centre.

He wasn't that f**king big. There are plenty of halves bigger than him in today's NRL, including Campese and Sutton. And it is the only place to effectively utilise a player with a good kicking game. Cronin's kicking game would be wasted at centre.

I can't see how he would be wasted at edge forward - they make more runs and tackles than halves or centres. In fact plenty of big backs move to the second row (if they can't play fullback) to get more involved - e.g. Lewis, Bird, SBW, Glenn, Joel Thompson, Smith, Tony Williams, Mannering, Hurrell, Bodene Thompson, McQueen, Scott, Graham.

If anything, Cronin would be wasted at centre. Unless a player is an absolute jet in one-on-one situations (on both sides of the ball) then he is better off playing closer to centrefield, if he's one of your best players.

 

[Twizzle]

I reckon if he came through today he would play in the halves or second row.

not sure

the pivot roll back then is not something you dont see any more and no one did it better, besides he had one of the fastest players in the league (zip zip) outside him to unload to

Cronin could hold the ball up like big Artie could would 3 or 4 blokes hanging off him, he was pretty strong and would not go to ground but he ran and finished like a centre

 

[Twizzle]

He wasn't that f**king big. There are plenty of halves bigger than him in today's NRL, including Campese and Sutton. And it is the only place to effectively utilise a player with a good kicking game. Cronin's kicking game would be wasted at centre.

I can't see how he would be wasted at edge forward - they make more runs and tackles than halves or centres. In fact plenty of big backs move to the second row (if they can't play fullback) to get more involved - e.g. Lewis, Bird, SBW, Glenn, Joel Thompson, Smith, Tony Williams, Mannering, Hurrell, Bodene Thompson, McQueen, Scott, Graham.

If anything, Cronin would be wasted at centre. Unless a player is an absolute jet in one-on-one situations (on both sides of the ball) then he is better off playing closer to centrefield, if he's one of your best players.

he's about the same as Wags, pretty big for a 5/8

 

[parra pete]

"I have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord"

 

[yy_cheng]

He wasn't that f**king big. There are plenty of halves bigger than him in today's NRL, including Campese and Sutton. And it is the only place to effectively utilise a player with a good kicking game. Cronin's kicking game would be wasted at centre.

I can't see how he would be wasted at edge forward - they make more runs and tackles than halves or centres. In fact plenty of big backs move to the second row (if they can't play fullback) to get more involved - e.g. Lewis, Bird, SBW, Glenn, Joel Thompson, Smith, Tony Williams, Mannering, Hurrell, Bodene Thompson, McQueen, Scott, Graham.

If anything, Cronin would be wasted at centre. Unless a player is an absolute jet in one-on-one situations (on both sides of the ball) then he is better off playing closer to centrefield, if he's one of your best players.

For Mine, definitely edge forward.

He didnt have a kicking game that I could remember in general play. He used to kick for touch with a place kicks. He also pretended to place kick a penalty goal but instead put up a bomb.

He ran straight and hard and could stand in tackles and offload to the backs,

But then I only saw him from 1977-86.

I remember that when Kenny and Sterlo were away on rep duties, Cronin held the team together and controlled the game.

For the youngsters out there, there was one time where positions 2-13 were all Parra players. I dont remember taylor playing 1. Probably Eadie.

 

[born an eel]

For the youngsters out there, there was one time where positions 2-13 were all Parra players. I dont remember taylor playing 1. Probably Eadie.

i assume you are talking game 2 1983 NSW SOO team, Marty Gurr was fullback

 

[Avenger]

i assume you are talking game 2 1983 NSW SOO team, Marty Gurr was fullback

and Parra ...I mean NSW won.

 

[born an eel]

Yep. Brett Kenny was a good five-eight, no doubt (even a great five-eight) - but he was a centre first and foremost. That's why, in my fantasy, dream-world, best-ever Parramatta side, I would have John Simon at five-eight and Kenny in the centres (instead of Ella). Kenny never had a kicking game, either.

Ella was so under -rated in that team and his versatility meant he was on the bench for Australia a lot.
in my opinion playing ella and Kenny would be a stronger team than one with Simon

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Enjoyed your post on Pricey, but had a chuckle at the BRL being described as part time.

Its obvious the Qld cup has come in leaps and bounds over the last 15 years or so but back then even our 3rd grade had every chance of beating them on a week to week basis. :lol:

 

[Maroubra Eel]

The current Eels team would smash the Eels team from the 80's.
They're bigger, faster, and smarter.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Wasn't that because those skinny white merkins only trained part time?

 

[Someone]

The current Eels team would smash the Eels team from the 80's.
They're bigger, faster, and smarter.

The islanders would smash them.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Also, I think players were smarter back then (what are today called 'natural footballers'). Modern teams are so well drilled there just isn't as much need for blokes who can read the play or improvise. The interchange has eliminated a lot of the advantage once held by players with a lot of stamina.

Still, today's players are definitely faster, stronger and fitter. Absolute machines.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Well mate I hope Mossop doesn't have to play 80 minutes. He's a f**king big bloke and it will mean that he is pacing himself if he plays 80 minutes in the middle.

We only need two props on the field at a time, and with two more on the bench that works out to a neat 40 minutes each (on average). Against the bigger packs we might stick another prop in the 13, but the problem there is you are agreeing to play to the opposition's strengths.

Good points there Poo.

What I was trying to get at....... with the ferocity of our attacking forwards throwing themselves at the defense... Tanginoa, Terepo, Jnr Paulo, Mau, Edwards, Fui, Fui, soon Loko, Ualesi, etc... etc, we already have a good enough set of backs to benefit from the rewards provided by the forwards to blow most teams off the park leaving the only other important requirement being our defensive pack of forwards like Mossop, Mannah, Lussick, Mau, Edwards, Allgood, etc, to have the 80 minute skill of moving up & moving back fast enough to cut the time required for Roosters, Storm, Manly, Souths,...... forwards to run the lines they train for 80 minutes, we then have a very good chance starting this year of not only making the top 8 but sneaking into the top 4.

The key is controlling the ruck.

The question is this, do we have the forwards and the coaching in place to control the speed of the ruck????

Sure we can't always control the speed at the ruck but if we manage to achieve say 70% of the game, we may only leak 12 to 18 points per game while our backs will pile on 18 to 30+ points per game.

The new rules are helping our type of squad but do we have the skills in place to control the ruck?????