Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

[ColdWetPanther]

Where did this ‘Kenny’s role needs to be investigated’ line of questioning come from. All you have to do is look at his most recent game to see his value to the team; while he will never be a scamperer like Grant or prime Api, he does offer some subtlety around the ruck (see Garner’s first try or last year’s GF). But what he offers that no other hooker in the comp can is amazing service and the ability to do that wide.

If people want to see how our attack has evolved over the past few years it is the width through the middle third. Kenny’s long, accurate passes out of dummy half move the opposition forwards around, and allow us to turn back front-rowers, second-rowers and centres to further use footwork against middle defenders who are being moved around and aren’t set. Kenny delivers those balls accurately and consistently across the 80mins.

That is before he belts players.

 

[Original Name]

Where did this ‘Kenny’s role needs to be investigated’ line of questioning come from. All you have to do is look at his most recent game to see his value to the team; while he will never be a scamperer like Grant or prime Api, he does offer some subtlety around the ruck (see Garner’s first try or last year’s GF). But what he offers that no other hooker in the comp can is amazing service and the ability to do that wide.

If people want to see how our attack has evolved over the past few years it is the width through the middle third. Kenny’s long, accurate passes out of dummy half move the opposition forwards around, and allow us to turn back front-rowers, second-rowers and centres to further use footwork against middle defenders who are being moved around and aren’t set. Kenny delivers those balls accurately and consistently across the 80mins.

That is before he belts players.

It's just people not valuing defence. All some people see defence is as a stat like the best defender misses the least percentage of tackles the second best misses the second least, etc or something like that. The reality is Mitch Kenny more than any guy in our team smashes wingers, centre, and fullbacks on play 1 and 2. A decent percentage of them don't run the ball as much because they've been bashed by Kenny. It lowers morale to see your team mates afraid to run the ball. It's easier to get a more domiant tackle to slow down the play the ball if a guy's been bashed on first contact. How the first one or two tackles are handled in defence effect how the rest of the set plays out.

In video the coach won't just be focusing on saying X winger or centre jammed in trying to solve things on their own or whatever the problems are if the first play the ball is quick because of soft defence. They'll also go back to the first tackle and be like boys where the f**k was the contact here? How did you let this guy just run through the line and get a quick play the ball like that. That first contact stuff in tackles one and two really, really matters more than a lot of people understand.

While I'm talking about defence I'll also take the time to push my agenda that Yeo is the best defender in the NRL. Turns more players on their backs than anyone. Freaking Twal or whoever probably misses fewer tackles but Yeo's defence has a bigger positive impact on the game than anyone else in my opinion.

 

[Iamback]

It's just people not valuing defence. All some people see defence is as a stat like the best defender misses the least percentage of tackles the second best misses the second least, etc or something like that. The reality is Mitch Kenny more than any guy in our team smashes wingers, centre, and fullbacks on play 1 and 2. A decent percentage of them don't run the ball as much because they've been bashed by Kenny. It lowers morale to see your team mates afraid to run the ball. It's easier to get a more domiant tackle to slow down the play the ball if a guy's been bashed on first contact. How the first one or two tackles are handled in defence effect how the rest of the set plays out.

In video the coach won't just be focusing on saying X winger or centre jammed in trying to solve things on their own or whatever the problems are if the first play the ball is quick because of soft defence. They'll also go back to the first tackle and be like boys where the f**k was the contact here? How did you let this guy just run through the line and get a quick play the ball like that. That first contact stuff in tackles one and two really, really matters more than a lot of people understand.

While I'm talking about defence I'll also take the time to push my agenda that Yeo is the best defender in the NRL. Turns more players on their backs than anyone. Freaking Twal or whoever probably misses fewer tackles but Yeo's defence has a bigger positive impact on the game than anyone else in my opinion.

People value defence but you also need attack. And you need 3 in your spine that can offer regular attack.

In most teams it is the fullback or in some cases like the Storm with Grant it is the hooker.

We haven't needed that because Luai has been so good that if Cleary is tackled or having an off night Luai in most cases steps up.

 

[Iamback]

We are talking about two different things.

What the halves do within our the attacking system is up to them.

It is still part of the side's play that will be adjusted. As we have adjusted when others have gone.

We have seen when Trent comes on or when Kenny was suspended that Sommerton played different

 

[MugaB]

He'd be an epic bench prop but he's on too much coin for that

Bench? Nah bro starts alongside Leota

 

[age.s]

The best part about Kenny (in a crowded field) is he's cheap and is likely to remain so because of the whole "not valuing defence" thing.

 

[betcats]

Kenny's defence probably becomes even more valuable next year with fish leaving. Talagi/laurie/cole fighting for Luais spot we should be fine in the halves/spine if Nath can play more than half a season. Our defence and intensity in the middle wins us more games than Luais creativity and Fish is a key piece of that as is Kenny. With fish going im far more worried about that drop off than creativity in the spine. We will need Mitch smashing blokes in the middle, we will need Leota to have a better year and we will need Smith/henry to step up. Assuming one of Paps or Martin plays some middle we will need them to have better years also.

 

[WestyLife]

Where did this ‘Kenny’s role needs to be investigated’ line of questioning come from. All you have to do is look at his most recent game to see his value to the team; while he will never be a scamperer like Grant or prime Api, he does offer some subtlety around the ruck (see Garner’s first try or last year’s GF). But what he offers that no other hooker in the comp can is amazing service and the ability to do that wide.

If people want to see how our attack has evolved over the past few years it is the width through the middle third. Kenny’s long, accurate passes out of dummy half move the opposition forwards around, and allow us to turn back front-rowers, second-rowers and centres to further use footwork against middle defenders who are being moved around and aren’t set. Kenny delivers those balls accurately and consistently across the 80mins.

That is before he belts players.

Kenny is fine. Gives a few penalties away but otherwise happy he's our hooker.

 

[betcats]

When they are at their best Paps, Marto and Garner are all to good to be playing bench edge minutes so assuming Marto or Paps or both will play atleast partially in the middle. All 3 should start imo. Lindsay has been impressive again this year so I suppose he could start and Paps plays an impact role off the bench but even if we go that way our bench edge doesnt play a lot of minutes so Paps will need more minutes somewhere.

 

[Luke Bowden]

It is still part of the side's play that will be adjusted. As we have adjusted when others have gone.

We have seen when Trent comes on or when Kenny was suspended that Sommerton played different

Yeah, that’s my point. Kenny nails the position, other Dummy halves aren’t at his level and struggle a little.