Rumoured Targets 3

[NoSchitSherlock]

if we have Brailey and Ponga playing all year and Pearce not playing like a drunk we are fine to run with Hoy or Crossland at 6.

Big IF.

I can't be the only one that sees a good centre in Mann?

Dunno what we'd do with Mann. We are fairly well covered with backs. We can't have both Mann and Watson as bench utilities. Watson has trained a bit at lock but I reckon he is too light.
We are going to have injuries and players out of form dropped.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

That leaves the 5/8 spot up for grabs and unless we get a creative game breaker of a 5/8, or move Ponga there and find a competent fullback we won't be GF contenders.

Long term I'm still seeing Ponga as a 5/8. He essentially plays in the halves now when he comes forward. As long as he doesn't change too much and drop into the line on the left it might work. Then put Hoy at fullback.
We could be much the same except that Ponga wouldn't be dropping back.

 

[Burwood]

Still think Mann has the potential to be a lock in the mold of Cam Murray. It’s not like we’re flush with quality backrowers and Barnett can’t slot into the #12 jersey.

 

[Knight Vision]

Mann will never oust Tuala or Best as our centres. He also isnt a half or a lock forward. He's an out and out utility for mine.

Moving a superstar fullback to 5/8 would take away his most lethal weapons with room to move - speed and power with a sublime passing game chiming into a backline sweep. Right now as a young fella he's best utilised at the back...... later on in his career as the speed and power fade slot him into 5/8 - by then he'll be a game manager with a lethal passing and kicking game..

 

[Knight Vision]

David Furner off to doggies..... Was he in charge of attack?

I think he's the defensive coach- could be wrong.

Willie Peters is our attacking coach I think.

 

[Yosh]

I like having Watson on the bench coming on for the lock late in each half. Would offer something different and wouldn't lose many metres because he is so quick out of dummy half.

I would be surprised if we extend Pearce for more than a year. Surely not right?

 

[aqua_duck]

Not sure what the obsession is with moving Ponga to 5/8th, you move him to 5/8th and you lose 2 of his best attributes being the danger he poses from kick returns and also him cleaning up kicks which is very underrated. Added to that the opposition will be aiming all their attack at him to wear him down and hence his attack will suffer.

 

[aqua_duck]

They mention Lam from the Roosters and Burton from Penrith in this article. I hope both are on our radar as possibilities along with Clifford from the Cowboys

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/87addc6038a9bd2f017b8f085791d501

Would be probably have an orgasm if signed Burton, but I'd still be very, very happy with Lachlan Lam. Saw him play a few times for the roosters this year and his kicking and passing game are pretty decent but more importantly his defence is very good for half.

 

[Knight Vision]

Would be probably have an orgasm if signed Burton, but I'd still be very, very happy with Lachlan Lam. Saw him play a few times for the roosters this year and his kicking and passing game are pretty decent but more importantly his defence is very good for half.

Both are far in advance of development than what we currently have on our books. If we want to take advantage of our window of opportunity with our squad we have to acquire another half and put in place a succession plan for Pearce's departure.

 

[aqua_duck]

Both are far in advance of development than what we currently have on our books. If we want to take advantage of our window of opportunity with our squad we have to acquire another half and put in place a succession plan for Pearce's departure.

Agreed. Everyone tossing up Crossland and Hoy, they might develop into genuine halves but the reality is Crossland has yet to spend any significant time in the halves in the top grade and Hoy barely even played in the halves in reserve grade.

 

[Knight Tales]

Would be probably have an orgasm if signed Burton, but I'd still be very, very happy with Lachlan Lam. Saw him play a few times for the roosters this year and his kicking and passing game are pretty decent but more importantly his defence is very good for half.

You like our chances?

 

[Old dog]

Lam would have looked good in Roosters with all the stars about him but at Knights? Also fitting in for a few games is different from playing week in week out for the season.
I’m not convinced with what I have seen, only bits, not someone I see taking us beyond the Pearce era.

 

[aqua_duck]

You like our chances?

Not really, some desperate club like the dogs will throw silly money at Burton and I don't see Lam leaving Sydney

 

[Jono078]

I wouldn't rule Burton out if the club is willing to back him and offer him some of Pearce's money if they are ready to move on from him after next year or Pearce accepts a reduced contract.

 

[Yosh]

I just want a halfback who defends well, can get us a repeat set and can get the ball quickly to Ponga or our outside men. Doesn't have to be spectacular, just vanilla but the good sort. Is that Lam?

 

[Haffa]

Not really, some desperate club like the dogs will throw silly money at Burton and I don't see Lam leaving Sydney

If he left Sydney it’s be to either Wigan or a Qld club.

 

[Knight76]

Not sure what the obsession is with moving Ponga to 5/8th, you move him to 5/8th and you lose 2 of his best attributes being the danger he poses from kick returns and also him cleaning up kicks which is very underrated. Added to that the opposition will be aiming all their attack at him to wear him down and hence his attack will suffer.

I don't buy the opposition aiming their attack at him thing. That will happen with any decent playmaker and they keep producing, and he is already copping several head highs a game. The kids tough and would handle it.

As for his dangerous kick returns, I see that as a myth, he isn't dangerous on kick return. I can't recall a time when he has scooped up a grubber and jinked his way through the kick chasers and ran away to score. In fact his best attributes are his ball playing skills and his ability to step and jink around a defender to create space. Attributes suited to 5/8.

Cleaning up balls is a fullbacks job so presumable any other fullback worth playing in the position would be able to take up this slack.

 

[Spot On]

I don't buy the opposition aiming their attack at him thing. That will happen with any decent playmaker and they keep producing, and he is already copping several head highs a game. The kids tough and would handle it.

As for his dangerous kick returns, I see that as a myth, he isn't dangerous on kick return. I can't recall a time when he has scooped up a grubber and jinked his way through the kick chasers and ran away to score. In fact his best attributes are his ball playing skills and his ability to step and jink around a defender to create space. Attributes suited to 5/8.

Cleaning up balls is a fullbacks job so presumable any other fullback worth playing in the position would be able to take up this slack.

Absolutely. Totall agree with all this.

Excuses and rose coloured glasses are too often the order of the day with some fans re certain players.

Similar story with Pearce and the pressure he is always under when kicking.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

According to Toohey, the applicants for assistant coach so far have been - Anthony Seibold, Dean Young, Shane Flanagan and Stephen Kearney.


F**k me.

 

[PhilGould]

He just said they're potential coaches on the market, not that they've applied