Rumours and Stuff

[Happy MEel]

Yeah that certainly hasn't helped. The guy tries, and he's great defensively, but he has the ball skills of a lesbian, really. I think our attack will be better if we sign a reasonable 7 and with Guthbus/French at the back next year, regardless of the hooker.

I'd actually prefer a quality 9 and a average half to partner Norman. Melbourne, the Raiders and the Sharks support this argument.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

His defence is ok missing 2.3 tackles a game. But as HappyMeel pointed out you need a good 9 if you want to go well in this comp. They touch the ball more than any other player. Look at the top 4 teams and their 9's. They are all great players.

Maybe but manly had an average attack hooker during their great run and the dragons in 2010 never had a great hooker either. Both sides had more IDG defensively style hookers.

 

[hineyrulz]

He's as good a half as Chad Townsend

Not on this years form he's not.

 

[Happy MEel]

Maybe but manly had an average attack hooker during their great run and the dragons in 2010 never had a great hooker either. Both sides had more IDG defensively style hookers.

The game has changed since those days.

 

[Noise]

Maybe but manly had an average attack hooker during their great run and the dragons in 2010 never had a great hooker either. Both sides had more IDG defensively style hookers.

You are going back at least 6 years. And even manly had a hooker (Ballin) who played origin at his peak. Both Dean Young and Matt Ballin were better players than IDG. And to add to that when Dean Young won the comp he was 26. When matt ballin won the comp we was 27 and 24. IDG will be 32 next year.

 

[hineyrulz]

Maybe but manly had an average attack hooker during their great run and the dragons in 2010 never had a great hooker either. Both sides had more IDG defensively style hookers.

Yeah but Manly had a great halves combo with Snake at the back with an outstanding backline. Yeah 2010 was a weird year with Melbourne booted and we shat our selves after April 22nd never to really recover. Bennett ball got them home but you need more than that going forward to be a threat.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

You are going back at least 6 years. And even manly had a hooker who played origin at his peak. Both Dean Young and Matt Ballin were better players than IDG. And to add to that when Dean Young won the comp he was 26. When matt ballin won the comp we was 27 and 24. IDG will be 32 next year.

True, but I am thinking Pritchard is our starting hooker next year unless we sign some one.

 

[Bazal]

I'd actually prefer a quality 9 and a average half to partner Norman. Melbourne, the Raiders and the Sharks support this argument.

I think you have to take what you can get, personally. For next season, there is nothing available in the 9 that you would automatically call quality. The halves are better, though. So you sign a reasonable half, do what you can at 9 and look to the next off season.

For what it's worth I don't rate IDG or Pritchard. But neither of them is unforgivably awful. Like I've said, I'd like for us to sign someone to Wenty on a second tier deal who has something to prove. Kierran Moseley is off contract, Matt Srama, Jayden Hodges, Adam Clydesdale, even re-sign Cam King....or quite a few others who could be decent hookers. That's our best bet for next season IMO, give someone a chance to dethrone IDG

 

[Bazal]

Not on this years form he's not.

You say that, but Roberts has 12 try assists to Townsends 11.

Townsend has a better kicking game IMO, but not by heaps

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Yeah but Manly had a great halves combo with Snake at the back with an outstanding backline. Yeah 2010 was a weird year with Melbourne booted and we shat our selves after April 22nd never to really recover. Bennett ball got them home but you need more than that going forward to be a threat.

Yes it does depend on our halves and fullback. Our backline is pretty good.

 

[hineyrulz]

True, but I am thinking Pritchard is our starting hooker next year unless we sign some one.

So why does IDG start and play he majority of mins then??? makes no sense if Kaysa is the chosen one going forward.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

His defence is ok missing 2.3 tackles a game. But as HappyMeel pointed out you need a good 9 if you want to go well in this comp. They touch the ball more than any other player. Look at the top 4 teams and their 9's. They are all great attacking players.

Unfortunately most of the best attacking hookers are poor defenders. If you have to choose (and we clearly do, since we don't have one of the top all round hookers) you're better off with a good defender.

 

[Noise]

I think you have to take what you can get, personally. For next season, there is nothing available in the 9 that you would automatically call quality. The halves are better, though. So you sign a reasonable half, do what you can at 9 and look to the next off season.

For what it's worth I don't rate IDG or Pritchard. But neither of them is unforgivably awful. Like I've said, I'd like for us to sign someone to Wenty on a second tier deal who has something to prove. Kierran Moseley is off contract, Matt Srama, Jayden Hodges, Adam Clydesdale, even re-sign Cam King....or quite a few others who could be decent hookers. That's our best bet for next season IMO, give someone a chance to dethrone IDG

There are no decents halves either. Unless you call perennial reserve grader Sam Williams decent?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's as good a half as Chad Townsend

Nowhere near as good a defender. Better kicking game though.

 

[Noise]

Unfortunately most of the best attacking hookers are poor defenders. If you have to choose (and we clearly do, since we don't have one of the top all round hookers) you're better off with a good defender.

You think Smith, Ennis, Hodgson, Farrah and Granville are poor defenders? Have you got any stats to back this up? And how do they compare to De Gois' stats?

 

[hineyrulz]

Yes it does depend on our halves and fullback. Our backline is pretty good.

Our backline is pretty good, but our halves are hardly settled and our fullback while talented will be a rookie. So our spine is hardly anything to get excited about ATM.

 

[hineyrulz]

You think Smith, Ennis, Hodgson, Farrah and Granville are poor defenders? Have you got any stats to back this up? And how do they compare to De Gois' stats?

Another Pou BS statement, Smith a bad defender LOLZ!!!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

So why does IDG start and play he majority of mins then??? makes no sense if Kaysa is the chosen one going forward.

no idea. Wish BA would come on here and give us his thoughts!!

 

[Happy MEel]

I think you have to take what you can get, personally. For next season, there is nothing available in the 9 that you would automatically call quality. The halves are better, though. So you sign a reasonable half, do what you can at 9 and look to the next off season.

For what it's worth I don't rate IDG or Pritchard. But neither of them is unforgivably awful. Like I've said, I'd like for us to sign someone to Wenty on a second tier deal who has something to prove. Kierran Moseley is off contract, Matt Srama, Jayden Hodges, Adam Clydesdale, even re-sign Cam King....or quite a few others who could be decent hookers. That's our best bet for next season IMO, give someone a chance to dethrone IDG

Really? I reckon the quality of available hookers far exceeds the halves options for next year. As it stands the only realistic half options are Benji and Hastings. Hooker options include Farah, Baptiste, Rein (plod) possibly segy and if we had pulled our fingers out we could have offered Wallace a contract.

 

[Bazal]

There are no decents halves either. Unless you call perennial reserve grader Sam Williams decent?

f**k no. I said earlier in this thread Williams is pants.

I just think there are better halves out there than hookers. Mostly because there are halves under contract (Hastings, Roberts) who are on the outer. And some genuine young guns like Ata Hingano and Brodie Croft