Rumours and Stuff

[I'm a loser baby...]

not sure where the $200k came from. But the benefit of Peats over Levi is he is stronger defensively plus he can also play a middle forward role.

Why is the ability to play middle forward important?

 

[eels_fan]

I don't think Peats has ever played in a good team with a dominant pack to hook behind. I am definitely interested to see how he would go behind our pack.

yeah he did, the blues. And he was poor imo...

 

[T-Boon]

yeah he did, the blues. And he was poor imo...

Was that at a time NSW was getting pounded every game?

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Why is the ability to play middle forward important?

you can carry him on the bench without having to use him at hooker. You can give him 20mins in the middle without “wasting” a sub (basically use him like Stone has been but he covers hooker as required). Levi can’t do that.

Previously BA when he carried 2 hookers in either IDG/Pritchard/Peats, he wouId bring the benchie on as a middle in the second half to lift our line speed. Seemed to work well.

Just gives the squad options.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

you can carry him on the bench without having to use him at hooker. You can give him 20mins in the middle without “wasting” a sub (basically use him like Stone has been but he covers hooker as required). Levi can’t do that.

Previously BA when he carried 2 hookers in either IDG/Pritchard/Peats, he wouId bring the benchie on as a middle in the second half to lift our line speed. Seemed to work well.

Just gives the squad options.

But is he any good in the middle, compared to who else we might select? He's not an impact hooker so wouldn't Smith be the better benchie? I get that if Mahoney was out he would be a good replacement but as for sitting on the bench I dunno. Unless you mean that when Mahoney is out then Peatsy can be shifted to the middle for a bit and not get subbed?

 

[Joshuatheeel]

But is he any good in the middle, compared to who else we might select? He's not an impact hooker so wouldn't Smith be the better benchie? I get that if Mahoney was out he would be a good replacement but as for sitting on the bench I dunno. Unless you mean that when Mahoney is out then Peatsy can be shifted to the middle for a bit and not get subbed?

I reckon he did ok in the middle.

obviously if he comes he is no guarantee for a top 17.

Yes Smith is probably better attacking hooker but defence is just as important.

Who knows what BA’s plans are but if the choice is between Levi / Peats, I wouId go Peats based on him being able to play middle / being better defensively. And we may still keep Smith giving BA several options.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I reckon he did ok in the middle.

obviously if he comes he is no guarantee for a top 17.

Yes Smith is probably better attacking hooker but defence is just as important.

Who knows what BA’s plans are but if the choice is between Levi / Peats, I wouId go Peats based on him being able to play middle / being better defensively. And we may still keep Smith giving BA several options.

Gotcha. I thought Smith was contracted for next year. Although I wouldn't want him as a backup hooker.

 

[Incorrect]

yeah he did, the blues. And he was poor imo...

I thought he was OK for NSW. Tackled his ring off but didn't offer much in attack... But now that I type that I realise that you need to be more than a tackling machine in Origin if you're paying in the number 9... So yeah, he was passable at best I suppose...

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Imagine if Bernie had been picking our teams. The bench would be nothing but backup hookers.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Why is the ability to play middle forward important?

Because then you can get more minutes out of him rather than just carrying him on the bench to rest your starting hooker for ten minutes.

 

[T-Boon]

Rumour has it I would offer Tom Starling.

 

[T-Boon]

Because then you can get more minutes out of him rather than just carrying him on the bench to rest your starting hooker for ten minutes.

We should be thinking of the dummy half position as more important than that. If it takes 2 players in the line up to get really good play out of dummy half I would sacrifice some minutes and possible additional fatigue to the pigs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well it's true but the point is if one of your hookers can also take runs as a middle it gives you more value.

 

[emjaycee]

I think a backup hooker is really all we need for next year!
The squad is building nicely and I think next year is our peak year

It won't be all we get though..
I am hearing Opiciac is a lock and Asiata is out... too expensive, and there is a reason we didn't chase hard to keep Davey.

 

[Eelementary]

It won't be all we get though..
I am hearing Opiciac is a lock and Asiata is out... too expensive, and there is a reason we didn't chase hard to keep Davey.

That's interesting, regarding Davey.

I would be genuinely surprised if his attitude was the reason we didn't chase hard to keep him - so it suggests we have someone else lined up to take his spot?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't think Peats has ever played in a good team with a dominant pack to hook behind. I am definitely interested to see how he would go behind our pack.

He was killing it in 2016 before he left. The continued to play well enough to get picked in Origin.

 

[T-Boon]

We're talking to Davey whose still in the Navy.

 

[Soto]

Rumour has it I would offer Tom Starling.

Has signed with Raiders for another year

 

[Soto]

He was killing it in 2016 before he left. The continued to play well enough to get picked in Origin.

And yes he was good but if anyone watched him this year you would put a line through him...no pace, no attack and his strength i.e his defense is not what it was

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It won't be all we get though..
I am hearing Opiciac is a lock and Asiata is out... too expensive, and there is a reason we didn't chase hard to keep Davey.

Lack of talent? He has been going ok, and has decent lateral movement for his size, but also not very strong. Compare him to Matterson - they're the same size but Matterson is much stronger.