Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Lol. His kicking game is worse than Drown's. Literally every kick I've seen him do is your vanilla, end over end straight up and down mid to high bomb that threatens nobody. If that's one of his strengths, it's worse than I thought...

It's not about threatening anyone, it's about forcing the opposition to start their set where you want them. But Arthur has a few TAs from the boot. Also kicked ahead for his own try. He has good vision and executes well. And having him on to follow the game plan frees up others.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And Drown is just a utility with no kicking game.

His kicking game is pretty ordinary. But he's young and will improve, as will Arthur.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Again. Its all mute to my comments which were he was always coming on as per BAs plan where as you and others keep selling such tripe that he was there "just in case of injury".

Just coincidence that he came on after an injury you reckon?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

would you of selected him to play?

and if so, would you shift your starting half to accommodate him in the team. He doesn’t fit the dynamics of the team, and the coach had to come up with a plan to carry him on the bench. That meant Dylan would be shifted to the centres. Unfortunately for both Arthur’s, brown has been in career best form. Shifting him now to accommodate his son will raise many questions.

If we shift him now it'll be due to the injury crisis in our outside backs, which was the same reason he played centre against the Titans after Russell left the field.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Josh, I’m sure BA has already said that Dylan had trained in the centres in the offseason. I assume when he trained in the centers JA was training in the halves. Isn’t that enough evidence?

It's good to be prepared for injuries. In that case your most versatile players need to be prepared to play in different positions. Anyone would think Drown's strengths weren't suited anywhere else.

 

[84 Baby]

circumstances got him some game time last season. Ready or not maybe there was no other genuine option. This season the coach thinks JA is good enough to get some game time. But to do so, he’s got to transition his starting 5/8 to centre to get JA onto the field. Never in my life have i heard of a half training in another position (where he’s never played) in the off season to allow a rookie onto the field. It’s not like BA has had brain farts in the past or anything, or had weird team selections or f^*ked up the bench rotation. The kid may one day be a talent, and some would eat humble pie. I just can’t see it happening.

I believe if we had to choose our best team round 1 then either Jrthur isn’t selected (because he wasn’t in finals last year), or if he is it’s injury cover (and wouldn’t be played to get game time unless a back got injured).

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Very strange to carry an (average) half on the bench in case there’s an injury. Even stranger to shift your starting half into the centres. Why not just carry an outside back on the bench, to ensure minimal disruptions

Because what if there's an injury in the halves? You can't predict who's going to get injured.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

well if you want versatility, why not carry a utility

We've got one already, but he's so good he has to start.

 

[hybrideel]

Surely, he would have had symptoms during the warm up and ruled out with the 18th man coming into the side.

TCT pod filed overnight says Jake suddenly became symptomatic for appendicitis during the game.

Cue 47 sarcastic posts. Go.

from game day thread

 

[IFR33K]

I believe if we had to choose our best team round 1 then either Jrthur isn’t selected (because he wasn’t in finals last year), or if he is it’s injury cover (and wouldn’t be played to get game time unless a back got injured).

i don’t even think he should of been selected round 1. But let’s agree to disagree

 

[84 Baby]

i don’t even think he should of been selected round 1. But let’s agree to disagree

I think there’s plausible reasons for him being selected, even getting game time, and I don’t think any round’s team selections should be considered in isolation.

 

[IFR33K]

I think there’s plausible reasons for him being selected, even getting game time, and I don’t think any round’s team selections should be considered in isolation.

Do you think it’s plausible a half trains in the centres during the off season for a rookie half?

 

[hindy111]

Do you think it’s plausible a half trains in the centres during the off season for a rookie half?

A lot on here including myself questioned D.Brown ability at 5/8. He had 1 or 2 TAs all last season. I even suggested he would make a good centre. Plenty agreed with that.

He has stepped up. Had he not then I reckon by mid season we would of considered moving him eslewhere. His play making has been garbage the previous 2 seasons.
Perhaps coaching g staff wanted to test different options just incase.

 

[IFR33K]

A lot on here including myself questioned D.Brown ability at 5/8. He had 1 or 2 TAs all last season. I even suggested he would make a good centre. Plenty agreed with that.

He has stepped up. Had he not then I reckon by mid season we would of considered moving him eslewhere. His play making has been garbage the previous 2 seasons.
Perhaps coaching g staff wanted to test different options just incase.

i said he and Gutho should switch. Not sure moving Dylan to centre for Jake improves us as a team. Not sure it’s fair on Dylan to be asked to play 5/8 then centre in the one match.

 

[84 Baby]

Do you think it’s plausible a half trains in the centres during the off season for a rookie half?

Yes. You make fun of Pou for saying it but Drown could make a good centre or fullback. Pou’s a bit wrong because, like Gutho is a fullback, Drown’s a half.

I think Drown doing some cross training there is still trying to pick a best 17. Not saying Jrthur is in it, but when fully fit I think we have a “best” 16 with some combination of Matto, Lane, Paps, Nrown, Kaufusi and Marata starting and on bench.
And I agree somewhat with BA that if it requires 14/15 or even the starting 13 alone to win a really important game then so be it. So that 17th spot come an actual important game could be superfluous unless they’re forced on because of injury.

So I don’t think the issue is Drown being moved to accommodate Jrthur but more because we don’t have adequate injury cover if we lose an outside back in game (like we appear to be doing every other week). Looking forward to the hopefully inevitable actually important games, the choices appear to be Jrthur (can only play half), Cartwright (significant flaws), Stone (minimal real utility value and now injured), Perham (significant flaws) or Rein (can only play hooker). Or Russell/Naiduki too I suppose but there’s no real point seeing how they’d go during regular season because you know they’d just be there as injury cover and nothing else.

I don’t think there is a right answer. But nor is there any harm in knowing what combos could actually be put onfield.
Unless it is actually nepotism then BA can get f**ked

 

[Eelementary]

you want me to sugarcoat it and simply say he’s not ready? Maybe some should except this is as ready as he’ll ever be, and despite how hard he trains in the offseason, he’s simply not good enough.

To say he has no talent isunjust, and inaccurate, imo.

He has plenty to work on, but there is a solid base to work off.

 

[Eelementary]

So you also think he is not ready for first grade?? Which is the main argument from most on here. He has talent but he’s at least another Off season away from being close to first grade ready IMO.

I agree that he's not ready; I'm disputing those that say he has no talent.

 

[Eelementary]

His kicking game is pretty ordinary. But he's young and will improve, as will Arthur.

It would be interesting to see how Jake's game has evolved after he's played as many First Grade games as Dylan Brown (who is undeniably way more talented overall).

 

[IFR33K]

To say he has no talent isunjust, and inaccurate, imo.

He has plenty to work on, but there is a solid base to work off.

Ok. Maybe I’m a little harsh in saying ‘no talent’. Maybe it should be not talented enough. This game requires speed and power. He looks to lack in that department. Not sure if his strengths with mask his weaknesses

 

[IFR33K]

Yes. You make fun of Pou for saying it but Drown could make a good centre or fullback. Pou’s a bit wrong because, like Gutho is a fullback, Drown’s a half.

I think Drown doing some cross training there is still trying to pick a best 17. Not saying Jrthur is in it, but when fully fit I think we have a “best” 16 with some combination of Matto, Lane, Paps, Nrown, Kaufusi and Marata starting and on bench.
And I agree somewhat with BA that if it requires 14/15 or even the starting 13 alone to win a really important game then so be it. So that 17th spot come an actual important game could be superfluous unless they’re forced on because of injury.

So I don’t think the issue is Drown being moved to accommodate Jrthur but more because we don’t have adequate injury cover if we lose an outside back in game (like we appear to be doing every other week). Looking forward to the hopefully inevitable actually important games, the choices appear to be Jrthur (can only play half), Cartwright (significant flaws), Stone (minimal real utility value and now injured), Perham (significant flaws) or Rein (can only play hooker). Or Russell/Naiduki too I suppose but there’s no real point seeing how they’d go during regular season because you know they’d just be there as injury cover and nothing else.

I don’t think there is a right answer. But nor is there any harm in knowing what combos could actually be put onfield.
Unless it is actually nepotism then BA can get f**ked

Sorry mate I’ve had pou on the ignore for a while now, and never do I recall commenting on his suggestions that Dylan could be a fb or centre.

in fact I’ve actually said maybe Dylan and Gutho should swap. Gutho is just as dominant as Moses with the ball in his hand, and maybe we could take advantage of Dylan’s speed in a support role.