Rumours and Stuff

[Obscene Assassin]

I know Norman is good. I'd call him a specialist five-eight (but we won't go into that). I just think that he's played his best football partnering someone in the halves who is less flamboyant and more workman-like. I think he did better with Foran, Robson and a number of makeshift halves than he did with Sandow, for instance. I know halves tend to play mostly on opposite sides of the ruck these days - but they still effect each other's play. They are still a partnership. I feel that Norman would perform better with a methodical halves partner. Someone like Hodgkinson or Adam Reynolds, Chad Townsend maybe. I just done see Gutherson as that sort of player. I can see our attack being quite confused at times. I hope I'm wrong though.

Gutherson is actually very workman like. He doesn't have the flashy brilliance of sandow. He will work his butt off and make sure that every play is executed properly. I think the biggest problem will be his experience in the halves and his lack of telling a player where they need to be. That will be fixed with constantly running plays in pre-season training and running them on the field.

From the games I saw of Gutherson in the halves he wasn't flashy brilliance, he was more about shovelling the ball to his outside players who had more experience in their positions.

 

[parra pete]

But he built good homes and he wouldn't have it any other way.

f**k I've turned into Pete. Someone shoot me

Cut it out!!!!!

 

[yy_cheng]

Gutherson is actually very workman like. He doesn't have the flashy brilliance of sandow. He will work his butt off and make sure that every play is executed properly. I think the biggest problem will be his experience in the halves and his lack of telling a player where they need to be. That will be fixed with constantly running plays in pre-season training and running them on the field.

From the games I saw of Gutherson in the halves he wasn't flashy brilliance, he was more about shovelling the ball to his outside players who had more experience in their positions.

That's where I think he is beneficial.

He will give early ball to his outside man as he knows he won't break the line.

Then this gives opportunities to the fullback and a roaming Semi.

If the outside defense rushes in because he knows Gutho won't run, Semi and French on the inside of him may provide opportunities.

 

[hindy111]

Gutherson will take the line on.... His brief time in the role last season showed he is capable of being dangerous running at the line and nice short balls.
Anyone can catch and pass to his centre. He also put in some nice kicks, defended well and supported.
If he can learn a cut out pass which he may have and a consistant short kicking game along with some sort of long kicking game he will be serviceable.

Gutherson is not suited to wing. Sure he can play there. But has more skills then your average winger and lacks the power of modern day wingers.
If he doesnt work out at 5/8 he should be looked at as a centre or fullback long term.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

That's where I think he is beneficial.

He will give early ball to his outside man as he knows he won't break the line.

Then this gives opportunities to the fullback and a roaming Semi.

If the outside defense rushes in because he knows Gutho won't run, Semi and French on the inside of him may provide opportunities.

Don't forget he has a very good ball player on the outside of him in Takairangi, so he can pull off a few flashy plays. My biggest concern with Gutherson was him not taking the line on. Once he learns when to take the line on (which is 8 times out of 10) it'll open up his outside players as his running game will be a bigger threat.

 

[Noise]

Don't forget he has a very good ball player on the outside of him in Takairangi, so he can pull off a few flashy plays. My biggest concern with Gutherson was him not taking the line on. Once he learns when to take the line on (which is 8 times out of 10) it'll open up his outside players as his running game will be a bigger threat.

I'd love it if halves had that mentality but i don't reckon there would be too many halves in first grade who would have that kind of run to pass ratio (run 8, pass 2)

 

[hineyrulz]

I'd love it if halves had that mentality but i don't reckon there would be too many halves in first grade who would have that kind of run to pass ratio (run 8, pass 2)

We did have that kind of half with Foran, too bad he ran all the way to NZ.

 

[Ivor]

But - food for thought - did he play worse partnering Sandow because Sandow's deficiencies put more pressure on Norman?

Sandow had a tendency to not put in on defence (we all know this), and he also was rocks or diamonds in attack; I reckon this put a lot of extra pressure on Norman's shoulders.

I have all the faith in the world in both Arthur (a man with integrity, bleeds blue and gold), and Clint Gutherson (a true professional, and a genuine footballer; not as athletically gifted as a Semi Radradra, for example, but supremely fit, possessing a fantastic attitude, and always working hard on his game [which, imo, is the true measure of a great player; Cronk was slightly above average when he burst onto the scene, but he worked hard on his game, and became one of the game's elite halfbacks]).

I just know that Gutherson will make the number 6 his own, and will help Norman's game immeasurably.

That sounds great - and I hope you are right. But I'd rather have Gutherson back in the centres where I think he belongs. He's a better centre than both Takarangi and Jennings in my opinion.

 

[emjaycee]

Well go and take it up with Emjaycee...he's the one who had Fogarty in the 7... I just asked him a question..

Personally I don't think Fogarty is a certain starter in the top 13. My comment and earlier post was really about whether the top 17 is settled and in particular whether BA has finalised his second half and outside backs.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I think the only thing preventing Gutherson from being a NRL quality half (not rep quality), is a kicking game. If he shows he has a kicking game I think he will be a success as I saw enough last year as a play maker he has some good skills which will only improve with experience.

And he is mobile and big for a half to be good in defence.

Gutherson is a footballer not an athletic.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Gutherson will take the line on.... His brief time in the role last season showed he is capable of being dangerous running at the line and nice short balls.
Anyone can catch and pass to his centre. He also put in some nice kicks, defended well and supported.
If he can learn a cut out pass which he may have and a consistant short kicking game along with some sort of long kicking game he will be serviceable.

Gutherson is not suited to wing. Sure he can play there. But has more skills then your average winger and lacks the power of modern day wingers.
If he doesnt work out at 5/8 he should be looked at as a centre or fullback long term.

Yep!! Around the time French debuted, BA said Gutherson was never really suited to the winger as he was more of a creator not a finisher - think it was one of the reasons French was given his debut.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Also with Gutherson, I think it will also help his game and ease him into halves, that we have some pretty good attacking edge forwards.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hahaha!

God damn it - I hate autocorrect.

I hate autocrats too.

#parrapete

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I'd love it if halves had that mentality but i don't reckon there would be too many halves in first grade who would have that kind of run to pass ratio (run 8, pass 2)

It isn't about not passing. You can still take the line on and pass. It's all about knowing when to tuck the ball under the arm, when to throw it the fullback or whoever else. Going that close to the line engages the defence, as long as they have their eyes on you you've done your job.

It's a hard skill, but Gutho is as tough as bulls bollocks so he'll have no trouble taking a few knocks.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I think the only thing preventing Gutherson from being a NRL quality half (not rep quality), is a kicking game. If he shows he has a kicking game I think he will be a success as I saw enough last year as a play maker he has some good skills which will only improve with experience.

And he is mobile and big for a half to be good in defence.

Gutherson is a footballer not an athletic.

He's a pretty good athlete too. He tops all of our time trials consistently.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

They're non-athletic time trials.

 

[strider]

I'd smash em all in the arthretic time trials

#theMoreParraPeteJokesTheBetter

 

[Glenneel]

Don't forget he has a very good ball player on the outside of him in Takairangi, so he can pull off a few flashy plays. My biggest concern with Gutherson was him not taking the line on. Once he learns when to take the line on (which is 8 times out of 10) it'll open up his outside players as his running game will be a bigger threat.

I'm positive Gutho took the line on, especially late in the season, and poked his head thru the line popping balls to his support players. Particularly in the St Geo and Warriors games. Probably a learning thing, as he became more familiar with the position he became more adventurous. Now with a full orf season hopefully becomes even more dangerous in attack and knows how to manage a game better. Has a good short game but now develops his long game.

 

[yy_cheng]

The problem with Gutho is his running style, he lacks acceleration and as he gets to the line he jinks about.

Foran ran straight and hard. It's what gutho has to learn

 

[hindy111]

Just turned 22 and lost a full season to a knee reco....
Bevans 21 and viewed as a rookie while it feels like Gutherson is a seasoned NRL player. He had 5 games prior to joining the eels.

When at 5/8 his partner was Robson. With Norman there he should look better. If the coaching staff think he is good enough to be in the halves long term they should persist for the full season. Cutting guys from a role after 6-7 games is not going to improve them.