Rumours and Stuff

[Noise]

Hunt is a good player. He won't let any team down, and you can guarantee the Broncos won't leave him out of the team. Experienced NRL level halves that kick and defend well are a lot harder to replace than teenage outside backs with potential, like Hodges.

Hunt is only a bad signing if the Dragons paid big overs (as opposed to just slight overs), and we'll never know how much they paid.

I can think of one time he let his team down...

 

[Suitman]

lol.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Interesting to see if Widdop or the young fella who is injured will be on the outer. Of course that might depend on who the coach is come August. I can see another halves merry go round happening mid this year. I hope we just get to stand back and watch.

 

[hindy111]

I can think of one time he let his team down...

A mistake. I agree with pou.

But if did cost 1 mill they paid premium.
Sounds like we did get Normie on a great deal. Hopefullt Guth works out and halves price rocket.That would put us inna good advantage

 

[hineyrulz]

Hunts long kicking game is pretty average IMO, great running game and solid in defence but hardly a great game mananger as well. They payed massive overs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I can think of one time he let his team down...

Every player drops the ball. The fact it happens in the dying minutes of a close grand final is just bad luck.

Hunt wasn't even in the top 20 for errors last year (he was equal 23rd with Shaun Johnson, among others, and he played two more games than Johnson). Halves with more errors than Hunt were:

33 Cartwright (26 games)
32 Milford (26 games)
29 Morgan (22 games)
27 Moses (23 games)
27 Widdop (24 games)

Hunt (26 games) and Johnson (24 games) both made 22 errors. Obviously this misses the most important stat for overall involvement (number of times the player handled the ball) so games played is the closest we have.

When it comes to defence though, we see Ben Hunt shine. While at first glance we see he misses more tackles than any halfback other than premiership winner James Maloney, the number of tackles he makes is vastly better than most halves. Tackles per minute is a key stat in modern defences, and a player who avoids defensive involvement is being carried by his team mates.

Tackles attempted per minute among halves:

0.33 Hunt
0.33 Pearce
0.32 Foran
0.32 Townsend
0.31 Keary
0.31 Reynolds, A
0.30 Cherry-Evans
0.29 Green
0.27 Cleary
0.27 Mbye
0.27 Robson
0.26 Maloney
0.26 Moses
0.26 Reynolds, J
0.25 Hodkinson
0.25 Mullen
0.25 Taylor
0.24 Leuluai
0.24 Morgan
0.23 Cronk
0.23 Johnson
0.23 Norman
0.22 Austin
0.22 Brooks
0.22 Roberts
0.22 Widdop
0.21 Soward
0.21 Thurston
0.20 Sezer
0.19 Marshall
0.17 Milford

Then there is the age old stat of tackle effectiveness (tackles divided by attempted tackles):

91% Cherry-Evans
91% Cronk
91% Foran
91% Green
91% Reynolds, A
91% Townsend
90% Austin
90% Keary
90% Norman
90% Pearce
89% Cleary
89% Leuluai
88% Morgan
88% Robson
87% Mbye
87% Mullen
87% Reynolds, J
86% Johnson
86% Sezer
85% Hodkinson
85% Hunt
85% Taylor
84% Roberts
83% Milford
81% Marshall
81% Moses
81% Widdop
80% Maloney
79% Soward
79% Thurston
73% Brooks

What might be taken from these stats is that because Thurston is the best playmaker of the lot (a halfback's primary role) and that his defensive stats are among the worst of all NRL halves, therefore defence is irrelevant in an NRL half. But this ignores the fact that there are two halves in a team (and between them they comprise one sixth of the defensive line), and of recent grand final teams, all of them had at least one good defensive half, and many had two of them.

 

[hineyrulz]

Oooooooooh stats!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A better reflection of the facts than one high profile incident that sticks in dopes' memories.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Yeah yeah, but that drop in the grand final was worth 10 normal errors.
I would not want to be a Tigers fan looking at that list though

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah yeah, but that drop in the grand final was worth 10 normal errors.

The only half who didn't drop the ball in the most recent grand final was Blake Green.

I would not want to be a Tigers fan looking at that list though

Moses isn't too bad. You could probably carry him if your other half was a decent defender like Norman. You could absolutely carry him paired with a great defensive half like Pearce, Townsend or Adam Reynolds.

Brooks was atrocious. But I believe this year he was extra bad. He might've been carrying an injury.

 

[Noise]

If you don't think he let his team down in that game with that mistake you are kidding yourself . In fact he let his team down with 3 plays in the final 3 minutes http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-three-minutes-of-horror-20151004-gk14p2.html

 

[El Diablo]

Wow official. Ben Hunt 5 years from 2018.

i wonder if the DT will count this as an NRL atrocity seeing he was signed from a club they own

 

[Ivor]

Every player drops the ball. The fact it happens in the dying minutes of a close grand final is just bad luck.

Hunt wasn't even in the top 20 for errors last year (he was equal 23rd with Shaun Johnson, among others, and he played two more games than Johnson). Halves with more errors than Hunt were:

33 Cartwright (26 games)
32 Milford (26 games)
29 Morgan (22 games)
27 Moses (23 games)
27 Widdop (24 games)

Hunt (26 games) and Johnson (24 games) both made 22 errors. Obviously this misses the most important stat for overall involvement (number of times the player handled the ball) so games played is the closest we have.

When it comes to defence though, we see Ben Hunt shine. While at first glance we see he misses more tackles than any halfback other than premiership winner James Maloney, the number of tackles he makes is vastly better than most halves. Tackles per minute is a key stat in modern defences, and a player who avoids defensive involvement is being carried by his team mates.

Tackles attempted per minute among halves:

0.33 Hunt
0.33 Pearce
0.32 Foran
0.32 Townsend
0.31 Keary
0.31 Reynolds, A
0.30 Cherry-Evans
0.29 Green
0.27 Cleary
0.27 Mbye
0.27 Robson
0.26 Maloney
0.26 Moses
0.26 Reynolds, J
0.25 Hodkinson
0.25 Mullen
0.25 Taylor
0.24 Leuluai
0.24 Morgan
0.23 Cronk
0.23 Johnson
0.23 Norman
0.22 Austin
0.22 Brooks
0.22 Roberts
0.22 Widdop
0.21 Soward
0.21 Thurston
0.20 Sezer
0.19 Marshall
0.17 Milford

Then there is the age old stat of tackle effectiveness (tackles divided by attempted tackles):

91% Cherry-Evans
91% Cronk
91% Foran
91% Green
91% Reynolds, A
91% Townsend
90% Austin
90% Keary
90% Norman
90% Pearce
89% Cleary
89% Leuluai
88% Morgan
88% Robson
87% Mbye
87% Mullen
87% Reynolds, J
86% Johnson
86% Sezer
85% Hodkinson
85% Hunt
85% Taylor
84% Roberts
83% Milford
81% Marshall
81% Moses
81% Widdop
80% Maloney
79% Soward
79% Thurston
73% Brooks

What might be taken from these stats is that because Thurston is the best playmaker of the lot (a halfback's primary role) and that his defensive stats are among the worst of all NRL halves, therefore defence is irrelevant in an NRL half. But this ignores the fact that there are two halves in a team (and between them they comprise one sixth of the defensive line), and of recent grand final teams, all of them had at least one good defensive half, and many had two of them.

What it means is that defence is irrelevant IF your attack is exceptional (like Thurston's is). That's why Chris Sandow was such a dismal failure - he didn't have play making/attacking abilities to compensate for his non-existent defence.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If you don't think he let his team down in that game with that mistake you are kidding yourself . In fact he let his team down with 3 plays in the final 3 minutes http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-three-minutes-of-horror-20151004-gk14p2.html

The point is it's only one game. It's less reflective of his ability than the other 165 games he's played in his career. In the same way that Apisai Koroisau's 2014 grand final performance doesn't even make him an average first grader, much less a good one.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What it means is that defence is irrelevant IF your attack is exceptional (like Thurston's is). That's why Chris Sandow was such a dismal failure - he didn't have play making/attacking abilities to compensate for his non-existent defence.

Do you think Sandow's defensive stats were comparable to Thurston's?

 

[hindy111]

The point is it's only one game. It's less reflective of his ability than the other 165 games he's played in his career. In the same way that Apisai Koroisau's 2014 grand final performance doesn't even make him an average first grader, much less a good one.

And thats why he was cut out in The far west...
Eff u strider.

 

[hineyrulz]

If you don't think he let his team down in that game with that mistake you are kidding yourself . In fact he let his team down with 3 plays in the final 3 minutes http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-three-minutes-of-horror-20151004-gk14p2.html

But but but stats!

 

[Noise]

The point is it's only one game. It's less reflective of his ability than the other 165 games he's played in his career. In the same way that Apisai Koroisau's 2014 grand final performance doesn't even make him an average first grader, much less a good one.

Exactly. You said "he won't let any team down". He quite obviously did in those final few minutes

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...7/news-story/c2da7e2e9e320231ff9351389359b416

The Eels are yet to pick a goal kicker for season 2017

Christian Nicolussi, The Daily Telegraph
January 23, 2017 4:20pm

THEY are the club that has featured some of the greatest sharpshooters of all time, but in 2017 Parramatta will be forced to turn to three players with just six NRL career goals between them.

Corey Norman, Clint Gutherson and Semi Radradra have been working on their kicking over the summer and coach Brad Arthur will make a call on the Eels’ marksman after their preseason trials.

The Eels have a long history of goalkickers including Mick Cronin, Clinton Schifcofske, Jason Taylor, Brett Hodgson and Luke Burt. But with the departure of magic boot Michael Gordon at the end of last season, the pressure is on, especially considering Radradra’s uncertain future as he faces domestic violence charges next month.

“We are still going through the process, but ‘Gutho’, Normy and Semi could all be options at the moment,’’ Arthur said.

“They’ve all been practising and they’re all getting better.’’

The importance of two points has become increasingly important in recent years, with the Eels involved in seven matches last season decided by four points or less, and a further seven games by less than 12 points.

Gordon spent one season at the Eels before he moved on to the Sydney Roosters. Prior to his arrival out west, the Eels relied on wayward halfback Chris Sandow and rugby convert Reece Robinson.

Gutherson and Norman have spent the pre-season building their new halves combination. Although the pair are novice kickers at NRL level — Norman has slotted just four from 11 in the NRL and Gutherson one from three, they were regular kickers in the under-20s competition.

Norman kicked 73 from 100 goals while Gutherson had a success rate of 58 per cent with 21 from 36 attempts.

Burt, who banged home an amazing 646 goals as a lifetime Eels player, said he had done some work with Norman and Gutherson before Christmas.

While Burt acknowledged Gordon’s boot would be tough to replace, he had more confidence his No. 1 jumper would be suitably filled by young gun Bevan French.

“I think he’ll just grow again, he’s a fantastic talent,’’ said Burt, who is the Eels’ Holden Cup coach.

Another player Burt had a healthy respect for was young prop Alex Twal, who is now part of the Eels’ fulltime squad.

“He’s a young front-rower who will be knocking on the door, he has a great work ethic, can play big minutes for a front-rower and he’s very tough. He’s not the flashiest ballplayer, but he gets through a lot of work and a lot of defence,’’ Burt said.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/ren...y/news-story/c61134081e79e5c886a8e322bd03b42e

Reni Maitua returns to Parramatta to motivate Eels squad with life story

• 10 hours ago
• Nathan Ryan@nath_ryan
• Source: FOX SPORTS

A FEW weeks ago Reni Maitua did something he never thought he’d get to do again.

Three and a half years after his name flashed up on a projector screen along with 11 of his teammates who were unwanted by the club, he returned to the Eels.

After retiring from the game at the end of last year, Maitua appeared at Parramatta Stadium to speak to the first grade squad and coaching staff.

Having enjoyed a career which spanned 12 years across the NRL and English competitions, the 34-year-old has seen it all.

The highest highs of premiership victories and Test jerseys, and the lowest lows of being banned from the game and battling depression.

“It was unreal to go back, because Parramatta were the ones who gave me the lifeline (after my drugs ban),” Maitua told foxsports.com.au.

“Even though I played the majority of my grade games with Canterbury, Parramatta gave me the opportunity to come back.

“I made some good friends out there and it was good to see how much the place has changed. It looks like there’s a bit of stability out there.”

Still yet to decide what his next career move will be, Maitua has been volunteering his time to speak to a host of promising young players.

Recently, he was a guest speaker at the NRL rookie camp, an unpaid role he took on to help give back to the game.

That’s how the opportunity with the Eels popped up.

Eels Welfare and Education Manager Matt Francis was at the rookie camp when he heard Maitua speak.

Listening to the backrower tell his story was enough to bring him back to the Eels, to share his journey with the current squad and a few familiar faces.

Maitua was a co-captain of the club alongside Mannah back in 2013 and while a handful of players like Kenny Edwards, Semi Radradra and Kaysa Pritchard were there during his stint in the blue and gold, there were plenty of fresh faces in the audience.

“Not everyone has the same problems as you do but if you can get to one person, you could change someone’s life,” he said.

“The basic message I was trying to get out there is to be responsible for your choices.

“Some trigger points that triggered me to drink or party.

“It wasn’t scripted. It was all off the cuff and genuine. I wasn’t standing in front of a screen with points highlighted. It was tough. I got a little bit emotional at some points.”

The former Bulldog, Shark and Eel admitted that during his own career he felt he was owed something by his club.

It’s an outlook that’s changed over time, largely thanks to something he heard dual international Sonny Bill Williams say.

Now he’s passing it onto the players.

“(Sonny Bill Williams) said, ‘You’re the caretaker of the All Blacks jersey’ and that made sense to me,” Maitua explained.

“I always thought the club owed me something while I was playing but at the end of the day, the club’s been around 70-odd years and will be around another 70 years after me.

“Don’t let your ego let get in the way of what kind of legacy you can leave at the club.”