Shannon McDonnell

[themanonthehill]

What on earth. Drops the ball that leads to one try.
The try they scored under the sticks off the grubber, McDonnell was walking showing no urgency to sweep behind the line on the last (yes he made the tackle previous but no effort). No good having speed if you don't use it.
Doesn't trail up the middle of the ruck looking for offloads
Time for Gallant. If we're going to pick a midget lets at least pick one with an X factor
Was terrible again today.
From the talk on the hill many are coming round to the HOTO28 line of thinking ...

 

[HOT028]

as much as i hate seeing us get beat, yesterdays effort from shannon brought a smile to my face, this guys is kidding himself if thinks he is good enough for first grade,

nice to see people lookin ginto the real world and can finally see him for what he is, a solid PL player.

 

[Vicious]

as much as i hate seeing us get beat, yesterdays effort from shannon brought a smile to my face, this guys is kidding himself if thinks he is good enough for first grade,

nice to see people lookin ginto the real world and can finally see him for what he is, a solid PL player.

HOTTO, i`ll tell you something. Any young player that continually carves up in the lower grades at a young age will always eventually become a very good first grader, injuries permitting. I saw Shannon Mac make 4 clean breaks out of nothing in one game against Penrith last season, i haven`t seen Fitzy and more so Paul Whatuira make 4 line breaks between them in the past 3 seasons, they are both very experienced footballers who are not going to get any better. I agree with a lot of what you say, but your off the mark on this one. The kid can really play, believe me, give him the benefit of the doubt, he might need a few more games to come out of his shell, but i can assure you he`ll be carving many an opposing side up before the season ends!!!

 

[851]

HOTTO, i tell you something. Any young player that continually carves up in the lower grades at a young age will always eventually become a very good first grader, injuries permitting. I saw Shannon Mac make 4 clean breaks out of nothing in one game against Penrith last season, i haven`t seen Fitzy and more so Paul Whatuira make 4 line breaks between them in the past 3 seasons, they are both very experienced footballers who are not going to get any better. I agree with a lot of what you say, but your off the mark on this one. The kid can really play, believe me, give him the benefit of the doubt, he might need a few more games to come out of his shell, but i can assure you he`ll be carving many an opposing side up before the season ends!!!

Geez I hope youre right,I think he will come good,I just wish he wouldn't make so many mistakes.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

more so Paul Whatuira make 4 line breaks between them in the past 3 seasons, they are both very experienced footballers who are not going to get any better.

Crap. Utter crap. So you're saying that when Whatuira scored 18 tries in 2005 he didn't manage to break the line more than 4 times? Turn it up.

And, FYI, Fitzhenry has been credited with 6 line-breaks this season alone by the NRL.

 

[Vicious]

Crap. Utter crap. So you're saying that when Whatuira scored 18 tries in 2005 he didn't manage to break the line more than 4 times? Turn it up.

And, FYI, Fitzhenry has been credited with 6 line-breaks this season alone by the NRL.

The last 2 seasons would be `2006 and `2007. Whatuira has done very little in these past 2 seasons, why isn`t he subject to critisizm ??? And i`d like for you to point out oe explain where and when Fitzy`s 6 line breaks so far this season have come from ???
I`ve seen 2-3 at the very most, no idea where the 6 have come from ??? And in any case, if you really believe that Fitzy is a more dangerous attacking footballer than what Shannon McDonnell is, you are simply kidding yourself!!!

 

[super_coach]

hope the kid proves me wrong,but I just dont see him cutting it in the top grade. Seems to have no confidence at all and dosnt seem to have any of the natrual instincts of a no1

 

[smeghead]

if you really believe that Fitzy is a more dangerous attacking footballer than what Shannon McDonnell is, you are simply kidding yourself!!!

On this year I would say without a doubt Fitzy is a more dangerous attacking player than Shannon. Shannon has speed to burn but is ineffective using that speed if he is not running in broken play. His slight frame is his largest weakness and with Fitzhenry's added bulk this year it has made him a far more dangerous line breaking prospect

 

[doondoggler]

once again this guys second rate ball security has cost us .fitz to fullback and look for a winger

 

[doondoggler]

HOTTO, i`ll tell you something. Any young player that continually carves up in the lower grades at a young age will always eventually become a very good first grader, injuries permitting. I saw Shannon Mac make 4 clean breaks out of nothing in one game against Penrith last season, i haven`t seen Fitzy and more so Paul Whatuira make 4 line breaks between them in the past 3 seasons, they are both very experienced footballers who are not going to get any better. I agree with a lot of what you say, but your off the mark on this one. The kid can really play, believe me, give him the benefit of the doubt, he might need a few more games to come out of his shell, but i can assure you he`ll be carving many an opposing side up before the season ends!!!

yeah a real super talent like mick gillet,frank samia,baysari,benny black etc

 

[Vicious]

On this year I would say without a doubt Fitzy is a more dangerous attacking player than Shannon. Shannon has speed to burn but is ineffective using that speed if he is not running in broken play. His slight frame is his largest weakness and with Fitzhenry's added bulk this year it has made him a far more dangerous line breaking prospect

I`ve watched every game and i don`t agree. I do agree that Fitzy is much more dangerous than in recent seasons and that he`s putting his body on the line more than ever, but from my view point i still get the impression that Shannon is much more chance of making a clean break than eithet Fitzy or Fatz. Im not saying Shannon gasn`t got any faults becuase his defence still needs plenty of improvement, he needs to get more involved and he could do with working on his ball skills, but i just don`t see how he can be critisized for not running the ball hard and looking likely to make something happen when doing so, because i`ve been more then happy with him in this aspect.

 

[Trollhammaren]

Needs to go back to PL. We should put Lawrence at fullback IMO.

 

[Wrighty79]

Shannon McDonnell...

Please, this guy is a joke. I am all for loyalty to a club, and it's good to see that young guys like Robbie and Bronson are re-signing and staying around with a club that is only going to get better.

Unfortunatly, with this loyalty we also are experiencing nepotism in it's most pure form. The fat bloke from Cambo who has never pulled on a boot in anger has re-signed his useless sprog for another 3 years.

I gotta tell you, you never want to see injuries in a game of football, but every time McDonnell pulls on a boot I hope he gets decapitated!

He is an absolute joke of a player. He can't stay on his feet in kick returns, he has no attacking flair, speed is not flair, he sure as hell can't tackle, and as we all discovered on the weekend, he can't kick for goal either! It boils my blood that much that I honestly will not invest my time in watching another game of football that he plays for us. He is a Jonah to our team.

All I can say, is thank god Big Patty pulled through alright, because we wouldn't have won the comp if that nuffy played. He would've dropped the pass from Benji for sure. And they would have scored about 19 tries down his side of the field!!

*edit*

God damn it, I'd even prefer to have Scott Prince back in our team than have Shannon son of Daddy Fat Mac play another game for us!!!

From the poster previously known as Joel!

 

[Tiger Hawk]

The last 2 seasons would be `2006 and `2007. Whatuira has done very little in these past 2 seasons, why isn`t he subject to critisizm ??? And i`d like for you to point out oe explain where and when Fitzy`s 6 line breaks so far this season have come from ???
I`ve seen 2-3 at the very most, no idea where the 6 have come from ??? And in any case, if you really believe that Fitzy is a more dangerous attacking footballer than what Shannon McDonnell is, you are simply kidding yourself!!!

You said 3 seasons originally, but if you want to shift the goal-posts, in the last 2 seasons, where he's only played roughly half the games due to injury, Whatuira has still managed 10 tries. He's also scored 27 in 47 games for the Tigers, or better than a try every 2 games. That's a pretty good attacking player right there. On top of that, he's an infinitely better defender than McDonnell.

I don't have to point out or explain where and when Fitzy's line breaks have come from, they're recorded on the NRL's website. I was simply pointing out that you were talking out of your arse. A combined 4 line breaks in 3 years, pfft.

 

[Vicious]

You said 3 seasons originally, but if you want to shift the goal-posts, in the last 2 seasons, where he's only played roughly half the games due to injury, Whatuira has still managed 10 tries. He's also scored 27 in 47 games for the Tigers, or better than a try every 2 games. That's a pretty good attacking player right there. On top of that, he's an infinitely better defender than McDonnell.

I don't have to point out or explain where and when Fitzy's line breaks have come from, they're recorded on the NRL's website. I was simply pointing out that you were talking out of your arse. A combined 4 line breaks in 3 years, pfft.

So let me get this straight, you obviously rate Fitzy quite highly, it seems you think the hugely over rated Paul Whatuira is a complete footballer, but you reckon there`s no chance that Shannon McDonnell will ever become an above average first grader, right ???

I`m going to assume this is the case and tell you why you are very wrong.
I watched Fitzy play almost every game for 18 months back when he was playing for the Wests Magpies prior to making his first grade debut with the Wests Tigers. Now Fitzy has always been a very fit and dedicated footballer with good speed off the mark, i have actually played touch footy with him quite a few years back and he`s a real good bloke to go with it. And he should be congatulated for continually improving himself as a footballer, but he`s quite simply not a footballer that opposing sides fear. He surprises the opposition and will have a big game very occasionally, but his attacking skills are very limited when it comes to posing a threat to the opposition. Shannon McDonnell on the other hand, does have to do something about continually falling over, he needs to keep improving his defence (don`t forget that Hodgo is also a woefull defender) and he needs to add some ball skills to his game to add another dimension, but i`ve seen him play a fair bit of football coming through the lower grades and i`ve also seen him play a couple of first grade games in which he`s carved up opposing sides at will, i`m still yet to see either Fitzy or Paul Whatuira achieve this in many seasons of first grade.
Whatuira is a great finisher, but he`s a long way from being a natural centre that creates opportunities and he has a good defensive game here and there, but much the same as Dean Collis i`ve also seen plenty of games in which Whatuira thaught his opposing centre had spiders on him, particularly almost every time he comes up against Matt Cooper.
I just don`t get it, i just want the Wests Tigers to win competition after competition and in order to do this we need backs who will make line breaks, score tries and generally cause the opposition no end of trouble. It`s taken the Wests Tigers many years to find these types of players and now that we have done so, some people don`t want them ???

 

[Tiger Hawk]

So let me get this straight, you obviously rate Fitzy quite highly, it seems you think the hugely over rated Paul Whatuira is a complete footballer, but you reckon there`s no chance that Shannon McDonnell will ever become an above average first grader, right ???

I`m going to assume this is the case and tell you why you are very wrong.
I watched Fitzy play almost every game for 18 months back when he was playing for the Wests Magpies prior to making his first grade debut with the Wests Tigers. Now Fitzy has always been a very fit and dedicated footballer with good speed off the mark, i have actually played touch footy with him quite a few years back and he`s a real good bloke to go with it. And he should be congatulated for continually improving himself as a footballer, but he`s quite simply not a footballer that opposing sides fear. He surprises the opposition and will have a big game very occasionally, but his attacking skills are very limited when it comes to posing a threat to the opposition. Shannon McDonnell on the other hand, does have to do something about continually falling over, he needs to keep improving his defence (don`t forget that Hodgo is also a woefull defender) and he needs to add some ball skills to his game to add another dimension, but i`ve seen him play a fair bit of football coming through the lower grades and i`ve also seen him play a couple of first grade games in which he`s carved up opposing sides at will, i`m still yet to see either Fitzy or the hugely over rated Paul Whatuira achieve this in many seasons of first grade.
Whatuira is a great finisher, but he`s a long way from being a natural centre that creates opportunities and he has a good defensive game here and there, but much the same as Dean Collis i`ve also seen plenty of games in which Whatuira thaught his opposing centre had spiders on him, particularly almost every time he comes up against Matt Cooper.
I just don`t get it, i just want the Wests Tigers to win competition after competition and in order to do this we need backs who will make line breaks, score tries and generally cause the opposition no end of trouble. It`s taken the Wests Tigers many years to find these types of players and now that we have done so, some people don`t want them ???

You just don't get it. It's not that I rate one, two or any of them higher than the other, I was pointing out the absurdity of your earlier comment. I'll get the crayons out in a minute to draw it for you if you'd prefer.

For the record, when Macca played what I think was his second FG game last year against the Eels I was very excited. He carved them up that day and I think made around 200 metres and a couple of clean line breaks. Since then he's played more than a dozen games and has failed to do anything. Yes he's young. Yes he's inexperienced. But at the moment, quite simply, he's not anything to crow about. To postulate that he's a better footballer than either of Fats or Fitzy is ridiculous. Fitzy is arguably having his best season, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Fats has represented NZ, won 2 grand finals and so on so forth. Macca has carved up in reggies.

 

[Vicious]

You just don't get it. It's not that I rate one, two or any of them higher than the other, I was pointing out the absurdity of your earlier comment. I'll get the crayons out in a minute to draw it for you if you'd prefer.

For the record, when Macca played what I think was his second FG game last year against the Eels I was very excited. He carved them up that day and I think made around 200 metres and a couple of clean line breaks. Since then he's played more than a dozen games and has failed to do anything. Yes he's young. Yes he's inexperienced. But at the moment, quite simply, he's not anything to crow about. To postulate that he's a better footballer than either of Fats or Fitzy is ridiculous. Fitzy is arguably having his best season, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Fats has represented NZ, won 2 grand finals and so on so forth. Macca has carved up in reggies.

I`ve got a news flash for ya, "it doesn`t make you a genius footballer because you`ve represented New Zealand". Fatz can play, but he does over rate himself and is simply not worth the $400,000 per season that i`m hearing he thinks he`s worth.
I`m simply stating that this kid, Shannon McDonnell can really play the game. I`m not certain if i`d play him at fullback or on the wing, but i do know he`ll most certainly prove any doubters wrong and sooner than later he`ll prove to be a regular match winner for the Wests Tigers.

I don`t know about anyone else, but i like having players in my side that are capable of doing something spectacular. Just please keep this thread alive as i`ve got no doubts that any doubters will be eating their words within the next 12 months!!!

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I`ve got a news flash for ya, "it doesn`t make you a genius footballer because you`ve represented New Zealand". Fatz can play, but he does over rate himself and is simply not worth the $400,000 per season that i`m hearing he thinks he`s worth.
I`m simply stating that this kid, Shannon McDonnell can really play the game. I`m not certain if i`d play him at fullback or on the wing, but i do know he`ll most certainly prove any doubters wrong and sooner than later he`ll prove to be a regular match winner for the Wests Tigers.

I don`t know about anyone else, but i like having players in my side that are capable of doing something spectacular. Just please keep this thread alive as i`ve got no doubts that any doubters will be eating their words within the next 12 months!!!

It doesn't make you a genius footballer because you carved up in reggies either. If you're honestly saying you'd prefer McDonnell out there running around to Whatuira, you're joking.......or Warren McDonnell.

If in 12 months time he's carving it up, feel free to beat your chest and lobster on about how you knew his time would come. In fact, feel free to do it when he starts playing
decent footy in FG, let alone carving it up. We all know Nepo will get plenty of chances to prove us wrong.

 

[HOT028]

HOTTO, i`ll tell you something. Any young player that continually carves up in the lower grades at a young age will always eventually become a very good first grader, injuries permitting. I saw Shannon Mac make 4 clean breaks out of nothing in one game against Penrith last season, i haven`t seen Fitzy and more so Paul Whatuira make 4 line breaks between them in the past 3 seasons, they are both very experienced footballers who are not going to get any better. I agree with a lot of what you say, but your off the mark on this one. The kid can really play, believe me, give him the benefit of the doubt, he might need a few more games to come out of his shell, but i can assure you he`ll be carving many an opposing side up before the season ends!!!

Vicious, for the sake of our team i hope you are proven right, but for me i can really only see him as a PL player, the constant slipping over and the fact he can not tackle really gets to me.

 

[Gus22]

I have not seen a great deal of McDonell, but I’ve seen enough to convince me he will be very good first grader & probably rep player one day. At the moment though, he is in first grade by default. If the Grand Final was being played this week, & we had all our players available our best side would have Hodgson, Fitzhenry, Lawrence, Collis, Whatuira, Tuiaki, Marshall, & Morris all ahead of McD in competition for a backline & bench position.

Basically, on current form, McD would not be in the top 17. I expect McDonell’s stocks to rise in the next 12 months so seeing that Hodgson & Marshall are still a fair few weeks away from returning, McD will have an opportunity to leapfrog those ahead of him in the pecking order.

What he mostly needs to do is to strike up an understanding with a ball playing forward & trail him all game. He & Teo could be deadly with McD sniffing around Teo for an off-load. Also McD & Morris/Farah should put on a kick-chase play (ala Cronk with Slater/Inglis) occaisonally. The opportunity is there in just about every game, with the opposition fullback either up in the defensive line or being very shallow in defense early on in the tackle count (ie tackles 1 & 2). This is the perfect opportunity to exploit McD’s greatest asset – speed. To date, an early kick to open field with McD in pursuit has not been attempted & I don’t know why.