Sloan

[Old Timer]

"Max Feagai has shown in 2 games he more natural ability to play FB than Sloan will ever have".
Sorry OT this time, you cannot be serious. He has not even shown me yet he is even first grade worthy let alone speed and agility for fullback.

IMO catch and tackle come well before speed and agility in respect of playing FB.

 

[TheRev]

Having watched Sloan for 2yrs between 1st grade and NSW Cup (He has 40 games now).. I just see the same deficiencies every week.. offset by the occasional use of his speed into a hole.. and an occasional good pass or grubber, which seem like the parts many fans remember.

Sloan's passing will get better (like it did for dufty), and I've no doubt he could be useful in creating attacking movements in a more competent backline... but in terms of his running game... I could come up with 100 more threatening young fullbacks/wingers in the NRL and lower grades that break tackles for fun.. which instantly creates problems for the defence... I don't see Tyrell do this (or Amone for that matter).. which is also why Tyrell struggles to carry the ball back, he's not a threat, he isnt beating players.. so he gets picked up easily.. its very much like Dufty, if there wasnt a hole Dufty could run into.. he wasnt going to pull through a tackle himself.. he would just fall over when a hand was on him.. Sloan isnt that bad but we are putting a lot of faith that a bit more weight and it will start happening.. 85kg is nearly there.. the bigger he gets the slower he will likely end up also, especially in our system... and take away his speed..

Stewarts running for example is far more lethal, if you saw his try in the trials.. he will pull out of tackles and leave players on the ground.. but his defence is a complete mess.. and for the record.. he doesnt have an NRL contract anyway, nor do i think we will keep him..

Sloan is still my 1st choice out of our current options (Mbye or Turner), but I don't see the magic in him that everyone is waiting for.. I see a few moments.. but I think we have hitched ourselves to the wrong horse... but it would take some kahunas to go out and sign a different fullback instead..

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Fan's have wanted Sloan in the team and EXPECTED him to make errors along the way as part of the learning curve, when we played the roosters on Anzac Day and he had a blinder everyone was saying , yeap we found our fullback, should have got more of a chance last year etc, when he farks up they want to crucify him for the errors he makes, yes its frustrating and we want to see more effort, less brain explosions, this year he learns, next year is where we should be judging him more harshly, in saying that i personally think he is about 12-18months behind his development, body wise and footy wise.

 

[denis preston]

I think he needs 1 1/2 years on the wing but I do agree how long do you hitch the horse on “ potential “

 

[TheRev]

Anzac game was Sloan's best game so far.. but he was still dodging bombs and carries.. its just that fans focus on the flashy bits.

Amone is the same.. literally maybe 2 or 3 runs in his first year.. and everyone lost their mind.. and if he can break a tackle next weekend.... fans will be back on board..

It's like rolling a dice.. and those leaky defensive efforts or repeated poor decisions lead to close losses.. and those lead to more losses.. and we really need some form of dependability in our spine, and it doesn't have to be super flashy either.. just giving their teammates good opportunities... doing the basics.. body on the line in defence.. getting the kicks right 'most' of the time.. I know a lot of this sits on the coach also.. and there is a serious lack of competition for positions.. because those 'depth' players are even less ready.. and the rly good juniors we keep losing (like Bostock or Schiller or Gromek).. combined with not being able to get really good external talent either.. not in the quality/quantity we need... its just a cluster*uck of a situation if you will... we need a real change in direction.

 

[baggygreen man]

I am in the Sloan camp. Yes he is probably a year behind his development but that is only because he copped a massive kick in the guts last year when dropped after a handful of top games. After a year in Ressies where he did as his coach suggested and worked on his game he is now more mature and has taken his dumping like a man. There are clear signs his frailties, bomb taking and defense, are both on the improve. He is playing with renewed confidence and enthusiam. As for his ball in hand skills I saw him play a blinder in a Ressie game where he had four try assists plus two selfies, not just throwing the final pass as some call a try assist, but he actually created four tries with his vision, speed, reading of the play, anticipation and simple brilliance. Much like the small sample size he showed against the Roosters. Sloan is an exceptional footy player because he can create something out of nothing. They are rare and we have to persevere with him till he fully matures.

 

[Old Timer]

Interesting that any criticism at all gets some backs up immediately and the inevitable posts

The coach should have had him in last year and he would be further progresses
(If he is not coping now then how the f**k would he have gone as an 18 year old, ffs he'd still be in the fetal position) and Ramsey was the far better option anyway.

It all takes time
(How much time and should that all be in 1st grade where your mistakes are even more costly)

He will be a star just you wait and see
(The page isn't big enough to list all those that went before him under the same heading)

He is great to see when in the clear and not so bad either when he is sniffing around the ruck albeit not enough of that but the rest is a train wreck plain and simple.

Young FB's around the same age and even smaller than him are doing far better in all areas and that is because they have little fear, they have greater commitment, they are more physical in the things they do.

Sloan reminds me of a poor man's Sorridimi who was on the verge but never quite made it so best Sloan play wing (as I believe he did in juniors) and learn to catch, jump, position yourself to make a tackle and seize on opportunities in broken play and then when he masters that progress into the FB position.

 

[Super Owl]

Interesting that any criticism at all gets some backs up immediately and the inevitable posts

The coach should have had him in last year and he would be further progresses
(If he is not coping now then how the f**k would he have gone as an 18 year old, ffs he'd still be in the fetal position) and Ramsey was the far better option anyway.

It all takes time
(How much time and should that all be in 1st grade where your mistakes are even more costly)

He will be a star just you wait and see
(The page isn't big enough to list all those that went before him under the same heading)

He is great to see when in the clear and not so bad either when he is sniffing around the ruck albeit not enough of that but the rest is a train wreck plain and simple.

Young FB's around the same age and even smaller than him are doing far better in all areas and that is because they have little fear, they have greater commitment, they are more physical in the things they do.

Sloan reminds me of a poor man's Sorridimi who was on the verge but never quite made it so best Sloan play wing (as I believe he did in juniors) and learn to catch, jump, position yourself to make a tackle and seize on opportunities in broken play and then when he masters that progress into the FB position.

We had all that in Cody too (ie "
Young FB's around the same age and even smaller than him are doing far better in all areas and that is because they have little fear, they have greater commitment, they are more physical in the things they do.")

 

[TheRev]

Physicality is the word.. I remember Dufty vs Ponga in NQLD as kids.. think it was U21's or something... the different was night and day in terms of the physicality of Ponga.. in attack and defence.. even though I know he cops flack now with all the times hes been knocked out I think has made him hesitate to tackle.

AJ Brimson was another.. I couldnt believe his debut (I 'think' it was against us), just laying his full body on the line in defence.. a level of toughness you just dont expect in a little man... instantly you know those kids have a really promising future, cause the NRL is sheer brutality.. you cant hide from it.. I always felt bad for Dufty cause I felt like self-preservation was completely justified given his size.. for example throwing your body under someone about to score a try.. its a low % play with a high % chance of injury.. but you just have to do it anyway in the top grade.. if your team is going to win tight games.

Saab is one I thought was a total cat, lots of arm grabs, and I thoroughly enjoyed his failures since he left us.. but he's done better than I expected especially given they havent sacked him yet.. I still dunno if he will ever make it.. but maybe it is possible for a skinny kid to come good..

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Can’t enter the Sloan debate.
Me at fullback I try to equate.
Run at me full pace,
I’d say, in disgrace,
“Good sir, let me open the gate".

 

[BLM01]

Y

IMO catch and tackle come well before speed and agility in respect of playing FB.

Yes but defending and tacking at centre is different to the speed required at fullback to be in position and he has hardly caught a bomb under pressure yet in first grade
I just can’t see how you have seen an endorsement at fullback.. i honestly cant

 

[Old Timer]

Y

Yes but defending and tacking at centre is different to the speed required at fullback to be in position and he has hardly caught a bomb under pressure yet in first grade
I just can’t see how you have seen an endorsement at fullback.. i honestly cant

You are misinterpreting what I am saying

I’m not endorsing Max I am merely saying that he has shown more than Sloan

Max positions himself under all the bombs that came his way and and can catch them despite having defenders approaching

He positions himself in front of the attackers that come his way and can make a front on tackle

For all the speed you say Sloan has he neither gets into good position to catch nor gets in front of the attackers.

His speed is not an attribute to his defensive work ir lack thereof.

In fact Max might not make a great fist of FB but on evidence he would be more solid than Sloan in the defensive side of FB duties.

Running flat out to then stop and not make a catch or a tackle seems to be ok with you.

 

[Mojo]

You are misinterpreting what I am saying

I’m not endorsing Max I am merely saying that he has shown more than Sloan

Max positions himself under all the bombs that came his way and and can catch them despite having defenders approaching

He positions himself in front of the attackers that come his way and can make a front on tackle

For all the speed you say Sloan has he neither gets into good position to catch nor gets in front of the attackers.

His speed is not an attribute to his defensive work ir lack thereof.

In fact Max might not make a great fist of FB but on evidence he would be more solid than Sloan in the defensive side of FB duties.

Running flat out to then stop and not make a catch or a tackle seems to be ok with you.

I agree.
There's nothing wrong with a young guy with speed and evasive skills playing on the wing. Some of the greatest players ever have nailed the wing position. Sloan is a talent for sure. Why the need for a baptism of fire? If Ramsey was a better fullback than Sloan, let's not forget that he made his 1st grade start on the wing. Max has also proven to be exceptionally reliable under the high ball on the wing - worth a try IMO. However, I still think Lomax would be a bloody good FB. He's a big bossy bugger, bit of aggro, can catch, some pace, doesn't mind a ball and all clash.

 

[This Year?]

I want to see Sloan do well. I want him to be a feelgood success story. I want to see him attacking a bomb even if he drops it. I want to see him defending his tryline like his life depends on it. I want to see him pushing up on either side of the field in support. He has to be positive in everything he does.

 

[blacksafake]

Oh come on who wouldn’t want to be the last line of defence when big Nelson is running at you.

 

[BTB]

Fan's have wanted Sloan in the team and EXPECTED him to make errors along the way as part of the learning curve, when we played the roosters on Anzac Day and he had a blinder everyone was saying , yeap we found our fullback, should have got more of a chance last year etc, when he farks up they want to crucify him for the errors he makes, yes its frustrating and we want to see more effort, less brain explosions, this year he learns, next year is where we should be judging him more harshly, in saying that i personally think he is about 12-18months behind his development, body wise and footy wise.

Think he should learn on the wing. Or play fullback in Reserve grade.

 

[muzby]

For a forum that’s so obsessed with being the first one to find the “next big thing” from the junior grades, we sure are quick to turn on them when they make first grade..

FFS. He’s a 20 year old who’s played about as many first grade games as he’s had birthday cakes.

Really wasn’t that long ago that he was considered “the future”

 

[bathtime]

Having watched Sloan for 2yrs between 1st grade and NSW Cup (He has 40 games now).. I just see the same deficiencies every week.. offset by the occasional use of his speed into a hole.. and an occasional good pass or grubber, which seem like the parts many fans remember.

Sloan's passing will get better (like it did for dufty), and I've no doubt he could be useful in creating attacking movements in a more competent backline... but in terms of his running game... I could come up with 100 more threatening young fullbacks/wingers in the NRL and lower grades that break tackles for fun.. which instantly creates problems for the defence... I don't see Tyrell do this (or Amone for that matter).. which is also why Tyrell struggles to carry the ball back, he's not a threat, he isnt beating players.. so he gets picked up easily.. its very much like Dufty, if there wasnt a hole Dufty could run into.. he wasnt going to pull through a tackle himself.. he would just fall over when a hand was on him.. Sloan isnt that bad but we are putting a lot of faith that a bit more weight and it will start happening.. 85kg is nearly there.. the bigger he gets the slower he will likely end up also, especially in our system... and take away his speed..

Stewarts running for example is far more lethal, if you saw his try in the trials.. he will pull out of tackles and leave players on the ground.. but his defence is a complete mess.. and for the record.. he doesnt have an NRL contract anyway, nor do i think we will keep him..

Sloan is still my 1st choice out of our current options (Mbye or Turner), but I don't see the magic in him that everyone is waiting for.. I see a few moments.. but I think we have hitched ourselves to the wrong horse... but it would take some kahunas to go out and sign a different fullback instead..

I didn't see the last game and don't want to. Before that Sloan way exceeded my expectations. He took catches and one our few capable of making a break.
Don't you like exciting players?

 

[Mojo]

For a forum that’s so obsessed with being the first one to find the “next big thing” from the junior grades, we sure are quick to turn on them when they make first grade..

FFS. He’s a 20 year old who’s played about as many first grade games as he’s had birthday cakes.

Really wasn’t that long ago that he was considered “the future”

These days ‘the future’ is next week.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

x