Team vs Titans

[vvvrulz]

Leuluai cops a lot of flak, some of which is warranted, but my observation seems to be that the Warriors always play better and seem more steady when he is in the halves than when he is missing, especially seems to work with Johnson for some reason

This year by coincidence, perhaps, but there's been a couple of times he replaced Townsend and the wheels immediately came off.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

What a strange development - following strong indignation about awful selections now seems some support for Futs at fullback and Tui on wing, and Roache over Tevaga, even an okay for Muts off the bench, and most horrific - that TL gives some balance in our halves. Maybe McFadden does have a clue!?

Like I said, if I was coach, Leuluai sits in the crowd seats and I pick someone else. Id go for Tui at 6 surprise surprise.

 

[JJ]

This year by coincidence, perhaps, but there's been a couple of times he replaced Townsend and the wheels immediately came off.

 

[JJ]

This year by coincidence, perhaps, but there's been a couple of times he replaced Townsend and the wheels immediately came off.

Yep

Aside from a level head and being a good bloke, I don't see what he adds that Robson (as an example) doesn't

Given (in my opinion) we're not in serious contention I'd have gone with Hingano against Newcastle and for the rest of the year - that way, if he is the goods, we could be next year and/or the year after

 

[Meth]

Robson just had a serious case of the dropsy's, which had people calling for his head...there are frailties to Leuluai's game which are perhaps not as obvious as dropped ball in good attacking position.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Yep

Aside from a level head and being a good bloke, I don't see what he adds that Robson (as an example) doesn't

Given (in my opinion) we're not in serious contention I'd have gone with Hingano against Newcastle and for the rest of the year - that way, if he is the goods, we could be next year and/or the year after

I dont think Cappys interested in the future of the club unless hes in it and Id be the same. Its the here and now for the coach on a thread and right now were behind on wins so he cant muck around (so to speak) with experimenting on halves like Hingano whom sounds very promising might I add.

 

[jaseg]

I think that when Tevaga was axed for Roache, I was outraged as Tevaga had been one of our better players for some time. However, there is a certain problem of a lack of versatility with Tevaga. He can play in the second row or hooker- but that isn't much help when your halves are carrying worrying niggles. I get that this is where Roache comes in, especially when Luke is playing more minutes and better football...but I think the angst is still around because Roache just hasn't really done anything, right or wrong.

If they're looking to cover halves, pick a half - Hingano - on the bench. Don't pick Roache so you can put him on the wing and move Lolohea to 6. That's just moronic (that actually happened) - you'd be just as well picking a bloody winger on the bench in that case. God Cappy's selections annoy me.

Robson just had a serious case of the dropsy's, which had people calling for his head...there are frailties to Leuluai's game which are perhaps not as obvious as dropped ball in good attacking position.

Robson had worse problems than dropsies - his outside shoulder was a free ticket to the try line. I think it was minimum (but not limited to) 1 try scored on his outside shoulder for every one of his first 5 games? That and, like TL, he brings very little to the attack, other than the very occasional average kick and a straightening run now and then. Even then, TL is better at the run bit.

 

[vvvrulz]

Robson just had a serious case of the dropsy's, which had people calling for his head...there are frailties to Leuluai's game which are perhaps not as obvious as dropped ball in good attacking position.

Which is bizarre in a team that had extended forgiveness for Tomkins and Manu butter fingers.

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

This year we've played our best football with Leulaui at 6.
2 good wins against the Broncos and Knights. The wheels fall off when he goes off
against the Roosters after 10 min, then we almost topple the top team when he plays the week after.

I think alot of people on here are too harsh about him. I don't know exactly what it is, but we play better when he's there. He tends to take it to the line and then pass it to Johnson, giving him and Fusitua more space.

We've got bigger problems in the team at the moment, lets fix those before looking at something that seems to be going okay for us.

 

[JJ]

Come on, everyone plays their best football against the Knights... Hingano would have had an easy debut there, they even made St George look a dangerous side

Leuluai is here to stay, no doubt, I am just not sure why he would be one of the first names on the team sheet each week - and at the moment it's almost that the coach and the #6 are the biggest problems in the side, TBH...

 

[vvvrulz]

Robson had worse problems than dropsies - his outside shoulder was a free ticket to the try line. I think it was minimum (but not limited to) 1 try scored on his outside shoulder for every one of his first 5 games? That and, like TL, he brings very little to the attack, other than the very occasional average kick and a straightening run now and then. Even then, TL is better at the run bit.

Yes and no, the Dragons game demonstrated Robson had (potentially) a decent kicking game, a reasonable running game and an ability to put his backs into space.

Leuluai honestly has none of these. It's beyond being average at them, those sides to his game are completely non-existent. he doesn't have the vision to create plays, and in fact many time the ball comes to him and everything stops. The only thing he brings to the party is better defence.

Now Robson was certainly a limited player, but he was a half.

 

[vvvrulz]

I think alot of people on here are too harsh about him. I don't know exactly what it is, but we play better when he's there.

Where this is mystical idea coming from?

Leuluai has been around since 2013 and we've had "shocking" patches with TL at half.
If he's not injured he's always been an automatic pick.

 

[ozbash]

Thomas is a hooker, not a half..

 

[JJ]

Thomas is a hooker, not a half..

Exactly, aside from Newcastle I don't think another NRL side would consider him in the halves... but many would be happy with him as a hooker, or depth hooker

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

Where this is mystical idea coming from?

Leuluai has been around since 2013 and we've had "shocking" patches with TL at half.
If he's not injured he's always been an automatic pick.

Im speaking specifically about this year.

Last year, it was a bit of a fight between him and Townsend for the 6 - hard to judge when thats the case.

The year before (or perhaps 2013), I recall we got on a good roll before TL went down injured.

Obviously, he's not the be all and end all of our team, but I think this year we've played much more consistently when he's been in the team

 

[jaseg]

Yes and no, the Dragons game demonstrated Robson had (potentially) a decent kicking game, a reasonable running game and an ability to put his backs into space.

Leuluai honestly has none of these. It's beyond being average at them, those sides to his game are completely non-existent. he doesn't have the vision to create plays, and in fact many time the ball comes to him and everything stops. The only thing he brings to the party is better defence.

Now Robson was certainly a limited player, but he was a half.

Oh I'm totally with you that TL is a hooker and Robson is a half. The main point of that comment was the first bit, then I just got rolling

But just... Robson is a really, really bad half. I'd rate TL close to him in terms of half play... because I think while TL is actually quite a good hooker, he's not much worse as a half then Robson. I was never a fan of the signing (I absolutely ripped in here when it was rumoured/announced), it was a bad idea from the start. Probably a lovely bloke, but just not good.

He didn't create anything more than TL did over the same period.. he had one reasonable game against one of the worst teams in the comp - hardly an indication of his level... almost as bad as using TL's game against the Knights as an indicator of... well.. anything. TL has the better straightening run game (and Robson doesn't have any other run game). Robson might've been an ok kicker.. but a) almost never kicked and b) found defenders on the full more often than not when he did

 

[Leber]

Looking forward to Lolohea and Johnson in the halves next year.

 

[JJ]

I doubt that will happen TBH, and personally don't see it as a great option - which is why I was disappointed they didn't give Hingano a game against the Knights

 

[Blair]

Thomas is a hooker, not a half..

But he was recruited as Maloney's replacement!

 

[Mr Angry]

Looking forward to Lolohea and Johnson in the halves next year.

I look forward to Johnson and Hingano as the halves.