Thank you Brian

[franklin2323]

I would like to Thank Brian Smith for discarding Luke Walsh. He is perfect for our team. Now Sammut can play a roam role which suits him better. He's only 21 he can be our half foor 10 years.

Once again Brian

 

[Joker's Wild]

Better put a backrower either side of him because he is deadset made of glass.

In saying that though I really hope he gets through the season injury free and in good form. He was given a bit of a raw deal last season.

 

[Godz Illa]

That's the salary cap. Smith made a choice - Dureau is going ok, starred a few weeks ago. The Panthers got just what they needed in this late acquisition, but they have had a few busts in the last couple of years. Richie Williams in 07, Joe Williams last year. Third time's the charm, Walsh is an absolute tonic. Pennies could make the 8

 

[Serc]

Good luck Walshy! Was good fun watching Penrith play last night

He is a proper halfback (which is exactly what you need) but hopefully he gets a decent run without injuries, and keeps working on his defence...though its a hard thing to do when you're as big as he is.

 

[voltron]

im really glad for walsh!
and the panthers finally have a half

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

All the best for Walshy, but seriously aren't u jumping the gun a bit he had one decent game against a depleted Titans outfit..........

That being said he is a true number 7 and great organiser, if he can stay fit and consistant then he will be beneficial for your lot.

 

[Brutus]

I'd take Jarrod Mullen any day of the week over tackle-shy Walsh.

Well done Brian indeed.

 

[franklin2323]

All the best for Walshy, but seriously aren't u jumping the gun a bit he had one decent game against a depleted Titans outfit.......... quote]

Not at All. but the structure looked better with him and Graham in the halves and Lewis at Lock. and Sammut roaming up the ruck. He showed the same promise for his dozen or so games at Newcastle

 

[Joker's Wild]

I'd take Jarrod Mullen any day of the week over tackle-shy Walsh.

Well done Brian indeed.

Mullo was never really in his way until Luke he got a virus in the preseason leading up to '08. It was that season that Smith started the great "Mullen to halfback" experiment which most Knights fans are still unconvinced of. Dureau and Bailey got ahead of him and the rest is history.

 

[Iafeta]

Luke Walsh goes good. The Warriors tried to get him over there for this year but he didn't want to go to New Zealand.

No blame on Brian Smith though, he's got two very good halves in Mullen and Dureau already. And he's the sort of character who could mature Ben Rogers and get the rough edges out of his game. Rogers without those WTF moments is a fantastic opportunistic talent.

Smith IMO is one of the best coaches currently, what he's done at Newcastle in completely reshaping that club post Johns and now even post Buderus is simply amazing. Newcastle has a really bright future.

I hope Matt Elliott sees though the secret of what having two genuine halves can do for a team. It has been disappointing seeing their regression over the past couple of years when they had the nuts and bolts to go a long long way. It was all stifled though by his blinding loyalty to the old 'make 'em into a half' regime, rather than we've got a couple of good halves here, lets let them organise our attack. Walsh and Graham should remain as their halves, Lewis as their ball playing lock and Sammut as the secret weapon off the bench. It's hardly rocket science.

 

[bluesbreaker]

Walsh was good for like 2 games for the Knights, very ordinary for the rest. I'll keep Dureau thanks.

 

[Noa]

Ive always liked Sammuts playmaking potential as a FB. He can have a good career there (not with Penrith though). At 6 or 7 though he's just a whipping-boy.

 

[keeney]

A full season of FG in his debut year killed him, he was too light, still might be. I think that, and opposition teams figuring out his tricks is why he struggled. Plus he was carrying leg injuries wasn't he? Good talent, different entirely to Dureau, between the two of them they are a really well rounded good half, except in defense.

Good luck to him and Penrith. I would have liked to have seen him get another go. I guess Smith realised he'd paid overs for the return and saw a chacne to offload him.

Mullen may be a natural 6, but he still absolutely sh*ts all over Walsh as a 7. It looks like thats the way we're going.

 

[Alex28]

To quote his biggest fan on the Knights forum "he has legs made of chalk".

Reasonable player but he wont solve your problems...

 

[fortae]

Walsh is a much better player than Dureau, but Walsh hasn't been able to stay on the field.

Saints said no to him and preferred to grab Mathew Head as a backup. Not a good sign.

 

[t1tan]

Without wanting to sound sour grapes,one good game does not a season make.
Hopefully he proves last night was no fluke and he stays injury free.

 

[maple_69]

He was ok. I'd like this side though.
1. Coote 2. Gordon 3. Jennings 4. Lewis 5. Elford 6. Sammut 7. Walsh 8. Grant 9. Aiton 10. Civ 11. Smith 12. Waterhouse 13. Graham 14. Iosefa 15. Pritchard 16. Bell 17. Cooper

Fit all our playmakers in the side. Lewis in possibly his best position. Sammut while not at fullback doesn't have the responsibility and can play a similar roll to Preston Campbell when he was with us and Graham is big enough and solid in defence to handle lock, it's where he's headed anyway. Walsh can lead the team around while Sammut, Graham, Coote, Iosefa and Lewis can all chip in when they see an opportunity.

 

[roopy]

Walshy has had the perfect education up to this point.
He started his league career as the star of a Newcastle Wests junior side that included Jarrod Mullen, Greg Inglis, Cory Paterson and other juniors who played for NSW like Jonny Tupou (Anthony's brother) etc.
One of the best non-nrl junior sides all the way from under 12s, and Walshy was the gun player.
Once he hit the Knights juniors with his mate Mullo he immediately pushed the star player from the year before, Scott Dureau, to the bench, and took the side to an SG Ball title, and a few years later he was rushed back from injury to lose a Flegg title to Penrith on one leg.
After that the injuries started, and each season pretty much went the same, with Walshy starting the year as the gun player, getting injured, being replaced by Dureau, and building up for the next year.
Almost all his injuries have been broken legs and knee ligaments, but he also had an ongoing stomach virus problem that stopped him putting on weight for a year or two.

Anyway, he has a fantastic footy brain, every coach loves him to death because the guy implements a game plan like the coach is talking to him, he has all the skills and can learn new things as fast as it takes someone to show him - but on the down side he is a tiny little guy who breaks easy. In defense, he has a go, but guys 20 and 30 kg bigger than him often bump him off.

In short, he has had great coaching from the age of 10 or so, including all the junior rep coaches, massive input from Andrew Johns, a few years under Rip Taylor who loved him so much he rushed him back from injury to play on one leg in a Flegg grandfinal when he already had Scott Dureau winning games every week - basically, if he can stay on the field for a year he could be anything, but he hasn't played out a season since a short SG Ball season in 2004.

 

[Eels Dude]

One game doesn't prove anything. Yourself and other Panthers fans could be calling for his head in 2 weeks time. Good player with plenty of potential, but I wouldn't go around bragging at this stage because it'll come back to bite you.