The halves conundrum

[Frederick]

As we all know a popular topic of discussion around these traps is the status of our halves and the overall lack of quality we have. Mullen is the future of this team, however he can't do it all by himself and needs an equally talented half partner at the scrum base. We all know that Dureau and Rogers are not the answer, and given the off contract halves in the NRL this season, I feel we're going to be best served looking outside our game for a halfback.

I think Piri Weepu is going to be our best option. He's an established star in Rugby, with 35 caps for the All Blacks to his name. He plays a similar, physical style to Joey, and is of a similar build. He's already expressed interest in playing for us, even training with us for a couple of sessions a couple of years ago. Most importantly, he'll be an unknown quantity, providing us with an x-factor that we've desperately needed.

He's off contract at the end of the year, and I think we'd be mad not to look into him as a viable halves option.

 

[Misanthrope]

Has he expressed interest in converting recently?

 

[Frederick]

The fact that he only took a one year contract extension tells me that he's definitely keeping his options open.

 

[Alex28]

This is the sort of thinking we'll need to do to get some quality in the halves. Outside the square.

 

[Misanthrope]

Sam Tomkins, Stefan Ratchford, and Richie Myler. Any of the slightly to the left.

 

[macavity]

when does mullen stop being the "future" of the team?

 

[Joker's Wild]

When he plays to his talent week in, week out

 

[Yosh]

Indeed if Mullen is the future of the team and plays like he did last year we gonna be in for a hella of boring 10 years or so... I'd take anyone who is willing to give 100% and an ounce of talent in him. Rogers and Dureau just seem like they have no idea sometimes...

 

[roopy]

Tyler Sullivan is the future, but he is only 17.

 

[Pika]

He cant tackle roop.

 

[Frederick]

So he's another Dureau...yay!

Face it, coming up through the ranks at our club, the future looks bleak at halfback. We need to explore other options

 

[Pika]

He is much bigger than Scott, just does not like to tackle.

 

[roopy]

He cant tackle roop.

He's a 17 year old halfback.
They don't tackle. They need to keep their hair neat.
He is a chunky guy who can learn to tackle - it's not like he is too small - just not keen yet.

 

[macavity]

Tyler Sullivan is the future, but he is only 17.

Tyrone Roberts?

 

[roopy]

Tyrone Roberts?

Last year i saw some great backing up, some great broken field running and the ability to find the try line - all 5/8 skills - but i didn't see anything that made me think halfback - so i'm keen to see what's happened in the off season to make so many people rave about him.

 

[Johns Magic]

I think Piri Weepu is going to be our best option. He's an established star in Rugby, with 35 caps for the All Blacks to his name. He plays a similar, physical style to Joey, and is of a similar build. He's already expressed interest in playing for us, even training with us for a couple of sessions a couple of years ago. Most importantly, he'll be an unknown quantity, providing us with an x-factor that we've desperately needed.

He's off contract at the end of the year, and I think we'd be mad not to look into him as a viable halves option.

How much union do you watch?

 

[Frederick]

Next to none

 

[perverse]

i STILL think we should be trying to pull a burgess in our halves... and try and get in the ear of one of the young english halves. get a chip on one of their shoulders and convince them that they need to prove themselves in the toughest comp in the world... for both the good of their national team and the good of their own career. we'd get them on the reasonably cheap (compared with their worth) due to the risk factor, and we'd get a bloody exciting option at halfback if we nailed myler or tomkins.

it would be a crime, in my eyes, if the club didn't explore the option at the very least. we'd need to bulk one of them up a bit, but they'd be oh so worth it. i really rate them both.

if we attempted that and failed, then my next course of action would be to go chasing the beau henry's, the hodkinsons, the ben hunts and the rankins in NYC and lower grades around australia. look for a bloke stuck behind an incumbent that wants a shot at the big time.

i wouldn't know piri weepu from a bar of soap, but there's so much young talent in our own backyard (NRL and lower grades) and overseas (ESL) that are playing rugby league already... i don't see the point in taking a massive gamble at a union player other than a bit of publicity.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

i STILL think we should be trying to pull a burgess in our halves... and try and get in the ear of one of the young english halves. get a chip on one of their shoulders and convince them that they need to prove themselves in the toughest comp in the world... for both the good of their national team and the good of their own career. we'd get them on the reasonably cheap (compared with their worth) due to the risk factor, and we'd get a bloody exciting option at halfback if we nailed myler or tomkins.

it would be a crime, in my eyes, if the club didn't explore the option at the very least. we'd need to bulk one of them up a bit, but they'd be oh so worth it. i really rate them both.

if we attempted that and failed, then my next course of action would be to go chasing the beau henry's, the hodkinsons, the ben hunts and the rankins in NYC and lower grades around australia. look for a bloke stuck behind an incumbent that wants a shot at the big time.

i wouldn't know piri weepu from a bar of soap, but there's so much young talent in our own backyard (NRL and lower grades) and overseas (ESL) that are playing rugby league already... i don't see the point in taking a massive gamble at a union player other than a bit of publicity.

Sam Tomkins would be a good buy. Under Maguire he is already a better player. The kid has vision. Outside the box is something our club wouldn't know if it bit us on the a###.

 

[Spot On]

when does mullen stop being the "future" of the team?

Well he's 23 this year with a good number of first grade apperances under the belt so I suppose we should see some direction and control from our playmaker on a consistent basis this season. If it doesn't happen soon then.............