The Halves

[Rolla]

Ok, i have noticed that this is an issue that ends up dominating a lot of the threads, and while im only new here from what i can tell it seems to be dividing the forum. With that said the "scotty, walshy, mullen etc" debate/argument is one that will (and should) be continuing throughout the season as it is a pressing issue within our team at the moment.

There are a lot of agendas on each side of the coin here but there are also a lot of good, healthy debate's and oppinions mixed in there as well. Like i said it is a pressing issue that everyone has an oppinion on, it would be silly not to talk about it.

So the point of this thread (like i said im new and i may be missing the point, so if this is a bad idea tell me) is to stop the issue dominating other threads. this should allow people that are growing tired of the debate a chance to seperate themselves from it rather than having it thrust upon them. Hopefully this will result in a decrease in personal attacks and agendas on the forum...

My suggestion is we keep this thread rolling throughout the year, so if anyone has anything to say on the matter, week to week, they can do so without pushing anyones buttons or destroying un-related threads. Nobody has to walk on egg shells or tip toe around the subject. And anyone that doesnt like it, dont read the thread......

lets see how it goes!!

 

[roopy]

We have a potential superstar in Mullo and two fair firstgraders in Dureau and Rogers.

The bad news is that the one with an injury that could end his season at any time is the potential superstar.

We may well have to finish off the season with Dureau/Rogers, but they will go OK - especially if Kidley does more than his share of playmaking like yesterday.

 

[Karmawave]

Honestly, who even still cares about this issue. For me, its dead.

Its all right there in front of our eyes about the best halves combination that makes this team play at its potential.

The biggest problem with the halves, is now Walsh has gone to Penrith, there is now a worrrying lack of depth.

If 2 halves went down injured at the same time - which is a definite possibility given Mullen's season could end at any time - what then?

And please don't say Karawana to 5/8...

 

[Spot On]

The only issue I see with "the halves" is what might happen to the team if Mullen is out for an extended period of time. Would we be able to compete with Dureau and Rogers as our combo? The way things are going, Brian could start Wicksy at half and we would still be competitive! Other teams can only dream about having players as good as Mullen, Dureau, Rogers and Gidley in their squad,fit and healthy at the same time and all capable of playing in the halves. It's bloody fantasic!

As for the best combination come the pointy end of the season - I don't know. But obviously we need Mullen to be there and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

If Mullen got injured it would affect us greatly. But having said that, I can see the rogers and dureau partnership working. Dureau would offer his kicking game and ablity to organise the team, whilst rogers can pick his times to chime in and try and pull a rabbit out of the hat.

 

[roopy]

Worst case, Ndaria is probably not quite a firstgrade standard 7, but he goes well for Lebanon in the 7 and would get us out of trouble.

 

[Rolla]

i think if mullo got injured we would be in a bit of trouble. If both scott and rogers were to fire then yes we would be a shot but i think the likelyness of that happening week in week out is minimal. we could still make the semis on the back of a good start to the year but that would be all we could hope for. I think we let our second best half go and our only other half with a chance to dominate consistantly.

At the moment Mullo and rogers are looking good and we look a lot stronger defencively across the park...no real weakness or target. scotty will make a handy replacement and its healthy for rogers to know that there is someone that will be pushing for a shot if he drops the ball.

 

[Spot On]

I liked what Walshy did for us in the past but I'm not sold on him being a long term first grade halfback anywhere in the NRL. He does some good stuff with the ball but defensively.....................please! He would be a great back-up half anywhere but you can't keep them all. I suppose time will tell if he was a big loss.

 

[Alex28]

Is there even still a debate? After last night I assumed it was answered - Rogers/Mullen, with Dureau back to Macquarie until Origin.

End topic here.

 

[roopy]

Is there even still a debate? After last night I assumed it was answered - Rogers/Mullen, with Dureau back to Macquarie until Origin.

End topic here.

That would be setting Dureau up to fail when we need him, which would suit your agenda, but isn't something Smith would see as a good option.
Dureau will train with the team and get gametime when Smith can find a spot for him, just so he is up to speed when we need him to be.

 

[Alex28]

I have no agenda Roop. I'm all for the two best halves selected. At the moment is Mullen and Rogers. Can't see how you can realistically argue with that. Dureau on the bench is a waste - send him back to Macquarie to work on his game, get him some real game time and some confidence.

I can't see how that can be argued against. Is 30 minutes every second or third game going to give him any confidence at all? Send him to Macquarie for a few weeks so he has some match form under him come Origin time.

 

[Karmawave]

Dureau will train with the team and get gametime when Smith can find a spot for him, just so he is up to speed when we need him to be.

He has been up to speed before at NRL level?

I actually feel sorry for the people who love the guy so much that at the end of the day, all they have to cling to is a couple of key field goals in 2008, an occasional 40/20, some great line running by his forwards that have made him look like a playmaker, and a sh*tload of catching and passing.


If he had done something amazing like what Rogers has done in recent weeks, or even what Walsh did last night for Penrith, we'd never hear the end of it.

Until then, its those same catch and passes and the memories of a few 40/20's and those field goals - oh those field goals...

 

[Big Tim]

I would be happy if we just stop comparing our 3 halves to Walsh.

The guy could never get on the park for us. He had his shot in 07, and did really well, but he wasnt fit for 08 and his chance went sailing by. Honestly Rogers has almost worn Red and Blue more than Walsh did, across all 3 grades I might add.

I am happy for the Rogers/Dureau debate to continue, but we got 0 value out of Walsh and that puts Rogers and Dureau ahead of him.

 

[roopy]

I have no agenda Roop. I'm all for the two best halves selected. At the moment is Mullen and Rogers. Can't see how you can realistically argue with that. Dureau on the bench is a waste - send him back to Macquarie to work on his game, get him some real game time and some confidence.

I can't see how that can be argued against. Is 30 minutes every second or third game going to give him any confidence at all? Send him to Macquarie for a few weeks so he has some match form under him come Origin time.

The only thing he can get at Macquarie is match fitness, which he needs right now, but he can't 'work on his game' by putting on plays at Macquarie for guys who wouldn't have a clue what he was doing if he had three weeks to explain it.

 

[Serc]

I don't have much to say aside from what roopy said pretty much. The best part of all of this is that should Mullo go down we have two guys who between them have proven they can cover all the roles needed in the halves.

(PS: Just on Walsh, I've been impressed with what I've seen in the last few weeks, though he was involved in letting two tries in last night!)

 

[Joker's Wild]

I would be happy if we just stop comparing our 3 halves to Walsh.

The guy could never get on the park for us. He had his shot in 07, and did really well, but he wasnt fit for 08 and his chance went sailing by. Honestly Rogers has almost worn Red and Blue more than Walsh did, across all 3 grades I might add.

I am happy for the Rogers/Dureau debate to continue, but we got 0 value out of Walsh and that puts Rogers and Dureau ahead of him.

Well said Timbo

Walshy had plenty of time to impress in Premier league last year and simply wasnt good enough to crack FG at the Knights. He has done well with the opportunity at Penrith but what a lot of posters on here have over looked is the fact that the Panthers and the Knights are totally different teams with totally different dynamics. Fact is that Walsh's style of play has never really suited the Knights or more importantly Brian Smiths plans for the Knights.

You only need to look at this years results to see who has performed better for us

 

[Big Tim]

I don't have much to say aside from what roopy said pretty much. The best part of all of this is that should Mullo go down we have two guys who between them have proven they can cover all the roles needed in the halves.

(PS: Just on Walsh, I've been impressed with what I've seen in the last few weeks, though he was involved in letting two tries in last night!)

:crazy:AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!:crazy:

Just kidding mate

 

[Alex28]

The only thing he can get at Macquarie is match fitness, which he needs right now, but he can't 'work on his game' by putting on plays at Macquarie for guys who wouldn't have a clue what he was doing if he had three weeks to explain it.

Given match fitness is going to be pretty important during Origin (when we will have 2 halves instead of 3) perhaps he will be better off getting some full games under his belt over the next few weeks?

 

[roopy]

Given match fitness is going to be pretty important during Origin (when we will have 2 halves instead of 3) perhaps he will be better off getting some full games under his belt over the next few weeks?

sure - two weeks - that would do him good right now - but just for the game and maybe a few ballwork sessions.

 

[Alex28]

Look...he's saying all the right things after last weeks game - he was poor but he's saying that he'll still back himself. How many 80 minute games has he played this year? I would suggest a couple max. We wont have the luxury of having 3 halves over the upcoming weeks and we will need both Rogers and Dureau playing 80 minutes. Both need to play 80 minutes over the next few weeks - not one playing and the other training and in the stands on game day.