The players who should play this week against manly

[yy_cheng]

pg, if wade was unfit an tahu was available, i reckon u woul see

1. hayne
2. b.smith
3. o'dwyer
4. tahu
5. grothe

JT said that he would try and keep the same team bar injury.

PJ has played half in the last two matches during the back end of the game. JT is probably trying to give him more experience there just in case another one of our halves goes down.

 

[Utey]

BK's knees definately arent right so he may not play...

 

[The Colonel]

Ben Kennedy WILL play on Saturday night - I'll shave UTE's head if he doesn't. The bloke may be playing busted but that is what he does best. The poor bugger can hardly walk but he is the difference between Manly winning and losing......

By the way it isn't his knees that are the problem - rather the groin injury he has carried for a lot of the season (and his career). He has severely corked thighs at the moment that could probably do withy a well deserved rest but I doubt it will happen this weekend.

 

[Utey]

Argh well, we'll see how we go. When I saw a bit of footage he had lots of ice on his knees. Seems to be very battered...

 

[Twizzle]

does UTE have a say in this ?

 

[eelz47]

also inu play in flegg last saturday, and i dont believe he went too well there so it would be a big step back up

 

[The Colonel]

does UTE have a say in this ?

Does he need to?

 

[the_eel]

I'd run with the same side as last week with Robbo coming in for Perenara. IF tahu was fit i'd move O'Dwyer to the bench with Wagon back to 18th man....but we definitely don't need to rush Tahu back.

 

[The Colonel]

What has Wagon done wrong to be demoted?

 

[Hurriflatch]

What has Wagon done wrong to be demoted?

When he was born his DAddy called him Daniel

 

[yy_cheng]

Just tell BK not to run at O'Dwyer.

 

[T-BONE MCGRAW]

No changes unless Tahu is 100% fit. If he is fit, unfortunately Chalky becomes 18th man (as much as I rate the guy and he is unbelievable form).

A lot of people are saying to drop Ben Smith. However there are two reasons he has appeared quite over the last couple of weeks.
1. All the attack has gone down the Widders/O'Dwyer/Hayne side. This is shown by Haynes tryscoring
2. In attack Grothe has been playing in the centres shifting Smith to the wing. This is mean Smith is see hardly any ball as we all know Eric doesn't really pass.

IMO Benny has been a big part of the improvement in our defence. This part of his game is extremely under rated. He will show what he can do with the ball the more he gets it. He will be a rep centre and along with Tahu will form a great centre combination for this club. I would not be dropping him at the moment.

 

[eels_]

Ben Smith Cant be dropped... His defence is awesome, has really helped parra in that area... O'Dwyer is in good for yes, so unless Tahu is 100%, I would keep O'Dweyer. Robinson in for Henry... And thats all that will happen barring injury of course.

Jeremy smith still isnt doing anything for me, but I dont think you can put Green in there at this stage...

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

lol, when was the last time we had a halfback score from 20m out after attacking the line, evading three defenders and spinning out of tackles?

Smith is doing fine. Just because he isn't overtly the star of the show doesn't mean he isn't doing his job and doing it well.

 

[parra pete]

lol, when was the last time we had a halfback score from 20m out after attacking the line, evading three defenders and spinning out of tackles?

Smith is doing fine. Just because he isn't overtly the star of the show doesn't mean he isn't doing his job and doing it well.

Exactly. Good to see a 7 prepared to take on the line at last...

 

[Utey]

lol, when was the last time we had a halfback score from 20m out after attacking the line, evading three defenders and spinning out of tackles?

Smith is doing fine. Just because he isn't overtly the star of the show doesn't mean he isn't doing his job and doing it well.

Exactly! It was brilliant!!!

 

[number8]

You have to admit the defence was ordinary on Jeremy Smith's try!

It was a good try but brilliant & awesome are not an accurate decription. He still lacks the kicking game we need . That's going to be crucial if we are to get any further than this week imo!

Big part of the game in which we fall short!

 

[Utey]

You have to admit the defence was ordinary on Jeremy Smith's try!

It was a good try but brilliant & awesome are not an accurate decription. He still lacks the kicking game we need . That's going to be crucial if we are to get any further than this week imo!

Big part of the game in which we fall short!

gotta disagree! He doesnt run the show like Timmy does and like him or not his our best option there. Kicking game was poor, but the kick chase was always there and thats a big part of winning games.

 

[T-BONE MCGRAW]

Isn't the most important part of a halfbacks job to organise the team and generally set up his forwards and outside backs through his kicking and passing game. It is all about making the right decision. How often does Joey run the ball as opposed to passing and kicking. If this is case I don't think Jeremy is a first grade halfback yet.

Tim might make take the wrong decision occasionally but at least he makes decisions. IMO Jeremy lacks organisation and has a poor passing and kicking game for a first grade halfback

 

[The Colonel]

gotta disagree! He doesnt run the show like Timmy does and like him or not his our best option there. Kicking game was poor, but the kick chase was always there and thats a big part of winning games.

Kick chase is only as good as the kick. If they are playing the ball on the first tackle past the 30 metre line the opposition can be attacking in our forty in two or three plays. That is metres we shouldn't be giving away. We were lucky to get away with the Warriors game for that very reason and again on the weekend when we were camped inside our own twenty for most of the first half. While it was a very good try if it hadn't have been for two intercepts on our own goal line it could have been a very different game.

I was more comfortable when PJ and John were playing the halves role and Jeremy was two passes off the ruck.