The Rumours Thread

[<StGeorgeDragons>]

Who knows but I do know one thing, unless LPT can start playing and firing from round one then we are still one big hard body short of a decent forward pack.

 

[2218]

In part yes but in total no.

The game has moments of great beauty somewhat poetry in motion as wonderful ball skills, athleticism and speed take over from the big beefy knock em down gladiatorial combat that epitomizes things like the very very boring SOO.

The coaches I mentioned all long for the "those that are about to die salute you" type of of footy games whereas the best coaches like Cleary, Bellamy, Robbo, Bennett have a clear eye for open field play and the value of it.

That is the reason why the above coaches have the records they have and why the combative types don't.

So Bellamy not a combative coach hes an open field coach? The same coach that introduced the wrestle, chicken wing, crusher etc Hes the king of the slow play the ball.

 

[Old Timer]

So Bellamy not a combative coach hes an open field coach? The same coach that introduced the wrestle, chicken wing, crusher etc Hes the king of the slow play the ball.

I never said he wasn’t.

Indeed he is combative however he is not 1 dimensional.

His eye for attacking players and his team’s attacking prowess over a long period of time are exceptional or do you disagree?

While he does slow down the ruck when not in possession he certainly does play up tempo, open field play when in possession.

Whilst we love to hate them the Storm have long been an attacking benchmark and have created some memorable tries.

 

[Divine]

Who knows but I do know one thing, unless LPT can start playing and firing from round one then we are still one big hard body short of a decent forward pack

It’ll be softly softly for LPT. Much like the Couchboys.

 

[SnowDragon]

It’ll be softly softly for LPT. Much like the Couchboys.

I think listening to Flanno discuss, and seeing how he operated last year, I’d expect that at most these young guys get blooded in 2025 (unless injuries hit).

I know I’m of the opinion that the Couchman should be seeing more time, but I can also appreciate there is a right pace to bring these guys on.

if LPT comes on the field, you know he is going to be a target, a huge target! Hence he needs to be ready.

 

[Illusion]

I think listening to Flanno discuss, and seeing how he operated last year, I’d expect that at most these young guys get blooded in 2025 (unless injuries hit).

I know I’m of the opinion that the Couchman should be seeing more time, but I can also appreciate there is a right pace to bring these guys on.

if LPT comes on the field, you know he is going to be a target, a huge target! Hence he needs to be ready.

Just me if they are good enough , then they will be ready ........

 

[carltonsouth79]

I never said he wasn’t.

Indeed he is combative however he is not 1 dimensional.

His eye for attacking players and his team’s attacking prowess over a long period of time are exceptional or do you disagree?

While he does slow down the ruck when not in possession he certainly does play up tempo, open field play when in possession.

Whilst we love to hate them the Storm have long been an attacking benchmark and have created some memorable tries.

Agree. Speaking to a first grade ref he told me that the Storm- at that time still had Smith and Slater- just did everything faster than other teams

 

[Illusion]

As I said his best is well behind him and of course he has almost exclusively left everywhere in a mess after leaving.

Bellamy continues to amaze me and I believe his ability to polish uncut stones into gems is 2nd to none.

Coaches like Sticky, Kevvie, Madge, Gonzo, Fittler, Arthurs, probably Dessie as well are all from a bygone era with all the blokey, macho stuff and I fear that S F might also fall into that category hopefully I’m wrong.

Over the next few years I believe the astute young coaches will bring a new era to how the game is played and coached.

The game has changed , the type of player has changed the way it's going players will need to be big athletic fast to get over the advantage line ( players like Lawrie will find it hard to keep up ) , then all you need will be be your spine to be ball players ........ So I agree the coaches will change as well and maybe those coaches will come from players that are playing the game now ........

 

[since77]

The game has changed , the type of player has changed the way it's going players will need to be big athletic fast to get over the advantage line ( players like Lawrie will find it hard to keep up ) ,

Lawrie reminds me a bit of what happened to Merrin. The game suddenly just got too fast for them and they literally couldn't keep up.
I mean Lawrie was never first grade material but last year the game really went right past him. He literally looked like he was running in slow motion.

 

[Old Timer]

Lawrie reminds me a bit of what happened to Merrin. The game suddenly just got too fast for them and they literally couldn't keep up.
I mean Lawrie was never first grade material but last year the game really went right past him. He literally looked like he was running in slow motion.

Good comparison

The “is tall as he is wide as he is deep” square blocks have no lateral movement and take forever to turn around and chase back down the field.

Leaner, taller, faster, mobile is the name if the game now.

 

[Illusion]

Lawrie reminds me a bit of what happened to Merrin. The game suddenly just got too fast for them and they literally couldn't keep up.
I mean Lawrie was never first grade material but last year the game really went right past him. He literally looked like he was running in slow motion. At least Merrin was smart enough to know the game had past him ........

 

[Trifili13]

It's a bit of shame as I suspect alot of us would remember players of different shapes and sizes playing the game. These days we have athletes not footballers playing to game who play to a structured game plan rather than what is in front of them. You have wingers the size of forwards. The little tricky halfback is very hard to find.

 

[dungay dragon]

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It's a bit of shame as I suspect alot of us would remember players of different shapes and sizes playing the game. These days we have athletes not footballers playing to game who play to a structured game plan rather than what is in front of them. You have wingers the size of forwards. The little tricky halfback is very hard to find.

just perhaps Flanno worked out Lodge wasnt 100 % in the Zone ..
After all we r almost and end Jan and ML still isnt settled on a side for this Season
All very odd

 

[Inisai Toga]

Yeh, but I thought Merrin’s skill set was way higher in different areas. Also got stuffed around a bit playing rep football imo by playing him 5 minutes at the end of each losing game etc. Even when he returned to us he’d hit the line, turn to pass and no one was there. Should have followed him like a Drovers Dog but we had too much of a one -out mind set at the time , and therefore couldn’t capitalise on his skills.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

i think it is more so ............ Flano is about seriously getting this squad right so it can handle finals

19yr old props no matter how amazing..........generally find a full first year of NRL extremely taxing and not pumped at 150% come finals

 

[BLM01]

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just perhaps Flanno worked out Lodge wasnt 100 % in the Zone ..
After all we r almost and end Jan and ML still isnt settled on a side for this Season
All very odd

100% I have big fears for this year because of our current props?
God knows how we nearly made the 8 last year other than some teams falling off a cliff last year which happens each year but..

JDB is not a starting prop, Lawrie or RFM is no 13 or starter, Sele is short and injury prone and Molo is hot and cold

I just hope snd pray Flanno sees these young and fringe middles incl Couchies ready to go in 25 and is protecting them from media
We need 2 more metre eaters and goers
otherwise we won’t challenge for the 8 with using those or last years middles I mentioned
The halves who I have faith in can’t do much behind a losing pack either

Flanno is the right coach we need and I believe props are our only real weakness but a glaring one

 

[BLM01]

Yeh, but I thought Merrin’s skill set was way higher in different areas. Also got stuffed around a bit playing rep football imo by playing him 5 minutes at the end of each losing game etc. Even when he returned to us he’d hit the line, turn to pass and no one was there. Should have followed him like a Drovers Dog but we had too much of a one -out mind set at the time , and therefore couldn’t capitalise on his skills.

I agree in oart as had an offload and skill in him but
The problem with Trent especially before he left us to go to Penrith he believed he was to be Artie Beetson too often without punching holes in the middle first or chose the wrong time.
He had skill no doubt

 

[Jubilee]

Yeh, but I thought Merrin’s skill set was way higher in different areas. Also got stuffed around a bit playing rep football imo by playing him 5 minutes at the end of each losing game etc. Even when he returned to us he’d hit the line, turn to pass and no one was there. Should have followed him like a Drovers Dog but we had too much of a one -out mind set at the time , and therefore couldn’t capitalise on his skills.

If he had had Sloan following he would have looked much better.

 

[Inisai Toga]

If he had had Sloan following he would have looked much better.

Maybe you’re right, but we had a speedy fullback at the time who could sniff out a try and it rarely eventuated. I lost count of the times I was yelling at the TV in frustration- couldn’t work it out. I suppose if you don’t train that way during the week, you’re not going to execute it game day. Our second phase play has been shit or nearly non existent for years; we’ve been so easy to defend against for so long. The efforts often been there but the tactics haven’t been…..