Tongue tells fans McCrone's the man

[aussies1st]

Canberra Raiders captain Alan Tongue has thrown his support behind struggling playmaker Josh McCrone after another lacklustre performance from the halfback on Sunday.

Following Canberra's 35-22 loss to the Wests Tigers, fans voiced their concerns about McCrone on internet message boards, suggesting the club needed to find another option at No7.

But Tongue said dropping the 22-year-old was not the solution and was confident the young half would only improve as his NRL career wore on.

McCrone made two errors with the ball and didn't kick once on Sunday in his third game of the season, since replacing Marc Herbert after round one. Meanwhile, five-eighth Terry Campese kicked 13 times and set up two of the Raiders' four tries.

Tongue said McCrone just needed a few more NRL games under his belt to continue his development.

''He's been improving and his confidence is growing so we've just got to stick with it,'' Tongue said.

''It just takes time, it needs the hours at training and time on the field. His Broncos performance was probably his best and he just needs a bit of time to keep gelling there.''

MONDAY

NRL Round 5: Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders at Parramatta Stadium, 7pm. TV Time: Live on Fox Sports2.

For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...ngue-tells-fans-mccrones-the-man/1794743.aspx

 

[matt]

Voiced their concerns huh??,Well I am extremely concerned.

shame the club has put Herbrone in this position.

 

[legend]

Sorry, time is a luxury we do not have.

The club should have splashed out to get Mick Monaghan back to mentor the younger halves into how to become good organisational playmakers.

 

[bileduct]

Sorry, time is a luxury we do not have.

The club should have splashed out to get Mick Monaghan back to mentor the younger halves into how to become good organisational playmakers.

Spot on.

Todd Carney learned a lot playing next to Jason Smith.

 

[Timbo]

Well then if that's what he thinks, we need a new skipper.

FFS, this is beyond a joke.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

I wouldnt expect tongue to say anything else. Its not his place to comment on who should be playing halfback. The only person to blame is the Coach.

 

[Timbo]

I wouldnt expect tongue to say anything else. Its not his place to comment on who should be playing halfback. The only person to blame is the Coach.

There was no reason for him to comment at all.

 

[shear_joy9]

if that's how tongue really feels he should go to

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I'll back the Raiders Skipper more than anyone else.

If Tongue says he is the man then so be it.

I think even if we had a top notch half there would be people on here bagging him for having a quiet game and costing us 400 grand a year.


And for those who think MM is the answer :crazy:

 

[Dazraider]

Ok Tounge has to go now, fensom is already taking his place and tounge should retire after this year or give up the captaincy if he thinks McCrone just needs time.
You want to win the comp every year. not rebuilding for 20yrs then hope they come out good.
We need to spend huge on a decent halfback and quickly.
Our side hasnt improved since the 2003 and dont even look like improving cause we have ex players and captains feeling sorry for there mates.
Maybe we should spend big dollars on an english half as thurston wont come here and if Kimmorly gets kicked out of the dogs at end of season doubt he will be here as well

 

[raiders fan forever]

a captain has to protect his team mates its up to Furner to f*ck mccrone off so Tongue doesn't have to say anything about it

 

[shear_joy9]

put an 80min hooker into the team and suddenly there's no room for tongue.

 

[CGD]

I can't feel anything but frustration about anyone here saying Tongue should go.

Hopefully it's just a heat of the moment thing, but that's downright embarrasing.

 

[myanonymoususername]

Great! We have the worst hooker in the NRL defending the worst halfback.:crazy:

(And I'm not bagging Tongue, hes' a great guy and very decent lock, but a hooker he isn't. And I don't think he's even our best lock right at the moment, which creates interesting problems for the club).

 

[Cryptic]

FFS people get over it... What do you expect him to say to the media? I'm sure they asked him the question not him just randomly coming out to make a statement...

For the people thinking Tongue should go... Have a good hard f**king look at yourself... You would be some of the first bitching if he was dropped and some 19 took his place... You think we look disorganised out there now? Lets take our second most senior player out of the game and see what happens...

Worst hooker in the NRL? Get f**ked... I thought he has played pretty damn well at hooker the last few games... I don't think ANY hooker can play "awesome" for 80 minutes straight... Even the best hookers out there had a break as it's a lot of work... I'm disapointed Waddell, when he wasn't broken, didn't get as much time as I thought he should but on the same note who the f**k would you like to see there instead?

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I thought Tongue had a good game at hooker and Im one of the ones who are against him playing in that position , but if he continues playing like that and better then Im happy.

I would be disappionted if Tongue bagged McCrone , imagine not having your captains confidence in you. McCrone would of been a broken man , now Tongue has publicly backed him his confidence will be sky high.

I hope those bagging Tongue have their workmates/mates sticking the knife in their back as quick

 

[raiders fan forever]

All we can really do is wait and see what happens on Monday night

 

[Raidersrawesome]

All we can really do is wait and see what happens on Monday night

Which sucks because Im at work.

 

[raiders fan forever]

unlucky thats the problem with monday nights you have to wait the longest for the game and you may be at work!

 

[aussies1st]

Well if this doesn't spark up McCrone not to mention the working on communications then hes got no hope.

Tongue is effective for like 20 minutes then his dummy half runs seem to disappear. Still reckon Herbert would be worth a go in that position for part of the game.