Trial vs. Sharks

[Frederick]

:lol: Karma you moron

 

[Gene Krupa]

Didn't John Lennon sing about Instant Karma?

 

[otori]

On a completely different note :crazy: when we re-signed Walsh last season I swear there were reports of him being chased by a few other clubs including the Roosters?

 

[~knights~]

the roosters were after Dureau....that's what i read

 

[Karmawave]

not wanting to ruin your dream, but he was talking about the guy with a 7 on his back in firstgrade.

:lol: :lol:

It was a good attempt of a twist though... damn. ;-)

 

[Karmawave]

On a completely different note :crazy: when we re-signed Walsh last season I swear there were reports of him being chased by a few other clubs including the Roosters?

Yes, thats correct. But it was the Bulldogs who chased him the hardest.

Keith Onslow, former Knights development officer, who is now at the Bulldogs ( and now leaving the Bulldogs to return to the Knights ), was chasing Walsh hard.

There was interest from a few clubs, but the Knights had to fight off the Bulldogs offer, as it was the most serious threat to seeing Walsh leave the Hunter.

 

[keeney]

Yep, Pearce over Mullen. In 2 or 3 years, it will be Pearce wearing the NSW number 7, not Mullen. We can re-debate that in 3 or 4 years time. Save this post if you like :lol: For the Roosters to name Pearce as their long term 7, at such a young age in his career, and for people like Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler to say he will be the 7 for Australia - is enough proof for me. They are better judges of talent than you and I. Its not like the Knights are going " ok Dureau is our 7, bar none ". The Roosters have done that with Pearce. Barring injuries he will be selected in front of even Mullen in the next few years.

Finch was 2nd and 3rd choice, absolutely. Its still better than being 10th or 11th choice.

Yeah, who knows, Dureau might get a NSW halfback berth one time.

Let's firstly see if he can play first grade before then hey...

The line Australia's next half gets touted around like nothing else. Johns also said that about Brett Firman, Tim Smith.... Where are they?

Finch was actually 5th or 6th choice. Behind Johns, Gower, Kimmorley, Orford and I'm certain some others.

Saying Dureau is an unworthy half at this stage is stupid. In his 1 game of FG he laid on all 3 of our tries and played well (minus his defence) in a game we got spanked in. He was a standout in PL, as he has been throughout his entire junior career. He deserves a chance to prove himself. MItchell Pearce is getting just that based on his perceived ability because he certainly wasn't the best halfback at the Roosters last year.

 

[keeney]

NO I DONT!

Man, you lose the point. The list was made as a list of " First Grade Standard " players.

Scott Dureau isn't even a certainty to be in our Top 17 players!

It's not like the Knights have said to Dureau " Ok , you are our number 7 and we are building this year around you " like other teams have done with their halfbacks.
The Knights obviously expected that their half was to be Luke Walsh if his contract was anything to go by.

People here need to take off the red and blue glasses for a bit.

That's because unlike many other teams, we're currently in a massive stage of rebuiliding. Our halves combo, like almost all on the field have up to 4? different options. It's all about finding the best, which may or may not be Dureau, but just because he isn't in Pearce's position doesn't mean he isn't better than Pearce. It is too early to tell in both players careers.

 

[Mr Angry]

Kimmorley is hopeless.. Just ask Sharks supporters, they'll tell you.

I concur.

 

[Karmawave]

Unless there are injuries at the club in 2008, Scott Dureau won't play more than 5 first grade games all year.

And if there are no injuries or players missing games due to representative duty, he'll be lucky to play in 1.

 

[perverse]

Unless there are injuries at the club in 2008, Scott Dureau won't play more than 5 first grade games all year.

And if there are no injuries or players missing games due to representative duty, he'll be lucky to play in 1.

i hope you're very, very wrong.

 

[bluesbreaker]

Anyone know how Briggs went? And Milton?

 

[strewth_mate]

He was a standout in PL, as he has been throughout his entire junior career. He deserves a chance to prove himself.

And that's pretty much all that can or needs to be said at this moment.

Nobody can say he doesn't deserve a chance. All the other opinions can only really be made after he's been given some time in firsts but I think we can at least have high hopes that he'll do well.

Seems some people have just had a bad response to the hype around him. Not being the universe's best halfback doesn't mean someone is inadequate. Besides, there have been much worse performers with inferior records in lower grades to get promoted ;-)

 

[Karmawave]

I'm not trying to heap sh*t on Dureau.

I don't think he is one of Smiths favourites at all, and let's face it, we all know what its like trying to get into first grade when Smith doesn't rate you.

I believe he is one of the last options as halfback from Smiths perspective.

First off Smith would prefer Walsh/Mullen ( if both fully fit and had a proper pre season )

Then he would prefer Mullen / Bailey.

Dureau is a distand 3rd in Smiths mind. Whether thats right or wrong, that's just the way it is.

 

[perverse]

Dureau is a distand 3rd in Smiths mind. Whether thats right or wrong, that's just the way it is.

what on earth leads you to this conclusion? i would say that scotty is just as much in the running for a halves position as anyone, he's just not ahead at the moment. smith wouldn't have re-signed him if this weren't the case. he wouldn't have been playing him in trials if this weren't the case.

as far as i can see it smith is giving scott every chance in the world to crack first grade.. and by the sounds scotty has been embracing the opportunity with arms wide open. i think we'll see plenty of 7. Dureau 6. Mullen as well as 7. Mullen 6. Bailey and probably some 7. Walsh 6. Mullen this year. we certainly wont be seeing 7. Mullen 6. Bailey for the entire year unless they both absolutely kill it from there.

 

[sneaky_is_here]

I'm not trying to heap sh*t on Dureau.

I don't think he is one of Smiths favourites at all, and let's face it, we all know what its like trying to get into first grade when Smith doesn't rate you.

I believe he is one of the last options as halfback from Smiths perspective.

First off Smith would prefer Walsh/Mullen ( if both fully fit and had a proper pre season )

Then he would prefer Mullen / Bailey.

Dureau is a distand 3rd in Smiths mind. Whether thats right or wrong, that's just the way it is.

According to smith it would be picked on form... and IMO Scott played better than Walsh and Bailey

 

[Karmawave]

According to smith it would be picked on form... and IMO Scott played better than Walsh and Bailey

Since when is Brian Smith honest about team selections.

 

[perverse]

Since when is Brian Smith honest about team selections.

exactly. this is why dureau still has as much chance as anyone. if he's said publicly that mullen and bailey are the preferred at this stage (which im not sure he has in as many words) then it pretty much means next to nothing.

i think the next few weeks at training will decide the halves.

 

[antonius]

That is bullsh*t Frederick.

I was asked what I defined as first grade standard halfbacks. I listed first grade standard halfbacks as my response.

I mentioned Mitch Pearce, Jarrod Sammut and other " inexperienced " halves who I believe are all better than Scott Dureau.

Simple.

The bottom line is mate, if Scott Dureau is to play first grade, then he WILL be compared to Thurston and Prince and Cronk - because frankly, that is the opposition he will be facing week in and week out.

If you are going to play with the big boys, you need to compete with the big boys.

If its unfair to compare him to them because of his inexperience, and if there is any doubts at all that he cannot match his standards with those players - which there obviously is - then he doesn't belong in first grade, and isn't first grade standard.

To compete with the big boys as you put it then you need to actually start playing with them, at the moment he's played 1 maybe 2 first grade games that I can recall. How can you possiblly compare him to anyone on the basis of a couple of games? A lot of Halves at this club have either been held back, or moved on simply because they were never going to displace A.Johns. Whenever I've seen Dureau play (and that's quite a lot) he has shown plenty of talent and skill. I don't know if he's the answer to our first grade 7 problem because simply he hasn't played first grade enough and you cannot possibly know he isn't the answer either, because you haven't seen him play first grade any more than I or anyone else has. I have seen enough of him to say that IMO he has the skill, and brain to potentially become a reg first grader, he has to be given the chance to realise that potential. Comparing him to seasoned halfbacks is ridiculous.

 

[Karmawave]

To compete with the big boys as you put it then you need to actually start playing with them, at the moment he's played 1 maybe 2 first grade games that I can recall. How can you possiblly compare him to anyone on the basis of a couple of games? A lot of Halves at this club have either been held back, or moved on simply because they were never going to displace A.Johns. Whenever I've seen Dureau play (and that's quite a lot) he has shown plenty of talent and skill. I don't know if he's the answer to our first grade 7 problem because simply he hasn't played first grade enough and you cannot possibly know he isn't the answer either, because you haven't seen him play first grade any more than I or anyone else has. I have seen enough of him to say that IMO he has the skill, and brain to potentially become a reg first grader, he has to be given the chance to realise that potential. Comparing him to seasoned halfbacks is ridiculous.

The bottom line, and the point I've been trying to make all along, is I don't believe anyone at the Knights ( or any other club for that matter ) , truly believe Scott Dureau is good enough to compete at first grade level week in and week out.

This is exactly the reason why he has only played 1 first grade game.

Smith doesn't rate him, Hagan never really rated him, and I am sure as hell the fact no other club wanted him for 2008, shows the other clubs don't rate him either.

People on here might not agree, they might be Dureau fans, but in the end it doesn't really matter what any of us think.

You don't have to convince me as much as try convincing Brian Smith.