Trial vs. Sharks

[perverse]

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.

i started bolding parts of this post to reply to... but i don't think it's necessary. the whole thing is just... wtf?

where are you getting this seemingly solid inside information that no-one rates dureau? smith? hagen? wtf leads you to these conclusions? are you just making sh*t up?

dureau was chased by other clubs at the end of last year, and was retained by smith. dureaus main problem is that he is small and a bit of a turnstile in defence.. but this hasn't stopped many very good players in the past. preston campbell immediately comes to mind.

 

[antonius]

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.

I simply can't work out how you come to that conclusion. Given his age and the fact that Johns only finished last year, then the opportunity to play him there hasn't come up until now. Sure they went with Walshy last year, but my feeling is that Smith no longer believes Walsh is the answer, and that Dureau may be given his form last year in PL and during the trials.

 

[Frederick]

I simply can't work out how you come to that conclusion.

It's simple logic, ant:

Karmawave hates Dureau.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

[Karmawave]

No, this " sh*t isn't made up "... Just what I have heard from people who would know combined with my own opinion of his ability based on what I have seen of Dureau over the years. He isn't what you would call a " young " footballer in the 2008 sense - where many future stars are debuting at 18,19 years of age. If he wasn't seen to be as good as Walshy last year, what has changed this year that is any different?! Luke Walsh has missed pretty much the ENTIRE offseason of training due to his mystery illness, and even then Smiths first move is to move Mullen to 7! If he is as good as everyone here is claiming Dureau to be, then why isn't Smith going to name him halfback for the first game against Canberra?!

Here is our BACKUP halfback, who isn't even deemed by Smith to be the back up when Luke Walsh isn't up to scratch for Round 1.

Let's just wait and see.

Enough with the Scott Dureau discussion from my end. We will have to agree to disagree.

I wish the bloke all the best this year, and I'd be happy for him to make me eat my words by having a great season. I'd be the first bloke to put my hand up and say " well done Mr Dureau "...

So, why don't we all take a deep breath, and meet back here at the end of the last round, where we can discuss what Dureau has achieved in 2008.

Its incredibly difficult to have an unbiased discussion on this forum eh? Its difficult to be subjective and not be shot down for having an opinion!

 

[Karmawave]

It's simple logic, ant:

Karmawave hates Dureau.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

If you think that to be the case, youre nutso :lol:

I just don't think he is good enough.

And when the Round 1 team is named, and Smith names Mullen in halfback - it will show, at least at this stage, Brian Smith doesn't think so either.

I'm now a Scott Dureau free zone until the end of the year.

I hope he has a blinder season. I really do.

 

[roopy]

'Inside information' is often bullsh*t speculation, but anyway, here is what i heard from a very unreliable source (someone who claims to be friends with a firstgrade player's girlfriend).
The reason Scotty has never been rated is because he is a poor to average trainer with a serious playstation habit that has often taken precedence over running round the oval.
He was dropped from PL last season because he is the exact opposite to what Smith likes to see in a player - that being a guy who will work his guts out even if he lacks a bit of talent (Young, McManus, Bailey etc etc). He got his sh*t together, knuckled down, made it back into the PL side, played the house down, won a contract, has worked harder in the off season than ever before, and has finally been recognised as our most talented young half.
This is the first year he has made a living out of playing footy so he will probably work pretty hard to get a new contract i imagine.

 

[Big Tim]

Here is our BACKUP halfback, who isn't even deemed by Smith to be the back up when Luke Walsh isn't up to scratch for Round 1.

The fact of the matter is that many people see that we will go with 6. Bailey 7. Mullen in Round 1. Therfore Walsh is also a backup halfback.

IMO Dureau would be a much better "week in, week out" option than Walsh, as good as Luke is he has been a walking injury since 2005.

I dont really mind who wears the #7, as long as it is one of those 2. I personally beleive that Dureau is more suited to our teams requirements than Walsh right now.

 

[otori]

I really don't understand why people think defence is such an important quality to have in such young halves. From a guy living in Brisbane and watching a lot of Broncos games, I can tell you that Darren Lockyer was never hugely great at defence until later in his career.

The point I'm making is that defence can be learnt and taught while that certain instinct that's required in sniffing out opportunities that all great halfbacks have (Johns, Langer, Thurston) really must be inherent. The little I've seen of Dureau, I think he's got an excellent footy brain.

 

[perverse]

I really don't understand why people think defence is such an important quality to have in such young halves. From a guy living in Brisbane and watching a lot of Broncos games, I can tell you that Darren Lockyer was never hugely great at defence until later in his career.

The point I'm making is that defence can be learnt and taught while that certain instinct that's required in sniffing out opportunities that all great halfbacks have (Johns, Langer, Thurston) really must be inherent. The little I've seen of Dureau, I think he's got an excellent footy brain.

tbh i think it's just because we have had such a defensively weak team over the past few years.. despite having the most defensively capable halves pairing (debatable) in the NRL in Johns + a second rower/gidley at 5/8th.

 

[~knights~]

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.

what makes you say that? :?

Dureau was the one who was coming off the bench for both trials in 1st grade where walsh hasn't played any 1st grade

 

[randy chicken]

attention karmawave...........go and watch a game of rugby league ...its obvious you dont know a thing about the game

 

[Pumba]

attention karmawave...........go and watch a game of rugby league ...its obvious you dont know a thing about the game

Fire Up Randy!!!

 

[perverse]

rofl, f**k we're good at making newcomers feel welcome.

then again.. nothing wrong with a good baptism of fire every now and then either.

 

[Pumba]

rofl, f**k we're good at making newcomers feel welcome.

then again.. nothing wrong with a good baptism of fire every now and then either.

Exactly!

 

[roopy]

rofl, f**k we're good at making newcomers feel welcome.

then again.. nothing wrong with a good baptism of fire every now and then either.

The funny thing is randy copped a heap of flak for her pro Dureau views a year or so ago.

 

[Frederick]

tbh i think it's just because we have had such a defensively weak team over the past few years.. despite having the most defensively capable halves pairing (debatable) in the NRL in Johns + a second rower/gidley at 5/8th.

Keep Simmo or Houston at his side in defence and it shouldn't be an issue

 

[Karmawave]

what makes you say that? :?

Dureau was the one who was coming off the bench for both trials in 1st grade where walsh hasn't played any 1st grade

Thats purely because Luke Walsh missed the entire preseason pretty much due to illness.

Its as simple as that.

 

[Karmawave]

attention karmawave...........go and watch a game of rugby league ...its obvious you dont know a thing about the game

Oh ok sweet! :lol:

What game do you want me to go and watch?! Scott Dureau playing for the Central Knights over at St Johns Oval Charlestown?

Or the Knights home game against Canberra?

F*ck its going to be funny when Dureau isn't in first grade for at least the entire first month of football ( unless there's a massive injury and Smiths hand is forced )...

Will I get an apology? Or is Brian Smith, and the rest of the Knights coaching staff completely wrong like me, and obviously don't know a thing about the game...

 

[Pika]

Thats purely because Luke Walsh missed the entire preseason pretty much due to illness.

Its as simple as that.

Walsh was listed as fit and ready to play.

He ran out for PL, while Scott played NRL.

Walsh had had four weeks full prep before the Warriors trial.

You may be right, Scott probably wont see first grade over the first few rounds.

Be that as it may, Mullen will shift to 5/8 after a month, and Scott is our first pick halfback, then daylight.

 

[Frederick]

Or is Brian Smith, and the rest of the Knights coaching staff completely wrong like me, and obviously don't know a thing about the game...

Yep, you're all idiots