Webster

[PARRA_FAN]

Thats one of the hardest things about being a Rugby League coach, you've got 20 fit players, you can only pick 17, and a guy like Jake Webster who's one of the best centres in the comp has to miss out. I know its hard to drop someone in the backline theyre doing so well, but I feel for Jake Webster, he's had a great season for the Storm, will definately get a regular spot for the Gold Coast next year, this wouldve been a huge game for Webster.

 

[raiders fan forever]

yeah its diffenatley unlucky for him but thats the way it goes sometimes

 

[Mr Saab]

Thats football.
Maybe if the Storm win Bellamy can give him his GF ring like what Bennett did with Ben Walker in 2000 GF

 

[philstorm]

Poor bloke, but I daresay Kidwell would have known what its like to be 18th man in a Grand Final and would have spoken to him about it.

 

[Hoggy]

I dare say if he had shown us loyalty throughout the year, he would never have been dropped in the first place.

 

[girvie]

I dare say if he had shown us loyalty throughout the year, he would never have been dropped in the first place.

I think he should be in the Storm's strongest line-up and was left out for those reasons.

 

[philstorm]

I think he should be in the Storm's strongest line-up and was left out for those reasons.

What reasons? Turner is a far better player than Webster is - particularly in defence. While Websters offence is markedly better, his lapses in defence can cost his team the match - and almost did against the Bulldogs earlier this year at Olympic (rather ironic that he scored the winning try that day, eh? ;-))

 

[Special K]

Webster is big enough to play a role similar to what Hape played in the tri nations last year. Big fast center playing in the backrow. I reckon he'd go better then Jeremy Smith from the limited games i've seen of Smith. Not knocking Smith but Webster is a gun of a player its amazing he can be left out of the 17.

 

[philstorm]

FWIW, who would you have dropped from the backline Girvie?

Slater - Amazing player when on form
Turner - is our best defensive player back
King - Nothing needs to be said
Inglis -
Geyer - Perhaps this is the bloke you're talking about? His finals experience (particularly for this match), makes him one of our most valuable players going into Sunday ...

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

i would drop King t b completely honest, i find that Webster is much more valuable at club level

 

[philstorm]

Webster is big enough to play a role similar to what Hape played in the tri nations last year. Big fast center playing in the backrow. I reckon he'd go better then Jeremy Smith from the limited games i've seen of Smith. Not knocking Smith but Webster is a gun of a player its amazing he can be left out of the 17.

Fair point Special K, but as I said earlier, his defensive game isn't anything flash. While Smith at least offers something in both attack and defence, Webster offers virtually nothing in defence.

I reckon he's been a fantastic player for us this year, but I can't lie about his defence (notably his tackling technique), it's atrocious. Hopefully Gillmeister will be able to work on that with him at the Titans!

 

[Deleted member 10972]

i would drop King t b completely honest, i find that Webster is much more valuable at club level

King was the best player on the field vs Dragons. Shut down Gaz, & made him look like more of a deadset dope than he already does when running at him. Was impossible to bring down. Webster is the weakest link, worst player in the backline after him are Hill & Geyer, maybe Inglis to 5-8, etc, but those two wouldn't miss the GF in their final club games.

 

[philstorm]

i would drop King t b completely honest, i find that Webster is much more valuable at club level

King? Our Australian/NSW rep who's been in sublime form all season? :?

 

[girvie]

I would drop Turner. He has had a good year but i think Webster is better.

But they won't drop Turner because they want him to stay.

 

[philstorm]

Rubbish, he's the better player purely and simply. Much better defence though slightly worse offence.

 

[lockyno1]

Agreed philstorm! Webster is a dead turnstile in defence! At least Turner can tackle!

 

[Charlie124]

Webster is a dead turnstile in defence!

some could argue that a dead turnstile would be one that wouldnt let anyone through, making webster the best defencive centre in history.


others wouldnt.

 

[lockyno1]

You know what I meant! Grrr!

 

[Phillips]

he should be picked ahead of geyer..

 

[Ice777]

Webster is big enough to play a role similar to what Hape played in the tri nations last year. Big fast center playing in the backrow. I reckon he'd go better then Jeremy Smith from the limited games i've seen of Smith. Not knocking Smith but Webster is a gun of a player its amazing he can be left out of the 17.

Another thing with having Smith in the side over Webster is he adds alot more toughness and grunt that we lose not having Crocker in the side. While he's not as attacking as Jake, he's defensively sound and to me that's a big difference that will go a long way to help winning the game.

While it would've been nice to have Crocker in, if Jeremy Smith plays it certainly does offset the loss in the toughness department because the bloke only knows one way and that's hard.