Which player do you fear in 2009?

[AILD]

If Campo starts the season well he'll be NSW 5/8th... if he doesnt, it'll be Trent Barrett

jesus christ, lets hope not.

 

[cb4]

baz would be firm favourite for that at this point
either way u wont beat qld!

 

[Raider_69]

jesus christ, lets hope not.

I dont know why everyone is so down on Barrett at state level. I mean his club form often leaves alot to be desired and because of that his selections were often dubious but when he played in the halves for NSW, be it half or 5/8th, i thought he always did his best and was amongst NSW's best.

I think if his form is good for the sharks, we could alot worse then 6. Campese 7. Barrett... sure beats throwing a solid Peter Wallace at QLD, or worse a Mitchell Pearce or Jared Mullen, both who are just not up to that level at this stage of their careers. If Todd Carney wasnt such a reckless fool, the problem would probably be solved... such a waste :x

 

[Yosh]

If we have Barrett and Campese they'll be the biggest halves pairing we've seen in a while... I think they play a little to similar isnt it? I mean none of them are

real halfbacks or organisers... Dont you guys think this will pose a problem?

 

[Loudstrat]

I dont know why everyone is so down on Barrett at state level. I mean his club form often leaves alot to be desired and because of that his selections were often dubious but when he played in the halves for NSW, be it half or 5/8th, i thought he always did his best and was amongst NSW's best.

I think if his form is good for the sharks, we could alot worse then 6. Campese 7. Barrett... sure beats throwing a solid Peter Wallace at QLD, or worse a Mitchell Pearce or Jared Mullen, both who are just not up to that level at this stage of their careers. If Todd Carney wasnt such a reckless fool, the problem would probably be solved... such a waste :x

Agree re Barret. He has had some awesome form in Origin.

But he needs to prove himself again. Two years ago we were all ready to put Jamie Lyon in the Blues 6 because of his man of steel form at St Helens. Yet he wasn't up to it - he's become a solid, experienced first grader and little more. Barrett may be the same.

I think Wallace should be half again in Origin, providing his form in the early rounds is good. And with Heather as his pivot, he has the jump on Barret and Mullen.

I could well imagine a Wallace/Barret combo working very well. Wallace is a good ball mover and reads the game well. Barrett is an excellent runner, and sets his outside men up well. He's not as good at it as Heather is, but he is a better defender and stronger physically.

Either way - just like last year, early form will decide the spots. I'd have Wallace as favorite at half, with challenges from Mullen, Barret and Finch as an outsider. At pivot, the field is wide open, with Barrett, Campese and Anasta in the frame. But any good form from Barret and Campese, or even Brett Finch will squash any stupid ideas to ever give Anasta a blue jumper again.

 

[grouch]

baz would be firm favourite for that at this point

lol

 

[Raider_69]

If we have Barrett and Campese they'll be the biggest halves pairing we've seen in a while... I think they play a little to similar isnt it? I mean none of them are

real halfbacks or organisers... Dont you guys think this will pose a problem?

Barrett's done it before at that level
as Loudstrat said, it remains to be seen if after 2 years away from the NRL he still has it, but if he does, then he could do the baulk of the organising... add to that Campo did the job when taking over from Carney this year for Canberra, he controlled our side extremely well.

But early form will dictate things... i dont think the 5/8th spot is as wide open as being suggested, it's gotta be either barrett or campese... anasta isnt up to it, we know that, it's been proven time and time again... if campo's form holds up, he's the best NSW have. The way he played last year, it was up there with the best in the last 20 years, very daley/fittler like. It's up to him to prove it wasnt a flash in the pan... if he doesnt reproduce good form, then Barrett is probably the go, with one of the young halves been given another shot.

 

[Yosh]

I am a big fan of Barret and I also agree Anasta is the personification of crap. HOWEVER I dont know yet if Barret still has it in him to be the savior

of NSW. I would love to see Mullen get a go but I dont think he desereves it just yet. He isnt standing up when he has to. Great talent however not quite his time yet...

 

[mozza91]

I would love to see Mullen get a go but I dont think he desereves it just yet. He isnt standing up when he has to. Great talent however not quite his time yet...

I think he deserves a shot as much as anyone he really stood up this year and started to control games he's better then Anasta or Campese and will play for NSW either this year or next

 

[Raider_69]

I think he deserves a shot as much as anyone he really stood up this year and started to control games he's better then Anasta or Campese and will play for NSW either this year or next

Outrageous. To suggest Mullen stood up this year :?
he was very average most of the year, thats why Wallace and Pearce were selected in origin before him... he didnt even play country origin, he's a talented kid no doubts but he was solid at best in 08... to suggest he is better then Campese who was in the australian WC squad and was the form player in the game over the last 12 rounds of the season... well, it defies beleif and i dont think even knights would argue against the fact Campese is a better player then Mullen at this stage of their careers.

Serious question, did campo run over your cat or something?

 

[Jono078]

Mullen's attacking kicking game was poor this year, he didn't set up many tries with the boot.

 

[mozza91]

Outrageous. To suggest Mullen stood up this year :?
he was very average most of the year, thats why Wallace and Pearce were selected in origin before him... he didnt even play country origin, he's a talented kid no doubts but he was solid at best in 08... to suggest he is better then Campese who was in the australian WC squad and was the form player in the game over the last 12 rounds of the season... well, it defies beleif and i dont think even knights would argue against the fact Campese is a better player then Mullen at this stage of their careers.

Serious question, did campo run over your cat or something?

He did stand up watch the games against Titans(outplayed Prince easily),Tigers,Cowboys(twice),Panthers,Manly(the first time) and the Bulldogs he was outstanding he started calling the shots more and took contol of games.
Campese is the height of consistency then he was unheard of until he scored all those points and he really stood up when it mattered against the Sharks in the semis didn't he.
the guy is ok at best and does not deserve the raps that he has gotten

 

[tiger_nick]

7. wallace 6.campese would definetly be favourites at this stage. however a lot can change in the space of half a season.

last year who would have thought wallace and pearce would play for nsw and campese would play for australia?

 

[mozza91]

Mullen's attacking kicking game was poor this year, he didn't set up many tries with the boot.

We don't need to rely on kicks for tries though we have the players with the ball skills to not have to rely on kicking all the time

 

[Jono078]

That's not really the point. In a year where it was much easier to get a try from kicks we failed. Mostly due to poor attacking kicks by Mullen.

He only set up 6 for the year with kicks I think, and only 2 in the first 20 weeks.

I'm the only one who seems to think he was poor and his attacking kicking game let us down.

 

[mozza91]

That's not really the point. In a year where it was much easier to get a try from kicks we failed. Mostly due to poor attacking kicks by Mullen.

He only set up 6 for the year with kicks I think, and only 2 in the first 20 weeks.

I'm the only one who seems to think he was poor and his attacking kicking game let us down.

His attacking wasn't great but it didn't cost us im
Our attack was never the problem the poor disipline cost us we should have at least three more games if the disipline was better too many penalties from one player in particular cost us

 

[Jono078]

Lot of close games we had, that 1 better attacking kicking option could easily be the difference.

Overall though it was poor and didn't compare to other halves in the comp.

 

[mozza91]

Lot of close games we had, that 1 better attacking kicking option could easily be the difference.

Overall though it was poor and didn't compare to other halves in the comp.

Overall general kicking was fine in terms of hitting the grass and 40/20's better than most teams but trying tyo get back to back sets and tries from kicks weren't great but that was as much Dureau as Mullen also guys like Jimmy,Vuna and Naiqama ain't great leapers like Folau,Monaghan etc

 

[The Engineers Room]

As a Parramatta fan I fear Brett Finch. Because if he plays badly we don't have much else.

 

[melon....]

It would be great if i never have to see him grab his neck again this year.

or anyone elses for that matter....

Mason. Will bounce back and have a bigger season than 04.