Who do you rate as the biggest loss?

[perverse]

yeah, he was doing the lame duck routine a little bit when he first hit first grade, roops. seems like a distant memory now, these days he can't bloody wait to hit the line and get up. full credit to him, his development as a player has been an absolute pleasure to watch, and im sure it was in the lower grades, too.

 

[Alex28]

Wonder who'll leave the biggest dent in the team if they went down injured... Kidley, Uate? Perhaps Boyd?

Boyd by a mile. Most talented of the spine.

 

[Rolla]

Boyd by a mile. Most talented of the spine.

Agree.

How exciting!

 

[League_God]

Uate is our go-forward and our x-factor. Take Uate out of our best 2011 team and we having nothing. The only thing Uate doesn't do is kick. I just had a random Aku memory, did anyone else laugh during a game vs the tigers this year when Tolar took a hit-up and got clobbered by Ellis, we completed that set, then they completed their next set and Uate took a run from dummy-half and Ellis came rushing out of the line only for Uate to run straight over the top of him? A perfect summary of our side at the time.

 

[Rolla]

Uate is massive for us. It is just a little hard to say (even embarrassing) that our most influential player is our winger haha. I would be disapointed if none of our spine take that tag next season.

 

[Alex28]

We haven't even seen the team play under Bennett and the new structure. I sincerely hope Uate sticks to his wing a little more and guys like Boyd, Mullen and Gidley can be the influential ones...

 

[Rolla]

We haven't even seen the team play under Bennett and the new structure. I sincerely hope Uate sticks to his wing a little more and guys like Boyd, Mullen and Gidley can be the influential ones...

I am happy for him to come in and get involved as long as it is planned and not because of:

a) the halves/centre cant get him decent ball

b) Nobody inside him looks like doing the dirty work, busting the line, or putting anything on.

 

[Allstar Knights]

I know it's more the props job, but I seriously love seeing Aku getting us going forward on the first or second tackle with one of his massive charges. I don't want to see him get that out of his game.

It's the 3rd, 4th and 5th tackle where you want him staying on the wing though for an attacking set move, or kick.

 

[Alex28]

Mate - that isn't his job and it is part of the reason why he does stupid metres every game. I'd rather quality wing metres rather than doing the work of others.

 

[TooheysNew]

Actually, i'm sure I read somewhere that our wingers taking first hit up is part of the game plan, thus making it his job.

 

[The Joker]

The loss of Steve Witt to the high life of being the real estate tychoon of Windale

 

[Alex28]

Actually, i'm sure I read somewhere that our wingers taking first hit up is part of the game plan, thus making it his job.

And thus why our front rowers don't make 100 metres plus a game and in turn cop a bagging here for it.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Mate - that isn't his job and it is part of the reason why he does stupid metres every game. I'd rather quality wing metres rather than doing the work of others.

Mate, that is the game plan of just about every NRL side.

Forwards are up in the line when the opposition kicks. They simply cant be expected to sprint back the 40-60m to be there for the 1st hit up.

Its a backs job in the modern game. Its not changing anytime soon

 

[perverse]

correct. it is absolutely Aku's job, and he's brilliant at it.

 

[Jono078]

Cooper Vuna was good at it too

 

[perverse]

McManus is pretty good in this department, too... just not as flashy. often makes 10-15m on his dummy half work.

 

[billy2]

I'd like to see Aku doing less donkey work and injecting himself into the attack ala Nathan Blacklock a bit more.

He is good at hitups, and it is part of the game since the Broncos used Tuquiri and Sailor in that way over 10 years ago, but if i had my choice between him doing 10 hitups or injecting himself into the attack 10 times, i'd take the later.
Any fool can do a hitup. Only Uate can slice through a defensive line, step half a team and run 60 to score.

 

[Alex28]

Good god...Roopy and I agree on something. Aku is far too talented to be wasting his energy doing hit ups.

 

[TooheysNew]

billy, not roopy.

 

[Joker's Wild]

lol of course Coby

Im not sure Aku could possibly get more involved than he is now, whether its "donkey work" or running back line moves.

So who would take over his workload if he were to stop taking early hitups? Honestly, we would be a far less effective team without it