Who won the Head vrs Morris match up

[super_coach]

After Johnny Cronk had his best half of footy in 2008 he threw the challenge out their for Head in the second half.

From what i saw fom nine coverage, Morris was playing into the wind and although did little in attack but was strong in defence. Although still charging out of the line to make tackles and the better sides will make him look silly. But once again I thought he went better than okay.

Second half head comes on and things start to happen, good kicking and passing game although has a strong wind at his back and his early defence a bit iffy.

Channel nine's team all were vocal about how they thought Sheens should have his 6 and 7 and like most people I agree, but iam worried about having Benji and Head defending in close. One things for certain we cant afford to be having two forty minute no7. We need one to be driving the show for the whole 80 minutes.

What will Sheens do come tuesday, I bet no changes

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Morris was solid. A change from his usual dross. He was also sound defensively, though rushing up out of the line like he does he'll be eaten alive against better sides.

When Head came on and was directing the side, we looked a much better team. He oozes class. He's not great defensively, but neither was Prince. We won the comp with two halves who couldn't tackle, so I don't see that as an issue.

Head must be the #7.

 

[themanonthehill]

Morris was again garbage. Who could forget his 2 penalties (the first half one for offside and the one 3 tackles after half time) that Newcastle scored from after the Johnny Cronk piggy back. We are a far more dangerous side with Head there.

Coach Shines was scathing in the ABC interview. Promised changes and also gave Benji a serve for his defence and said sizzler would `have him by the ears'

All in all I've had a great weekend:
- awesome party last night
- awesome after party
- got given a free ticket in at the pie shop across from EAS
- 2 points
- back home by quarter to 7

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I think it's less of a concern having Benji defending in close, sure he rushed out for that Knights first try but when he made contact with a tackle, I'm pretty sure he stuck every time today which was very pleasing. First game back I'm not going to crucify him for a couple of poor reads, something that Morris has done plenty of.

Personally, halves are there for their attacking ability not their defensive ability. If the best we can hope from Morris is that he defends well then he should be punted. Head looked infinitely more dangerous and when we were inside their 20m in the first half, not sure Morris actually touched the ball? That's not what you want from a first grade halfback. Morris played ok, but that was because we had Farah and Benji (and of course Hodgo) handling the play-making duties, relieving Morris of the pressure. When Head came on, he relieved those guys of the pressure.

I have no problems with him being the fourth interchange player who gets 15 minutes at the end of the game to spot Farah / Benji / Head / Halatau if we're ahead, or come on and try to add some spark earlier if we're behind. But he doesn't belong in the starting 13 if everyone's fit.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Coach Shines was scathing in the ABC interview. Promised changes

Guess that means Head gone. :roll:

 

[themanonthehill]

Or Marshall ... there's an article about sheens slamming benji as a liability on foxsports

 

[hybrid_tiger]

He's fuming:

Sheens lets rip at Marshall law
By Todd Balym
May 18, 2008
BENJI Marshall has made a triumphant return from injury, bagging a brace of tries as Wests Tigers defeated Newcastle 38-26, but Tigers coach Tim Sheens let rip on the playmaker - slamming him as a defensive liability.

Marshall scored two tries, kicked a massive 40-20 that led to another try and pitched a perfect cross-field kick for another try as the Tigers claimed victory in front of 20,154 fans at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

But his attacking brilliance was tempered by poor defence, as he missed four tackles - two of which led directly to Newcastle tries.

Sheens is fed up with Marshall's defensive attitude, and is no longer prepared to make excuses for the New Zealand international. The fact that Marshall is returning from a fifth bout of shoulder surgery is no excuse, Sheens said.

"You can't allow tries to be scored through you, either," Sheens said when asked about Marshall's moments of attacking brilliance.

"I would say there's an issue of self-preservation there. Some I can understand, others I can't accept. He finished last season doing that, and this year I'm still concerned about his attitude and ability in defence. It's a worry.

"I can also understand if I had five shoulder surgeries, I might be a bit worried, too. But we've got to find a balance there, and he has to understand he can't just allow tries to be scored through him or near him otherwise they're going to be chasing him all year.

"He is going to have to pull his finger out and make some decisions."

Marshall refused to talk afterwards.

Tigers hooker Robbie Farah meanwhile completed his first game in seven weeks, after a back injury, but even he was told not to talk, offering only that Sheens gave his side a massive post-victory rocket.

Sheens was livid that his side conceded several "soft" tries in a game he rated at "under-20s standard", with only a run of four successive tries midway through the second half getting his side over the line.

Tigers full-back Brett Hodgson bagged a first-half double while Ben Te'o, Liam Fulton and Shannon McDonnell also scored tries for the Tigers.

Newcastle five-eighth Chris Bailey scoreda first half hat-trick, and Cooper Vuna and Scott Dureau also crossed.

Newcastle coach Brian Smith was equally annoyed at his side's performance, and he refused to blame the short turnaround from the intense loss to Melbourne last Monday.

Newcastle had control of the game when Dureau darted over from dummy half two minutes after half-time, for a 22-16 lead, but they then meekly surrendered until a late revival.

"We lacked some intensity and we certainly lacked consistency within the game, and we paid a pretty savage price in the end," Smith said.

"That is a blowout score for us. We have not had any of those this year, and that's very disappointing.

"It just felt like it was a game ... if we got our stuff together, we could have managed to win it. Collectively as a unit, we did not get that intensity or steely resolve or willingness to do extra for your mates to keep the opposition at bay."

 

[super_coach]

I thought Benji's defence wasnt great, but gee Sheens loves to give him a gob full, never seems to give a no7 the same spray when he has a bad day at the office

 

[themanonthehill]

Shines is a great believer in double standards
Lets get this straight:
- Benji scored 2 tries
- set up another with a kick
- kicked a 40-20 where we scored from the next set

And morris did ??????????????????????????????????????/

 

[Navjot]

Benji s defence was crap no heart all arm grabs, sheens has every right to give him a spray, no good scoring 2 and letting 3 in past you, morris went ok for a change.

 

[Spank]

Morris played well bar a few errors BUT did anyone else notice that soon as Morris went off and we had Hodg, Farah, Marshall & Head out there we scored 4 straight trys... surely that tells Sheens something ??

 

[themanonthehill]

Benji contributed to 4 tries
Even if he let in 2 he's 2 up in my ledger
How many did johnny cronk play a part in apart from his misplace 6 pocket theory bomb ?

 

[Navjot]

hows the old saying go, go in half hearted you are sure to get hurt, take the tip benji forget the injuries and rip in.

 

[Raging Rabbit]

Good win against an in form Newcastle team at home.

Morris was good.

Sheens was right in his assessment of needing to lift a cog or two against The Titans.

Marshall was quiet in the first half and came into his own in the second half.

MOTH acts like a farkwit again.

Same old, same old.

 

[themanonthehill]

Morris played well bar a few errors BUT did anyone else notice that soon as Morris went off and we had Hodg, Farah, Marshall & Head out there we scored 4 straight trys... surely that tells Sheens something ??

Didn't mention his golden boy giving away 2 penalties that marched newcastle down field and let them score 2 tries. Quel surprise

 

[Navjot]

I say benjis 2 he scored were all him no doubt one he had to catch and fall over line, and one great run, 1 he set up for mcdonnell as well, but had let in 4 of knights tries from rushing out of the line, if we criticise morris for doing it benji should get it too.

 

[Navjot]

Benjis at -1 in my book watching the game back again, sheens had every right, self preservation seemed more impotant than the teams best interest. harden up benj and rip in.

 

[themanonthehill]

22 ... 5 shoulder surgeries, knee after 2 mins in game 1, comes back, out 3 wks .. yep he should be very confident in his body. FFS he's 23 and had a ton of major and severe injuries ... ANYONE would be exactly the same as Benji is in the same boat

 

[gurstar]

sheens says he will make changes who do you think will get dropped
payne should be first to go

 

[Navjot]

Defence is attitude and he showed zilch heart he has spent good time off to get those shoulders right by now, the knee will take more time, but hes an arm grabber of the highest order.