Who's our 5/8th next year?

[vvvrulz]

And that missed tackle last week on Moltzen, whilst a kneejerk to what happened most recently I know, was awful.

To be fair, Hurrell was there too and slipped off Moltzen completely.

 

[hitman82]

To be fair, Hurrell was there too and slipped off Moltzen completely.

Difference being, Moltzen was Maloney's man. Maloney rushed up and in, leaving the gap too big for Hurrell to stand a chance of covering. If it'd been Manu or Inu, I would be ranting and raving about it.

This is a prime example of where TL will be an improvement... He would have smashed Moltzen with a ball-and-all tackle. :lol:

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Absolutely, Hurrell was hanging off on Ayshford and had to try and commit to Moltzen when Maloney was left for dead. He has to trust his inside defender, not like his predecessor Jerome who always presumed they'd miss, rush in and leave a yawning gap.

I think Maloney has got a reputation as being a good defender because he hits hard and willingly. However, he gets caught out too much.

 

[vvvrulz]

Granted that was a bad miss from Maloney, there were also a lot of situations where Fish was in no man's land which also led to tries. Benji caught him out over and over.

 

[hitman82]

Granted that was a bad miss from Maloney, there were also a lot of situations where Fish was in no man's land which also led to tries. Benji caught him out over and over.

Absolutely! I think it was no coincidence that the Fish comes back and our defensive line looks shoddy again. Remember his last two games? Our defense was Hideous...
I don't think he positions himself or communicates well.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I'm surprised at the lukewarm reaction to TL, I've never really been a big fan of him (he has done a good job at hooker for the Kiwis tho) but he'll be a good fit at 6 for the Warriors. Certainly won't be much of a step down from Maloney if any step down at all.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Absolutely! I think it was no coincidence that the Fish comes back and our defensive line looks shoddy again. Remember his last two games? Our defense was Hideous...
I don't think he positions himself or communicates well.

Don't get me started on Fish. Proving himself to be hugely over-rated and one of those too good for one level, not good enough for the one up sort of players.

Okay, I'm jumping the gun in some respects that he's only played a few NRL matches at No.1. But he's played plenty at senior level, and 20s, and should be positionally better, more willing to get involved and a better talker. He's none of those.

 

[vvvrulz]

Call me crazy, but I'd rather see Topou at the back and Fish given a go on the wing.

 

[Doug the Morpork]

Call me crazy, but I'd rather see Topou at the back and Fish given a go on the wing.

Lol at all you Fish haters. His positioning was fine, bar a few times where he was maybe a little bit out of position. You obviously have no idea how fullbacks work and are just jumping on the bandwagon. Saying that our weak defense was because of him is laughable and shows how little you know able rugby league in general. He is one of our most promising prospects and will be a star in the the future.

If he was given a chance like Locke last year, and given 6 or 7 games in a row I have no doubt that he would be a great player. Being able to form combinations with players and not just being thrown in the deep end when someone gets injured.

And when people dismiss his form for the Vulcans the 20 tries he has scored, just look at the current NSW centre Jennings for example. He did nothing in his game for Windsor against the Vulcans and didn't score a bucket load of tries like some people suggest top class players would. The Fish absolutely dominates that competition every week and has shown he is just way to good to be there.

I know he needs to work on some things and defense is not his strong point but some of the claims that are being made about him are just stupid. With experience in first grade I firmly believe that he will become a superstar and do what hes is doing to NSW cup teams to NRL teams. Also funny how no one is talking about how safe he was under high ball or how his kick returns were 10 times better than last time he played.

 

[vvvrulz]

Lol at all you Fish haters. His positioning was fine, bar a few times where he was maybe a little bit out of position. You obviously have no idea how fullbacks work and are just jumping on the bandwagon.

In that second half, almost every time Benji grubbered or Moltzen crashed through, Fish was nowhere to be found. He had improved from the Roosters/Canberra fiasco but he's no FG fullback (yet) and I really want to see some of that pace put to use on the wings.

But hey what do I know about fullbacks or rugby league. :lol:

 

[_addict]

Fish was safe under the high ball and his kick-returns were 10 times better than the other week.

He is too good to be discounted, even though I was septic at him a few weeks back, i would be,'scuze the pun, gutted if we just tossed The Fish. How do we get him in the team though? Locke to me is a better FB ATM

 

[Warmess]

Give Vatuvei Lousi's spot and throw Fish on the wing? ?

Really though he'll either spend his Warriors career waiting for Locke to get injured or he should be putting some pressure on for Tupou's spot, since Vatuvei will never get dropped.

 

[jaseg]

Battle between Leuluai and Godinet. Surprised that not many here have mentioned Godinet, he looked controlled and assured against the Storm at halfback a few weeks ago and was also encouraging towards the end of last year (albeit at dummy half). He could be the man to partner Johnson.

The best thing? The loser of this long term battle can always slot into the hooking rotation when Friend leaves / is injured.

 

[Doug the Morpork]

In that second half, almost every time Benji grubbered or Moltzen crashed through, Fish was nowhere to be found. He had improved from the Roosters/Canberra fiasco but he's no FG fullback (yet) and I really want to see some of that pace put to use on the wings.

But hey what do I know about fullbacks or rugby league. :lol:

Lol. Benji was kicking to the space, obviously he wasn't going to kick to the Fish. And when Moltzen got his try he was 10 meters from our goal line and no fullback could of done anything. Benji had a very good game and has on song with his kicking the Fish was always there to clean up the grubbers and Locke would of done the same.

I to want to see him on the wing as Locke deserves to be the fullback, but I think in time Locke will move to five eight and Fish will take the reigns at fullback. I mean i'm not arguing his game at fullback is perfect just the hate he gets on here is over exaggerated and unwarranted.

But yeah I see no problem with him learning his trade in the NRL on wing first and who knows he could end up being a very good wing, with the speed, agility and finishing prowess he has.

 

[joseph1]

Locke to 5/8 ala Preston Campbell. Fish to fullback. Leululai to reserve hooker/utility. Hurrell and Nielson at centres, Henry, Mannering, Taylor the second-rowers, Manu to prop, Slaimankel to wing. Bam!

 

[vvvrulz]

Manu to prop

:crazy:

 

[Aragorn]

Manu to prop

that works for me...

 

[Warrior@Heart]

Fish doesn't have the anticipation required of a first grade fullback yet, he doesn't read the play well enough to know where or when the kick is coming. He also doesn't follow the ball enough for my liking, some players just don't have the defensive awareness of the great fullbacks (Billy Slater, Brett Stewart, Anthony Minichello). Jarryd Hayne has been playing at the back for a few years now and still gets caught out of position. In that aspect Kevin Locke is miles ahead.

 

[Warrior@Heart]

And I think TL will be fine, his short kicking and short passing game is adequate, he's a good support player and a far better defender than Maloney. If he comes to the warriors and provides experience and doesn't overplay his hand I think he could turn our right edge into a solid unit. TL, Mannering, Hurrell & Tupou on one side. Johnson, Mateo, Neilsen, Slaimankle/Fish on the other.

 

[Iafeta]

I thought Fish had a good game, TBH. I didn't think he was out of position much at all. THe Tuqiri try maybe, but weren't they spreading the ball from the other side of the field? He can't be everywhere. He did coincidentally save a try from a scoot from dummy half as well.