Who's our 5/8th next year?

[_addict]

Just to elaborate, since the individual mentioned has you on ignore, and in case you really weren't sure of my point. I was being general rather than thread specific. I think you were too given that you said 'rant's' rather than 'rant'.

Feddie's original post in this thread mentioned that TL's defence would be a step up, which was fairly innocuous, his second was defending TL, after which a debate escalated around Maloney's defence and other values. The only place he really ranted that wasn't in defence of a player was the one in which he questioned the logic of

how dare people mention Maloneys defense which has been much worse than the 2010 and 2011 seasons and directly responsible for multiple tries now. You can't say anything about it because he is kicking goals at 76%

Quite beyond feddie though it seems to me that most rants (mine too) occur when it is felt someone isn't getting a fair go

 

[Warrior@Heart]

Well since Maloney is leaving, who's our kicker next year?

 

[Fast Eddie]

Just to elaborate, since the individual mentioned has you on ignore, and in case you really weren't sure of my point. I was being general rather than thread specific. I think you were too given that you said 'rant's' rather than 'rant'.

Feddie's original post in this thread mentioned that TL's defence would be a step up, which was fairly innocuous, his second was defending TL, after which a debate escalated around Maloney's defence and other values. The only place he really ranted that wasn't in defence of a player was the one in which he questioned the logic of

Quite beyond feddie though it seems to me that most rants (mine too) occur when it is felt someone isn't getting a fair go

addict calls it as he sees it!

Well since Maloney is leaving, who's our kicker next year?

If Inu was in our side week in week out I would definitley go with him, when he took over from Burt a few years back he was in the low-mid 80% range. I don't know why they don't have him doing it for the Vulcans? But if he isn't going to be in the side I would like to see Locke do it.

 

[Aragorn]

Just to elaborate, since the individual mentioned has you on ignore, and in case you really weren't sure of my point. I was being general rather than thread specific. I think you were too given that you said 'rant's' rather than 'rant'.

Feddie's original post in this thread mentioned that TL's defence would be a step up, which was fairly innocuous, his second was defending TL, after which a debate escalated around Maloney's defence and other values. The only place he really ranted that wasn't in defence of a player was the one in which he questioned the logic of

Quite beyond feddie though it seems to me that most rants (mine too) occur when it is felt someone isn't getting a fair go

you're beating a dead horse....

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Johnson will kick next year, I'd wager.

 

[_addict]

you're beating a dead horse....

Very well, I dub thee Fine Cotton.

 

[hitro]

Maybe it's gonna be Piri Weepu
I see he is training with Packer and Matilno at Monty's gym

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Johnson will be playing in the 6 jersey
Whilst tommy will be playing in the 7 jersey

 

[Rich102]

Johnson will be playing in the 6 jersey
Whilst tommy will be playing in the 7 jersey

That makes sense.

 

[ozbash]

Johnson will be playing in the 6 jersey
Whilst tommy will be playing in the 7 jersey

Hope not. SJ could develope into the best half we've ever had.

I like Thomas at hooker.

 

[AliN]

Why buy Thomas to play at hooker..the only time he has played there is for the Kiwis.
He plays for one of the top clubs in the ESL at halfback, and has done so for a while.

Hopefully he will be our halfback from next year with Johnson moving the stand off where he comfortably played many NYC games for the Warriors.
That to me makes sense.

As for goal kicking. Locke and Johnson are both pretty damn good at that too.

 

[Kakihara]

From watching the few games i've seen of him at Wigan. Leuluai does his best work from dummy half. He's not even the standout half in the team which happens to be Brett Finch lol.

Not convinced on the guy being a nrl level halfback but i think he'd make a decent hooker or utility player. You just need to watch the first few games of the 2008 World cup to see how crap the Kiwis were before Fein replaced him at halfback.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Surely he'll be at 6, why on earth would we move Johnson?

Anyway it doesn't really matter, regardless of the number on their backs Johnson will be the #1 playmaker and Leuluai will play a secondary role chipping in here and there. Logically I'd say that makes him a 6 but it doesn't really matter.

 

[Aragorn]

I'm predicting him to be a flop next year - most players take a season or two to adjust to the pace and intensity of NRL, and he'll be no different.

And no offense to the SPL, but we've seen from the past that the SPL wouldnt even match up against our reserve grade comp, its that poor.... its a retirement village for ex-nrl players...

 

[jaseg]

SPL? I presume you mean Super League? As in SL, rather than the Scottish Premier League?

...And yet a guy like Luke Burgess can come over after being fairly average at Leeds and command a top 17 spot at Souths (with such a hyped forward pack). Not to mention the likes of Ian Henderson.

Generalizing the whole Super League competition is a silly exercise. It depends on player to player how they adapt coming back and even going there in the first place (Matt King went from international premiership winning star centre to flop in one season). There are plenty of very good players over there. For the record, teams like Wigan, Warrington or Huddersfield (or most of them, really) would murder any reserve grade team here - including our own.

In saying that, the best football I've seen Leuluai play (between SL, NRL and rep) has been at dummy half and I'd like to see him there long term, in the meantime he makes for a handy short term partner to Johnson until one of the youngsters is ready to step up, or a top quality 6 becomes available.

 

[Meth]

I only see Leuluai as an option at 9 (and a very good one). His signing still makes no sense to me with Friend and Mara there.

Bottom line- we need a marquee 6, and we have marquee cash to spend. But there aren't any marquee 6's going that I can see.

 

[beefstew]

I only see Leuluai as an option at 9 (and a very good one). His signing still makes no sense to me with Friend and Mara there.

Bottom line- we need a marquee 6, and we have marquee cash to spend. But there aren't any marquee 6's going that I can see.

Carlos or Ropati would make good stand-offs outside SJ, and they could bring Lockes long kicking game more into
play, which is far better than people realize.

 

[Meth]

Carlos or Ropati would make good stand-offs outside SJ, and they could bring Lockes long kicking game more into
play, which is far better than people realize.

I assume you're talking about Iva?

 

[vvvrulz]

Carlos or Ropati would make good stand-offs outside SJ, and they could bring Lockes long kicking game more into
play, which is far better than people realize.

Ropati is pretty much done.

 

[hitman82]

I'll happily make a bet with anyone here that Thomas Leuluai will definitely be in the halves for us next season. Friend is our hooker and will remain so. TL will be our 6, or possibly 7 with Johnson swapping for stand-off, either way.