Will Gallen still have to carry the Sharks?

[azzah72]

BURNING QUESTIONS FOR 2012: Will captain courageous Gallen have to do it all again? Is Carney the right fit for Cronulla? And who will play halfback?

Which Todd Carney will arrive?

The Cronulla Sharks may have snatched the signing of the season when they tied up Todd Carney – or they may have secured a pricey flop. It depends which version of the talented but troubled star shows up at the Shire next season.

If it's the Carney who burst onto the scene as a Raiders rookie and later won the 2010 Dally M medal with the Roosters, Cronulla will be a genuine attacking threat for the first time in years.

But if it's the Carney whose off-field blunders and inconsistent form saw him axed by both the Raiders and Roosters, the Sharks' premiership drought will certainly continue.

In 2010 Carney successfully stayed out of trouble, carried the tricolours all the way to the grand final, took out the NRL's biggest individual honour and seemed destined to become Darren Lockyer's successor as the Australia five-eighth.

Yet last season he was well below his best, eventually being kicked out of Bondi after snubbing a team-imposed booze ban.

One of rugby league's best players on his day, Carney has reportedly been training well at his latest club and could be the vital weapon the Sharks have lacked for so long.

Surely even he must know that this will be his final chance of an NRL career. Surely?

Who will play halfback?

Carney's arrival means the Sharks now have a surplus of options in the halves. Wade Graham was the club's star signing a year ago, Albert Kelly was a revelation early last season and young gun Chad Townsend impressed in the top grade in late 2011. Ex-Parramatta half Jeff Robson has also arrived at the club.

Assuming Carney takes the five-eighth spot, coach Shane Flanagan will have plenty of options for the number seven shirt.

Kelly's pre-season off-field woes could mean he drops out of contention, while Graham has been mooted for a possible shift into the forward pack. Word is Townsend has been training well and may have the inside running, with youth and potential on his side. Alternatively, Graham could start in the halfback jersey and replace Paul Gallen at lock when the skipper is away on Origin duty.

Whatever option Flanagan takes, he has the luxury of knowing there are plenty of halves waiting in the wings should the starting No.7 fail to impress. Competition for places can't be a bad thing. Cronulla's halves contributed the fewest try assists of any team in the NRL last season - something sure to change in 2012.

Will the Sharks' pack over-rely on Gallen again?

Paul Gallen was at his tireless best last season, although the Sharks invariably struggled when their captain was on NSW duty. Gallen's 429 carries for the season was a massive 37 per cent more than his next best teammate.

This year they have also lost their two best props, with workhorse Luke Douglas joining the Titans and Kangaroo Kade Snowden heading to Newcastle.

But Cronulla aren't short on new recruits either. Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita arrive from the Tigers, Ben Ross returns from the Rabbitohs and hooker Isaac De Gois returns after a stint in Newcastle. Knight Mark Taufua and Dragon Jon Green will provide added depth to the pack.

Motivation for the new faces shouldn't be an issue. The likes of Gibbs and De Gois will feel they have plenty to prove after being bumped out of their former clubs by new star signings.

It makes for a new-look forward pack for the men from the Shire - the idea is that this strength in depth should lighten the load significantly on Gallen this year.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.

http://www.bigpondsport.com/will-ga...the-sharks/tabid/91/newsid/82901/default.aspx

 

[carinashark]

Green and Ross = useless!
Douglas = last chance, last season.
Kelly = needs to join big head at the Raiders, see yar.
Robson = running on old legs.
We dont need the above in 2013 or this year.

 

[cb4]

Green and Ross = useless!
Douglas = last chance, last season.
Kelly = needs to join big head at the Raiders, see yar.
Robson = running on old legs.
We dont need the above in 2013 or this year.

Who is Douglas?

 

[carinashark]

Wade Graham, my apologies.
Green and Ross = useless!
Wade Graham = last chance, last season.
Kelly = needs to join big head at the Raiders, see yar.
Robson = running on old legs.
We dont need the above in 2013 or this year.
__________________
Our shire our team!

 

[Getemonside]

The trouble with Graham is that he is not, and never will be a halfback!!! Truth be told he is not a 5/8 either. He is a lock forward. Given our depth in that area, including the great man, I doubt we will see him hit his straps this year.

Solution - Move Gal to the pigs (thus getting him out of the backline) and put Graham in that loose forward role terrorising the short side.

 

[Ausguy]

i agree getemon but he'd be in the 6 or 7 before gards would be in my opinion.

 

[Getemonside]

Agree 100% Aus. Gards will have more impact this year with TC in the halves. The 'special play' we had last year we he loomed up on the inside to get smashed will be a thing of the past IMO. He is a fullback despite a few brain explosions last season. We gotta remember that even the Peach made a few blunders early in his career.

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

Wade Graham, my apologies.
Green and Ross = useless!
Wade Graham = last chance, last season.
Kelly = needs to join big head at the Raiders, see yar.
Robson = running on old legs.
We dont need the above in 2013 or this year.
__________________
Our shire our team!

Dont care much for Robson and Green.....back-up only imo
Kelly.....plenty of potential but just about in the too hard basket
Ross has plenty to prove & feels like he owes the Sharks from his last stint here..will go well barring injury.
Wade Graham....feel like you're being a bit harsh there....went ok in a beaten side last year....young and can only improve with some better players around him

 

[carcharias]

gal > prop.

 

[carinashark]

You are wasting attacking meters with Gards at FB actually murdering them with Wade Graham. But im not going to talk about Wade . Its all about speed over the 10 meters , the small gaps that players like Carney, Gardner and De Gois can exploit. Why wait for Gardener to come in frrom FB ? He should be in the attack from kick off , ok he will make or be forced to make mistakes but he will learn fast. Bring Townsend into the mix as well , the min Gards gets an injury he goes in, and in some games Gards goes to FB and Townsend plays the 80. I would be looking at Peachy , Bakuya at lock and putting Wade at FB if he has to be in the team .

 

[cb4]

You are wasting attacking meters with Gards at FB actually murdering them with Wade Graham. But im not going to talk about Wade . Its all about speed over the 10 meters , the small gaps that players like Carney, Gardner and De Gois can exploit. Why wait for Gardener to come in frrom FB ? He should be in the attack from kick off , ok he will make or be forced to make mistakes but he will learn fast. Bring Townsend into the mix as well , the min Gards gets an injury he goes in, and in some games Gards goes to FB and Townsend plays the 80. I would be looking at Peachy , Bakuya at lock and putting Wade at FB if he has to be in the team .

Thank god you will never coach the Sharks.

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

Like the idea of gards being closer to the action in attack but feel that it would be negated by the fact that the big fellas would run at him all day and trample him. For biggest impact he needs to selectively inject himself at the right times and i think he'll get plenty of chances off Carney,Degaw,Toups and Gal.

 

[carinashark]

Dont be so shure about that CB4. Please counter my halves argument.

 

[cb4]

No worries, the 2 best halves in the trials will be selected. There you go.

You sure you will be? Im shure you won't be!

 

[carinashark]

On trials form , really? Jest yes?

 

[Vin Fizz]

Certainly an out there suggestion Carina. Haven't thought of Gards as a half and I must say I don't think he has the football brain. Have said in another thread that he reminds me of Kearney and I s'pose he played in the halves at times. For mine he's far better exploiting the gaps at speed which he would have less space to generate in the halves. Carney should create those opportunties for him on the back of a tired defence which is going backwards due our pack and particular those Cam Smith like darts that Degwah should produce. Also Gal doesn't want to play in the front row at club level (read BSB interview thread).

 

[RUBIKS]

You are wasting attacking meters with Gards at FB actually <cut> Its all about speed over the 10 meters , the small gaps that players like Carney, Gardner and De Gois can exploit. Why wait for Gardener to come in frrom FB ?

Not sure I understand...

Are you saying Slater/Stewart/Boyd waste or are wasting attacking meters by playing FB?

I'm fairly sure the answer is no. It's all about when you chime into the attack. Slater for example gets the ball right on the attacking line and bursts through, using that acceleration and speed over the 10 meters you mention. When and where he chimes in is what makes the difference, the play that diverts defensive attentions elsewhere, not the number on his back...

Fix up the set plays, the soft hands, player awareness and you'll see at lot more 6&7 combinations with 1 for a four pointer.

The added bonus is from FB, Gardner can take advantage of broken play.

 

[carinashark]

Slater has Cronk and Stewart has Foran we have Gards and Graham and Gards and Townsend. Gards should be at 7 to maximise attacking potential and energy not hanging around the back for a play to eventuate . Thats my point about waste. We waste , other teams create. We play boreing, how did we get this way? Remember when?

 

[Ads]

We now have carney though so that's a moot point. Last year I could see a reason for Gards to play half but not this year.

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

We've played boring for quite a few years now....Think that the idea is on the back of DeGois and Carney that Gards will have more opportunities created for him. Gards should model his game on Slater and pick and choose when he makes his move. Imo Gards tried to do too much last year...for him it should be more about quality not quantity of plays he involves himself in.