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Wtf is wrong with soward?

Father Ted

First Grade
Messages
5,531
For Soward playing with a back injury explains his lack of confidence . When you think about it an injury stops you doing all the things your capable of pysically and you probably spend a lot of time concerned with not agravating the injury so he's not 100% focused on the game plan hence the lack of form.
 

greeny12

Juniors
Messages
241
For Soward playing with a back injury explains his lack of confidence . When you think about it an injury stops you doing all the things your capable of pysically and you probably spend a lot of time concerned with not agravating the injury so he's not 100% focused on the game plan hence the lack of form.

This. On Friday defensively he was putting a bit more into his tackles. So hopefully by next week he'll be back to 100%, and playing so.
 

to_ddeath

Coach
Messages
12,035
This. On Friday defensively he was putting a bit more into his tackles. So hopefully by next week he'll be back to 100%, and playing so.

So then what was the excuse when he failed to even vaguely attempt to stop Widdop near half time & get us penalised instead????


T.
 

Cagey Mac

Bench
Messages
4,005
Soward has got as much confidance at the moment as a virgin with braces on prom night!
With acne and halitosis and at the wrong time of the month
Poor bugger, hope he scores a bunch of tries soon and starts to believe in himself again
 

Cagey Mac

Bench
Messages
4,005
Beau Scott reminded me of Shaun Timmins in his twilight when he'd get a start in the centre's. Bad case of crabbing across the paddock and giving his winger not much to work with. I always thought Timmo crabbed because of his kooky eye alignment and he actually thought he was running a straight line, Beau hasn't got that excuse.


Big Norm
Beau has been known to pass the ball once or twice in his life however
Timmo had to have it surgically removed
 

Minh

First Grade
Messages
8,858
Beau has been known to pass the ball once or twice in his life however
Timmo had to have it surgically removed

A bit like Minichello then Anthony that is, Mark knows that passing motion and the mechanics that goes with it.
 

gypsy

Bench
Messages
4,248
Firstly I am a big fan of Soward, I think he is a very talented footballer....

However it's his style of play which doesn't sit right with me. He plays way too deep. Not just on the last tackle, every time he handles. It results in our outside backs and edge forwards getting the ball from a standing start way too many times.

Gasnier isn't looking the player he once was, because when has he had the chance to? Soward is too deep, he needs to man up and welcome collisions, attract defenders, take a hit for his mates.
Gasnier and co need early quality ball and hitting it at pace, not back pedalling to get behind Soward.

Another major problem, Sowie won't run unless there is a gap in front of him, he won't run to create one. I know he doesn't have the size of most 6's, but he doesn't need to break the line, he just needs to keep a defender interested. This might enable Creagh or Scott to be running at an outside shoulder or arm, as opposed to getting belted like they are now. Sowie needs to help these guys out a bit.

The reason the Tigers looked so dangerous against us is simple, quality outside ball to Lawrence and Ayshford hitting it at pace. Marshall and Lui take the ball to the line, at pace, and they create options.

If i see Beau, then Gaz, then Nighty running backwards one after the other to get behind Sowie, then each other one more time, the remote's going through the Tele.
 
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Father Ted

First Grade
Messages
5,531
I presume he's surposed to run the ball a lot more as it's written on his arm often . A lot of what he's not doing I think comes from carrying an injury and loss of confidence.
 

Mighty Saints

Juniors
Messages
24
G'day guys,

from what I see.....Soward isn't as quick as he was - probably due to injury. He just doesn't have that "off the mark" speed anymore.

In his defence (and with regards to defence), he did make 25 tackles against the Storm. I was pretty impressed with that. He is definitely missing something though.

As for Gaz.......not sure if i want him back in the side - I hope he proves me wrong. I'm not sure his mind is on the job. I think the only reason our attack was all on the left side the other night was the late changes in the team. I think if Stanley were to play centre and train there with Nightingale, we'd see some action.

Peter
 

gypsy

Bench
Messages
4,248
As for Gaz.......not sure if i want him back in the side - I hope he proves me wrong. I'm not sure his mind is on the job. I think the only reason our attack was all on the left side the other night was the late changes in the team. I think if Stanley were to play centre and train there with Nightingale, we'd see some action.

Peter

It wouldn't matter what centre was there, with the quality of ball Gaz is getting.

The Dragons get criticised by Gould and co. for having one play..(the Hornby, Creagh decoy, Boyd out the back, Cooper, B Moz) but the reason we always look dangerous doing it, is because Hornby takes it to the line, and hits Boyd at pace.

Sowie needs to help the guys out on the right, as I mentioned before, by being prepared to take a hit for his mates....

I don't agree at all with the criticism of Gasnier.

So how to fix our problems? If I was Wayne for a day, I'd play Hornby on the right of the ruck, and move Sowie to the left.
 
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SteVez

Juniors
Messages
18
Totally agree with the Gaz comment about him not playing well. He's just not getting the ball early enough. In space this guy will cause issues for any defence. Have a look at any break or major impact he has had on defences and he's always recieved the ball much earlier than he has been of late. Buy time he gets the ball now defences are on him like flies on s@#!t!
 

Saint Angelo

Juniors
Messages
273
I totally agree that Soward needs to run to the line and start to put pressure on the defenders to come up with the right decision.

Maybe he is saving it for the finals? One can only hope !!!

I also think that Soward needs to kick a bit closer to the line and maybe on tackle 4. He has one the best kicking games in the comp but he very rarely comes close to getting 40/20's because he so far back to start off with.

Soward was one the main reasons why we held that trophy aloft last year and I would just love to see him play his natural game and really test out the opposition.

He has earned my RESPECT through his performances in the last 3 years, now he needs to DEMAND that respect from the opposition by putting them to the sword in the next 7 weeks.
 

to_ddeath

Coach
Messages
12,035
It wouldn't matter what centre was there, with the quality of ball Gaz is getting.

The Dragons get criticised by Gould and co. for having one play..(the Hornby, Creagh decoy, Boyd out the back, Cooper, B Moz) but the reason we always look dangerous doing it, is because Hornby takes it to the line, and hits Boyd at pace.

Sowie needs to help the guys out on the right, as I mentioned before, by being prepared to take a hit for his mates....

I don't agree at all with the criticism of Gasnier.

So how to fix our problems? If I was Wayne for a day, I'd play Hornby on the right of the ruck, and move Sowie to the left.

This and your previous post are SPOT ON.


T.
 

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
8,103
Saints defended extremely well against Melbourne. If they defended like that agiants Souths, Rooster and Raiders, they would have won. Simple as that. Big improvement.

unfortunately if they attacked like they did against Souths and Raiders, they would of beaten teh Storm.

If they can only get both working at the same time it will be back to back.
 

MattYg1

Bench
Messages
3,525
It wouldn't matter what centre was there, with the quality of ball Gaz is getting.

The Dragons get criticised by Gould and co. for having one play..(the Hornby, Creagh decoy, Boyd out the back, Cooper, B Moz) but the reason we always look dangerous doing it, is because Hornby takes it to the line, and hits Boyd at pace.

Sowie needs to help the guys out on the right, as I mentioned before, by being prepared to take a hit for his mates....

I don't agree at all with the criticism of Gasnier.

So how to fix our problems? If I was Wayne for a day, I'd play Hornby on the right of the ruck, and move Sowie to the left.

Spot on Gypsy... Gus and Sterlo go on about it A LOT Hornby plays more sqaure and direct forces the defence to commit thus making it harder to cover Creagh, Boyd, Cooper, Morris...

Sad thing is that if Jamie played the same he would be much more devistating then Hornby is...
 

R&WTILLIDIE

First Grade
Messages
6,289
Saints defended extremely well against Melbourne. If they defended like that agiants Souths, Rooster and Raiders, they would have won. Simple as that. Big improvement.

unfortunately if they attacked like they did against Souths and Raiders, they would of beaten teh Storm.

If they can only get both working at the same time it will be back to back.


I think THIS is spot on
 

northernsaint

Juniors
Messages
84
It wouldn't matter what centre was there, with the quality of ball Gaz is getting.

The Dragons get criticised by Gould and co. for having one play..(the Hornby, Creagh decoy, Boyd out the back, Cooper, B Moz) but the reason we always look dangerous doing it, is because Hornby takes it to the line, and hits Boyd at pace.

Sowie needs to help the guys out on the right, as I mentioned before, by being prepared to take a hit for his mates....

I don't agree at all with the criticism of Gasnier.

So how to fix our problems? If I was Wayne for a day, I'd play Hornby on the right of the ruck, and move Sowie to the left.

Not sure about swaping the halves, but agree with your two posts. Great observation, lets hope there is a change real soon.
 

Minh

First Grade
Messages
8,858
Out of all the journos Peter sterling has the best footy brain and doesn't talk BS.
 

Puff

First Grade
Messages
6,811
On Soward,

Most of you wont like what I have to say, but his game has been simplified for him to succeed. His job last year was to control field position with the kicking game and to give early ball to the right side of attack which was rarely used. Now that the team is struggling we are looking to him to get us out of it. He is not the creative player that we would like to think he is. He is not the runner of the ball we like to think he is. I am sure he is a wonderful kid, but in my opinion he does not have a next level like we need at the moment. Given a simple game plan of kicking and early passes he is able to follow instructions. However, pull him out of that environment and he is lost. A good example is SOO. Everyone wanted him to get a chance and he did. It is my opinion that he didn't play well at all. The one time he decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck the blues scored late to wrap up the game. The one thing he actually did all series. He failed to shine in the series, because he wasn't given the robotic Bennett like game plan that he is use to.

This year, defenses have worked him out and his lack of a second dimension in his game is evident. While he doesn't have the confidence to run the ball, apart from when there is no other option, and whilst he creative vision is limited, he will always be a good 5/8th, but not one that can pull a side out of a slump like we are experiencing. Jamie isn't injured, I don't care what anyone says, he is just a confidence player use to a robotic game plan, and when that confidence evades him he tends to get a little lost. I remember a game when Wendel was on the wing. We were losing, and jamie's confidence was low. He motioned to the bench suggesting he was injured. Sailor ran over to him, and said get the f**k in there and win us the game. This has stuck in my memory for a while, and I haven't seen anything to suggest he is any different today.

A lot of you will say, but he won us a premiership. I would say the team did that with a great game plan to suit the styles and strengths of each of our players. But once you win a comp and every team studies how you did it in preseason, to reigning premiers then need to take it up a level to overcome others targeting you. Unfortunately I don't think Jamie has that next level. Just my opinion on whats happening this season with the team and Jamie.
 

The Nick

Bench
Messages
2,660
On Soward,

Most of you wont like what I have to say, but his game has been simplified for him to succeed. His job last year was to control field position with the kicking game and to give early ball to the right side of attack which was rarely used. Now that the team is struggling we are looking to him to get us out of it. He is not the creative player that we would like to think he is. He is not the runner of the ball we like to think he is. I am sure he is a wonderful kid, but in my opinion he does not have a next level like we need at the moment. Given a simple game plan of kicking and early passes he is able to follow instructions. However, pull him out of that environment and he is lost. A good example is SOO. Everyone wanted him to get a chance and he did. It is my opinion that he didn't play well at all. The one time he decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck the blues scored late to wrap up the game. The one thing he actually did all series. He failed to shine in the series, because he wasn't given the robotic Bennett like game plan that he is use to.

This year, defenses have worked him out and his lack of a second dimension in his game is evident. While he doesn't have the confidence to run the ball, apart from when there is no other option, and whilst he creative vision is limited, he will always be a good 5/8th, but not one that can pull a side out of a slump like we are experiencing. Jamie isn't injured, I don't care what anyone says, he is just a confidence player use to a robotic game plan, and when that confidence evades him he tends to get a little lost. I remember a game when Wendel was on the wing. We were losing, and jamie's confidence was low. He motioned to the bench suggesting he was injured. Sailor ran over to him, and said get the f**k in there and win us the game. This has stuck in my memory for a while, and I haven't seen anything to suggest he is any different today.

A lot of you will say, but he won us a premiership. I would say the team did that with a great game plan to suit the styles and strengths of each of our players. But once you win a comp and every team studies how you did it in preseason, to reigning premiers then need to take it up a level to overcome others targeting you. Unfortunately I don't think Jamie has that next level. Just my opinion on whats happening this season with the team and Jamie.

Geez a bit harsh. Admittedly I have questioned Jamie's toughness before, but never his skill level or ability to play the game. The only difference in Jamie's game at the later stage of this year, compared to seasons 2009 & 2010 is that our forward pack is FAR LESS DOMINANT.

The NSW forward pack was once again completely dominated during origin (with the exception of Gallen) and neither Pearce or Soward were able to play off the back of that.

When our forward pack is on the front foot, so is Jamie Soward.
 
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