YOUR team for the FLOGGING -v- Broncos

[Johns Magic]

Harsh on Snowden there JM. Snowdens lazy laterally in defence but without Snowdens go forward Mason would be marked by 7 defenders and making 5 metres a run. Snowdens taking the first hit up and getting the defence retreating for Mason. They are working very well together.

Snowden is obviously an important player for us at the moment. But I genuinely meant the word 'deserved' when I used it.

He has more to offer than he's showing, especially in defence which is largely about commitment.

With ball in hand he's not a patch on his Sharks days at the moment either.

 

[RABK]

Tahus making a lot of errors in defence as is Mullen recently.

I might be even harsher than you but McManus and Mason are the only two showing me blood, sweat and tears every minute they are on the field in attack and defence.

 

[The Showstopper]

Our structure makes the forwards easy pickings. I think outside of Mase and Snowy they are just clueless at the line. No offloads at all. The Titans offloaded like the ball was molten rock. I also feel the off contracts know they are all but gooone for next year which is weighing heavily on them.

 

[Tom155]

swap tahu for snowden & JM's spot on

 

[macavity]

Don't understand the Houston hate. He has pretty much been our best player all year.

He should be playing 80mins in 13.

 

[Tom155]

Don't understand the Houston hate. He has pretty much been our best player all year.

He should be playing 80mins in 13.

i agree with you just forgot him, his attack has not been as good as last year although his defence has been great

 

[Stinkler]

For what it's worth.....


1 - McManus
2 - Boyd
3 - Naiqama
4 - Tahu
5 - Aku
6 - Mullen
7 - Roberts
8 - Snowden
9 - Buderus
10 - Mason
11 - Houston
12 - Costigan
13 - Hilder

14 - Taia
15 - O'Donnell
16 - McKinnon
17 - Edwards

 

[Spot On]

Obviously House is a defensive player nothing else. It's unfortunate a bloke his size can't pop the odd ball away but it is what it is. No 13 is where he should be in any team at this level.

Snowden did his job last night. He just aint a top shelf prop. Good motor I suppose with good numbers but not really striking fear into opposition packs or smashing into th eline like Hannant, Scott, Tamou and co.

 

[Rolla]

No more impotent backrowers killing plays, no more centres who can't beat a man, no more Hilder and Eddie offering nothing.

1 - Boyd
2 - Jimmy
3 - Liki
4 - Tahu
5 - Aku
6 - Mullen
7 - Roberts (unless one of the reserves are a 7 not a 6 in disguise)
8 - Snowden
9 - Buderus
10 - Tui
11 - Mason (more minutes and more damaging on the fringes)
12 - Tetevano
13 - Housten (Tackle everything and stay out of the way in attacking movements)

14 - Taia
15 - KOD
16 - McKinnon
17 - Nev (spell bedsy for a few mins then go to prop rotation)

Light bench but Tets and Mason can come on at prop later if need be

 

[Spot On]

Bedsy is basically a cripple now isn't he? Surely won't see the season out?

 

[Rolla]

Obviously House is a defensive player nothing else. It's unfortunate a bloke his size can't pop the odd ball away but it is what it is. No 13 is where he should be in any team at this level.

Snowden did his job last night. He just aint a top shelf prop. Good motor I suppose with good numbers but not really striking fear into opposition packs or smashing into th eline like Hannant, Scott, Tamou and co.

I agree those guys are above snowy at the moment, but look at our structure. All year we have been one out off the ruck, The muscle up on Snowden cos he is the only one they need to worry about (willie only just started). He gets the ball in a predictable position with nobody running off him and after a slow play the ball running at a set defence.

Guys like Scott/Tamou, Petro/Hennant and most of the top props are part of a forward pack that gets a role on and gets defences retreating. Snowy had Douglas and Gallen at the sharks and made his way into the Australian team. It is not a coincidence. He is top shelf, he can lead a pack..... packs can be led but they can't be carried (there is a big difference)

 

[Spot On]

At the moment it is his job to start the roll not benefit from it. He was purchased for that reason. The good props start the roll with their size and speed hitting the line and bending it. Snowy is that slow the defensive line gets to him just after he touches the ball.

I agree he needs a bloke to get the roll on so he can benefit - there is absolutely no doubt there.

 

[Rolla]

At the moment it is his job to start the roll not benefit from it. He was purchased for that reason. The good props start the roll with their size and speed hitting the line and bending it. Snowy is that slow the defensive line gets to him just after he touches the ball.

I agree he needs a bloke to get the roll on so he can benefit - there is absolutely no doubt there.

This has a lot more to do with the play the ball and dummy half. Technically if he was quicker the defensive line would get to him quicker again. The line are up in his face because they know he is getting the ball with no other options as decoys or possible receivers, and they know he will take the tackle with nobody to pass or offload to so they can commit as many defenders as they like.

So is it Scott that benefits from Tamou? or Tamou that benefits from Scott? cos they can't both start the props rolling with the first hit up?

Also, as an aside, the fact that both our wingers come in early in the set to take the second and third hit up means that we can't spread the ball to either side until the fourth (this is more evident because we play most of the game in our half. This means teams can bunch in the centre do defend in numbers against us without risk. A couple of times Willie made good ground going round the outside but there was no winger to pass to in space cos they took the last hit up.

 

[Spot On]

Watched Tim Grant lately? Has the same job and problems you are outlining as Snowy and yet does his job very well. Each teams starting rotation is known. You can't hide these things. That's part of the game.

 

[Johns Magic]

Don't understand the Houston hate. He has pretty much been our best player all year.

He should be playing 80mins in 13.

Houston needs to start offering something with ball in hand. I like him a lot and he is a good worker in defence, but it's true.

He has gone backwards over the years in attack, and getting dominated by Jamie Soward of all people sums it up.

He can make strong runs. I recall one a few weeks ago, and many a few seasons ago.

Where has that gone?

I would kill to have Greg Bird at lock.

 

[Rolla]

Grant 27 tackles/game vs Snowden 27 (equal)
Grant 138m per game vs Snowden 119
Grant 17 rans/game 8m each vs Snowden 15runs/game 8m each

Scott's stats are about the same (worse than Grant's) and he has a monster pack.
Tamou is ahead in all fields slightly.
Petro is far behind snowy
Hennant makes more tackles but less runs for less metres per run than snowy

Stats only show half a story, but i think they paint a pretty good picture for both those guys. Snowy makes as many metres per run as grant and 8m/run is pretty good for someone 'too slow to get over the advantage line'. Snowy has averaged a tiny bit less work in attack but he as also done it over 11 games (to Grants 5).

Either way I think both deserve a wrap given the packs they are in. Stats don't say everything but in this case they say Snowy is doing his job at a high level in bad circumstances. And imo they put him on the top shelf. I do understand completely the arguments for him being below though and i think we will agree to disagree on this one

 

[Allstar Knights]

Houston never breaks the line or offloads, but he does sometimes have good leg drive in the tackle. Lock definitely suits his game the most ... I wouldn't mind him at prop either.

 

[Rolla]

Houston needs to start offering something with ball in hand. I like him a lot and he is a good worker in defence, but it's true.

He has gone backwards over the years in attack, and getting dominated by Jamie Soward of all people sums it up.

He can make strong runs. I recall one a few weeks ago, and many a few seasons ago.

Where has that gone?

I would kill to have Greg Bird at lock.

I think we have a lot of '13's' and too few '11/12's in our backrow. House is the best of these guys but Eddie and Nev are also central players who get in the way more than anything out wide.

 

[Rolla]

Houston never breaks the line or offloads, but he does sometimes have good leg drive in the tackle. Lock definitely suits his game the most ... I wouldn't mind him at prop either.

I think the other team would like him at prop too, he is easy to tackle and hits the line pretty soft. Not like we have many good props though.

 

[Johns Magic]

Yeah Houston is a much better lock than second-rower. He's not in the first couple of tiers of locks going around though.

Snowden is going alright, I don't disagree with that. I just think he has another level in him which I'd like to see.