Official William Kennedy

Jaz said:

Think there was some confusion between him and Hynes who was going to take those kicks. They need to practice it during the week because if I'm the Roosters, I'm kicking to our goalposts all game.

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Thank God we're playing Souths then!

I could handle him missing 1 on 1 breakaway tackles or whatever but my problem is that he appears to be avoiding making a genuine attempt and just throws a half hearted arm out at the ball carrier because he doesn't want the contact or something or goes for a very unlikely intercept. Basically if there is a soft option he tends to go for it

If that's the case he shouldn't be playing a contact sport like league and certainty not professionally

I would love to know what our coach thinks of those type of defensive efforts

I have seen him make 1 on 1 tackle on players in space and cut them down around the ankles, it's not like he doesn't know how to do it

I like Will, he is a good player but his attitude to putting his body on the line in defense is a problem that we can't carry long term

Check him out playing with the goal post padding spinning them back and forth to try interfere with the Cowboys player near our goal line - wtf is that ****. You are our fullback mate, if the kick into the in goal isn't forthcoming get out from behind the posts and help out our boys making the tackle on the line because that is the priority right now

Gards said:

I could handle him missing 1 on 1 breakaway tackles or whatever but my problem is that he appears to be avoiding making a genuine attempt and just throws a half hearted arm out at the ball carrier because he doesn't want the contact or something or goes for a very unlikely intercept. Basically if there is a soft option he tends to go for it

If that's the case he shouldn't be playing a contact sport like league and certainty not professionally

I would love to know what our coach thinks of those type of defensive efforts

I have seen him make 1 on 1 tackle on players in space and cut them down around the ankles, it's not like he doesn't know how to do it

I like Will, he is a good player but his attitude to putting his body on the line in defense is a problem that we can't carry long term

Check him out playing with the goal post padding spinning them back and forth to try interfere with the Cowboys player near our goal line - wtf is that ****. You are our fullback mate, if the kick into the in goal isn't forthcoming get out from behind the posts and help out our boys making the tackle on the line because that is the priority right now

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What’s with this goal post padding thing ? What did he do ?

He's never been great in defence, but he was way worse than normal on Saturday. I honestly think he was completely gassed, as his involvement in attack was down too. If that's the case, he shouldn't have been out there.

Gards said:

I could handle him missing 1 on 1 breakaway tackles or whatever but my problem is that he appears to be avoiding making a genuine attempt and just throws a half hearted arm out at the ball carrier because he doesn't want the contact or something or goes for a very unlikely intercept. Basically if there is a soft option he tends to go for it

If that's the case he shouldn't be playing a contact sport like league and certainty not professionally

I would love to know what our coach thinks of those type of defensive efforts

I have seen him make 1 on 1 tackle on players in space and cut them down around the ankles, it's not like he doesn't know how to do it

I like Will, he is a good player but his attitude to putting his body on the line in defense is a problem that we can't carry long term

Check him out playing with the goal post padding spinning them back and forth to try interfere with the Cowboys player near our goal line - wtf is that ****. You are our fullback mate, if the kick into the in goal isn't forthcoming get out from behind the posts and help out our boys making the tackle on the line because that is the priority right now

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Probably thinks 'damn I wish the fullback I inherited could defend better as he is good to great in other areas and clearly my best option still'

'the weaker defence could be one of the reasons he's not on a million a year like some other fullbacks'

If our coach is real he is thinking I need to talk to Will... right the **** now

You are using the old Chad Townsend argument Bort of he isn't on mega bucks so we will just downplay or ignore his deficiencies.

Even if Kennedy was on a million I wouldn't expect him to be perfect but regardless of his wage I expect him to at least attempt a tackle though. That's not something reserved for the elite fullbacks of the game, it's a basic requirement of playing Rugby League

There is weak or poor defense and then there is not having a proper go

He doesn't mind charging head on into the opposition brick wall these days but when they are running with the ball his way something happens to him

Fitz wont make changes.

Gards said:

If our coach is real he is thinking I need to talk to Will... right the **** now

You are using the old Chad Townsend argument Bort of he isn't on mega bucks so we will just downplay or ignore his deficiencies.

Even if Kennedy was on a million I wouldn't expect him to be perfect but regardless of his wage I expect him to at least attempt a tackle though. That's not something reserved for the elite fullbacks of the game, it's a basic requirement of playing Rugby League

There is weak or poor defense and then there is not having a proper go

He doesn't mind charging head on into the opposition brick wall these days but when they are running with the ball his way something happens to him

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And look how good Chad is going now he's being paid more!

I just think some people get too carried away about it - 100% you can be critical of his defence, but what is the purpose of declaring he shouldn't be playing rugby league?
He is clearly going at least okay in the NRL despite this issue. Played more than 60 games. Per the first sentence of my suggestion what the coach may think.

There are other NRL teams with worse fullbacks than him.
The fullback we played against didn't even start in his teams first choice 17 because he also isn't a good defender. Like Kennedy he still seems good enough to be there though.

You threw it back to Chad, well how about all those who declared Chad is so **** no other team would ever take him because they thought he should be able to execute some skills better. These two guys are spine players in the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd.
We don't have to downplay or ignore deficiencies but to an extent we have to accept.
There are former NRL players now NRL head coaches accepting and trying to succeed anyway.
I don't mean say 'oh he can't defend, that's fine no worries' but whether you like it or not he's holding a spot in the NRL so I think sentences like 'If that's the case he shouldn't be playing a contact sport like league and certainty not professionally' are ridiculous.

A player can have a weakness we discuss without needing to be banished from the NRL - they are there for a reason whether us spectators can see/agree or not.

Took Dylan Edwards a while to become a solid full back week in week out, guy debut in 2016, had errors in his game especially under the high ball, but is now one of the top fullbacks, and Panthers are their strongest when he's playing even when they're missing other spine players. Kennedy is good and has potential to be an elite full back, but it is his defense and attitude when it comes to last line of defending or cover defense that needs alot of work. Its his job/role to be a good defender, you're the last line of defense, swinging arm tackles, trying to grab jersey tackles and watching players run by doesn't cut it. He is good under the high ball, good in attack when he's on and can be a good support player, but a weak defensive attitude in all areas is not going to win us pressure finals games. If you look at the top premiership winning fullbacks they're barking orders, telling defenders where to go constantly trying to organise the defensive line and trying to read or be intuitive of the attacking teams next move. They also try to position themselves better so that they can have more of a chance to either be last line of defense or diffuse a situation. Ben Barba was a general at the back, wasn't just good in attack, helped organise the defensive line, also wasn't afraid to put his body on the line as last line of defense.

The only reason I would of played Miller against the cows is because Kennedy had been out for awhile after a serious injury and his head wasn't always going to be in the game. Miller had played last 3 weeks of top grade and 2 games at fullback, and was building confidence. He may not be better in attack (only because he needs more time in one position and in top grade) but atleast he's fit, has speed and willing put in work defensively building off the last 3 weeks. With that said be hard to bring him back in now and have to stick with Kennedy unless he's injured. Kennedy needs to step up now!

Garbage tonight

HaroldBishop said:

Garbage tonight

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Hardly a surprise though

HaroldBishop said:

Garbage tonight

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Starting to look like a downhill player. Physically not up to the fullback role right now

Lots of talk about Sualli wanting that number 1 at the roosters. Maybe we could do them a favour and bring Tedesco over to uncle Fitz

Give it to Dykes

Unfortunately couldn’t match it after injury.

Shame really. Had a pretty good season until he was ruled out.

was never the same after the injury. Needs a good off season. Will come Good

Needs to bulk up. Get some confidence to tackle.

Yep good first half of the year but really dropped off. Injury really hampered him, he is a massive confidence player and when it’s down it’s down.

3rd choice FB in 2023

I've always been a big fan of Will but I think our future lies with Dykes.

I'd like to see Fitz bring in Flanno in the preseason to organise a good old fashioned fullback-off of course.

Maybe with bonus clambake & BBQ.