Official Addin Fonua-Blake

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Here's a question, given how well our middles are going, if we had the chance to reneg on AFB and get say Edwards/Walsh or Deardon for next year, would you do it?
Yeah I think for sure, maybe not so much Deardon but Walsh or Edwards for sure.

As mentioned as good as AFB is the above two are elite fullbacks and pretty hard to come by, I like Kennedy but an upgrade there could unlock Hynes also.
 
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I think the team has a new game plan and mentality , less flash and dash and more grit and determination along with patience , and it seems to be working , never panic when we're behind , just stick to the game plan and do the hard yards .
I would love to see a stat for teams who are making the most metres from inside their own 10mtrs , if we're not top we can't be far off .
Yep, I think Fitz said it countless times in pressers last year how we kept beating ourselves (insert HB joke) and were our own worst enemy.

Our desire to score off every play practically has taken a back seat to a more low key attack, one focused on helping us complete our sets and not put unnecessary pressure on us defensively.

It's been such a great adjustment
 

bort

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Is Deardon a joke like Dargon that I’m not aware of?
Or just spelling his name wrong?

Seen Deardon so many times today in here I’m wondering if I’ve missed something
 
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Is Deardon a joke like Dargon that I’m not aware of?
Or just spelling his name wrong?

Seen Deardon so many times today in here I’m wondering if I’ve missed something
Nope, just assume like me none of cbf knowing how to spell it
 

ben

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The relocation to Queensland would be the biggest issue for me to get Walsh.

We were frothing for AFB at one point, now already planning how to get rid of him because of the other forwards who apparently weren’t good enough to challenge for a premiership 6 months ago
Coaching is the difference to 6 months ago. 1. Nicho getting the ball less 2. Tightening up left side defence 3. Forward middle play.

All of these have been clearly worked on and improved out of site.

But I would swap afb for cobbo or Walsh.
 

apezza

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Coaching is the difference to 6 months ago. 1. Nicho getting the ball less 2. Tightening up left side defence 3. Forward middle play.

All of these have been clearly worked on and improved out of site.

But I would swap afb for cobbo or Walsh.
Give me AFB and he can squash Cobbo and eat Walsh - just needs to catch them first!
 

bort

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Coaching is the difference to 6 months ago. 1. Nicho getting the ball less 2. Tightening up left side defence 3. Forward middle play.

All of these have been clearly worked on and improved out of site.

But I would swap afb for cobbo or Walsh.
Not only do we have the same forward pack that wasn’t good enough 6 months ago but we also still have the same coach that wasn’t good enough 6 months ago!

Has the coaching changed? Or have players developed?
Either way it’s the same coaches and players who were largely a write off to some not long ago.

I’m more highlighting how quickly people (and I am included, as I am also a person) can be completely wrong with things like their assessments of who ‘has it’ and who ‘should be moved on’*

We’d have thrown away probably any two or three middles except McInnes to get AFB not long ago. Now view him as welcome but surplus to requirements without a single new middle joining.

*not to say people shouldn’t share their opinions about where players are at etc just remember that can all turn around!
 

Sparkles

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The relocation to Queensland would be the biggest issue for me to get Walsh.

Haha
We were frothing for AFB at one point, now already planning how to get rid of him because of the other forwards who apparently weren’t good enough to challenge for a premiership 6 months ago
I think it's just an interesting hypothetical mate.

I'd take a fullback. Sorry Will, but how could you not want a Walsh in your side. His ball-playing would compliment our halves nicely.

On balance, he would likely make the team stronger overall than AFB.
 

bort

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Haha

I think it's just an interesting hypothetical mate.

I'd take a fullback. Sorry Will, but how could you not want a Walsh in your side. His ball-playing would compliment our halves nicely.

On balance, he would likely make the team stronger overall than AFB.
For sure, just funny who’d have thought 12 months ago we’d be talking like we didn’t want AFB
 

Vichyssoise

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Not only do we have the same forward pack that wasn’t good enough 6 months ago but we also still have the same coach that wasn’t good enough 6 months ago!

Has the coaching changed? Or have players developed?
Either way it’s the same coaches and players who were largely a write off to some not long ago.

I’m more highlighting how quickly people (and I am included, as I am also a person) can be completely wrong with things like their assessments of who ‘has it’ and who ‘should be moved on’*

We’d have thrown away probably any two or three middles except McInnes to get AFB not long ago. Now view him as welcome but surplus to requirements without a single new middle joining.

*not to say people shouldn’t share their opinions about where players are at etc just remember that can all turn around!

100%
I wasn't a fan of all the re-signings especially in light of our (relative) poor performance last year. And look how great we're going now.
I'd like to think that AFB's upcoming arrival was the wake-up call some of our players needed, but I honestly don't know.

I probably should stick to the 3-2-1 thread, and then again that might be above my pay grade as well.
 
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I wasn't a fan of all the re-signings especially in light of our (relative) poor performance last year. And look how great we're going now.
I'd like to think that AFB's upcoming arrival was the wake-up call some of our players needed, but I honestly don't know.

I probably should stick to the 3-2-1 thread, and then again that might be above my pay grade as well.
No, you can“t vote AFB in your 3-2-1’s
not yet at least
 

Sparkles

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For sure, just funny who’d have thought 12 months ago we’d be talking like we didn’t want AFB
Yeah, it's been a pretty massive turnaround. Though with changes, it's not exactly the same crew doing the same things. Tommy's a big difference, as is Sifa back on the bench
 

The Punisher

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I think the AFB signing takes us to the next level of forward domiance, allowing good (not top tier) spine players to flourish.
The same cant be said the other way round, as even the best halfbacks in the world cant play behind a beaten pack.

The dominance our pack showed on the weekend allowed Atkinson to florish - and he/trindell along with Hynes will only continue to develop
 

andrew's_sharks

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I think the AFB signing takes us to the next level of forward domiance, allowing good (not top tier) spine players to flourish.
The same cant be said the other way round, as even the best halfbacks in the world cant play behind a beaten pack.

The dominance our pack showed on the weekend allowed Atkinson to florish - and he/trindell along with Hynes will only continue to develop
Completely agree. I like the idea of a big mobile pack and I think we are building that well. I am ok with losing a prop as long as we keep Kaufusi and Hazleton. I also would prioritise Williams he is really playing well.
 

The Punisher

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Completely agree. I like the idea of a big mobile pack and I think we are building that well. I am ok with losing a prop as long as we keep Kaufusi and Hazleton. I also would prioritise Williams he is really playing well.
Id be happier if the prop we lost was Rudolf
Think the rest have far more upshot that him atm
 
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