Official Connor Tracey

[egg]

Where's Snowman and Born $ Bred when you need them

 

[Wiz]

"I think what we’re all saying is"
No, talking for me. Just correcting you, Wizened.

Can anyone tell me what Chad has implemented/developed/improved on in his game in the last 4 or so years ? Genuine question

Does he take on the line more ? Kick better ? Take better options ? Execute plays better ? Use players around him better ? Make players around him better ? Defend better etc

For me I can’t see it.. except maybe in goal grubbers and he has always been an OK defender

 

[Thresher]

Can anyone tell me what Chad has implemented/developed/improved on in his game in the last 4 or so years ? Genuine question

Does he take on the line more ? Kick better ? Take better options ? Execute plays better ? Use players around him better ? Make players around him better ? Defend better etc

For me I can’t see it.. except maybe in goal grubbers and he has always been an OK defender

He's lowered his hair profile.

Much less likely to be buffeted around and thrown off course by windy conditions.

 

[snowman]

Can anyone tell me what Chad has implemented/developed/improved on in his game in the last 4 or so years ? Genuine question

Does he take on the line more ? Kick better ? Take better options ? Execute plays better ? Use players around him better ? Make players around him better ? Defend better etc

For me I can’t see it.. except maybe in goal grubbers and he has always been an OK defender

definitely not executing overlaps

 

[kiwishark]

Can anyone tell me what Chad has implemented/developed/improved on in his game in the last 4 or so years ? Genuine question

Does he take on the line more ? Kick better ? Take better options ? Execute plays better ? Use players around him better ? Make players around him better ? Defend better etc

For me I can’t see it.. except maybe in goal grubbers and he has always been an OK defender

He added the early kick to the open man instead of passing

 

[19ninety9]

Can anyone tell me what Chad has implemented/developed/improved on in his game in the last 4 or so years ? Genuine question

Does he take on the line more ? Kick better ? Take better options ? Execute plays better ? Use players around him better ? Make players around him better ? Defend better etc

For me I can’t see it.. except maybe in goal grubbers and he has always been an OK defender

Nah he’s so stock standard, the only compliment the media have for him is “reliability” he’ll reliably **** up an overlap and he’ll reliably have a huge dead spot of poor performances at some point in the season.

The only thing I like about chad is his effort, he always supports a break and scraps for the ball, he’s just missing everything else.

 

[Sparkles]

One thing that hasn't changed is that he seems to feel the pressure. There was the big pressure game where he was hooked (Canberra? Though it worked!), then when he was mentioned as being on the shortlist for SOO he had a shocker the next game. It's the main thing I'd like to see improve from a more mature Chad.

 

[egg]

I'll Photoshop Robbo's head onto Chads body

 

[Gards]

Our team knows how to show good shape and run nice lines - our problem for a few seasons has been our timing. players arriving too early or too late and execution with poor passes and sloppy handling

hasn't helped having so many different players across the halves and back line but if we ever get it together and have a fit Moylan we can be that slick dangerous attacking team we all dreamed of becoming a few years ago

Chad or whoever our 7 is can probably play a relatively simple role taking on the line occasionally and putting in some grubbers to keep the defense honest. When our shape doesn't come together and the backline movements don't click you see Chad feel more pressure to come up with those ill advised 'creative plays' while trying to run the show. he's not the sort of half back that can dig your team out of a hole or do it all himself but when he and the team can start a game well and keep up the intensity he can be effective

 

[bort]

Chad or whoever our 7 is can probably play a relatively simple role taking on the line occasionally and putting in some grubbers to keep the defense honest. When our shape doesn't come together and the backline movements don't click you see Chad feel more pressure to come up with those ill advised 'creative plays' while trying to run the show. he's not the sort of half back that can dig your team out of a hole or do it all himself but when he and the team can start a game well and keep up the intensity he can be effective

Some people look at other peoples halves and see them pull the team out of a hole and they think 'why can't ours do that?'
Well he just can't.
But to get one that can means paying twice as much. And the team decided not to do that.

You can never have a top 10 player in every position, it's not how the salary cap works*

We spend less on Chad so we can retain a World Class second rower outside him instead. Or because our star half was Maloney, then Moylan, now Johnson.

In 2017 when he was previously off contract we also had to retain Bird, Jayden, Gallen, Graham, Holmes & Prior (and some misc).
Bird left and we gave that money to Dugan, we desperately needed Jayden, so who do we let go to free up more money for a better halfback?
Maybe we should have paid a half and looked for a cheaper centre?

Other halves available were Milf, Josh Reynolds, Thurston, Ponga, Widdop, Pearce (who I think we did try and get right?) & Moses. All of them got ****ing paid which we couldn't afford to do unless we lost a Graham or a Holmes or a Prior. We also probably lost time chasing the others while pursuing Pearce as our focus.
Maybe you could argue let Holmes or Prior go but that is more in hindsight than anything, and doesn't really account for squad needs at the time either.

*Roosters obvious exception

 

[Wiz]

Some people look at other peoples halves and see them pull the team out of a hole and they think 'why can't ours do that?'
Well he just can't.
But to get one that can means paying twice as much. And the team decided not to do that.

You can never have a top 10 player in every position, it's not how the salary cap works*

We spend less on Chad so we can retain a World Class second rower outside him instead. Or because our star half was Maloney, then Moylan, now Johnson.

In 2017 when he was previously off contract we also had to retain Bird, Jayden, Gallen, Graham, Holmes & Prior (and some misc).
Bird left and we gave that money to Dugan, we desperately needed Jayden, so who do we let go to free up more money for a better halfback?
Maybe we should have paid a half and looked for a cheaper centre?

Other halves available were Milf, Josh Reynolds, Thurston, Ponga, Widdop, Pearce (who I think we did try and get right?) & Moses. All of them got ****ing paid which we couldn't afford to do unless we lost a Graham or a Holmes or a Prior. We also probably lost time chasing the others while pursuing Pearce as our focus.
Maybe you could argue let Holmes or Prior go but that is more in hindsight than anything, and doesn't really account for squad needs at the time either.

*Roosters obvious exception

Which is why I said I think the problem is his game hasn’t really developed all these years.. that’s where the frustration is.

What you mention above is very true, just highlights how important the fullback and five eighth is for our team - those two positions are our keys. Chad will always Chad

 

[bort]

Which is why I said I think the problem is his game hasn’t really developed all these years.. that’s where the frustration is.

What you mention above is very true, just highlights how important the fullback and five eighth is for our team - those two positions are our keys. Chad will always Chad

That's right, we elected to spend on FB and 5/8 (and other places) and as a result we have an experienced but low ceiling half and a young, inexperienced hooker.

If he can develop more great, maybe he can't though?

I couldn't tell you exactly where he got better but he must have done something right to be
- sharks coach player of the year
- sharks players player of the year
- sharks fans player of the year
- sharks forever runner up player of the year

He certainly isn't and shouldn't be immune to criticism by any means.
If he is as **** as a few on here like to say he is then a lot of players on a lot more money than him need to up their game significantly if he is beating them to these awards.
The fact is we are paying quite a few players to be a lot better than Chad, and not many of them were last season, which is disappointing.
But we still made finals and nearly made top 4.

 

[slide rule]

I think there's something to be said for keeping players for a long period of time for the purpose of continuity and consistency.

Sure, we could have bought some of those other guys but it probably would have taken time for players to adjust.

That's not to say you can't have player turnover, it is necessary. But many of the great teams have been built around a core. The less you have to change the better. Upgrades are good, but in a like-for-like situation I'd rather keep the same bloke. All other things being equal (attitude, health, fitness, team relationships etc)

 

[Gumby]

I know it’s easy for me to jump in and bag the bloke but here’s my two cents regarding chad.

He is ****ing useless. Long kicking game is ****. Passing is average. Defence yes it’s ok. Organising the team ok.
Running game near non existent. I’ve legit never seen the bloke put up a torpedo. His kicking game is legit alimentary. I play rugby as a 15. And without tooting my own horn, I have a better kicking game than this bloke. Sure, I don’t play first grade and the pressure I’m under is nowhere near his. But fmd its not that hard to find the grass after kicking a ball. Nor is putting up a ****ing torp.

We should not have re signed him for 3 years. Simple as that.

 

[bort]

I know it’s easy for me to jump in and bag the bloke but here’s my two cents regarding chad.

He is ****ing useless. Long kicking game is ****. Passing is average. Defence yes it’s ok. Organising the team ok.
Running game near non existent. I’ve legit never seen the bloke put up a torpedo. His kicking game is legit alimentary. I play rugby as a 15. And without tooting my own horn, I have a better kicking game than this bloke. Sure, I don’t play first grade and the pressure I’m under is nowhere near his. But fmd its not that hard to find the grass after kicking a ball. Nor is putting up a ****ing torp.

We should not have re signed him for 3 years. Simple as that.

And yet multiple NRL coaches have happily given him the gig.

I'm sure there are many better kickers, passers, runners, organisers, defenders... and yet he has managed to not just make the NRL but play many seasons where he is consistently selected and even included winning a grand final.
He was the sharks players player of the year... the rest of the team thought he was the best player on the team last season. Do you not think that carries more weight than the fact you can supposedly kick better than him (under admittedly less pressure but also against wayyyy less talented opposition wings/fullbacks).

I do think his current contract is pretty questionable, especially if it is his favour not ours. But certainly Trindall and Tracey don't deserve to be ahead of him just because a few people coaching from the couch think he is the worst player ever to start an NRL game.

 

[Sparkles]

The whole for/against Chad argument is as tired and well traveled as a roosters recruitment officer.

Just cut and paste everyone's comments from last year to continue this thread, then enjoy a tasty, frothy beer with the time you've gained back

 

[Wiz]

And yet multiple NRL coaches have happily given him the gig.

I'm sure there are many better kickers, passers, runners, organisers, defenders... and yet he has managed to not just make the NRL but play many seasons where he is consistently selected and even included winning a grand final.
He was the sharks players player of the year... the rest of the team thought he was the best player on the team last season. Do you not think that carries more weight than the fact you can supposedly kick better than him (under admittedly less pressure but also against wayyyy less talented opposition wings/fullbacks).

I do think his current contract is pretty questionable, especially if it is his favour not ours. But certainly Trindall and Tracey don't deserve to be ahead of him just because a few people coaching from the couch think he is the worst player ever to start an NRL game.

He can do a good enough job when he isn’t trying to do too much.. like Gards said.

But if you have players like SJ, Moylan/Dugan who don’t help/aren’t reliable game to game that’s where he will struggle trying to compensate. When KF stepped up he didn’t do anything too crazy but it worked because he was always there in the game competing and was reliable with Chad. If anybody gets replaced by Trindall or Tracey I wouldn’t even be surprised if it’s SJ

We just need a solid FB and 6 around Chad since he’s the one that’s here for the next 15 years which I agree we shouldn’t of done

 

[bort]

He can do a good enough job when he isn’t trying to do too much.. like Gards said.

But if you have players like SJ, Moylan/Dugan who don’t help/aren’t reliable game to game that’s where he will struggle trying to compensate. When KF stepped up he didn’t do anything too crazy but it worked because he was always there in the game competing and was reliable with Chad. If anybody gets replaced by Trindall or Tracey I wouldn’t even be surprised if it’s SJ

We just need a solid FB and 6 around Chad since he’s the one that’s here for the next 15 years which I agree we shouldn’t of done

Yeah my argument isn't that Chad is particularly good, it's that he has proven he is passable and we have other players on a lot more money that regularly don't even do as well as Chad.

We used to say Flanju best case scenario was a Chad clone then he played a couple of okay games (in which Chad also played well) and suddenly it was a disaster he left.
Watch Kyle look good this year surrounded by highly paid stars that actually do their job consistently.
He will demonstrate such incredible skills as 'early cut out ball to Manu' and 'grubber for second rower repeatedly until it works' and maybe even 'back up Tedesco on a break'

 

[19ninety9]

Yeah my argument isn't that Chad is particularly good, it's that he has proven he is passable and we have other players on a lot more money that regularly don't even do as well as Chad.

We used to say Flanju best case scenario was a Chad clone then he played a couple of okay games (in which Chad also played well) and suddenly it was a disaster he left.
Watch Kyle look good this year surrounded by highly paid stars that actually do their job consistently.
He will demonstrate such incredible skills as 'early cut out ball to Manu' and 'grubber for second rower repeatedly until it works' and maybe even 'back up Tedesco on a break'

KF can only get better, Chad hit his ceiling at the warriors, I can’t put my finger on why he gets all the plaudits, but it must be that he’s a good bloke always puts in and when he has an ok game and you actually notice he’s on the field you want to throw the 3 at him, seeing he’s such a good club man and all.

Dugan was a way better player last year, yet we all hate that **** so **** him, he can have a 1.

Etc

 

[egg]

The whole for/against Chad argument is as tired and well traveled as a roosters recruitment officer.

Just cut and paste everyone's comments from last year to continue this thread, then enjoy a tasty, frothy beer with the time you've gained back

Gary makes a good point .
This is a pointless discussion regarding Chad .
We've already heard the lot.