Official Connor Tracey

bort

Jaws
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
29,385
Reaction score
5,514
Location
IN A BAR
Looking to be an odd man out in a healthy squad

If Miller leaves there is a chance Tracey becomes Cup 5/8 - 1 Dykes 6 Tracey 7 Trindall 9 Berrell 14 Puru
Not sure who else would play there unless Jets have re-signed Davies. Puru himself could take the spot of course - and hopefully he would as I don't want Tracey playing halves in NRL so no point him playing Cup there?
All well and good Billy Mags can fill into halves but maybe make that plan C at best.

With only needing two HIAs to activate your 18th man now Tracey is not a bad shout as a versatile ball of energy / jack of all master of none but to fit that role well he needs to be playing more like a 13 when he is in Cup (I guess maybe he could play 6 with it in mind? Maybe that can work...)
That could be the best team use for him.

Alternately focus Tracey on either centre or wing as a primary spot and let him actually get used to it as there is potential there but definitely some refinement required.
With Ramien's risk of suspension and Iro being a left specialist right centre (and maybe a little preseason at right wing too as Ikuvalu is out) could be a good option. Otherwise you're looking at Hiroti who seemed to go decent in Cup last season but is off-contract this year behind Tracey in team pecking order you'd think.
 

stalefish

Bronze Whaler
Joined
Dec 21, 2021
Messages
222
Reaction score
159
he's scored some hearty tries on the wing and always bustles up for 150+ metres where ever he plays for us. more importantly he never lets you down
 
Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
14,277
Reaction score
3,016
Location
Perth WA
Going to be unpopular here, but I’m hoping not to see Tracey in the NRL this season.
He isn’t really a utility as his Half’s play is terrible.
So he would only be a back up for 2 to 5 and I wouldn’t want to carry him on the bench for that.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the effort, I just don’t see the value of him on the bench or in the side unless a few injuries (which I hope our back 5 stay healthy all season).
 

BurgoShark

Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 8, 2008
Messages
12,629
Reaction score
3,857
Looking to be an odd man out in a healthy squad

If Miller leaves there is a chance Tracey becomes Cup 5/8 - 1 Dykes 6 Tracey 7 Trindall 9 Berrell 14 Puru
Not sure who else would play there unless Jets have re-signed Davies. Puru himself could take the spot of course - and hopefully he would as I don't want Tracey playing halves in NRL so no point him playing Cup there?
All well and good Billy Mags can fill into halves but maybe make that plan C at best.

With only needing two HIAs to activate your 18th man now Tracey is not a bad shout as a versatile ball of energy / jack of all master of none but to fit that role well he needs to be playing more like a 13 when he is in Cup (I guess maybe he could play 6 with it in mind? Maybe that can work...)
That could be the best team use for him.

Alternately focus Tracey on either centre or wing as a primary spot and let him actually get used to it as there is potential there but definitely some refinement required.
With Ramien's risk of suspension and Iro being a left specialist right centre (and maybe a little preseason at right wing too as Ikuvalu is out) could be a good option. Otherwise you're looking at Hiroti who seemed to go decent in Cup last season but is off-contract this year behind Tracey in team pecking order you'd think.
Please no. I like seeing the Jets move the ball around. I'd prefer plan C.

Not much room in the 3/4 either.

2. Stonestreet
3. Iro
4. Hiroti
5. Rodwell

If you put Tracey in the centres you are likely pushing Hiroti to wing and either sending Rodwell to Glebe (or Stonestreet back to Flegg). Do we want to see that? If Rodwell is considered good enough for a dev contract surely Fitz wants him at least playing regularly for the Jets.
 

Thresher

Jaws
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
24,559
Reaction score
3,253
Location
Melbourne
Ponga has suffered a calf injury apparently, so maybe the Knights might want a Tracey/Miller duo
 

stalefish

Bronze Whaler
Joined
Dec 21, 2021
Messages
222
Reaction score
159
If you put Tracey in the centres you are likely pushing Hiroti to wing and either sending Rodwell to Glebe (or Stonestreet back to Flegg). Do we want to see that? If Rodwell is considered good enough for a dev contract surely Fitz wants him at least playing regularly for the Jets.

17. Rodwell can handle a bash in the back row
 

bort

Jaws
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
29,385
Reaction score
5,514
Location
IN A BAR
Please no. I like seeing the Jets move the ball around. I'd prefer plan C.

Not much room in the 3/4 either.

2. Stonestreet
3. Iro
4. Hiroti
5. Rodwell

If you put Tracey in the centres you are likely pushing Hiroti to wing and either sending Rodwell to Glebe (or Stonestreet back to Flegg). Do we want to see that? If Rodwell is considered good enough for a dev contract surely Fitz wants him at least playing regularly for the Jets.
TBF in this scenario for Tracey to not fit into either backline or play halves Kennedy, Mulitalo, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Dykes, Stonestreet, Rodwell, Iro, Hiroti and Tracey are all fit, and available, and not 18th man.
If Stonestreet had to play Flegg in that instance it might be a case of so be it
Or as stalefish sail you could move Rodwell to Jets bench

On plan C, if Billy is halves then he isn't 13 so potentially restricts your ball movement anyway. Perhaps if Colquhoun or Williams were 13 you could get some of the ball movement back. I don't really want Tracey playing halves anywhere either.

Going to be unpopular here, but I’m hoping not to see Tracey in the NRL this season.
He isn’t really a utility as his Half’s play is terrible.
So he would only be a back up for 2 to 5 and I wouldn’t want to carry him on the bench for that.


Don’t get me wrong, I love the effort, I just don’t see the value of him on the bench or in the side unless a few injuries (which I hope our back 5 stay healthy all season).
Who is the better backup half that would be in a 17 where likely 2+ forwards are already injured/suspended to get Tracey onto the bench?
If he was on the bench and you found you needed him to play half you'd probably be glad he was selected over Hazelton. Same goes for an injury to 1 through 5. On bench he provides good backup to players you don't want to be replacing mid game if you don't have to. Can apply his bundle of energy to the middle late in the game against tired players instead.

Given Tracey tends to be one of our early callups when players aren't available not seeing a lot of Tracey means we have kept a very healthy footy team
 

sharkboy18

Great White
Joined
Jun 8, 2007
Messages
4,955
Reaction score
167
Location
Alstonville
Without a doubt I really feel as though we should keep Tracey as backup aswell as Lachie Miller. Tracey can play anywhere from 1-7 & I really feel as though he is quality backup wherever he plays. He's probably not best in the halves, I'd prefer him to be a backup 1-5 player in any of those 5 positions. Lachy Miller is probably the same as Tracey, not sure how reliable Miller is in the halves though. He's impressed me as FB & either side of the wing though.
 

Six Again

Grey Nurse
Joined
Nov 13, 2020
Messages
514
Reaction score
238
Location
Sharks Shire
Without a doubt I really feel as though we should keep Tracey as backup aswell as Lachie Miller. Tracey can play anywhere from 1-7 & I really feel as though he is quality backup wherever he plays. He's probably not best in the halves, I'd prefer him to be a backup 1-5 player in any of those 5 positions. Lachy Miller is probably the same as Tracey, not sure how reliable Miller is in the halves though. He's impressed me as FB & either side of the wing though.
Seems like you may have missed seeing the finals game against Rabbitohs . The photo of the team training this week with McInnes running at Miller with Miller taking a dummy & looking at thin air reminded me of that game.
 

BurgoShark

Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 8, 2008
Messages
12,629
Reaction score
3,857
TBF in this scenario for Tracey to not fit into either backline or play halves Kennedy, Mulitalo, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Dykes, Stonestreet, Rodwell, Iro, Hiroti and Tracey are all fit, and available, and not 18th man.
If Stonestreet had to play Flegg in that instance it might be a case of so be it
Or as stalefish sail you could move Rodwell to Jets bench


On plan C, if Billy is halves then he isn't 13 so potentially restricts your ball movement anyway. Perhaps if Colquhoun or Williams were 13 you could get some of the ball movement back. I don't really want Tracey playing halves anywhere either.


Who is the better backup half that would be in a 17 where likely 2+ forwards are already injured/suspended to get Tracey onto the bench?
If he was on the bench and you found you needed him to play half you'd probably be glad he was selected over Hazelton. Same goes for an injury to 1 through 5. On bench he provides good backup to players you don't want to be replacing mid game if you don't have to. Can apply his bundle of energy to the middle late in the game against tired players instead.

Given Tracey tends to be one of our early callups when players aren't available not seeing a lot of Tracey means we have kept a very healthy footy team
Even if he is the "odd man out" Tracey is probably both going to be named in the squad each week, and travel with the team to away games.

I really only see two scenarios where he would drop down and play with the Jets:
1 - The Jets play after the Sharks, and the Sharks aren't flying home from anywhere on the Jets' gameday, or
2 - The two teams play a double-header at the same venue
3 - The Sharks have a bye

There are some 3-game stretches next year where one of these scenarios exist. Rounds 2-4, rounds 8-11, rounds 17-19. I don't think Tracey is playing four games in a row for the Jets at any stage next year (Trindall is probably in the same boat). Maybe it's just a case of moving Rodwell to the bench when Tracey plays as @stalefish suggested.

With the rule chance for 18th man this year, I think the next logical step (maybe next year) is going to be that you can have a 19th man, and when you activate a replacement you can pick which guy you want. Every teams carries a forward and a back/utility. In that scenario I think Tracey is in the 19 most weeks.
 
Last edited:

Six Again

Grey Nurse
Joined
Nov 13, 2020
Messages
514
Reaction score
238
Location
Sharks Shire
No Connor Tracey on team list for Wk2 trial including reserves , is he injured or just slipped down the pecking order ?
 

Gumby

Jaws
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
14,949
Reaction score
2,039
Location
Melbourne
Very strange.

The fact we gave him a 3 year deal last year on decent coin is also a bit confusing. He’s he’s good depth but I don’t think his form was worth us throwing 3 years at him.
 

Sutty

Jaws
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
5,439
Reaction score
370
His extension was in 2021 not last year I think, when he was playing every week. Coming into 2022 he was going to be our centre, Talakai was going to be our bench forward.

I don't even know what sort of coin he is on. I doubt it's too much.
 

Milkshark

Great White
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
4,733
Reaction score
517
Apparently he played well for Jets at fullback ion the weekend:

- setup 2 tries
- 3 line breaks
- 167 metres run

Fox reporting he is Sharks backup fullback for Kennedy.
 
Top