you say Bird is a playmaker? I say he is probably the worst playmaker in the league. Its no secret he struggles at 5/8, ppl even wanted to replace him with Anasta in origin, now that is saying something, sure bird is a great second row/ lock, but as a playmaker in first grade, i dont think he cuts it. Although Ive heard he was a great 5/8 in schoolboys.
Bird is more of an old school play maker. A big, strong runner with a solid, selective passing game and a bit of a kicking game. Something like Wally Lewis, and nothing like the 'modern' play makers like Thurston, Lockyer & Prince. It wouldn't be ideal to have Bird as a first choice half, but you'd take a ball playing lock over the standard hit 'em up lock any day. The 3rd (or 4th depending on your hooker) option he provides from the back of the scrum is where he comes into his own. You know every lock can run and hit it up, maybe get an offload away, but it really keeps the defense guessing if they might have to contend with him identifying an opportunity and laying on a short kick or selective pass, and these opportunities are more likely to open up considering the amount of defenders Bird attracts with his running. If 4 blokes are numbering up on him, someone else has to have some part of daylight in front of them.
hitman124 said:
As for wingers not bieng of exceptional quality, what about Jarryd Hayne in Origin? he has got to be one of the most exciting players Ive seen.
No dobut wingers and centres are probably some of the most exciting players on the paddock. But unless they're something special like Inglis, more often than not their opportunity to show off their abilities is created by the men further in field, and if those guys in field aren't opening things up outwide, it doesn't matter how good the winger is, he can't post points without the footy and a bit of space. Gasnier was a perfect example with the Saints for the early part of 2008; there seemed to be the mindset of if they just push it up the field a bit with one off the ruck garbage and then swing it out to Gaz he'll do the rest. But he'd get the ball with 2 or 3 defenders breathing down his neck and he'd have nowhere to go.
Same with Queensland's Origin side. They've got a spectacular back line, but as we seen in game one of 2008, they're not worth sh!t if the forwards are dominated and the halves themselves don't have room to create room out wide.
With the Sharks of the past two seasons, it wouldn't make much difference who you had on the wings. They either rarely see the ball, or get it with nowhere to go. Until this changes (hopefully with the new halves combo and back row in 2009) we might as well save money and keep developing the average finishers, maybe if we see a few tries go begging cause they don't have the pace or skill to find the line then we can consider paying good money for a classy finisher.
