Official Liam Ison

[Sevshark]

He wasn't, but it still delays his development by a season.

He's got a year now to live in the gym and put on size, only real positive I guess

 

[MrDravid]

We need depth in that key position we can rely on. Giving Kennedy one more year is a no brainer, unless there's a better starting/depth option we can secure. Losing Atkinson too, so we should almost be looking to sign two players that could play fullback.

Can't imagine we have the $$ the sign anyone

 

[HaroldBishop]

We need depth in that key position we can rely on. Giving Kennedy one more year is a no brainer, unless there's a better starting/depth option we can secure. Losing Atkinson too, so we should almost be looking to sign two players that could play fullback.

Yep, we have no choice

 

[Western Sharkie]

Can't imagine we have the $$ the sign anyone

Yep, we have no choice

Can Gabriel play FB?

 

[The Punisher]

Giving Kennedy one more year is a no brainer, unless there's a better starting/depth option we can secure.

No, simply no
Kennedy has hit his ceiling and its a pretty low one.
Ison will be fit for the start of 2026, and fit for a full pre season, thats the only blessing with the timing of his injury.
There's also Dykes who can play there.
Plus who knows who'll be avaliable in the off season.
We won't win a premiership with Kennedy there, and im not willing to write off 2026 as well with him still there

Daine Laurie is off contact
Bring him in if need be

 

[Thresher]

Kennedy is a huge level above Daine Laurie.

It's like comparing a greyhound to a scottish terrior.

 

[HaroldBishop]

No, simply no
Kennedy has hit his ceiling and its a pretty low one.
Ison will be fit for the start of 2026, and fit for a full pre season, thats the only blessing with the timing of his injury.
There's also Dykes who can play there.
Plus who knows who'll be avaliable in the off season.
We won't win a premiership with Kennedy there, and im not willing to write off 2026 as well with him still there

Daine Laurie is off contact
Bring him in if need be

Ison won't be a possibility until 2027 now for NRL. Clearly I'm not a Will fan but unless someone better comes up he needs another year. Common sense.

 

[Jaws]

Ison wasnt close to just taking the jersey. Was always another year off at least.

I wasn’t talking about first few weeks of this season but how long do you think we were going to persist with Kennedy this season Churning out poor performances like the last couple seasons. He doesn’t have the best ball playing, doesn’t push up through the middle in support. Been caring a boy average fullback for too long

 

[Western Sharkie]

I wasn’t talking about first few weeks of this season but how long do you think we were going to persist with Kennedy this season Churning out poor performances like the last couple seasons. He doesn’t have the best ball playing, doesn’t push up through the middle in support. Been caring a boy average fullback for too long

Hopefully Dykes has a solid start and puts pressure on Will to perform.

So If Will does perform, no need to swap him out.

 

[Thresher]

I wasn’t talking about first few weeks of this season but how long do you think we were going to persist with Kennedy this season Churning out poor performances like the last couple seasons. He doesn’t have the best ball playing, doesn’t push up through the middle in support. Been caring a boy average fullback for too long

Kennedy plays the way Fitz wants him to play.

If Fitz wanted him constantly pushing up the middle waiting for an offload he would be.

The only problem I've had with Kennedy is that he doesn't seem to be willing to stick his head where players fear to tread.

Game one this year he seemed ready to get steamrolled and throw himself into defence without fear of death.

If he continues that way I've got no criticism.

Let's see whether he does.

 

[Jaws]

Kennedy plays the way Fitz wants him to play.

If Fitz wanted him constantly pushing up the middle waiting for an offload he would be.

The only problem I've had with Kennedy is that he doesn't seem to be willing to stick his head where players fear to tread.

Game one this year he seemed ready to get steamrolled and throw himself into defence without fear of death.

If he continues that way I've got no criticism.

Let's see whether he does

You reckon Fitz doesn’t want him pushing up in support for a line break ?

Credit where it’s due he did make more of an effort in defence but he hardly made the effort to get to yeo when we went over. What exactly are we getting from Kennedy though if he isn’t offering much in attack and has problems in defence is what I’m wondering

 

[Thresher]

You reckon Fitz doesn’t want him pushing up in support for a line break ?

Credit where it’s due he did make more of an effort in defence but he hardly made the effort to get to yeo when we went over. What exactly are we getting from Kennedy though if he isn’t offering much in attack and has problems in defence is what I’m wondering

Ask Fitz. He always seems to say that he's happy with Kennedy.

 

[Jaws]

Ask Fitz. He always seems to say that he's happy with Kennedy.

I don’t hate Kennedy but to challenge for the comp we are going to need abit more than 5 tries, 8 try assists and 4 line breaks in season from our fullback

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I wasn’t talking about first few weeks of this season but how long do you think we were going to persist with Kennedy this season Churning out poor performances like the last couple seasons. He doesn’t have the best ball playing, doesn’t push up through the middle in support. Been caring a boy average fullback for too long

Like i said…ison would have been a year off.

 

[Thresher]

I don’t hate Kennedy but to challenge for the comp we are going to need abit more than 5 tries, 8 try assists and 4 line breaks in season from our fullback

I'm not arguing that we can't do better. I just reckon that in this day and age he'd be following coach's directions.

He wouldn't last long otherwise.

 

[SF]

I don’t hate Kennedy but to challenge for the comp we are going to need abit more than 5 tries, 8 try assists and 4 line breaks in season from our fullback

Well he scored 14 tries in 2023 and 2021… not that he can’t do it. Last year he also did nearly double the tackles of 2023. Reasonable to guess the game plan has changed his role a little

 

[Proud Shark]

No, simply no
Kennedy has hit his ceiling and its a pretty low one.
Ison will be fit for the start of 2026, and fit for a full pre season, thats the only blessing with the timing of his injury.
There's also Dykes who can play there.
Plus who knows who'll be avaliable in the off season.
We won't win a premiership with Kennedy there, and im not willing to write off 2026 as well with him still there

Daine Laurie is off contact
Bring him in if need be

I'm not against going with another option, and I don't hate the Laurie suggestion. I thought he was great filling in at Penrith last year.

All I'm saying is going into 2026 with only Ison and Dykes is a recipe for disaster. We'd need to sign someone, otherwise giving Kennedy another year is a no brainer.

 

[SF]

Swap Atkinson early for Sloan… if you want X factor

 

[Vichyssoise]

Swap Atkinson early for Sloan… if you want X factor

And wait for many to complain about his positioning in defence, his failure to catch 99% of the kicks targeting him, and so on...
Kennedy is not the best fullback in the game, but that doesn't mean he's not doing his job.

Sucks for Ison.
Maybe Will has voodoo dolls, because between Ison & Dykes that's what 3 ACLs already in 3 seasons? He sure knows how to take care of the competition.

 

[Wizard]

Swap Atkinson early for Sloan… if you want X factor

Sloane is trash

It’s very early days, Dykes is coming through, Kennedy might hit a new level (doubt it) or there may be players that become available..

Let it play out