Official Thomas Hazelton

[Deleted member 3365]

Sad that our bench prop outshines our starting props

Strange that the coach can't see it.

 

[puma1355]

Best forward by far

 

[RivShark]

I think BHU may be a chance to return next week, I'm calling for this bloke to start vs Panthers and BHU and Kafusi to come off the bench.

 

[snowman]

hazleton comes on in the second half and turns the game

why did he get no minutes in the first half?

 

[andrew's_sharks]

He is a real handful. Looks to be a good prospect.

 

[Deleted member 3365]

hazleton comes on in the second half and turns the game

why did he get no minutes in the first half?

Just wait for the graph to explain.

 

[Tatus]

Time to fast track this guy's development. Looks a real point of difference, something we sorely need in the forwards.

 

[RivShark]

He's developed enough, Tommy big nuts.

This bloke coined the phrase.. take away the pain, leave the swelling.

Nuts by the tonne. Big wheels in motion.

 

[Sir Chadley]

If he doesn’t start, it’s criminal that he only comes on with ten to go in the first half or early in the second.

If he is to be on the bench, he needs to be on the field after 20 mins. Have Toby and BHU (if fit) go for it for 20 and then bring big Tommy on.

It’s a shame that some of our forwards aren’t doing as well as they could. Imagine Toby and BHU at full tilt to be replaced by Tommy and a potential filled Royce Hunt.

We’d be doing much better that’s for sure.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

If he doesn’t start, it’s criminal that he only comes on with ten to go in the first half or early in the second.

If he is to be on the bench, he needs to be on the field after 20 mins. Have Toby and BHU (if fit) go for it for 20 and then bring big Tommy on.

It’s a shame that some of our forwards aren’t doing as well as they could. Imagine Toby and BHU at full tilt to be replaced by Tommy and a potential filled Royce Hunt.

We’d be doing much better that’s for sure.

I am not sure Royce will ever be that great. Way too inconsistent.

 

[snowman]

he should have the 8 jersey now, and for a very long time

 

[BurgoShark]

hazleton comes on in the second half and turns the game

why did he get no minutes in the first half?

Just wait for the graph to explain.

I can't comment on why he didn't use him in the first half, but I'm going to guess that the 75%+ possession rate, 2 set restarts and a penalty in his first 10 minutes on the field didn't hurt with that momentum swing. It was 30-4 when he came on, and 30-8 when he went off (but he was on for both no-tries, and the team was well on top).

It wasn't until Rudolf and Finucane came back on that they scored the late tries. Maybe what turned the game was having a great short stint from a bench forward followed by bringing two of their best forwards back on well-rested (those guys were also beneficiaries of a massive possession swing). Maybe Fitz actually has a clue after all.

Tommy is doing a fantastic job in his role of coming on and going full noise for 20. Let's not throw him in to a role he isn't ready for just yet. He could get there though. @snowman raises an interesting point for discussion. If Tommy his only going to play in short bursts, would we better off seeing him 12-15 minutes per half than 20-25 in a row, and how would that effect the rotation overall?

 

[Proud Shark]

If Tommy his only going to play in short bursts, would we better off seeing him 12-15 minutes per half than 20-25 in a row, and how would that effect the rotation overall?

This is the way.

If he's only good for a 20ish minute stint, we should definitely split him over half time to get him closer to 30 total.

 

[Rob]

I’d love to see the stats of points / meters conceded and opposition play the ball speeds when hazelton is on v not. He gives me the opinion we start slowing down the ruck and stemming the momentum.

In Jets games where he started they seem to lose those things when he would go off.

I’d give him the starting spot to see how he goes, can’t be worse than what we are doing.

 

[bort]

I’d love to see the stats of points / meters conceded and opposition play the ball speeds when hazelton is on v not. He gives me the opinion we start slowing down the ruck and stemming the momentum.

In Jets games where he started they seem to lose those things when he would go off.

I’d give him the starting spot to see how he goes, can’t be worse than what we are doing.

That's a bold call

Sounds like you've got some graphs for Burgo to make

 

[BurgoShark]

I’d love to see the stats of points / meters conceded and opposition play the ball speeds when hazelton is on v not. He gives me the opinion we start slowing down the ruck and stemming the momentum.

In Jets games where he started they seem to lose those things when he would go off.

I’d give him the starting spot to see how he goes, can’t be worse than what we are doing.

Best I can do at this stage is the fancy stats from the Bulldogs game. Was away for a while after that so haven't done another game with this model yet. Might do the Manly one.

(Extra) Fancy Stats for Round 16, 2023

Those who are across the statistical modelling I have done previously will be aware that I have accounted for minutes played and team possession. This gave us a better indication of actual work-rate for a player rather than just looking at "metres" on the NRL/Fox stats, but could still be...

sharksforever.com

I can see how there could be a perception that Hazelton is outperforming the other forwards, but what we have here is a guy excelling while playing a limited role.

**

Hazelton was on for just 10 minutes of ball in play, and the Sharks had 60% possession during that time. He had to do 4 minutes of defence. It's pretty easy to look good in attack under those conditions.

He and Williams were much more likely to come back inside their own 20 to take a run, whereas the higher minute middles will tend to wait until tackle 3 or 4 after the outside backs or second rowers have gotten through the early plays. That's likely under instruction from the coach imo (higher minute guys play like old bulls, lower minute guys play like young bulls).

This isn't a criticism of Hazelton. He is 10/10 in his role. To think that he could maintain the same level of play for triple the time and/or lower the possession is... questionable logic.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Understand what you say @BurgoShark but unless he is given more time/minutes, we'll keep on guessing. Hard to know unless he is given the opportunity.
Surely if he doesn't start, he can come on after 20 minutes and get through to half time?

 

[BurgoShark]

Understand what you say @BurgoShark but unless he is given more time/minutes, we'll keep on guessing. Hard to know unless he is given the opportunity.
Surely if he doesn't start, he can come on after 20 minutes and get through to half time?

Yeah - of course if he is excelling in that role he should be given an opportunity to show whether he can do an increased one.

I'm just saying don't think you can go from that role to giving him big minutes and expect the same level of play. Move him to one of the other secondary roles and see how he handles it (the Williams or Kaufusi role)

He's clearly behind the top 5 guys in the eyes of the coach... but maybe there is an argument that he has played his way ahead of Hunt and is pushing Kaufusi.

I think what will happen this week is...

Williams to 2nd row
Hazelton in to Williams role (10-15 either side of half time)
Hunt in to Hazelton's role (spot duty)

A lot depends on BHU's availailability though.

 

[Sparkles]

Best I can do at this stage is the fancy stats from the Bulldogs game. Was away for a while after that so haven't done another game with this model yet. Might do the Manly one.

(Extra) Fancy Stats for Round 16, 2023

Those who are across the statistical modelling I have done previously will be aware that I have accounted for minutes played and team possession. This gave us a better indication of actual work-rate for a player rather than just looking at "metres" on the NRL/Fox stats, but could still be...

sharksforever.com

I can see how there could be a perception that Hazelton is outperforming the other forwards, but what we have here is a guy excelling while playing a limited role.

**

Hazelton was on for just 10 minutes of ball in play, and the Sharks had 60% possession during that time. He had to do 4 minutes of defence. It's pretty easy to look good in attack under those conditions.

He and Williams were much more likely to come back inside their own 20 to take a run, whereas the higher minute middles will tend to wait until tackle 3 or 4 after the outside backs or second rowers have gotten through the early plays. That's likely under instruction from the coach imo (higher minute guys play like old bulls, lower minute guys play like young bulls).

This isn't a criticism of Hazelton. He is 10/10 in his role. To think that he could maintain the same level of play for triple the time and/or lower the possession is... questionable logic.

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Physics surely tell us that The Nut isn't going to be able to sustain that level for extended minutes

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

I believe he has earned the right to start.