Tigers Vs Sharks trial, 20th February

dosit

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Be interesting to see what team flanno names for this game.
 

Gards

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If he is serious about Bird being a nose in front for FB he needs to play him there again this match to see if he can actually make a compelling case as I'm far from convinced

We already have a reasonable idea of how Barba and Holmes can perform back there with the varying experiencing of those players but Bird is the newcomer to the position

When you take into account how poor Ricky was in the first trial game (had some decent touches in the nines though) Bird would want to score a hatrick and setup another 3 to provide justification he shouldn't be in the centres at the expense of Loots.

Sick of carrying passengers/liabilities in this team for the best part of the last decade
 

Gumby

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If he is serious about Bird being a nose in front for FB he needs to play him there again this match to see if he can actually make a compelling case as I'm far from convinced

We already have a reasonable idea of how Barba and Holmes can perform back there with the varying experiencing of those players but Bird is the newcomer to the position

When you take into account how poor Ricky was in the first trial game (had some decent touches in the nines though) Bird would want to score a hatrick and setup another 3 to provide justification he shouldn't be in the centres at the expense of Loots.

Sick of carrying passengers/liabilities in this team for the best part of the last decade

I agree with you 100% there mate. Good post.
 

ABshark

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If he is serious about Bird being a nose in front for FB he needs to play him there again this match to see if he can actually make a compelling case as I'm far from convinced

Of course the beauty of it is that he doesn't have to convince you or me. Just Flano. Why do supporters subject themselves to this kind of trauma?

Sick of carrying passengers/liabilities in this team for the best part of the last decade

I reckon "passengers" might be the trope of 2016. There are a couple of other candidates there on past form.
 

Sparkles

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If he is serious about Bird being a nose in front for FB he needs to play him there again this match to see if he can actually make a compelling case as I'm far from convinced

We already have a reasonable idea of how Barba and Holmes can perform back there with the varying experiencing of those players but Bird is the newcomer to the position

When you take into account how poor Ricky was in the first trial game (had some decent touches in the nines though) Bird would want to score a hatrick and setup another 3 to provide justification he shouldn't be in the centres at the expense of Loots.

Sick of carrying passengers/liabilities in this team for the best part of the last decade

Good post Gards.

This might be the best view of the situation. It's not just who's strongest at fullback, but how the whole team becomes stronger by using the players available.

Could Bird be a great fullback? I think so. He'd be pretty great just about anywhere. Is the team stronger with Bird in the centres and Holmes at fullback. Definitely. And the big question.... Is the team at its strongest with Bird at centre, Barba at fullback and Holmes on the wing?

Personally I think there's too many question marks over Barba's 80 minute ability to say yes, so for me it's the second option.
 

HaroldBishop

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Good post Gards.

This might be the best view of the situation. It's not just who's strongest at fullback, but how the whole team becomes stronger by using the players available.

Could Bird be a great fullback? I think so. He'd be pretty great just about anywhere. Is the team stronger with Bird in the centres and Holmes at fullback. Definitely. And the big question.... Is the team at its strongest with Bird at centre, Barba at fullback and Holmes on the wing?

Personally I think there's too many question marks over Barba's 80 minute ability to say yes, so for me it's the second option.

I don't understand where this talk keeps coming from?
 
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I don't understand where this talk keeps coming from?

Agreed. He only played less than 80 mins in games last year because Flanno limited him by keeping him on the bench. I have no doubt that if Benny is on from the beginning at fullback, he'll be there in the 80th minute.
 
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With the physical demands and endurance I would have more doubts over val or bird playing a whole 80 at fullback, at least early in the season
 

Sparkles

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I don't understand where this talk keeps coming from?

Dear god... I've been sucked into Groundhog Day!

Please feel free to read my comments on the Official Barba thread. There's a few if I remember correctly, as I was once really bored on the train and a bunch of you were up for some pointless nattering for a good solid hour or so (which helped me get through the trip, so thanks btw).
 
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Agreed. He only played less than 80 mins in games last year because Flanno limited him by keeping him on the bench. I have no doubt that if Benny is on from the beginning at fullback, he'll be there in the 80th minute.

I agree with this. We are using Ben on the bench. Even when he had a sub-par 2014 at the Broncos he was playing mainly 5/8 but did play a bit of fullback too, for 80 minutes.

We were the only club in the comp that was using interchange fullbacks last year. That was a stupid move. Ben got 25 minutes max a game to pull a rabbit out of a hat. And i dont think anyone should ever say that Gordon was the superior player to hold down that spot.

Maybe he has injury concerns, but you dont have those concerns when you are fit. A sprained ankle like he got vs Melbourne late in the year, well thats the result of an awkward fall isnt it. Not through fitness. Could happen to any player.

Id have Barba fullback, Bird centre, Val wing. Either way all 3 are in the run on side, and we have incredible fullback depth if we need
 

Thresher

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I watch Barba and think at times that he's quite like Peachey - in that he looks like he's only jogging half the time and then he suddenly claps on the pace when he sees an opportunity. I'm not sure of the reasoning but at a guess I'd say that it serves to conserve energy and catch the defence napping as well.

Inglis kind of does the same thing a bit too. He puts in the extra 30% when he thinks it's really going to count.

I get the injury thing but I can't see fitness or stamina holding Barba back from playing a full game plus extra time.
 
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Rekon Hayne was like that, just looking over is shoulder using enough speed teasing the chasing pack.
 
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