Official Wade Graham

[Henchmann]

Does everyone else agree with this? Because when I last watched him in NRL he was only average!

 

[snowman]

2 time halfback of the year. gun goal kicker, and very patient.
would rather take a chance on him, than playing wade at 7

 

[josh11223344]

I think graham has shown how good a halfback he can be and I would like him there considering that he said himself he wants take control of a team but if we were to get a good halfback or one of the existing ones came good he would be at half and kelly would be my first choice 5/8 outside him.

 

[goodbyepenrithhellosharks]

Wade turns twenty today. this got me thinking, what i was doing at this age.I certainly was not carrying the huge responsibilities and hopes of lots of people on my shoulders.IF YOU ARE OLD BASTARD LIKE ME ,think back, might be some interesting stories to be told:cheers:cheers

 

[Hughesy215]

I was talking to Wade today and asked him about the sharks, overall he is very impressed with the club. He doesn't know if he will be playing in the 6 or 7 next year said that flanno will wait till training has started and figures out "the dynamics of the team". Also it is true that gallen rang him to convince him to sign haha i love that man

 

[Tiger Shark]

thanks for the info Hughesy, always good to hear straight from a player.

Also glad that Flanno hasn't pencilled him into a 6 or 7 yet and he's keeping his options open. Makes me think he's a coach who can adapt to different situations and challenges when they present itself.

 

[Blix]

thanks for the info Hughesy, always good to hear straight from a player.

Also glad that Flanno hasn't pencilled him into a 6 or 7 yet and he's keeping his options open. Makes me think he's a coach who can adapt to different situations and challenges when they present itself.

I will tell you what it means.

It means he doesnt consider the halfs sorted yet!

I am happy to hear this, I reckon he is still searching hard for a partner for Graham!

 

[snowman]

kose leilei and wade would be mad, thats going off what he showed in the nsw cup finals.
only problem is they are both instinct players not organisers, maybe something wade can work on

 

[Mr Wright]

kose leilei and wade would be mad, thats going off what he showed in the nsw cup finals.
only problem is they are both instinct players not organisers, maybe something wade can work on

Something he will work on for sure. Has pretty much improved everything else in his game since his debut. Advancing his organising skills is what will take him to that elite group.

 

[snowman]

yeh turncoat, im with you on that one.
also, i think your boy matty wright could be a smokey for number 6 with wadeo

 

[josh11223344]

He bloody should be i've stated numerous times that 6 is his position

 

[ABshark]

I will tell you what it means.

It means he doesnt consider the halfs sorted yet!

I am happy to hear this, I reckon he is still searching hard for a partner for Graham!

Or... that's what you hope it means.

FFS Blix.

a) You're doing that capitalisation thing again.
b) It does my head in that you've clearly given up on Kelly in favour of some other no-name u20s players who largely play the same style of game. You're judging Kelly by his stats, even though you've had the benefit of watching him with your own eyes- make your judgement from that, rather than numbers in a sub-standard comp. The questions are: Do you think he can put points on in the NRL in the next 12 months? Do your think he could in the next 24 months? Is he going to be a long-term NRL player? Make those judgements based on what you have seen, rather than what you read.

tbh, for mine, Graham is actually the problem. We signed AK as a 5/8th to replace Baz. What we needed to sign this year, was a halfback. A genuine halfback, like a Dobson- a kicker/communicator/organiser/creator. Instead, we've signed a talented 5-8th/lock/perhaps halfback in Graham.

Don't get me wrong, I like Wade. I like his attitude, his defence, his confidence, his smarts, his left foot kick, his bombs, the time he takes when he has the ball, his talking. But I still haven't seen what it is in his game that creates all the points- perhaps someone who's seen more of his u20s games can tell me. I know where the points will come from with AK- his running game, like Presto. I like 5/8ths to be your x-factor ballplayer, the one that takes the defence on when you've got them on the back foot and lays the points on. I think that suits the way the game is played these days- unless you have an amazing attacking halfback like a JT or Prince.

And what's really got my goat, is the one thing you are most clearly neglecting- AK is actually signed to us for next year, none of these other blokes are. So pull yourself out of fairy land.

/rant. Sorry to single you out for the rant... there's been a lot worse than you posted here today by the looks (people glad Inglis would never sign with us? ) but you're normally more reasoned than this. Maybe you've had one too many shroom shakes over there in Nam, I dunno!

 

[Mr Wright]

To answer a bit of your question AB, from the few 20's games of Graham that I watched he seemed to use the left to right pass alot to find his outside backs for tries. Of course this was in the U20's so take it for what its worth.

yeh turncoat, im with you on that one.
also, i think your boy matty wright could be a smokey for number 6 with wadeo

pot stirrer.

 

[snowman]

no stirring about it buddy

 

[Blix]

Or... that's what you hope it means.

FFS Blix.

a) You're doing that capitalisation thing again.
b) It does my head in that you've clearly given up on Kelly in favour of some other no-name u20s players who largely play the same style of game. You're judging Kelly by his stats, even though you've had the benefit of watching him with your own eyes- make your judgement from that, rather than numbers in a sub-standard comp. The questions are: Do you think he can put points on in the NRL in the next 12 months? Do your think he could in the next 24 months? Is he going to be a long-term NRL player? Make those judgements based on what you have seen, rather than what you read.

tbh, for mine, Graham is actually the problem. We signed AK as a 5/8th to replace Baz. What we needed to sign this year, was a halfback. A genuine halfback, like a Dobson- a kicker/communicator/organiser/creator. Instead, we've signed a talented 5-8th/lock/perhaps halfback in Graham.

Don't get me wrong, I like Wade. I like his attitude, his defence, his confidence, his smarts, his left foot kick, his bombs, the time he takes when he has the ball, his talking. But I still haven't seen what it is in his game that creates all the points- perhaps someone who's seen more of his u20s games can tell me. I know where the points will come from with AK- his running game, like Presto. I like 5/8ths to be your x-factor ballplayer, the one that takes the defence on when you've got them on the back foot and lays the points on. I think that suits the way the game is played these days- unless you have an amazing attacking halfback like a JT or Prince.

And what's really got my goat, is the one thing you are most clearly neglecting- AK is actually signed to us for next year, none of these other blokes are. So pull yourself out of fairy land.

/rant. Sorry to single you out for the rant... there's been a lot worse than you posted here today by the looks (people glad Inglis would never sign with us? ) but you're normally more reasoned than this. Maybe you've had one too many shroom shakes over there in Nam, I dunno!

In regards to capts, yeah the keyboard got stuck, lol.

But... not sure why so harsh. I dont think I am being unrealistic, when I say I am concerned about placing the hopes of the club on a junior who hasnt impressed. I would be happy to place more confidence in him but there are a number of things which make me ask questions. (I dont want to s.it can him on the forum, but I will this once so you can see what I am thinking)

1) He had an average year last year, yes he might have potential but so do a heap of people, he showed no massive improvement last year, and from what I watched he wasnt involved enough.
2) He is known as a loose cannon, spitting at coaches, and other things even from last season (I say this last point but I had no sauce so wont specifically list)


(Yes the first point is clearly the most importnat, but even if he does come on I still think about point 2)


In regards to relying on stats that isnt true, I watch a fair bit of the toyota cup, and players like Williams, Johson, Murray etc, have been really good. (but when I only get to see someone play like 4 matches, arent super impressed than go and check further match stats, and they are also no good that is the best I can do, I think he may come good, but I am not willing to risk having weak halfs again next season in the hope he comes good.

After thinking about it, I am not to concerned about chancing his attitude.

My main point I want to make is I dont want to put all reliance in a junior who hasnt shown he is ready yet. I want us to get a quality 7 for next season, than try and get Kelly off the bench.

 

[slide rule]

I'm not as unhappy with our halves situations as others are.The way I see it, we have Smith, Kelly, Porter, Graham and even Morris that can play in the halves. Two have to step up and claim the spot. Plenty of competition there. Heaps of potential as well.

The supposed terribleness of Porter, Smith and Morris is overstated on this site. Yes there is a bit of a risk with AK, but none of our other options are half as terrible as some people like to make out. If AK doesn't come through then we've got other guys that can do the job. We might not win the comp, but the other options are satisfactory.

No stress. And if it doesn't work out this year, we can buy someone else next year.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

The fact that Graham is clearly our best half is a worry though. He would be perfect as the young half paired with an old head but assuming he is going to be absolutely great and his partner can be picked from a small list of unrated players is a bit of an alarm.

I mean it's definitely our weak point. Our centre and wing options are better than our halves options. Our forwards are close to perfect. Our hookers are fine. It's just really the halves.

If we could buy one pretty decent half it'd change the whole team.

 

[snowman]

^^ truer words have never been spoken mark.

 

[slide rule]

Our outside backs have been absolute poo for the last couple of years though really. We've had 2nd rowers playing in the centres etc. I think we will have a more potent backline next year. While a good halfback is important, the guys outside them must also have some kind of attacking flair. A good halfback doesnt make a team (see NQLD). I don't think that any of our halves have had the benefit of having decent outside backs running off them. We have had some good halves over the last couple of years too, Kimmorley, Seymour, Bird and yet none of them have really excelled in comparison to what they went on to in other teams. That says something to me.


PS I rate Bird more of a Lock than a ball playing 5/8, but yeah.

 

[Blix]

The fact that Graham is clearly our best half is a worry though. He would be perfect as the young half paired with an old head but assuming he is going to be absolutely great and his partner can be picked from a small list of unrated players is a bit of an alarm.

I mean it's definitely our weak point. Our centre and wing options are better than our halves options. Our forwards are close to perfect. Our hookers are fine. It's just really the halves.

If we could buy one pretty decent half it'd change the whole team.

This is exactly what I reckon.

I am happy with the rest of the team. Last year the 7 position was our weakest position, (also the most important) and we havent fixed it.

Yes AK, might come through, but he might not as well.