deano the p
Jaws
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Gee its tough. When Ak gets back I would like to see Graham shift to lock but our backrow is great at the moment so it is hard to find the room.
I wouldn't mind seeing the following when AKk comes back:
6 Kelly
7 Porter
8 Snow
9 Morris
10 Dougie
11 Smith
12 Tupou
13 Gallen
14 Graham (to play lock but would also be the man to slot into hooker if Morris went down)(Note I prefer not to start him for now if he is to play lock to give him time to adjust)
15 Bukuya
16 Vave/Clayton/Mannah (Rotating for experience and also so they can play big minutes in NSW Cup)
17 Cordoba
I wouldn't mind seeing the following when AKk comes back:
6 Kelly
7 Porter
8 Snow
9 Morris
10 Dougie
11 Smith
12 Tupou
13 Gallen
14 Graham (to play lock but would also be the man to slot into hooker if Morris went down)(Note I prefer not to start him for now if he is to play lock to give him time to adjust)
15 Bukuya
16 Vave/Clayton/Mannah (Rotating for experience and also so they can play big minutes in NSW Cup)
17 Cordoba
Mark^Bastard
Great White
As traditional halves, the Porter / Kelly combo is probably the best we've got.
But Graham is such a good player so it's hard.
It's funny I'm even saying this. In the 2009/2010 off season a lot of people wanted a Porter/Kelly combination. Barrett didn't have the best year in 2009 and a lot of people wanted him to play at lock. Kelly had so much hype surrounding him. Porter was the incumbent half back and most people were very happy with him at the time.
I think Porter started the year well last year and thought it was a bit of a shock dropping, but the mid season signing of Smith had a lot of hype too.
In hindsight, I think we made some big errors last year. For one Smith should never have been signed. He has no future at the club and didn't give us much last year, except for a few decent moments. If Porter played the whole year who knows how he would have progressed? He's sort of like a junior but older. Know what I mean? He's still capable of improving. He had a good season in the NSW Cup and I think if we played him all last year he'd be a much better player for us now, and a genuine first grader. As for Kelly, if he was played at 5/8 last year instead of fullback who knows how that would have went? You could argue the fullback experiment cost him a whole season of development, or at least stunted it.
It's a tough decision. If Graham had Porter's kicking game it'd be easy to just say Graham but I would really love to see a Porter/Kelly combo for at least a few games either way. I think our team needs to try it out. If it works it could be something we stick with for years until Townsend forces his way in over Porter in the right way.
One thing I'd love to do is keep them all together so that when Tupou leaves Graham goes to lock and there's less to worry about.
Blix
Great White
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I would love to see all of our halfs get some coaching from BOTH Noddy and Johns.
Thinking all 3, Kelly, Graham and Townsend, would take loads, this for mine would be money well spent!!!
Honestly how much could Johns charge for like 10 coaching sessions?
Thinking all 3, Kelly, Graham and Townsend, would take loads, this for mine would be money well spent!!!
Honestly how much could Johns charge for like 10 coaching sessions?
Someone was preaching it before (maybe you) but I think hes a good fit for the side we have, much the same as M Wright is on the wing - solid player and nothing flash. Porter's defence and his kicking game are enough to keep him in the side and in those terms a good fit. Leave the flashy stuff to Kelly and Wade, but we need the stability ie. when our backs to the wall, that settling kick. His short kicking game was decent as well with a try assist for mills. With having Mills, Best, Wright, becoming good in the air - its a great option to have.
When Kelly's back wade to the backrow.
When Kelly's back wade to the backrow.
Mark^Bastard
Great White
Yeah I'd rather Wade as a second rower than a lock as well.
I guess Kelly and Wade could then still be on different sides of the ruck. Porter in the middle. Gallen in the middle as lock. Gallen defending wide when Jez is on.
Our kind of team is a valid one to have in the NRL, a tough grinding team or whatever, but you really need a good long kicking game as well.
A really good long kick that finds grass can end up being 20 meters better than a less good kick, and that's two hit ups our props don't have to take later on. This will be especially important next year.
I guess Kelly and Wade could then still be on different sides of the ruck. Porter in the middle. Gallen in the middle as lock. Gallen defending wide when Jez is on.
Our kind of team is a valid one to have in the NRL, a tough grinding team or whatever, but you really need a good long kicking game as well.
A really good long kick that finds grass can end up being 20 meters better than a less good kick, and that's two hit ups our props don't have to take later on. This will be especially important next year.
With a full quota - Gal, smith, toops, bukuya, graham for backrow.
Bukuya is a gun for a young guy, strong as and talented. I kind of hope we dont get anymore backrowers as we seem to have an abundance of riches. We also have cover as well with taitai, wright and with juniors coming through of frizz and peach, grubb. Someone is going to have to go nearly!!
Bukuya is a gun for a young guy, strong as and talented. I kind of hope we dont get anymore backrowers as we seem to have an abundance of riches. We also have cover as well with taitai, wright and with juniors coming through of frizz and peach, grubb. Someone is going to have to go nearly!!
josh11223344
Jaws
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I know bukuya is good but really I think friz is just as good even at this age so if one is in the team the other has to aswell.
Yeah well it would appear that Frizz is the next cab off the rank in terms of juniors to fg.
Just dont want to see bukuya or any of those listed to be bumped - nice dilemma to have. Not a fan but I know that gal to prop would ease the squeeze. Gal himself said it was only a matter of time before he goes there.
Just dont want to see bukuya or any of those listed to be bumped - nice dilemma to have. Not a fan but I know that gal to prop would ease the squeeze. Gal himself said it was only a matter of time before he goes there.
gosharkies
Bull Shark
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i like that would be a good side
I would be happy to see Ports stay at half. He reminds me allot of Soward. He has a great kicking game and with some confidence his long passing game could really come on. Graham could move to lock and with Gal and Bukuya in the 2nd row. Tupou and Smith could move to the bench with Cordoba and Vave. We don't need a 2nd hooker with Morris or Ation playing 80 minutes.
I would run with this as well, except I would start Bukuya and bring Tupou on from the bench.
I reckon having that extra ballplayer on there at times could produce some more points and share the playmaking load a fair bit.
jasontitty
Bronze Whaler
Kelly is at best running and passing, Porter kicking (not goals), Graham tackling + kick chase. They all do good things, id keep Graham in halves he has great D just needs to kick abit better is a young Barrett. Also another forward in the halves like Bird was back abit, helps alot Kelly and Graham can kick the ball it aint hard to teach that. I like porter but would keep him as standby for either. Would not throw Graham at lock for awhile considering the best back row in the comp TOOPS.SMITH.GALLEN. Is Toops off contract after next season? You think he will stay...
sharkboy18
Great White
I hope Toops stays and i think he will stay if flanno offers him another contract
phoenix
Hammerhead
seriously graham over smith or toops in the starting team.
gallenisgod
Hammerhead
graham to 9, morris off the bench
snowman
Total gronk
You lost me at flanagan over morris.
josh11223344
Jaws
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So do I he has been really dangerous on the edge this year and really struck up a good combo with AK before he got injured, he will know it will be on alot less money and by the look of it i'd say he is keen to stay and if we offered a contract he would take it.