Official William Kennedy

[JimBob]

Would still play Acko or Stonestreet over him when everyone is fully fit

Completely disagree.

Will’s safety and positioning is top notch, legit one of the best in the league. Might not break tackles himself, but his silky hands and heads up footy results in a lot of our other boys being put into open space.

His defence is fine for a fullback. The reason there’s so much question regarding his defence is due to how often he needs to defend 1 on 1 on our line with first contact. Thats a structure issue, not a Will issue.

 

[Sir Chadley]

You can get as many of your mates opinions as you like, but it wont change mine.
I think hes average at best and unlikely to get any better.
Hes had 100 games now and is solid without being spectacular.
Compare that to likes of Fuller, Tuipiki, Gray, Faalongo from Dolphins, Warriors, Bunnies and Storm respectively whove played <15 games each and i tbink they show far more potential than he does even now

CrazyMatt is not my mate!

Fair enough mate, you’re entitled to your opinion but while he may not possess the razzle dazzle of others, I think you’ll find his teammates think he’s a very important part of our squad. And the coaching staff think so too.

JimBob’s not my mate either!

 

[MMsharks]

I just dont rate him at all and im not the only one.
I dont see what people see in him
Defence is piss weak
Hardly beats first defender


Basics of being a fb - ability to tackle, beat a man in broken play, catch a ball from a kick.
He hits 1/3 of them

We dont need him taking strong carrys in the middle, thats what the other 12 players around him are for.
Hes our weakest link

he does get 'ragdolled' by some teams on his kick returns, especially top teams

he's not the dominating fb I was hoping for
does some good things
but does some shockers.
for example; first set last week runs the ball back, worst ball security - drops it cold; we are on the back foot straight away


I thought he was solid tonight though; in a dominating and winning side. rolled his sleeves up.

I would keep him at the back. will be patient for that dominating fullback to emerge from him

 

[Wizard]

You can get as many of your mates opinions as you like, but it wont change mine.
I think hes average at best and unlikely to get any better.
Hes had 100 games now and is solid without being spectacular.
Compare that to likes of Fuller, Tuipiki, Gray, Faalongo from Dolphins, Warriors, Bunnies and Storm respectively whove played <15 games each and i tbink they show far more potential than he does even now

I don’t hate WK but I do think there will be a time where we will end up having to move him on..

I think he’s safe for the next year at least though

 

[JimBob]

he's not the dominating fb I was hoping for
does some good things
but does some shockers.
for example; first set last week runs the ball back, worst ball security - drops it cold; we are on the back foot straight away

I can get people criticising Will when it comes to his post contact meters and his defence, but you’re surely having a giggle with this part year?

Will is safe as houses (from memory he’s statistically the safest outside back in the comp), yes he had a dropped ball last week but it was very much an anomaly.

 

[Milkshark]

It’s good to see Will trying to be more involved with the ball, but no hitups please.

 

[SF]

I think you’ll find his teammates think he’s a very important part of our squad. And the coaching staff think so too.

Yep they 100% turned up for him tonight.

 

[CrazyMatt]

@CrazyMatt need your opinion here.

I respect Punishers opinion but I disagree with him on this. Has had a bit of a downturn on attack output compared to a very good season last year, whether thats because of the adjustment to our gameplan or not is up for debate but regardless, I’ve seen good improvement in other parts of his game so I think he deserves the opportunity to get back to where he was last season.

As far as im concerned he’s still far and away our best option at fullback. There’s no one outside of the club who’d be available next year thats better than him. Replacing him with Atkinson, who has spent basically the entire season playing and training as a 5/8th & halfback, or with a rookie like Stonestreet only four games out from the finals is absolute lunacy.

If Ison or Dykes show so much more than Will that they eventually force their way into the position and take his spot then so be it. But for right now, Will’s our man and we should get behind him.

 

[CrazyMatt]

CrazyMatt is not my mate!

 

[HaroldBishop]

I don’t hate WK but I do think there will be a time where we will end up having to move him on..

I think he’s safe for the next year at least though

Agree. He's warming the seat for Ison or Dykes for mine and that's perfectly fine.

 

[puma1355]

Never breaks the line

 

[HaroldBishop]

Never breaks the line

Yeah he does

 

[Sharkfox]

Does a good job, wish he was involved more in attack. If he doesnt go up another level next year i would upgrade him with someone from outside who has had top grade experience. Im not waiting on Dykes or Ison, to develop or stay healthy

 

[HaroldBishop]

Im not waiting on Dykes or Ison, to develop or stay healthy

I am, good clubs develop from within. We gave two great prospects, why wouldn't you?

 

[JimBob]

JimBob’s not my mate either!

View attachment 31481

I feel ya

 

[Sharkfox]

I am, good clubs develop from within. We gave two great prospects, why wouldn't you?

I think Ison is another 2 or 3 years away, Dykes i've given up on, season ending injuries in a row, cant catch a break to play a full season.
Do hope Ison is ready and pushing for that fullback spot next year though

 

[JimBob]

I think Ison is another 2 or 3 years away, Dykes i've given up on, season ending injuries in a row, cant catch a break to play a full season.

Good thing you aren’t the coach of Melbourne, otherwise poor Papenhuyzen would be working on a job site right now

 

[HaroldBishop]

I think Ison is another 2 or 3 years away, Dykes i've given up on, season ending injuries in a row, cant catch a break to play a full season.

Ison with another year with the Jets and 2 x pre seasons will be ready to go imo. Will is fine for 2025 then the heat really starts to get applied.

I'm frustrated with Dykes as well but I'm not giving up on him yet.

 

[Sharkfox]

Good thing you aren’t the coach of Melbourne, otherwise poor Papenhuyzen would be working on a job site right now

Papz has proven what he's capable of in top grade and is a Grand final winner. He still comes back firing after his injuries. When fully fit he is one of the elite fullbacks and can also easily fit in a rep side. Dykes has only one first grade game under his belt and hasnt really started his career yet

 

[sharks2010]

Agree. He's warming the seat for Ison or Dykes for mine and that's perfectly fine.

As am I but people need to be realistic about how far behind will they are, the same goes for stonestreet and katoa