Western Sharkie
Jaws
Sifa’s Beatch?
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Mate
AdShark
Hammerhead
As much as I think we need to upgrade Kennedy. Laurie isn’t the answer
Hopefully roosters do something dumb if they have a bad year and we get Tedesco for a year
Hopefully roosters do something dumb if they have a bad year and we get Tedesco for a year
Vichyssoise
Great White
Up until now I thought this place was relatively knowledgeable when it comes to rugby league... I must have been mistaken.
In the past 4 years, Kennedy has won the Sharks Forever Player of the Year award twice (21 & 23), and finished runner-up once (24). He didn't earn these by stealing anyone's money, he did it by receiving the most votes across a full season.
Votes given by... let me see... oh yes, that's right, members of this very forum.
And yet it turns out the guy is apparently a liability and an anchor around the team's neck dragging us down.
Now, can anyone explain me how this bog average NRL player can actually win such accolades if anyone in here knows anything about rugby league? And what does it say about this team?
That's a conundrum I can't quite wrap my head around, but, granted, I'm not that smart and my head's too hard to bend this way to begin with anyway
Kennedy is not the best fullback, sure. But he gives us plenty of value for money, money that allows us for example to sign AFB, Hynes to big contracts.
He's no game breaker in the Walsh or Ponga mold. I too sometimes would like him to give us a bit more, but his role in this team is not to be the 79th minute savior. His role is too help us being in the running when the game is on the line.
But, yeah, by all means, let's just sign someone else.
In the past 4 years, Kennedy has won the Sharks Forever Player of the Year award twice (21 & 23), and finished runner-up once (24). He didn't earn these by stealing anyone's money, he did it by receiving the most votes across a full season.
Votes given by... let me see... oh yes, that's right, members of this very forum.
And yet it turns out the guy is apparently a liability and an anchor around the team's neck dragging us down.
Now, can anyone explain me how this bog average NRL player can actually win such accolades if anyone in here knows anything about rugby league? And what does it say about this team?
That's a conundrum I can't quite wrap my head around, but, granted, I'm not that smart and my head's too hard to bend this way to begin with anyway
Kennedy is not the best fullback, sure. But he gives us plenty of value for money, money that allows us for example to sign AFB, Hynes to big contracts.
He's no game breaker in the Walsh or Ponga mold. I too sometimes would like him to give us a bit more, but his role in this team is not to be the 79th minute savior. His role is too help us being in the running when the game is on the line.
But, yeah, by all means, let's just sign someone else.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Agree. If we're going to upgrade I don't think Laurie is any better.
MrDravid
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Problem will be how he plays outside the Penrith system... Like when he went to the Tigers
MrDravid
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Yeah I'm not sure where the narrative came from, but it's there and for many confirmation bias seems to reinforce it.
Look what he did in our first game and look at the plaudits he got (or lack thereof).
Hopefully we don't find out what happens when he's not there anytime soon.
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Completely fair. We are a bit better than the tigers though.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Below them on the ladder atm!
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Look, I'm sure he's got deficiencies, but he's got a lot of pros too.
Stat lines at fullback last year.
V saints - 20 runs, 185m, 4 tackle busts, 1 error
V manly - 26 runs, 343m, 1 line break, 2 line break assists, 1 try assist, 9 tackle breaks, 1 forced drop out
V Cowboys - 24 runs, 220m, 9 tackle breaks, 1 error
V phins - 1 try, 29 runs, 260m, 1 line break, 1 line break assist, 9 tackle breaks, 2 errors
V saints - 7 runs, 75m, 1 try assist, 2 line breaks, 4 tackle breaks
V parra - 23 runs, 215m, 2 line breaks, 2 line break assists, 2 try Assists, 10 tackle breaks, 2 errors
You'd be getting a fullback that plays high energy, with great support play and run metres from the back. He has good hands and can contribute in attack. He's not as safe under a high ball, but I have no idea how else he really goes defensively.
I can't imagine he'd cost any more than Kennedy. For reference, I thought he was just an all round awful player at the Tigs. I think last year showed it was more the club than him.
Stat lines at fullback last year.
V saints - 20 runs, 185m, 4 tackle busts, 1 error
V manly - 26 runs, 343m, 1 line break, 2 line break assists, 1 try assist, 9 tackle breaks, 1 forced drop out
V Cowboys - 24 runs, 220m, 9 tackle breaks, 1 error
V phins - 1 try, 29 runs, 260m, 1 line break, 1 line break assist, 9 tackle breaks, 2 errors
V saints - 7 runs, 75m, 1 try assist, 2 line breaks, 4 tackle breaks
V parra - 23 runs, 215m, 2 line breaks, 2 line break assists, 2 try Assists, 10 tackle breaks, 2 errors
You'd be getting a fullback that plays high energy, with great support play and run metres from the back. He has good hands and can contribute in attack. He's not as safe under a high ball, but I have no idea how else he really goes defensively.
I can't imagine he'd cost any more than Kennedy. For reference, I thought he was just an all round awful player at the Tigs. I think last year showed it was more the club than him.
Sir Chadley
Jaws
Yes, Kennedy is not elite. But how do you buy an elite fullback? You keep your eyes and ears open for one but it’s not as easy as some make out.
The biggest criticism we hear is his defence. Too much arm flapping and arm grabbing and not putting his body on the line. But sometimes when you’re the last line of defence doing this can be difficult. Gutherson looked poor in a one on one tackle tonight and he’s in the top list of fullbacks.
It’s not an easy solution. We’d all love to have a FB with the skills of a Ponga or Paps or Teddy or Walsh. But at the moment Will is the best option for us.
The biggest criticism we hear is his defence. Too much arm flapping and arm grabbing and not putting his body on the line. But sometimes when you’re the last line of defence doing this can be difficult. Gutherson looked poor in a one on one tackle tonight and he’s in the top list of fullbacks.
It’s not an easy solution. We’d all love to have a FB with the skills of a Ponga or Paps or Teddy or Walsh. But at the moment Will is the best option for us.
SF
Mako Shark
Fair argument, though those are some pretty weak teams, and still plenty of errors in there (thanks for including the negatives too).
I think I’d like to see Laurie play at a middle of the road club before you could really judge him.
At the moment Laurie has 15 tries from 68 NRL games at 22% (4 from 19 at the Panthers at 21%),
Kennedy has 43 from 108 NRL games (40%), a significantly higher rate. Also higher than Kini (6/22 at 27%) and Campbell (19/58 at 32%). Lower than Peachey who had 47% at the Sharks, but similar to Barba (41% at Cronulla).
And if you look at Kennedy’s NSW Cup career he had 30 tries from 48 games (62.5%). Higher than Ison (10/19), slightly lower than Dykes (13/20 at 65%)
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SF
Mako Shark
Out of interest... Sharks top try scoring percentages (players with more than 20 NRL games). Based on RLP data (hopefully copied correctly!).
Fullbacks:
| Rank | Player | Tries | Games | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MULITALO, Ronaldo | 83 | 111 | 74.77% |
| 2 | KATOA, Sione | 76 | 113 | 67.26% |
| 3 | HOLMES, Valentine | 66 | 105 | 62.86% |
| 4 | ROGERS, Mat | 75 | 123 | 60.98% |
| 5 | MORRIS, Josh | 15 | 25 | 60.00% |
| 6 | XERRI, Bronson | 13 | 22 | 59.09% |
| 7 | LEE, Edrick | 14 | 24 | 58.33% |
| 8 | CORCORAN, Ray | 63 | 110 | 57.27% |
| 9 | RIECK, Matthew | 31 | 55 | 56.36% |
| 10 | HOWLAND, Brett | 38 | 68 | 55.88% |
| 11 | CHAMBERLIN, Dave | 45 | 83 | 54.22% |
| 12 | VAGANA, Nigel | 32 | 61 | 52.46% |
| 13 | ALBERT, Darren | 12 | 23 | 52.17% |
| 14 | ETTINGSHAUSEN, Andrew | 166 | 328 | 50.61% |
| 15 | SIMMONS, David | 54 | 112 | 48.21% |
| 16 | PEACHEY, David | 110 | 232 | 47.41% |
| 17 | FEKI, Sosaia | 67 | 148 | 45.27% |
| 18 | WAITE, David | 9 | 20 | 45.00% |
| 19 | BEST, Colin | 56 | 126 | 44.44% |
| 20 | CAMPBELL, Preston | 24 | 54 | 44.44% |
| 21 | BARNETT, Richie | 29 | 67 | 43.28% |
| 22 | MULLANE JNR, Mick | 53 | 123 | 43.09% |
| 23 | TRACEY, Connor | 27 | 64 | 42.19% |
| 24 | COVELL, Luke | 55 | 131 | 41.98% |
| 25 | RAFTERY, Martin | 22 | 53 | 41.51% |
| 26 | MELLOR, Paul | 43 | 104 | 41.35% |
| 27 | BARBA, Ben | 19 | 46 | 41.30% |
| 28 | ROGERS, Steve | 82 | 200 | 41.00% |
| 29 | KEARNEY, Brett | 20 | 49 | 40.82% |
| 30 | RAMIEN, Jesse | 52 | 130 | 40.00% |
| 31 | HIROTI, Mawene | 8 | 20 | 40.00% |
| 32 | EDMONDS, Steve | 45 | 113 | 39.82% |
| 33 | KENNEDY, William | 43 | 108 | 39.81% |
| 34 | RUSSELL, Barry | 31 | 78 | 39.74% |
| 35 | GARDNER, Nathan | 17 | 43 | 39.53% |
| 36 | DUGAN, Josh | 24 | 61 | 39.34% |
| 37 | ARMSTRONG, Tony | 9 | 23 | 39.13% |
| 38 | CARNEY, Dean | 28 | 72 | 38.89% |
| 39 | FERGUSON, Blake | 16 | 42 | 38.10% |
| 40 | JOHNS, Matthew | 8 | 21 | 38.10% |
| 41 | FRANZE, Paul | 11 | 29 | 37.93% |
| 42 | WATSON, Sean | 17 | 45 | 37.78% |
| 43 | WILLIAMS, John | 12 | 32 | 37.50% |
| 44 | RICHARDSON, Russell | 33 | 92 | 35.87% |
| 45 | DONAGHY, Paul | 17 | 48 | 35.42% |
| 46 | DOCKING, Jonathan | 57 | 161 | 35.40% |
| 47 | WILSON, Alan | 37 | 105 | 35.24% |
| 48 | BISHOP, Tommy | 21 | 60 | 35.00% |
| 49 | CROSSAN, Eion | 8 | 23 | 34.78% |
| 50 | BOWNE, Lindsay | 9 | 26 | 34.62% |
Fullbacks:
| 16 | PEACHEY, David | 110 | 232 | 47.41% |
| 22 | MULLANE JNR, Mick | 53 | 123 | 43.09% |
| 23 | TRACEY, Connor | 27 | 64 | 42.19% |
| 27 | BARBA, Ben | 19 | 46 | 41.30% |
| 29 | KEARNEY, Brett | 20 | 49 | 40.82% |
| 33 | KENNEDY, William | 43 | 108 | 39.81% |
| 35 | GARDNER, Nathan | 17 | 43 | 39.53% |
| 36 | DUGAN, Josh | 24 | 61 | 39.34% |
| 46 | DOCKING, Jonathan | 57 | 161 | 35.40% |
| GORDON, Michael | 18 | 71 | 25.35% | |
| SAMMUT, Ben | 9 | 57 | 15.79% |
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SF
Mako Shark
If Kennedy gets two tries next week, he will have a higher try-scoring percentage than Steve Rogers
Also interesting for those who want to dump Ronaldo...
Also interesting for those who want to dump Ronaldo...
SF
Mako Shark
Not here, but on Facebook…
Proud Shark
Jaws
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By the same token we are comparing Laurie's total stats when he's played for the tigers. That probably improves at a middle of the road team, or improves significantly with us.
I like Will, so I'm not desperate to get rid of him. Just presenting that I don't think Laurie would be a bad option if we decided we needed to go in another direction.
Really don't get all the focus on Kennedy.
If we cut our stupid mistakes out we beat Penrith last week and that will be our mantra for the year.
We have an extremely well balanced team that as a group still have a couple of levels to go. Hynes / Tricky still forming a combination and the whole team learning how to play with AFB.
Let's just enjoy the ride!
If we cut our stupid mistakes out we beat Penrith last week and that will be our mantra for the year.
We have an extremely well balanced team that as a group still have a couple of levels to go. Hynes / Tricky still forming a combination and the whole team learning how to play with AFB.
Let's just enjoy the ride!
Proud Shark
Jaws
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No blame from my side. Just looking at the decision that needs to be made regarding his re-signing after this year.
We will clearly need a 3rd or 4th fullback on the books.