Young Halves

[shire1976]

Rugby League is a pretty simple game.

Decent halves are the key if the rest of the players do their basic job.

I'm watching Manly destroy the Bulldogs, and both their halves are young, with not a lot of experience, and they have ripped apart their opposition.

We also have good young halves, AK, Graham and Townsend.

What's the difference?

Manly employ Andrew Johns to do a few one on one coaching sessions and it shows.

We can't attract top players to the club, but we are lucky to have some good youngsters, so we must develop them.

Forget Jeff Robson, please Sharks spend that money on Andrew Johns.

 

[sharks2010]

difference is graham is not a good young half

 

[Lumpy]

If we had any the money that would be a great idea.

 

[gallenisgod]

graham will be good in a couple of years if he was playing outside an experienced number 7. the only good thing about robson is that him and kelly played together at maricville

 

[sharks2010]

um where???

 

[gallenisgod]

sorry.. wentworthville

 

[sharks2010]

how many games did they play together
would be **** all if any
and big deal if they have

 

[sharks2010]

how many games did they play together
would be **** all if any
and big deal if they have

 

[gallenisgod]

settle down. just something i heard today at the pub. didnt mean it to start someone off

 

[Beejay]

Andrew Johns would be good, but I think Brett Kimmorley would be equally good. One of his strengths was his kicking game and finding space and leading the chase. Not suggesting that our halves don't enthusiastically chase their kicks (if they indeed get past the defensive line - looking at you Graham), but I think Noddy would be quite an acquisition as a kicking coach.

Also I think I remember reading something somewhere that Noddy was keen to coach the Sharks when he retired. This is before he didn't get his contract renewed obviously.

 

[gallenisgod]

im pretty sure i read something last week about him coaching the halves at the bulldogs. especially in kick and chase... ( didnt do much for them tonight against manly though.)

 

[Beejay]

im pretty sure i read something last week about him coaching the halves at the bulldogs. especially in kick and chase... ( didnt do much for them tonight against manly though.)

Really? I actually thought he was at the Storm, helping them out. Could be doing work for both clubs however.

Manly were on fire tonight, I don't think you can criticise any of the Bulldogs coaches for that performance. Josh Reynolds played his first game in the halves tonight, and I don't rate that Kris Keating either.

 

[gallenisgod]

i think it was reynold i heard he was coaching...

as for keating, every para supporter at work never stops crying about him or jamie lyon

 

[sharks2010]

keating never passes the ball imo

 

[ABshark]

The main difference is that DCE had a year of Qld Cup before he debuted in first grade. Foran is a fantastic young player and a bit of a physical freak, but tbh, I think Kelly will be seen as in the same class when he's in his 2nd/3rd year of first grade as Foran is now.

Patience.

 

[gallenisgod]

i agree with you AB. i think flano is working in the right direction we just need to wait it out till these young players coming though who 'want' to play for him reach their peaks. Im assuming 2013

 

[Blix]

I agree getting Andrew Johns on board, would be the best thing we could do right now.

He would not only teach them kicking, and general ballplay, but would give them massive confidence.

He would have a load of stuff to teach.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

we need halfs coaching. And maybe get an AFL coach in to train our outsiders how to catch a ****n ball once in a while

 

[Weaponhead]

Completely agree that a specialised development plan is essential for Townsend and Kelly. The club needs to invest resources into specialised coaching to ensure these kids make it.

Johns is the logical choice. he consults to other clubs, was an elite player and knows about the thinking required to be an elite half.

The club obviously has limited resources but the development of our young halves is the most pressing football issue we have.

We can go own the Jeff Robson road, who has very limited development left at 28, or put resources into developing Townsend and Kelly. The next 8 months should be used as a development plan to have these two ready to rock for game 1, 2012.

 

[imasharkie]

Really? I actually thought he was at the Storm, helping them out. Could be doing work for both clubs however.

Manly were on fire tonight, I don't think you can criticise any of the Bulldogs coaches for that performance. Josh Reynolds played his first game in the halves tonight, and I don't rate that Kris Keating either.

Definetely with the Dogs. On tv last week they were at the dogs training and Kimmorley was running around in the back ground.