You can't win a premiership without a champion no.7

[Guest]

Just reading this article by James Hooper, who in my opinion is fast becoming an even less reputable RL commentator than Rothwit (why do I read this rag again??!), anyway one thing he says in the article is that apparently there is an old RL adage that you can't win a premiership without a champion no.7. Well that got me thinking & I started to think that he couldn't be further from the truth, when I think of names like Hornby, Cherry-Evans in his rookie year, going back to Wingy, was Gower a champion No.7 in 2003, Brent Sherwin in 2004, maybe Scott Prince in 2005 was pretty close to being a champion then, but Shane Perry for the Broncos in 2006?!?! In 2007 Cooper Cronk was in the winning team on the day, to be stripped of the victory only a few years later, was he a champion No.7, I wouldn't have thought so at that stage of career. What about Orford in 2008, what's that I hear, howls of laughter at the mere suggestion, hmmm thought so. So in closing I would like to suggest that James Hooper is, well a bit of an ass really, thoughts?

BTW I think in Mitchell Pearce as our No.7 we will be very well served in 2013 & beyond.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226552634859



WHEN it comes to champion halfbacks, no club boasts a fist full of aces quite like the Manly Sea Eagles.

The full-time, exclusive arrival of halfback of the century Andrew Johns to the coaching staff means the 2011 premiers have the NRL's most decorated brains trust when it comes to playmakers.

Between head coach Geoff Toovey, NSW Origin legend Johns and the pairing of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, Manly are again well positioned for a tilt at the title.

And as the old rugby league adage goes, you can't win a premiership without a champion no.7. In Cherry-Evans, the Sea Eagles continue to develop one of the NRL's finest.

After a breakout rookie season including winning selection as the bolter of the Four Nations tour of the UK for the Kangaroos, Cherry-Evans circumnavigated the curse of second year syndrome last year. Now, as he prepares for his third season in the NRL, the Sea Eagles halfback plans to take on more of an on-field leadership role at Manly.

"I'm hoping to grow as a player and take on more of a leadership role within the side," Cherry-Evans said.

"Personally I expect a lot of myself and hopefully the boys are also expecting a lot out of me in terms of leadership and on-field direction.

"Not so much necessarily in terms of doing more with the ball, but being able to tell the team what to do in certain situations.

"I was happy with last year in terms of learning how to adapt. I may not have set the world alight as I did in my first year when everything seemed to fall into place but I think last year was still a good year.

[Rooster_6]

Shane Perry for the Broncos in 2006.

[Guest]

Shane Perry for the Broncos in 2006.

What about him, I already mentioned him??

[Burnt Rooster]

Not sure about a champion No.7, but Gibson won 3 premierships at Parra, with a whole bunch of no name forwards, except an aging Bob O Reilly, on one good ankle, and Steve Edge, not much more than an average player, but a damn good captain.

[Guest]

Hey Burnt, I think Ray Mr Perpetual Motion Price might have an issue with being called a no name forward, but aside from that the Parra team of the '80's might be one of the few in the modern era that did actually have a champion No.7 in P.Sterling. I think the No.7 was probably alot more important in those days of Sterling, S.Mortimer, Langer, Horry, Raudonikis, Brandy Alexander etc. Also I think another reason the importance of the No.7 has lessened is the junior NSW league introducing the 2 pass rule (I don't know when?), which really seems to have stemmed the flow of playmakers coming through the ranks, particularly in NSW and subsequently putting more emphasis on the rest of the spine, but mostly the No.9's importance has increased IMO.

[John Corey]

Arty tbh I think that these days dummy half is more important than a halfback. Dummy half dictates every play. And that's why if you have a very intelligent dummy half (ex C Smith), who has all the vision and skills of a 5/8, half, then u r a huge chance.

[Guest]

Arty tbh I think that these days dummy half is more important than a halfback. Dummy half dictates every play. And that's why if you have a very intelligent dummy half (ex C Smith), who has all the vision and skills of a 5/8, half, then u r a huge chance.

Agreed John, I pretty much said the same thing! So basically Friend needs to step up if we are to get anywhere in 2013, I'm hoping the coach gets the balance right with how many minutes Seluini will play, from what I saw last year he provided more spark when he was on the field, although I'm hoping Jake can make the next step up & string some very good games together, we will need him to!!

[Guest]

Hey Burnt, I think Ray Mr Perpetual Motion Price might have an issue with being called a no name forward, but aside from that the Parra team of the '80's might be one of the few in the modern era that did actually have a champion No.7 in P.Sterling. I think the No.7 was probably alot more important in those days of Sterling, S.Mortimer, Langer, Horry, Raudonikis, Brandy Alexander etc. Also I think another reason the importance of the No.7 has lessened is the junior NSW league introducing the 2 pass rule (I don't know when?), which really seems to have stemmed the flow of playmakers coming through the ranks, particularly in NSW and subsequently putting more emphasis on the rest of the spine, but mostly the No.9's importance has increased IMO.

Interchange also killed the individual play of halves/the little man.

[Guest]

Shane Perry for the Broncos in 2006.

Gold.

[Guest]

true. kris keating was is never going to win a grand final.
hasler's only mistake was playing keating over hodkinson last year, in order to 'not change a winning formula'
how much must he hate hodkinson?

[Burnt Rooster]

Yes, sorry I forgot about Pricey, he was certainly not a no name player, in fact he pretty much carried the pack, with his work load, he always put in a 100 minute effort, in an 80 minute game..

[ism22]

The #7 usually gets good rep when they win a premiership because it's a go-to position.

In my eyes Gronk and DCE for example are very ordinary players who play for successful teams. You don't usually become an Origin/International #7 when your team's going $hit because nobody notices you and you're not gettig results.

Pearce for example... anybody who knows anything about footy will say he has the goods just by looking at him (passing, kicking and vision) but the team's been rubbish the whole time he's been here. He'll become THE #7 as soon as NSW wins and the Roosters become a regular top 8 team.

[Guest]

The #7 usually gets good rep when they win a premiership because it's a go-to position.

In my eyes Gronk and DCE for example are very ordinary players who play for successful teams. You don't usually become an Origin/International #7 when your team's going $hit because nobody notices you and you're not gettig results.

Pearce for example... anybody who knows anything about footy will say he has the goods just by looking at him (passing, kicking and vision) but the team's been rubbish the whole time he's been here. He'll become THE #7 as soon as NSW wins and the Roosters become a regular top 8 team.

Just curious who is or are the best 1/2 backs in your eyes?

[Guest]

Just curious who is or are the best 1/2 backs in your eyes?

scott dureau