backline crisis

[fletch]

no secret we have the worst backline in the comp, for large periods over the last month our forward pack has totally dominated the opposition only for our backline to waste the field position that was hard earned.

question is where to from here, looking through our options, there are no obvious solutions

Mini - tries hard but doesn't have the skill set of a modern fullback
Tagive - injured again, but hasn't shown enough to justify first grade selection
Moga - very hard to be too critical of an 18yo, but the most concerning thing is the lack of desire to get involved
SKD - injured out indefinately, he was saying on twitter they have no idea when he is back
BJ - absolute idiot, regardless of the outcome of the charges, has really let the club and his team mates down
Perrett - dummy half running is not enough, his defence was shocking tonight, that miss on Inu a real momentum change
Anasta - a total disgrace the sooner he is gone the better
Pearce - the only creative spark the team has
Maubs - spent a lot of this season in the centres, struggling to get involved, fast becoming a luxury the team can't afford

Carney - won't be here next year, is there any point playing him now the season is gone
RTS - the kid is everything the top grade doesn't have speed/footwork/ball playing is it time to throw him to the wolves
Tupou - has been playing well for Newtown can he handle the step up to the top grade
Mortimer - an average first grader, but at least adds some spark
Henry - good footwork, but still a kid, might be time to give him a go
Alofa Alofa - injury prone, not sure he is NRL standard
Kheirallah - point scoring machine for Newtown, problem is it is going to be him or Mortimer


at some point this season it is going to be about next years and getting games into the younger players, will be interesting to see if Smith is willing to blood some of the youngsters or keep sticking backrowers in the centres.

[SConcierge]

Gaigai just signed with the knights

[Guest]

Kheirallah was NYC top try-scorer on the wing. Why is he not being put on the wing when the team obviously needs pace ?

[Chook Norris]

there's not enough spark in the backline

having said that, if we had any sort of an attacking game plan ..these blokes would do better

[Guest]

We need better service from Anasta. Smith needs to look at every other team in the comp an look how they attack. It seems like we never have any structured play. Any decoy runners its a pretty flat attack. We never give our centers one time nor do we ever get an over lap. The service is to slow an the backs have no depth in there attack. Why cant Tasi play wider like Dave Taylor? Brain Smith needs to go he's absolutely clueless!

[Bansai Pipeline]

no secret we have the worst backline in the comp, for large periods over the last month our forward pack has totally dominated the opposition only for our backline to waste the field position that was hard earned.

question is where to from here, looking through our options, there are no obvious solutions

Mini - tries hard but doesn't have the skill set of a modern fullback
Tagive - injured again, but hasn't shown enough to justify first grade selection
Moga - very hard to be too critical of an 18yo, but the most concerning thing is the lack of desire to get involved
SKD - injured out indefinately, he was saying on twitter they have no idea when he is back
BJ - absolute idiot, regardless of the outcome of the charges, has really let the club and his team mates down
Perrett - dummy half running is not enough, his defence was shocking tonight, that miss on Inu a real momentum change
Anasta - a total disgrace the sooner he is gone the better
Pearce - the only creative spark the team has
Maubs - spent a lot of this season in the centres, struggling to get involved, fast becoming a luxury the team can't afford

Carney - won't be here next year, is there any point playing him now the season is gone
RTS - the kid is everything the top grade doesn't have speed/footwork/ball playing is it time to throw him to the wolves
Tupou - has been playing well for Newtown can he handle the step up to the top grade
Mortimer - an average first grader, but at least adds some spark
Henry - good footwork, but still a kid, might be time to give him a go
Alofa Alofa - injury prone, not sure he is NRL standard
Kheirallah - point scoring machine for Newtown, problem is it is going to be him or Mortimer


at some point this season it is going to be about next years and getting games into the younger players, will be interesting to see if Smith is willing to blood some of the youngsters or keep sticking backrowers in the centres.

Fantastic post.

The backs have been letting us down for a while.

Tonight, all the Dogs tries came through our centres.

BJ and SKD gone equals end of season.

I predict second last.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Be nice to nab Hayne.

[stephenj]

isnt there a certain parra back looooking foor a fg birth?its notr aqs i9f weve goot too many centres?

[Guest]

no secret we have the worst backline in the comp, for large periods over the last month our forward pack has totally dominated the opposition only for our backline to waste the field position that was hard earned.

question is where to from here, looking through our options, there are no obvious solutions

Mini - tries hard but doesn't have the skill set of a modern fullback
Tagive - injured again, but hasn't shown enough to justify first grade selection
Moga - very hard to be too critical of an 18yo, but the most concerning thing is the lack of desire to get involved
SKD - injured out indefinately, he was saying on twitter they have no idea when he is back
BJ - absolute idiot, regardless of the outcome of the charges, has really let the club and his team mates down
Perrett - dummy half running is not enough, his defence was shocking tonight, that miss on Inu a real momentum change
Anasta - a total disgrace the sooner he is gone the better
Pearce - the only creative spark the team has
Maubs - spent a lot of this season in the centres, struggling to get involved, fast becoming a luxury the team can't afford

Carney - won't be here next year, is there any point playing him now the season is gone
RTS - the kid is everything the top grade doesn't have speed/footwork/ball playing is it time to throw him to the wolves
Tupou - has been playing well for Newtown can he handle the step up to the top grade
Mortimer - an average first grader, but at least adds some spark
Henry - good footwork, but still a kid, might be time to give him a go
Alofa Alofa - injury prone, not sure he is NRL standard
Kheirallah - point scoring machine for Newtown, problem is it is going to be him or Mortimer


at some point this season it is going to be about next years and getting games into the younger players, will be interesting to see if Smith is willing to blood some of the youngsters or keep sticking backrowers in the centres.

This is a great post. You have summed up exactly what our issue is. And im saying 'issue' because I really think this is our only major problem, our team actually has great potential.

It all starts with the ball that our backs are getting. Friend has played poorly this season and I really think we need someone else in the hooking position. Although sayin that I dont think there are many qualities hookers in the NRL at the moment and dont know how we would fix this problem. Anasta is a huge problem for us and he isnt helping pearce out at all. Glad that he will be replaced by Maloney who is a hard worker and will support pearce and take on some of the workload. But for the time being I think they should move Anasta into the backrow. Now that he has signed with the tigers there really is no point in him playing 5-8. Get mortimer in there and try play him into some form...imagine going into 2013 with three quality halves to choose from!!! Also we need Mitchell in the team as well, he gives them spark. Maybe Mitchell in for friend??

As for the rest of our backs we need a major overhaul. Get rid of perret, he is too old and slow and his dummy half runs dont win us any games. BJ needs to step up or get lost, I cant see where he fits into our team. With moga coming through, SKD and him should have the centre positions for a few years to come...why we signed BJ i have no idea...he doesnt exactly have the speed to be used as a winger. Mini needs to move to the wing and we need someone else at the back to create some opportunities for us. Would SKD be any good back there? I know he has poor ball skills, but as our best attacking player he may be a standout back there (like he was when he moved from wing to centre).

hahah I think ive just confused myself...but the fact is, we need some major changes for us to be a compeditive side. I think a few signings of star backs might help fingers crossed!

[Guest]

Fantastic post.

The backs have been letting us down for a while.

Tonight, all the Dogs tries came through our centres.

BJ and SKD gone equals end of season.

I predict second last.

second last but you keep saying its not the coaches fault.

[Guest]

Be nice to nab Hayne.

thats definately one that I would go after.

[Guest]

thats definately one that I would go after.

He wouldnt play under Smith

But hopefully that won't be an issue if Smith is gone

[Bansai Pipeline]

I get that you're anti-Smith.

But I think he's doing a good job with a bunch of has beens and relatively inexperienced kids.

We don't have the squad to win.

Simple as that.

[melon....]

Gaigai just signed with the knights

I believe we were also talking to him. Must have ben teh bennett factor right Fred?

[melon....]

I get that you're anti-Smith.

But I think he's doing a good job with a bunch of has beens and relatively inexperienced kids.

We don't have the squad to win.

Simple as that.

Nailed it.