the loss of our quick play the balls and why the bench composition much change

[fletch]

without question the best football we have played this season has been off the back of the dominant carries and quick play the balls from JWH/Moa/Cordner, allowing the space and time for Maloney/Pearce/SBW/Jennings to work their magic.

the loss of JWH/Moa will have a massive effect on our attacking structure, if we are forced to play off the back of Kennedy/LOD and their sun dial timed play the balls we will struggle to get any decent field position.

with this in mind Robbo must seriously consider changing the composition of our bench to give us some more forward thrust, he can do this in quite a few different ways.


1. Drop Guerra back to Newtown and bring in another true bench prop, with Maubs/SBW both playing 80 minutes at the moment Guerra has been forced to play more in the middle which just doesn't suit his gamestyle, if Robbo goes down this path Tasi comes in for JWH and Liu comes in for Guerra.

2. Drop SKD and move Maubs to right centre and Guerra comes into the starting side with Liu taking his spot on the bench and Tasi comes in for JWH.

3. Drop SKD/Guerra move RTS to right centre and bring Oldfield onto the wing and Liu onto the bench and Tasi comes in for JWH.

4. Drop Mortimer and go with Bosden until either Moa/JWH returns, this will likely lead to increased minutes from Friend but also allows another forward to be carried on the bench to make up for the loss of output from Moa/JWH.



judging by Robbo's selection policy to date he will simply bring in either Tasi or Liu to replace JWH and everything will remain as is.

my greatest fear this weekend is the lack of forward momentum with the loss of JWH/Moa will put too much stress on our defense through lack of field position and time for our outside backs.

and our much vaunted defensive wall will be smashed to pieces by the end of 80 minutes, I hope i'm wrong but I think that effort last night might have taken too much of a physical toll on the team.


not that its worth much I think Robbo must bite the bullet with SKD, he seems to have lost the ability to beat players with his footwork which was his main strength, his bumbling hands and questionable defensive reads can't be carried if he is not bringing much to the attacking side of the game.

[Guest]

They need to (and will) stick with SKD. His all round defense is improving, and moving Maubs or RTS to centre just isn't the way to go.

Tasi and a more match fit FPN can compensate for the loss of JWH in the middle

As for fast play the balls, there aren't many sides who are better at them than the cowboys when they're on

[Rooster_6]

More than the quick play the balls his second phase play will be missed. Mortimer & Maloney are great on the back of second phase play and it's something we've been great at this year, not sure where we rank after 9 rounds in terms of offloads but I reckon we'd be right up there.

I think Evans has to be JWH's replacement, it's a massive ask to transfer his ability into FG right from the outset but we've seen power runners do it from the outset before (Fifita & G Burgess). We wont get the workrate JWH offers us in defence out of him but none of the options will provide us with that, it's why Kennedy must start otherwise Friendy & Cordner will be absolutely buggered after 20 minutes of non-stop tackling and it will affect their attacking game.

[Guest]

The overreaction to things from some fans here is sensational.

[stsae]

The overreaction to things from some fans here is sensational.

Our fans could find a way to re-invent the wheel mate.

While I appreciate their passion there are many who are M.A.D.

Not me though.

[Rooster_6]

The overreaction to things from some fans here is sensational.

Crazy to see a thread started on here providing some actual analysis on Rugby League...

[Johnny.]

Crazy to see a thread started on here providing some actual analysis on Rugby League...

This is the internet. Crazy things happen.

[Muffdaddy]

We need a more mobile pack, so we need to move Friend to lock, bring in Seluini at hooker and start with Morts in the back row with Ben Jones (from the Jets) as his 2nd row partner.
Cordner and $BW will be in the front row.
We just have to make sure we have the ball at all times and NEVER have to defend

[Guest]

Crazy to see a thread started on here providing some actual analysis on Rugby League...

Hi Rooster_6,

I'm not sure that calling for multiple players to be dropped on the back of a 4 game winning streak where we have conceded only 4 tries, kept teams to zero points scored in 4 of the 8 halves of football including a team to zero points scored in an entire 80 minutes is actually analysis.

What has Shaun Kenny Dowall done to deserve to be dropped? Boyd Cordner also dropped the ball last night with nobody in front of him but I do not see calls for him to be dropped. Shaun Kenny Dowall actually saved our skin when Manly were on to score a try for all money.

What has Daniel Mortimer done to deserve being dropped? He's proving to be an astute member on our bench who provides good carries, an effective passing game and seems to be in the right place at the right time when backing up ball runners. He saved a certain try late last night when we were down by 6 points as well.

Drop three blokes, move this one from his position where he is doing well, bring in somebody off the bench, bring in one of the Newtown superstars that hardly anybody watches and that will lead us to dominating teams, second position on the premiership ladder with the lowest points conceded and highest points scored.

It is an absurd overreaction to a suspension and is quite insulting to all of the players who have performed out of their skin this season.

[stsae]

Hi Rooster_6,

I'm not sure that calling for multiple players to be dropped on the back of a 4 game winning streak where we have conceded only 4 tries, kept teams to zero points scored in 4 of the 8 halves of football including a team to zero points scored in an entire 80 minutes is actually analysis.

What has Shaun Kenny Dowall done to deserve to be dropped? Boyd Cordner also dropped the ball last night with nobody in front of him but I do not see calls for him to be dropped. Shaun Kenny Dowall actually saved our skin when Manly were on to score a try for all money.

What has Daniel Mortimer done to deserve being dropped? He's proving to be an astute member on our bench who provides good carries, an effective passing game and seems to be in the right place at the right time when backing up ball runners. He saved a certain try late last night when we were down by 6 points as well.

Drop three blokes, move this one from his position where he is doing well, bring in somebody off the bench, bring in one of the Newtown superstars that hardly anybody watches and that will lead us to dominating teams, second position on the premiership ladder with the lowest points conceded and highest points scored.

It is an absurd overreaction to a suspension and is quite insulting to all of the players who have performed out of their skin this season.

Now that's a post that can't be argued, but I'm sure someone will try. Well said.


And to add I don't want to single fletch out here, or anyone specifically, I've been saying similar to what TheWallet has said in this thread for ages.

Changing winning teams was something Smiff was criticised for but every week, especially after our wins, this season there are many on this forum who demand changes. It's loco to tinker with a side that's performing as a TEAM so well, other than cos of injury and suspension of course.

I understand fletch has come up with some good points and I dig what he means about combos etc, just it's been a daily occurrence since last season ended really. Moga, Bosden, Evans, Napa, Tasi, Haloumi, Nuffie, Henry, Tubular etc every week.

M.A.D.

[Bansai Pipeline]

if we are forced to play off the back of Kennedy/LOD and their sun dial timed play the balls we will struggle to get any decent field position...

Brilliant.

Great post too.

[Vasco]

Tasi is an obvious selection.

He can bend the defensive line.

[SConcierge]

Tasi needs to come in along with Napa or Evans and Morts needs to drop off, we need to muscle up. MK + LOD wont cut it against the cowboys big boys.

[hackthefortress]

Tasi needs to come in along with Napa or Evans and Morts needs to drop off, we need to muscle up. MK + LOD wont cut it against the cowboys big boys.

Morts has proven himself effective in defence especially against the bigger players, destroying Watmough at the line last night at full speed, putting down Moi Moi at full speed - he doesn't miss many tackles. He is not a liability. His interchanging with Friend is one of keys to our success up until this point aswell, adding sharper passing and quicker darts from DH during the back end of the 1st and giving Friend a rest. They compliment each other, "like lamb and tuna fish".

Tasi will definitely come in as he has been training with the firsts, MK, LOD & FPN are first graders. They may not be as flashy as JWH, they may not run as hard or hit as hard. But they are big and can anyone honestly doubt their defensive efforts so far this year? Maybe besides FPN, coz he's been out. But they are proven. They can handle the heat, the intensity.

The forwards will be: MK, FPN, LOD starting with TASI, GUERRA, LUI on the bench. Now whether Robbo bloods Napa against the Cows, thats another story, he may replace LUI or GUERRA depending on what Robbo's gamer plan is.

But I assure you, Morts is not going to be dropped, he deserves to play.

[Kingsgrove-Loiner]

We need a more mobile pack, so we need to move Friend to lock, bring in Seluini at hooker and start with Morts in the back row with Ben Jones (from the Jets) as his 2nd row partner.
Cordner and $BW will be in the front row.
We just have to make sure we have the ball at all times and NEVER have to defend

I like the sound of this one. Just one problem.....where's Bosden?