Dummy Half

[Rooster_6]

How far can we go without a recognised dummy half?

We're one of the few teams who actually have a halfback and a 5/8 rather than a half and a lock for a 5/8. For this reason we don't need a Robbie Farah or a Cameron Smith who engages the markers just someone who can get the ball out of the ruck as quickly and cleanly as possible. Jake Friend was almost perfect for this role but he's in the past now and unfortunately I don't think Jaubs can do this job... his passing is woeful and I think that's putting in nicely.

Liam Foran has been touted as a possible replacement but there's no way he'll be able to make 30-40 tackles in the middle of the ruck.

Time for Nick to get the chequebook out?

[Guest]

A decent hooker is most critical.

If you get poor service from dummy half it pretty much screws everything else up.

[supermario]

This is why the Friend situation was a problem.

Friend was working to becoming a hooker much like Simon Bonetti, a High rate tackle who most of the time gave good service for his level of exprerience.

it seems that jaubs will have to take on that role, we know he had a great defensive workrate, but can be lacking in dummy half attack.

I guess with the likes of pearce, anasta, Carney and minichello, what sort of role would our dummy half have?

Do we utilise the likes of perrett and Minichello to dart from dummy half ???

[melon....]

Foran must be released from the club. Trouble making garbage.

[stephenj]

melon i have a feeling your correct about that young man, the longer hes here the more chance pearce is of getting into big trouble? manly deserve him, let him go play with his brother?

[Guest]

Foran must be released from the club. Trouble making garbage.

Why he's a good talent?

[Guest]

A solution??

Roosters' Koup moves up the hookers' pecking orderJOSH RAKIC
January 3, 2010
BALL-PLAYING back-rower Nick Kouparitsas has put his hand up to replace sacked hooker Jake Friend at the Roosters.

New coach Brian Smith has had the former Bulldog alternating between hooker and lock at training, with a view to using him in a utility role similar to that played by Craig Wing for Souths at the end of last season.

Released by the Canterbury club mid-contract last year, 25-year-old Kouparitsas has won the respect of Smith, who has encouraged him to use his natural talent. "I've been training at hooker, a bit of lock. Smithy's said just to practise all my skills," the Greek-born utility said.

"He likes to employ some creativity and ball-playing in his players, within reason, and he's encouraged me. He likes that in his players, and you can see that at any club he's been to.

"At training he encourages me to play my natural game, and hopefully it impresses him and I get picked for the season. Hooker and lock are really the two positions I've been working at. I'm not exactly sure what he wants. Now that 'Friendy' is gone he hasn't said anything certain, but it's something I'd like to do if I had the opportunity."

Kouparitsas said assistant coaches Trent Robinson and Rohan Smith had brought more professionalism to training. And he expects that to show on and off the field this year.

"It's been heaps more professional than past years. We're enjoying it," he said.

"We're doing a lot of fitness, whereas in past years, we were doing a lot of running. It's been more game related, which has suited the players."

[Guest]

I was quite impressed when Kouparitsis played a bit of hooker last season. I thought he done very well and I mentioned on this forum a while back that he could be a utility for us on the bench as he can play a few positions quite well and hooker was where he look most dangerous IMO. He is best utilised there and I think Brian Smith saw the same in him once Jake Friend moved on from the club.

[Guest]

Kouparitsas said assistant coaches Trent Robinson and Rohan Smith had brought more professionalism to training. And he expects that to show on and off the field this year.

"It's been heaps more professional than past years. We're enjoying it," he said.

Whatever Kouparitis is like at hooker, it's this bit that gives me heart.

[Guest]

I was quite impressed when Kouparitsis played a bit of hooker last season. I thought he done very well and I mentioned on this forum a while back that he could be a utility for us on the bench as he can play a few positions quite well and hooker was where he look most dangerous IMO. He is best utilised there and I think Brian Smith saw the same in him once Jake Friend moved on from the club.

You must of been watching with the back of your head because the Koup hooker experiment was utter failure.
The bloke is a backrower, running five eight at best. He is a tall fellow who just doesn't fit the hooking role. I think the first line of the article says it best when they describe him as a backrower. Ffs doesn't this club ever learn? Or is it the fact that half of our squad are backrowers and we need to accomodate them?

Should of kept Leroy.

[Guest]

If koupawhateverthefarkhisnameis plays at hooker next year make a space for another spoon in the cabinet. The bloke should be playing for Newtown.

[Guest]

If koupawhateverthefarkhisnameis plays at hooker next year make a space for another spoon in the cabinet. The bloke should be playing for Newtown.

I dont think he is even good enough to get a start for Newtown IMO.

[novice chook]

If koupawhateverthefarkhisnameis plays at hooker next year make a space for another spoon in the cabinet. The bloke should be playing for Newtown.

Bloody oath. Unless Brian Smith and co have worked miracles in the off season he is Jets material at best.

He's one of the lesser talented back rowers we have at the Club. And it would be a shame if he kept someone more deserving out of the top 17 just because he can play a little hooker.

I'd much rather Ben Jones come off the bench as a utility to cover the backs and hooker. No need for Koups, pure and simple.

NC

[Rooster_6]

This is why the Friend situation was a problem.

Friend was working to becoming a hooker much like Simon Bonetti, a High rate tackle who most of the time gave good service for his level of exprerience.

it seems that jaubs will have to take on that role, we know he had a great defensive workrate, but can be lacking in dummy half attack.

I guess with the likes of pearce, anasta, Carney and minichello, what sort of role would our dummy half have?

Do we utilise the likes of perrett and Minichello to dart from dummy half ???

Doubt we'll see much dummy half running to be honest, Smith's Newcastle team was known for spreading the ball very early in their sets and attacking from their own end. I think ideally Smith would be looking for a strong defender with a good passing game... like you said Jaubs has got the defending part down lets just hope the new coaches can get the best out of him... I mean learning to pass can't be that hard, can it?

[Rooster_6]

Bloody oath. Unless Brian Smith and co have worked miracles in the off season he is Jets material at best.

He's one of the lesser talented back rowers we have at the Club. And it would be a shame if he kept someone more deserving out of the top 17 just because he can play a little hooker.

I'd much rather Ben Jones come off the bench as a utility to cover the backs and hooker. No need for Koups, pure and simple.

NC

Based on what?

During his time at the Dogs he showed plenty of potential and skill, he's one of the more talented backrowers we have at the club in fact. He's been pretty unfairly criticised during his time at the Roosters, Freddy put him in a poor team in a position he's never played before.

I'm willing to give the guy some time, I think Smith will take a real liking to him... very similar to Zeb Taia.