Nate Myles

[Johnny Tobin]

Interested on opinions on Nate.

For mine, until he busted his hip in Origin he was our best forward by a country mile.

After Origin he was almost a liability. His runs lacked any venom at all.

True to trained to be lock and lost a lot of weight to do it.

For some reason, commentators creamed themselves over him right up to the end.

We obviously watched him closely and are in a better position than them to make a call.

[Guest]

It was also at the same time he was moved him from lock into the backrow..

[BUDDY]

He hit the ground running this year. But you are right about slowing down after the hip injury. He looked like Matai some games with just flopping to the ground. But to his credit, he always got up. When someone was chasing a runaway winger, he would usually be the one putting in the big strides. I think overall he was our best forward.

To think that a few years ago, some were saying to let him go because of suspension and not putting in.

[melon....]

First man picked for qld. He played most of the season busted. Rest in the off season will see him continue at his best. Despite that forehead he is the moost level headed forward. He is a must for us especially as he is young.

Don't even think about it. And if anyone else does, talk them out of it. If I was still sponsoring, he would be the bloke id back.

[Guest]

the hip problem might have affected his running game, but he's never really been a damaging runner or a ball player at any stage of his career

what he is though, is the best defensive forward in the comp, and all the plaudits he gets are completely deserved

[Vasco]

I guess you may know more than us JT, but he looked to be playing in pain for the back half of the season.

He would normally be an 80 minute player. What was his injury? Hip flexor?

[redwhiteandbluester]

He looked to be playing injured, and he played better in the lock position.

He always contributed, though, which was pleasing.

[Guest]

Best forward we've got as far as I'm concerned. I think he will be much more effective once a few of our younger guys are a bit more experienced i.e he doesn't need to be babysitting so to speak. I'm expecting him to be close to the best if not the best forward in the game in about 2-3 years time.

[Guest]

Interested on opinions on Nate.

For mine, until he busted his hip in Origin he was our best forward by a country mile.

After Origin he was almost a liability. His runs lacked any venom at all.

True to trained to be lock and lost a lot of weight to do it.

For some reason, commentators creamed themselves over him right up to the end.

We obviously watched him closely and are in a better position than them to make a call.

I agree.

His first 3 months of the season were brilliant. After Origin whether it was injury or fatigue he wasn't the same player.

[Guest]

every team has that one player that never gives up and gets through mountains of work, Myles for mine should stay at lock foward to get through more work and keeep anasta in the second row.


Great player.

[fletch]

heard an interview with Brian Smith saying Myles played busted most of the year and it is a back injury that was the major problem on top of his hip injury.

[Guest]

I think he should bulk back up slightly in the off season and move back to the front row. We are overflowing with backrowers. We need meter men and as long as he gets his hip right, he could be one of our best.

Chook.

[Johnny Tobin]

I guess you may know more than us JT, but he looked to be playing in pain for the back half of the season.

He would normally be an 80 minute player. What was his injury? Hip flexor?

Not sure. I just know it was his hip. I think I remember hearing about the bone being bruised but I could be off mark.

[Guest]

I think he should bulk back up slightly in the off season and move back to the front row. We are overflowing with backrowers. We need meter men and as long as he gets his hip right, he could be one of our best.

Chook.

100% agree.

We need him to play the Gallen/Harrison role.

If he adds about 3-5 kg of lean muscle, it will suit his gameplay immensely. At the moment he gets dominated in tackles too easily.

[Guest]

100% agree.

We need him to play the Gallen/Harrison role.

If he adds about 3-5 kg of lean muscle, it will suit his gameplay immensely. At the moment he gets dominated in tackles too easily.

I definitely agree.

Myles is needed FAR more at prop, than backrow.

IMO our backrow should be:

11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala

15. Conn

The way we should work it is:

- Anasta plays 80 minutes in both attack and defense on the left side of the field
- Aubusson plays 80 minutes in attack on the right side and defending in the centre of the field
- Nuuausala/Conn play 40 minutes each, attacking in the centre and defending on the right side of the field

So in attack:

Anasta <---> Nuuausala/Conn <---> Aubusson

...and in defense:

Anasta <---> Aubusson <---> Nuuausala/Conn

This way, we utilize Aubusson and Anasta for their fringe attack ability and ball skills out wide linking our halves to the centres, while Nuuausala (and Conn when he comes on to replace him) attack straight up the guts, hitting lines at angles and looking for offloads for Minichiello.

In defense, we need Aubusson in the centre as a roaming cover-defender, making use of his mobility and outstanding workrate, while Anasta and Nuuausala/Conn can protect the centres in defense like they have done quite well for most of this season.

Smith names the right team usually, but I do not agree with Nuuausala at prop and Myles at lock. Myles is too sluggish and immobile for the backrow, even with his weight loss, and his lack of ball skills is an issue. At prop, he can just bash, barge and tackle like he does best. Nuuausala, on the other hand, struggled when shifted back to prop with the purpose of metres, but when he was hitting holes and running lines as a lock-forward, seeking out offloads, he was outstanding. Conn does a less flashy but still very good job.

Anasta - 80 minutes
Aubusson - 80 minutes
Nuuausala - first 20 minutes, last 20 minutes
Conn - middle 40 minutes
Friend - first 30 minutes, last 20 minutes
Watts - middle 30 minutes

That is 4 interchanges down (getting Nuuausala off the field and back on, getting Friend off the field and back on). That means we will have 6 remaining interchanges specifically for Ryles, Myles, Hargreaves and Kennedy. That is the advantage of a fit and mobile second row.

If we are in a situation where their defense is shot, we can leave both Conn and Nuuausala off the field, and have Friend at lock and Watts at hooker, run the bigger packs ragged if needed.

8. Ryles
9. Friend
10. Myles
11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala/Conn

14. Watts
15. Conn/Nuuausala
16. Hargreaves
17. Kennedy

reserve props: Lama Tasi, Tinirau Arona, Mose Masoe
reserve backrowers: Anthony Cherrington, Tom Symonds, Aiden Guerra
reserve utilities: Ben Jones (fullback/centre/half/hooker), Jerome Leolahi (centre/hooker/backrow)

Leolahi offers a lot more than Kouparitsas, actually has surprisingly decent ball skills, and can do the exact same job but better if Watts doesn't work out.

The forward pack looks great. It is the backline that needs to click.