Auckland 9's Discussion

[fletch]

Elliot.

probably the most likely option now.

might see something like this against St Helens

Fergo
Toups
Copley
Elliot
Burgess
Nikorima
Pearce
Moa
Friend
Napa
Guerra
Maubs
Liu

SST
Evans/Vunakece/Leuluai (important to remember Evans is playing in the stupid Allstars match on Saturday night and might not even travel to England for the WCC series Match
Henderson
Mitchell (I think Robbo plays Mitchell so he can experiment with Fergo at Fullback and Right Centre, not ideal having a winger/fullback on the bench though)

[Gary Worthless]

What does everyone reckon about this "free play" rule? It's a winner in my books and would love to see introduced to NRL.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Can you name another player who's shown promise in the 3/4's who I've said should play fullback?

I can't remember ever doing so. In fact I've been against all suggestions to play players like Burgess, SKD, Jennings & Ferguson at fullback.

And Joey Manu has played fullback in his juniors, he also played there for the junior kiwis at one point and was excellent. Centre is definitely his most comfortable position and I don't think fullback is a long term position for him but I think he's more ready for grade than Latrell Mitchell and more suited to the role than Blake Ferguson.

I wasn't referring to you, it just seems a common theme. I agree he is more ready to play first grade than Mitchell, I like him more than Elliott who I had forgotten about and probably is ahead of him in the pecking order (not mine). I worry that if he performs poorly he will have his confidence badly damaged. If the club thought he was a shot there I doubt Omar would still be at the club. Playing fullback requires a much bigger motor than almost any other position on the field and I doubt he has the sufficient conditioning to play there now. Love to see him play the game in England though in the Centres.

[fletch]

Mitchell's try was good but is anyone concerned that he appears a little overweight and out of condition after what should have been a couple months of intensive fitness training. I don't think he has the miles in his legs to play first grade for a while yet. Whilst I think Omar is a plodder, he would be a better alternative in an emergency situation at least early in the season.

if Omar is our starting fullback at any point this season we are in contention for the spoon, he is not first grade standard.

funny you mention Mitchell's weight he actually looked a lot fitter than when I saw him earlier in the pre-season, hopefully he continues to slim down because he is not playing fullback in the NRL at that size.

[Frozen Chook]

I think this means nothing. Just had to hear TR speak at half time. There was no focus on this tournament being important

Agreed KB - our first defensive set and another defensive lapse in the morning summed up our players focus and intensity. In my mind competitive and winning culture is a learnt and practiced thing in every competitive event we enter into. The counter argument is that you cant stay in the highly competitive phase all season and if there are games you going to ease into the season with, these are the ones.

The nines are in one sense a great preseason opener and having gone last year and was keen to go this year ( work got in the way), the atmosphere is for a fun weekend almost like a junior preseason round robin competition.

But like I said in an earlier post this 9's weekend really present an opportunity to work on the edge attack/defence and combinations. it was really clear for me sitting head on last year some teams appeared to have done the home work leading into it. Particularly around restarts- the fact we got penailised off one of ours sums that one up.

Agreed with all the comments re the young guys - saw some things that were really exciting if they can build on this season.

[Roosterfarian]

What does everyone reckon about this "free play" rule? It's a winner in my books and would love to see introduced to NRL.

What is it?

[Frozen Chook]

What does everyone reckon about this "free play" rule? It's a winner in my books and would love to see introduced to NRL.

I am not much of a fan to be honest - the players seem to have problems catching on today in the games I have watched as it goes against early set ball security and discipline - but that would come if it was a permanent fixture. I think the game is open enough and fast enough in the NRL already with the ruck penalty interpretations, 40/20 quick restarts, reducing interchange numbers and to have hail Mary style plays on every error hand over, I think we start to lose too much of the physical contest.

If you want to try as a player to capitalise on a mistake there's the old saying "fortune favours the brave" I rather see players take a risk rather than take risk when there is no risk and watch players running backwards and around in circle passing 20 meters backwards, etc., knock on and then get the ball presented to them 20 m up field where the first mistake happened.

I think the hand over around errors is covered adequately by the advantage rule.

just my opinion

[Roostarz]

What is it?

If the one team loses the ball and the ball is still in play, the opposition gets a free shot at doing anything while the ball is still in play (for example, a Knights player dropped the ball near the try line and Cartwright picked it up, kicked it down the field 70 metres and the Panthers recovered the ball and got tackled 90 metres up the field). Had the ball gone out, the Knights recovered the ball, the Panther player dropped it etc. it would have been a turn over where the Knights player dropped it originally.

[GC6]

Few things.
Anasta was better than I expected.
Burgess is a winner
Manu is brilliant and probably our best today
Mitchell is coming along nicely just needs conditioning
Slaimankhel isn't near first grade
SKD doesn't seem fit

Will be nice to check the WCC to see how our new halves pairing are going. We are going to need them firing

[2026]

Manu is a gun!

Upgrade his contract now.

[LargeMike]

Mitchell's try was good but is anyone concerned that he appears a little overweight and out of condition after what should have been a couple months of intensive fitness training. I don't think he has the miles in his legs to play first grade for a while yet. Whilst I think Omar is a plodder, he would be a better alternative in an emergency situation at least early in the season.

Dont read too much into that. He is looking like he is holding a bit of puppy fat but that is to be expected in someone his age of his size. Keep in mind, this kid still needs to grow into his body. The real serious dieting can be done after he finishes growing.

I do agree that he is unfit and doesnt look like he will be featuring prominantly in FG at fullback. Good signs though. Great stride. All the great flyers are a joy to watch in open field and he is no different.

[2026]

Anasta is in career best form.

Burgess will be the buy of the season. A very exciting prospect and entertaining to watch.

[Easts75]

Henderson is below Wyong Roos standard, it's an embarrassment we've given him a contract at any level.

[fletch]

Manu is a gun!

Upgrade his contract now.

good thing is we extended both Mitchell and Manu last season after we lost RTS

[Freddy58]

Mitchell still a while off of ripening for FG. Manu on the other hand, looks confident and quick on the ball.