When Pearce returns!

[Guest]

Pearce and Nickorima starting halves. Hastings to the bench.

["gaz"]

I reckon Hastings is a son of a gun, and a goal kicker to boot.

[TheBigFella]

Nah. 6 - Pearce. 7 - Hastings. 14- Nikorima to cover

[Bigchook]

Nikorima will be the utility Robinson wants in the side. It won't be wasted on a spud like hendo.

[eddie]

The two sets of 6 we had to kick a field goal were very disappointing, It's just like Pearce had already returned.

[Thirteen]

Pearce can't kick a field goal anyway.

[ROC181]

Pearce can kick for goals. Oh that's right, we got rid of BBQ and kept the doggy lover.

[Guest]

Nikorima will be the utility Robinson wants in the side. It won't be wasted on a spud like hendo.

Hastings back to bench utility. Nickorima and Pearce are our best halves combo.

[Bigchook]

Hastings back to bench utility. Nickorima and Pearce are our best halves combo.

No chance.

[Bigchook]

Pearce can kick for goals. Oh that's right, we got rid of BBQ and kept the doggy lover.

Do you pine for your ex's like this? He's gone. Let it go.

[ism22]

Why... WHY on earth did Joey make that wretched quote that 'the half owns the result'?!?!?

It was merely an arrogant, self-fulfilling quote at the time, and was in the context of him winning an Origin series. Since then, it has been repeated multiple times and has become NRL doctrine.

Can I challenge this saying? It might be true when it's Johns and Freddy... or JT and Cronk. HOWEVER, at club level when you have international forwards and rep outside backs playing with you, the halves DO NOT own the result. The team owns the result.

In primary school EVERY soccer coach will tell you 'DON'T BLAME THE EFFING GOALIE WHEN WHEN WE LOSE... THE BALL HAS TO GO THROUGH EVERYBODY ELSE BEFORE IT WENT THROUGH HIM'. Footy is the same - it's a TEAM SPORT!!! Okay Mitchell didn't have a good day converting and Hastings gambled on hole running rather than a drop-goal. But WHERE WAS THE SUPPORT?!?!?

Cooper Cronk scores a drop goal? There's ALWAYS a box around him so that nobody can get within 5m of him when he's kicking. It's infuriating because it guarantees a result and there's nothing you can do about it. Hastings was given the ball in the middle of traffic and likely woulda been charged down if he tried kicking one. On one occasion he forced a repeat set and on the next he got within INCHES of scoring a try after he darted into a hole and avoided ~4 players. Had Guerra and Evans run with him they coulda helped drive him over the line and it coulda been a try for all money.

Not saying I know everything, but Hastings took some risks and demonstrated some good talent. We lost! But the buck doesn't stop with him. Many other factors played out.

[Tommy Smith]

Hastings is playing like a 20 year old halfback with minimal first grade experience. Which he is. Surprise surprise.

I'm sure he'll be fine in the long run, but both he and Niko have played exactly how I thought they would so far. Flashes of supreme talent interspersed with a lack of composure.

Give it 3 years and they'll rival Milf/Hunt as the best halves pairing in the comp.

As for when Pearce returns, at full strength I'd like to see:

Mitchell
Toops
Aubusson
Fergo
SKD
Hastings
Pearce
JWH
Friend
Napa
Guerra
Cords
SST

Evans
Moa
Liu
Niko

If we can win enough games before that becomes a possibility, which sadly I dont think we will especially after throwing away yesterday's game, but if we did then that time would frighten anyone in the finals.

[zac]

Why... WHY on earth did Joey make that wretched quote that 'the half owns the result'?!?!?

It was merely an arrogant, self-fulfilling quote at the time, and was in the context of him winning an Origin series. Since then, it has been repeated multiple times and has become NRL doctrine.

Can I challenge this saying? It might be true when it's Johns and Freddy... or JT and Cronk. HOWEVER, at club level when you have international forwards and rep outside backs playing with you, the halves DO NOT own the result. The team owns the result.

In primary school EVERY soccer coach will tell you 'DON'T BLAME THE EFFING GOALIE WHEN WHEN WE LOSE... THE BALL HAS TO GO THROUGH EVERYBODY ELSE BEFORE IT WENT THROUGH HIM'. Footy is the same - it's a TEAM SPORT!!! Okay Mitchell didn't have a good day converting and Hastings gambled on hole running rather than a drop-goal. But WHERE WAS THE SUPPORT?!?!?

Cooper Cronk scores a drop goal? There's ALWAYS a box around him so that nobody can get within 5m of him when he's kicking. It's infuriating because it guarantees a result and there's nothing you can do about it. Hastings was given the ball in the middle of traffic and likely woulda been charged down if he tried kicking one. On one occasion he forced a repeat set and on the next he got within INCHES of scoring a try after he darted into a hole and avoided ~4 players. Had Guerra and Evans run with him they coulda helped drive him over the line and it coulda been a try for all money.

Not saying I know everything, but Hastings took some risks and demonstrated some good talent. We lost! But the buck doesn't stop with him. Many other factors played out.

Ricky Stuart used to say the same thing. One time Gus referred to it, saying, Ï still don't know what that means."

[Double]

I'd be looking no further ahead than the next game ATM. I'd spend the time until Pearce returns nutting out how they feel they should play and understanding what they think they can offer. I'm tempted to play Pearce at lock and organising the team giving SoH & Niko front row seats.

I'd stick with Copley on what I've seen so far. He needs to own that centre position particularly in defence and not be the one plugging the gaps. Bennett used him up as a fill in and I don't think he's ever really felt comfortable. If Robbo can fix that we'll have a star on our hands and he'll have a few people he'll want to prove wrong.

[mightyrooster]

Hastings is playing like a 20 year old halfback with minimal first grade experience. Which he is. Surprise surprise.

I'm sure he'll be fine in the long run, but both he and Niko have played exactly how I thought they would so far. Flashes of supreme talent interspersed with a lack of composure. .

Yes but you see the media 'experts' and our own fans can go on about the poor inexperienced weakened raiders halves without Austin and Sezer but Hastings and Niko aren't given the same luxury when they are thrown in with minimal game experience and no Pearce!
Totally ridiculous!