The new norm.

[Guest]

Is what we saw last night the beginning of a new era of only two specialist front rowers, no lock forward and the rest of your pack (apart from the hooker) made up of quicker backrowers?

And is Brian Smith already on that path?

We have two, what I'd call, specialist front rowers in Ryles and Kennedy. And the rest are bascially impact backrowers with Anasta, FPN, Symonds and Maubs that can ball play...when they can hang onto the pill.

Personally I thought the NSW forwards would get rolled up the middle, always be on the back foot. But the speed and go forward they got was surprising. NSW dominated the QLD pack.

A one off or the new norm?

Chook.

[Guest]

Good question Chook. It may well be the new norm but I think the X-factor to the equation is having a guy like Gallen in the mix. A workhorse, a guy who will just go like an animal for 80 minutes week in, week out. Since Ricko and Fitzy moved on we don't have a guy like that sadly. (Not that they were like Gallen exactly but the work ethic and consistency is what I mean)

[Guest]

Is what we saw last night the beginning of a new era of only two specialist front rowers, no lock forward and the rest of your pack (apart from the hooker) made up of quicker backrowers?

And is Brian Smith already on that path?

We have two, what I'd call, specialist front rowers in Ryles and Kennedy. And the rest are bascially impact backrowers with Anasta, FPN, Symonds and Maubs that can ball play...when they can hang onto the pill.

Personally I thought the NSW forwards would get rolled up the middle, always be on the back foot. But the speed and go forward they got was surprising. NSW dominated the QLD pack.

A one off or the new norm?

Chook.

Appears so, apart from the 1, 6, 7 and 9 the rest of the teams are backrowers.

[Guest]

It didn't work so well for Roosters in 05/06.

[supermario]

Something i picked up last night.......there was one thing that helped the blues massively without being overtly obvious........

The winger making massive yards coming out of our own half.

Uate performed this fantastically, he hit it up like a secondrower with speed and added footwork which put the defence in 2 minds and alowed a faster play of the ball.

This is one part that we are missing with Perret out of the side.

it may not seem like much, but when you have a fast bloke up against forwards, you gain an advantage, one that we are missing this year.

[Spanner in the works]

It can work, but you need the right players in the right positions.

[Guest]

Something i picked up last night.......there was one thing that helped the blues massively without being overtly obvious........

The winger making massive yards coming out of our own half.

Uate performed this fantastically, he hit it up like a secondrower with speed and added footwork which put the defence in 2 minds and alowed a faster play of the ball.

This is one part that we are missing with Perret out of the side.

it may not seem like much, but when you have a fast bloke up against forwards, you gain an advantage, one that we are missing this year.

Not to mention young Hoppa. He made some fantastic metres out of dummy half. He made a huge impact.

[supermario]

Not to mention young Hoppa. He made some fantastic metres out of dummy half. He made a huge impact.

true !

I just think it is a part of the modern game that is underestimated and could possibly be added to the modern day job description of the wingers

[Andrew Walker]

Not to mention young Hoppa. He made some fantastic metres out of dummy half. He made a huge impact.

I remember coming in here after manly lost to the vermin Singing young Hopoates praises very loudly There weer actually one or even 2 who bagged him after I praised him Mind you it shouldnt suprise me After all half tyhe posters on this place had Minichiello pensioned off for retirement There are some on here who have no idea about Rugby League

I will go out on a limb hyere and declare if Young Hoppa comes back to league after ge does his Mormon thing I think he will kame it back to the top level he is that good

[Guest]

didnt ricky stuart try this tactic once at the roosters years ago. if memory serves me correctly fitzy was pushed to prop in search of this mobile pack. i dont think it lasted too long.

am not sure how sustainable this would be at club level, you would have to have damn good backrowers with good impact and high work rates.

[Guest]

I remember coming in here after manly lost to the vermin Singing young Hopoates praises very loudly There weer actually one or even 2 who bagged him after I praised him Mind you it shouldnt suprise me After all half tyhe posters on this place had Minichiello pensioned off for retirement There are some on here who have no idea about Rugby League

I will go out on a limb hyere and declare if Young Hoppa comes back to league after ge does his Mormon thing I think he will kame it back to the top level he is that good

Very true. He is the real deal. I have watched him a few times this year and he has been awesome every time. If anyone has the talent to take two years off and come back at an elite level it is this kid. An absolute superstar IMO.

[Spanner in the works]

We should be keeping a very close eye on him....

[Chook Norris]

I don't think it so much changes anything at club footy. Teams generally try to emulate the style of play of the premiers.. which unfortunately is pretty much one out footy

having said that, the blues plan last night worked to perfection. Every hit up was done at speed and a quick play the ball ensued.. the maroons were just buggered

[Guest]

To play the high energy style NSW did at club level would burn a team out over the course of a year. It would be both physically and mentally draining over a full season. I don't think it would work.

[Vasco]

Chook I reckon the game was catered for that style of game.

The fact that there were rumblings that Stuart knew the refereeing and the way they would referee it, before he picked his team suggests that.

Let's see what happens for game three, now that there is a decider.