BJ Leilua IS NOT A WINGER !!!!!! WHEN THE HELL WILL SMITHY WAKE UP??

[ism22]

We need faster, less bulky wingers. BJ is one of those big bulky guys who you need, but I think we need somebody with a game a little like James O'Connor on the wing. Last night I watched the Wallabies and a BIIIIIG thing I saw about O'Connor is he's 21, FAST and can catch pretty well any ball. His speed also allowed him to hound players 1-on-1 and round them up like sheep. You don't really get guys the size of those South EEEfrican props in League, but O'Connor was rounding them up, pushing forcing them into the centre of the field and tackling them 1-on-1.

BJ can't do miracle catches... sorry but he can't. If Carney picks a pin point spot on the edge then BJ simply can't get himself there in time or make the catch.IMO this weakens Carney's impact because he can see options but can't use them.

Also BJ is a big 200kg hunk of meat. He offers dead weight, a low centre of gravity and a LOT of power (as opposed to strength/speed like Uate can shell out.) This is GREAT in the forwards, but entirely useless on the wing. In the forwards he'd get more ball and be the blunt weapon he is. On the wing you need somebody who might only touch the ball 3 times in a game (I exaggerate...) but all 3 will be tries or significant linebreaks.

Again if you noticed the Wallabies (sorry I'll shut up about yawnion soon)... they impressed me because they kept hammering the blind side, but kept themselves inside the field of play. Is it just me, or does BJ have a habit of being pushed into touch? In League I reckon it's easier to stay in play because you don't have to position your landing in a way that will protect the ball (unless it's a 1-on-1 tackle.) IMO BJ is a really bad choice for the wing. Not blaming him as a person/player (I quite like him) but our lack of wingers cost us a GF. It has now cost us a season because we signed Piggy, Watts, Mataka et. al. in the off-season (FORWARDS!!!!) instead of investing in speed and technical skills.

[Guest]

I have been saying it all year and be laughed at many times. This guy has been costing us tries in both attack and defense ever since he has been on the wing, including several tries in the two finals he played late last year.

I will also say it with Perrett. Whilst he adds value with his dummy half runs and nowhere near as slow as BJ, he costs us tries as well. So many times we have created scoring opportunities and our wingers have lacked the speed to make the opposition pay. Last week BJ got bundled into touch in attempting to score a try because he was a metre too slow, Perrett was a metre too slow in attempting to score a try off a Carney kick through. This week BJ costs us a try being too slow to turn around, the try he scored he also nearly butchered because it took him 5 seconds to run 10 metres.

People make nothing of it but in a close competition an extra metre of pace can be the difference between being a premiership threat and wooden spooners.

I really don't know what you are talking about, but the try he conceded, was due to being done by the bounce. It was bad positioning more than bad pace. The ball really rolled low when he was trying to get to it.

As for the 'nearly butchered' try - he got a hail mary pass, which was behind him, and 2 inches off the ground in moist conditions. If anything, i'd say he did a very good job in finishing that try.

I don't see why you're not focusing on Carney who is leaking tries like there is no tomorrow. To add - all while blunting our attack like Anasta.

[shagger]

micheal oldfield

[Guest]

We need faster, less bulky wingers. BJ is one of those big bulky guys who you need, but I think we need somebody with a game a little like James O'Connor on the wing. Last night I watched the Wallabies and a BIIIIIG thing I saw about O'Connor is he's 21, FAST and can catch pretty well any ball. His speed also allowed him to hound players 1-on-1 and round them up like sheep. You don't really get guys the size of those South EEEfrican props in League, but O'Connor was rounding them up, pushing forcing them into the centre of the field and tackling them 1-on-1.

BJ can't do miracle catches... sorry but he can't. If Carney picks a pin point spot on the edge then BJ simply can't get himself there in time or make the catch.IMO this weakens Carney's impact because he can see options but can't use them.

Also BJ is a big 200kg hunk of meat. He offers dead weight, a low centre of gravity and a LOT of power (as opposed to strength/speed like Uate can shell out.) This is GREAT in the forwards, but entirely useless on the wing. In the forwards he'd get more ball and be the blunt weapon he is. On the wing you need somebody who might only touch the ball 3 times in a game (I exaggerate...) but all 3 will be tries or significant linebreaks.

Again if you noticed the Wallabies (sorry I'll shut up about yawnion soon)... they impressed me because they kept hammering the blind side, but kept themselves inside the field of play. Is it just me, or does BJ have a habit of being pushed into touch? In League I reckon it's easier to stay in play because you don't have to position your landing in a way that will protect the ball (unless it's a 1-on-1 tackle.) IMO BJ is a really bad choice for the wing. Not blaming him as a person/player (I quite like him) but our lack of wingers cost us a GF. It has now cost us a season because we signed Piggy, Watts, Mataka et. al. in the off-season (FORWARDS!!!!) instead of investing in speed and technical skills.

Tell me the last time Carney has executed any of these so called pin-point kicks ?

All i remember is him kicking it too deep in goal or even out on the full (ironically not when taking a penalty).

[Guest]

micheal oldfield

Great choice.

[stsae]

Smiffs always been a coach to play players out of position. He has always liked the athlete over the specialist IMO.

Anyone remember Wagon??? Just like Bwaiff.

I still dont blame the coach. I havent seen anyone come along this season who is any better than BJ on the wing.

I remember when The Wolfmans name came up a few years ago, many here almost chucked a hissy when it was mentioned we may actually chase a proven finisher with size and speed, you know a real tryscoring winger.

[Juggler]

BJ leaves his wing too much. Is it because Carney, who often defends inside him, can't tackle to save himself atm? But yeah, BJ is not a winger.

[Chook Norris]

smithy is f**ng up BJ's career

centre or SR just not on the fkn wing!

it's like Smithy is trying to prove those wrong who criticised him for choosing BJ there in last year's gf

[theGman]

micheal oldfield

Out of favour Canberrian Daniel Vidot should be the main target. Otherwise, Sam Latu for the Jets should be given a go in the 2012 trials.

[melon....]

He may be a decent player & a nice kid BUT he is without a shadow of a doubt the worst winger in the comp !!!

Why the hell we persist with him there is beyond me...

Do we have a replacement that's first grade standard? There's your answer as to why we keep him. Personally, id put him at centre.

[Vasco]

I thought that aside from that grubber that he failed to clean up, he had a pretty strong game.

That try he scored wasn't as easy as it looked.

I agree.

He is still a baby. Once he weeds out some of the errors in his game he could be a very good first grader.

[mightyrooster]

You need to remember that:

1 He is still very young and learning to be a first grader
2 We don't really have any decent alternatives for the wing at the moment - would people prefer J Carney?? When Phil Graham was there last year everyone complained that he did nothing and wouldn't get involved - which was true.

I agree, he's not a winger but maybe Brian is just giving him experience at the moment and with no real alternative what can he do? At least I hope that's what he's thinking because I see his future as a back rower too.

[Guest]

Smiffs always been a coach to play players out of position. He has always liked the athlete over the specialist IMO.

Anyone remember Wagon??? Just like Bwaiff.

I still dont blame the coach. I havent seen anyone come along this season who is any better than BJ on the wing.

I remember when The Wolfmans name came up a few years ago, many here almost chucked a hissy when it was mentioned we may actually chase a proven finisher with size and speed, you know a real tryscoring winger.

only better and for 1/2 the price