This guy Ryan Williamson

[Guest]

Defence is not big hits. Fitzy and Nathan Hindmarsh were some of the greatest tackling workhorse defenders to play rugby league, yet neither put/puts on many big hits. Defence is about 1-on-1 situations in which your opponent has time and space. It's about reading those situations and shutting them down. Terrible defenders can put on shoulder charges when a guys just touched down from catching a bomb. It means NOTHING. Williamson is MASSIVE, he's a complete unit. Of course he can smash people, and it'd be impressive if someone ran over the top of him. But that doesn't mean he's a good defender at a first grade level. It will take at least half a season to show he can defend and tackle.

[Guest]

Haven't followed his whole career no... watched him in a couple of SG ball games and the majority of Under 20's if you can call that a career.. think it's about 10-15 games. I watched him struggle against Pangai... someone who got a lot of good ball and from memory he missed about half a dozen tackles or so.

For me that's someone who has defenisve issues yes. Some of his decision making was very poor. On this occasion I watched Pangai run at him time after time... correction by him time after time.

Moses Pangai from the Cowboys is no slouch and even NRL players would struggle to tackle him. He is a big unit and at the time Ryan Williamson was just returning from injury and Pangai was in hot form. I'd love to see them two go at it again as they are both big units who are very aggressive. Ryan Williamson next year will be better off though with a full off-season after having a bad year this season.

[Guest]

Defence is not big hits. Fitzy and Nathan Hindmarsh were some of the greatest tackling workhorse defenders to play rugby league, yet neither put/puts on many big hits. Defence is about 1-on-1 situations in which your opponent has time and space. It's about reading those situations and shutting them down. Terrible defenders can put on shoulder charges when a guys just touched down from catching a bomb. It means NOTHING. Williamson is MASSIVE, he's a complete unit. Of course he can smash people, and it'd be impressive if someone ran over the top of him. But that doesn't mean he's a good defender at a first grade level. It will take at least half a season to show he can defend and tackle.

I have never seen Willow shoulder charge, he is a very good defender but his game is to intimidate his opposite. In other words he is no angel on the footy field. Smith will bring the best out of him and teach him the control he needs. One thing about Ryan is he can be coached where a lot of other youngstres can't or won't be coached.

[TheLoneRooster]

Hey guys.....

Hi Mitchell, welcome to The Chookpen. Got one bit of advice for you, if you want to follow an older player around, try Sam Perrett instead of Willie Mason.

[TheLoneRooster]

I have never seen Willow shoulder charge, he is a very good defender but his game is to intimidate his opposite. In other words he is no angel on the footy field. Smith will bring the best out of him and teach him the control he needs. One thing about Ryan is he can be coached where a lot of other youngstres can't or won't be coached.

murry, the more I hear about your views on Ryan the more I believe he will be able to take the step up to first grade and succeed. He sounds like he has the both the physical and psychological attributes necessary.

[Guest]

Hey guys.....

mitchell get ****ed you obnoxious little weed, go bang a foran.

[Guest]

Defence is not big hits. Fitzy and Nathan Hindmarsh were some of the greatest tackling workhorse defenders to play rugby league, yet neither put/puts on many big hits. Defence is about 1-on-1 situations in which your opponent has time and space. It's about reading those situations and shutting them down. Terrible defenders can put on shoulder charges when a guys just touched down from catching a bomb. It means NOTHING. Williamson is MASSIVE, he's a complete unit. Of course he can smash people, and it'd be impressive if someone ran over the top of him. But that doesn't mean he's a good defender at a first grade level. It will take at least half a season to show he can defend and tackle.

Case in point - Soliola

Not a terrible defender, but one on one in the centres made to look foolish many times

I wish people would stop focussing on aggression and big hits. What we need, and have done for as long as I can remember, are centres who can make breaks and create opportunities

[Guest]

case in point - soliola

not a terrible defender, but one on one in the centres made to look foolish many times

i wish people would stop focussing on aggression and big hits. What we need, and have done for as long as i can remember, are centres who can make breaks and create opportunities

thats who we're talking about i thought

[melon....]

Hey guys.....

next time your up at Artarmon, try the brunette Romanian. She actually gets into it and enjoys.

[Guest]

Does Williamson have to serve some time in 2010 for his spear tackle suspension or will the trial games cut these out.

[Guest]

Does Williamson have to serve some time in 2010 for his spear tackle suspension or will the trial games cut these out.

He will the first of the three preseason trial matches so he will be able to play round one if selected.

[Guest]

He will the first of the three preseason trial matches so he will be able to play round one if selected.

Good luck to him for that, but how absurd it is that trial matches can be counted towards serving a suspension...

[Guest]

He will the first of the three preseason trial matches so he will be able to play round one if selected.

Good ,so he will be able to get in a couple of trials as well.

[Guest]

mitchell get ****ed you obnoxious little weed, go bang a foran.

hey jamie you pea hearted pin dick get ****ed