Ben Jones

[Guest]

What is next for ben jones?

With guerra and conn in good form...JWH and symonds still to come back....and koups in favour with Smith, it seems jones wont get a start anytime soon.

Im just hoping he doesnt get frustrated and ask for a release....ending up playing for another club half way through the year.

[crikey chris]

Not to death-ride anyone, but injuries are common place in contact sport, and Jones has good utility value. Also if the mighty roosters keep doing well, which is a given, origin time will need good backup players, and Ranga Jones will come into his own. Can play 5/8, 1/2 back, hooker, centre and even wing. Would hate to lose him.

Crikey.

[elo]

It all depends on whether Braith is retained or not, Jones will either be 6 in 2011 or potentailly lost by the club

[Guest]

You've gotta remember he's still under 20. He'll get his opportunity, he just needs to be patient. Wouldn't really get a shot at the starting lineup of any club except the Cowboys and Cronulla (Souths will keep going with Sandow, thankfully), so he'd be a utility wherever he goes. He'll get a shot eventually, Smithy is too good a coach to let his talent go to waste.

[Cockadoodledoo]

It all depends on whether Braith is retained or not, Jones will either be 6 in 2011 or potentailly lost by the club

I can't see him ever being 6 at our club.

[Guest]

I can't see him ever being 6 at our club.

I can see him playing 6 this year. and even more so next year.

[Cockadoodledoo]

I can see him playing 6 this year. and even more so next year.

IMHO he does not have the game to be a First Grade 5/8. I am yet to see him have a good game there in Toyota Cup.. His organisational skills are very limited.. I reckon he is a hooker or a reserve grade footballer.

[Guest]

It all depends on whether Braith is retained or not, Jones will either be 6 in 2011 or potentailly lost by the club

He is not good enough to play as no 6 in 1st grade

[Billy Gunn]

I think it's too early to tell where he will end up.

I felt sorry for him in the 20's on the weekend, I mean he looked like a player who didn't know any of the players around him and to be honest he has been with the top squad now for over a season.

The club should / will be patient with him I believe, he has been signed up long term so there is plenty of time yet.

[Guest]

He is not good enough to play as no 6 in 1st grade

I disagree, hes a kid with a lot of talent and a lot of heart, he has speed, especially where it counts most, between the EARS, he can create, at the moment hes a utility player and in the game as its played now thats very important, but i think if Smith decides to give him a regular starting spot he will do well at 5/8th.

[Guest]

If Anasta was replaced at 6 by Jones, we'd lose very little

[Billy Gunn]

I thought Anasta was excellent on the weekend. I think you undervalue his contribution to the teams performance.

[Guest]

I disagree, hes a kid with a lot of talent and a lot of heart, he has speed, especially where it counts most, between the EARS, he can create, at the moment hes a utility player and in the game as its played now thats very important, but i think if Smith decides to give him a regular starting spot he will do well at 5/8th.

Heart - tick
Speed - ???
Speed between the ears - nope
Create - nope

I have never seen him create anything in under 20's where he should be a dominate player. Many a time in under 20's he take the wrong option when we were attacking and put in a dud kick putting no pressure on the defence.

Tom Symonds is a much better 5/8 judging by what I have seen of them playing 5/8 in the under 20's

[Guest]

Heart - tick
Speed - ???
Speed between the ears - nope
Create - nope

I have never seen him create anything in under 20's where he should be a dominate player. Many a time in under 20's he take the wrong option when we were attacking and put in a dud kick putting no pressure on the defence.

Tom Symonds is a much better 5/8 judging by what I have seen of them playing 5/8 in the under 20's

I really rate Tom Symonds, but see him as a running forward more than a 5/8. Tom is 21,and has a great future, he could be anything and at this stage hes a long way ahead . But Jones is just 19, i think we will see both of them in our team in the future, obviously we disagree on his ability but time will tell

[Guest]

Only way I see him keeping a permanent FG spot is if we don't keep Anasta. And if it was a choice between keeping Anasta and keeping Jones, for me Jones would be gone.

Disappointing but thats footy. Imo he could get an opportunity at a fair few clubs that are lacking in the halves department.