General Its time for the switch - Halfback/Hooker

[mosh_old]

While I thought Fien's attitude was on of the best I have seen from him this year he clearly lacked the finishing skills at halfback today. I agree to keep him there if he had someone outside him to help out in the playmaking role - like if he was playing with a Lockyer but he really lacks a decent tactical kicking game.

I believe your halfback needs to put pressure on the defence at all times with the placement of the kicks and that comes with 'vision'. Brent Webb I believe has wonderful vision and he saw that there was a 2 man overlap on Manu's wing and put in a pin point kick for a great try. Too many times Nathan Fien put in kicks that none of the players were expected. Only one of the high bombs was contested and that was by Steven Price who put pressure on Billy Slater. Our kicking game and finishing game clearly was sub-standard and there was no creativity when you need it. Against quality teams you wont be visiting their red zone very often, so you need to make use of it when you are lucky enough to get there.

I believe Lance Hohaia should be shifted into the halfback role as he is the best halfback we have in our side. Grant Rovelli is a great 5-8th type of player and the pass he put onto Tony Martin's chest cutting out 3 players showed some great skill that we need at pivot. Also Nathan Fien's attitude is suitable for hooker - he is the niggly type that likes to go in hard and scoot from dummy half. That type of aggression came from Payne today the Cowboys hooker and they absolutely carved the Broncos ruck today.

 

[aussie_warrior_old]

mmmm.... I see your point.

I think it is a little too soon to make this change just yet. Didn't Lance run out of dummy half and kick the ball out on the full?

I would be more likely to move Rovelli into 6 next week than I would be to swap Hohaia and Fein around.

 

[casso_old]

I agee with the post above

I have seen fien play halfback really well and he deserves a bit more time to prove himself there.although I did not see the game from what I am reading here his kicking was a little astray but I am sure he will improve

 

[L N_old]

its the tweaking of positons that need to be done

wholesale changes maybe

you would think cleary and co after 4 outings

would have a strategic plan to gel the halves

cause it seems to improve 1 wk

then it deflates the next

we have got some quality specialist

it is worrying to see them being use as utilities

the faith is there but the head is questioning

 

[tezzah_old]

Damn forwards didnt protect him when ever he went to kick the ball!

He was pin pointed many times on the 5th and final and I never saw a blocker or shield runner for him to have decent time to kick!

 

[edguy_old]

totaly agree mosh ......exactly what i want to see too ... go hi ho hohaia 4 half back

 

[mosh_old]

Also Brent Webb needs to kick more. He really was great yesterday with his kicks and I think playing International Footy and beside Stacey has given him some good vision on what options to take on the 5th tackle.

 

[Chinos_old]

on the topic of halfes and five-eights, I really can't see sione cementing his position as a number 6 and if he does, i think we may find ourselves with similar results as the weekend. While such big changes maybe shouldn't be made after 80 minutes of footy, sione is much more suited as a wide running second rower or centre. Having a five-eight of his variety is ok if you got a dominating half back however while we remain somewhat weak in the number seven position we need to give them as much help as we can and by putting sione along side whoever our chosen half back will be, will only make there job more difficult.