mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Who’s this?
Yeah thats him. Wellington kid. Train and trial contract with Manly preseason so must have been cut and trying for NSW Cup here now...
Interesting comments from Te Maire Martin on the spine, an underated Egan, and his thoughts on Webster
Fonzie
Contributor
Some thought lines:
Webby seems to want a model where the halves are both running threats, and likes the ball playing lock. That ‘lock carries and hits edge backrower or goes out the back to a half’ model. Only Tohu Harris and Walker can do that, so that’s your 13 rotation.
If Addin Fonua-Blake plays 60 mins, Bunty 30, Ale 30, then we need to find another 40 mins of prop. Barnett and Tohu Harris doing 20 each?
Given we’re a couple of props short back 5 yardage will be more important than ever. Based on that Kosi probably gets a start.
We will likely be compressing in D to hold bigger middles, and relying on our mobility to work hard from the inside pushing out. Niukore is perfect for that. How mobile is Curran these days?
Webby seems to want a model where the halves are both running threats, and likes the ball playing lock. That ‘lock carries and hits edge backrower or goes out the back to a half’ model. Only Tohu Harris and Walker can do that, so that’s your 13 rotation.
If Addin Fonua-Blake plays 60 mins, Bunty 30, Ale 30, then we need to find another 40 mins of prop. Barnett and Tohu Harris doing 20 each?
Given we’re a couple of props short back 5 yardage will be more important than ever. Based on that Kosi probably gets a start.
We will likely be compressing in D to hold bigger middles, and relying on our mobility to work hard from the inside pushing out. Niukore is perfect for that. How mobile is Curran these days?
Worried2Death
I know I shouldn't but I'm starting to get my hopes up the more I hear from Webby and Te Maire and some of the other new recruits. Looks like we might finally have some footy brains at the club and a coach who knows how to maximise our player's individual strengths. I've got a strange feeling I haven't felt for years, can't quite identify it, might even be optimism.
Jay M
Contributor
That's definitely a panthers D model. I'd be worried about our edges though, given the previous years.
Need two good defensive centres to make that work, especially given Shaun Johnson and Te Maire Martin aren't great defensive halves.
Worried 2 death is optimistic- love it!
TeetsNRL
Need a way better defence performance in the middle too. Teams were rolling down the centre way too easy last season.
The whole defence falls apart if the middle can’t dominate the 1st 3 tackles. The key to the Panthers defence is that they barely even give you a chance to cross half way, let alone put on spreads to the edge.
The South’s GF was a great example, Cody’s patience broke because he never had any good ball to put a play on and he tried to force the issue from his own half.
NRL attacks are too good, if the other team has all the ball and they’re getting shots at your edge every set then they’re going to leak eventually. Tighter ruck control early in the set will make it easier on the edges to defend.
Defence
His comments on defence and kicking didn’t really fill me with confidence- at least he’s working on it but it does make me wonder if he should be playing fullback with metcalf at 6.
Seems like a solid dude though with a good head on his shoulders- he’s a class player but I think that calm head is where he can really add some value.
Seems like a solid dude though with a good head on his shoulders- he’s a class player but I think that calm head is where he can really add some value.
jmb_31
I was really impressed with Jensen in the Broncos games I watched last year, he'd be a good addition. He's a lot bigger than you'd expect.
Jay M
Contributor
Our linespeed has been poor for 2-3 seasons. If we sit back on our heels, they will get that roll on up the middle. Need to get in their faces and push out to shut down any edge issues (aka the umbrella defence as opposed to the very slow up and in D line that we have been using which gives them easy overlaps.
Boats n Hoes
Ruck speed a big issue on defence, hence why i think Webby's putting a big emphasis on the wrestle this off season. Nice to hear they'll be pushing from inside out as opposed to our edges jamming in early and getting caught out on the overlap as they consistently were last season.
Starts at the ruck, slowing that ptb should give our line time to set.
Starts at the ruck, slowing that ptb should give our line time to set.
Boats n Hoes
Yeah he didnt sound very confident in his kicking game did he. And if i remember from his junior days it wasnt a strong point in his game either. Particulary concerning considering i cant recall Nicol Klockstad even kicking a ball,
Half your spine without a kicking game? hmm
Noitall
Think it all depends on our field position, Shaun Johnson has the distance in his kicks but Te Maire Martin is capable of chips and grubbers looking for players close to the line or repeat sets. Egan has a decent boot and could kick from dummy half or be first receiver on some last tackles if someone can provide quick enough service to him when required.
Of course the precursor to our lack of line speed and weak defence through the middle is often attributed to fatigue when the flow of possesion goes against us.
Webby made a point of highlighting how important possesion is on the TWL podcast, some improvement there would go a long way towards helping to fix that for us... despite best intentions without gas in the tank it's differcult to kill momentum under the modern interpretation of the game with tackle count restarts etc.
Webby made a point of highlighting how important possesion is on the TWL podcast, some improvement there would go a long way towards helping to fix that for us... despite best intentions without gas in the tank it's differcult to kill momentum under the modern interpretation of the game with tackle count restarts etc.
Boats n Hoes
Chips and grubbers still take skill and a fine touch.
Definitely hope we see more kicking from Egan this year.
Tragic
Contributor
I think Barnett can do that, every shot of him at preseason training is of him passing. Looks like he is practicing for that role.
Fonzie
Contributor
Interesting , cheers for the heads up. But then where does Walker fit? It’s a Rubix cube this
Wrighty
Their plans for him seem under cooked. Moist of the talk is that they want him at 14 in case an injury happens somewhere 1- through 13 and he will be able to help plug that gap.
Has there be thinking for what positions he will rotate through on nights where there are no injuries, which is most games, I jolly well hope so but wouldn't stake my house on it.
I would really hope at a minimum he plays 20 to 25 minutes at hooker each game to releive Egan who has shown he gets exhausted playing 80 himself.
AlexM
Or he plays as an extra middle and just runs at tired middles and does a bit of ball playing
