3 Things

[Jatz Crackers]

3 things:

1) Hodkinson & other team selections
I say that no Hodko is a mistake, & just hope that putting Foran in the 7 wasnt purely about ensuring his contract extension. As it stands we have one rookie halfback partnering a good but out of best position 5/8, while his centre position is filled by a somewhat inexperienced player who lacks the defensive qualities that Lyon has in spades.
Why is Hodko being left out (even in the short term) ? Why on earth is it being suggested he may come into the side “later on in the season” ? He may be inexperienced but from all reports he impressed in the off season. With Hodko 7 & if Lyon was 6 you still have two players of similar combined experience level as the Foran/Lyon combo. And if you were to replace T-Rex with Foran, in my view it would tighten up our defensive capabilities.
From the little I saw of Hodko his long kicking game is well developed and his short kicking game looks quite OK even for NRL level. Further still, what if Foran suffers a long term injury? We then have to blood a new player at halfback but if you start with Hodko in the 7 & he is injured, then surely its less disruptive to the team to move Foran to half and bring in a new centre. I still say we should bite the bullet & develop the halves combo of Hodko/Foran or Hodko/Lyon if risk aversion is the prime consideration. Either way get Hodko on the field in the 7 now.
I see the inclusion of Seu Seu as a positive. Snake aside, this team doesnt have enough explosive off the mark speed and although Ballin is close to a 80 min player I think we need that speedy race out of dummy half late in each period. Bailey & Rodney, well I wont knock them at this point so will just put a ? on both for now. Look out, if I dont see good things by round 5.  

2)Kicking Game
SueRidge (kicked off ) concerns about our kicking game and its a bloody good point. Surely Foran talking about being specialist kicker is the short kicking game, so if we are to place trust in that it leaves the question of who is going to get us field position. I bet it will be Lyon but as someone else points out with the new downtown rule is would be better to have Ballin kicking from dummy half. But hang on......if Hodko was in the 7, all of a sudden you have a specialist half who has a long boot on him. Why dont we have:
Hodko at 1/2 for short kicking game
Ballin/Hodko for long kicking game
Lyon for goal kicking
Take you pick on line dropouts & touch finds

3)7th

 

[Chip and Chase]

3 Things

1) I say starting Foran at half is a good thing. We know the guy can hack the pace and contact of the NRL and won't let anyone down. Looking forward to seeing his attacking flair without the constraints of Orford hogging the ball. Glad we aren't risking a young half who's only claim to fame is he won a Qld Cup GF.......does anyone know if he can tackle ?? Isn't this Qld Cup the same comp that Phil Morwood was player of the year in ?? Must be one hell of a standard in that case. Oh that's right, he impressed in the off season....doing what exactly ? Running 400's at training, playing touch footy, and having a hit out in a trial or two against quality opposition like Cronulla and the Warriors. What a yardstick for potential NRL superstardom.

Lyon at 5/8 is a good move. Didn't we slay all before us in the finals series and win a comp by a record score in 2008 with Jamie at 5/8 ?? We are a bit skinny in the centres with Farrar's injury, but that's life in the NRL.

2) Kicking Game. Let's see what happens on Monday before we get all excited about an alleged lack of kicker. Anything would have to be an improvement on the crap Orford dished up last year (both long and short).

3) 4th

 

[niccipops]

3 Things

1. I love Brett Stewart

2. I don't do statistical bloke things because I'm a chick.

3. 1st.

 

[Pepi]

We finished 5th in a year when Stewart only played a handful of games. We had the WCC hangover, board room dramas and distracting off field events. The Season launch set us back months. I think we will improve on last year.

The thing i like about Foran is he has that real competitive edge about him - hes always the first to smash the fullback after a kick, always there in support, reminds me of Tooves a little.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

3 Things

1) I say starting Foran at half is a good thing. We know the guy can hack the pace and contact of the NRL and won't let anyone down. Looking forward to seeing his attacking flair without the constraints of Orford hogging the ball. Glad we aren't risking a young half who's only claim to fame is he won a Qld Cup GF.......does anyone know if he can tackle ?? Isn't this Qld Cup the same comp that Phil Morwood was player of the year in ?? Must be one hell of a standard in that case. Oh that's right, he impressed in the off season....doing what exactly ? Running 400's at training, playing touch footy, and having a hit out in a trial or two against quality opposition like Cronulla and the Warriors. What a yardstick for potential NRL superstardom.

Lyon at 5/8 is a good move. Didn't we slay all before us in the finals series and win a comp by a record score in 2008 with Jamie at 5/8 ?? We are a bit skinny in the centres with Farrar's injury, but that's life in the NRL.

OK but simply dismissing Hodko because he comes from the Qld Cup doesnt exactly answer the other questions posed. Referencing Deadwood doesnt help either. And there is also risk with having Foran at 7. Agree that Foran can hack the pace etc so if he does that at 5/8 or centre, it helps alleviate other concerns such as T-Rex.

2) Kicking Game. Let's see what happens on Monday before we get all excited about an alleged lack of kicker. Anything would have to be an improvement on the crap Orford dished up last year (both long and short).

Sure, we can all wait. But our kicking game has been terrible in recent years so proposing alternatives for discussion isnt unreasonable. If we all hang our hat soley on Forans newly found kicking game (short & long ???) isnt that setting us up for potential failure.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Haven't seen Hodkinson at all so can't comment on him at all, Lyon/Foran was the pairing I wanted though

All I can really say on the matter is that Hasler and Toovey were both international halfbacks so should have a fair idea of who should make a decent go of it, along with Johns really talking up Foran after working with him

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

1) Many say "in Des we trust"...I had some one on one time with Max Krillich at the Leagues Club last year and he was very 'anti' Des, called him "one dimensional" (jeez did I spell that right???) and when I asked why he said "doesn't like change and seems to stick with bad combinations regardless". It was an interesting thought and perhaps we are seeing this again with the choice of Foran at 7. For my point I think he should have been prepared to let them have a run, at worst we'd lose the first game, but if it didn't work (or didn't look like it had the chance to work) then at least we'd know. From that perspective I think a mistake has been made, it was worth a shot to give the young guns a chance.

2) Jamie is a centre, that's his best position and his is most damaging in attack when he has room, his defence is also excellent. Foran is a 5/8, that's where he should be, so I go back to one and say "give the kid a chance".

3) Sorry but I feel 7th at best, I fear two things, a very unsettled first 6-8 weeks whilst the "halves issue" beds itself in, and also the mental capacity of Brett whilst this mess is going on.

By the way I like the "3 things" title, great idea

 

[King]

Hodkinson will get his chance. Foran won't be the halfback for the entire year he will push Lyon into the centres by the year end.

I can understand why Des has gone with Foran and Lyon. It's our most experienced combination.
Foran is tough, reliable and a real competitor.
T Williams has NRL experience.

I watched a few QLD cup games last year and Hodkinson did impress me.
He is the complete player. Great in attack, solid in defence, has a good long kicking game.
Is round 1 the best time to blood him into the NRL?
Well Des, Tooves and the coaching staff obviously think not.
I am happy to trust their judgement.

It would be stupid to throw two young inexperienced halves in together to direct the team without seeing how the rest of the side is travelling. If Kite & Perry return to form i think we will see Hodkinson debut shortly afterwards. Our forwards are the key to everything.

I think alot of people are underestimating how good T Williams can/could be.
If the guy has fixed his attitude he could be devastating out wide. Des wouldn't pick him if he wasn't confident in him.

Honestly, was Orford's general kicking game ever any good? I didn't think it was.
I believe it was part of the reason he didn't play state of origin. A long kicking game is so vital in state of origin. Orford didn't have it.
Lyon did the general kicking in the 2008 grand final and he was superb. I have confidence in both Lyon & Foran getting the job done on Monday night.

 

[Bradza]

I agree with the Tooves analogy Pepi. I also think Foran is very similar to Bozo and if he's anywhere near as good we'll be laughing.

 

[eggson]

Whilst i'd love to see Hodko/Foran paired up, i can see the logic in fielding a more experienced (safer?) lineup for the first few games.  It gives us a good chance of winning and not having the pressure to come from behind.  I'd rather be sitting on 6pts from 3 or 4 games and then trying the new halves combo

 

[susan ridgepipe]

In reply to Cand C 'S what has hodkinson done?

answer: everything asked of him

was the best of breed as a junior and rated best half in the country.rated a much better prospect than mortimer at parramatta until a diabolical injury(dislocated knee,hamstring torn off bone) that put him out for a year and almost caused him to quit the game.

came into Sunshine Coast side after said injury.at the time they were running virtually last after 7 or 8 rounds.led them into the semis in fifth place.was man of the match in first two semis and had a blinder in GF which they won easily.Was selected as halfback in the residents rep side where he also had a blinder.

Qld cup is easily the second best comp in Australia and has been the breeding ground for slater,inglis,smith and many other players of that ilk.U20s is attractive but not even close in terms of toughness.these guys are playing men and many of the over 20  years of age NRL contracted players play in the comp.Qld is a fantastic breeding ground particularly gold coast which has 3 or 4 of the best league schools in the country within 10ks of each other.The NSWRL is a joke.there is a reason all these clubs have their feeders in Qld.

I have seen the guy play on half a dozen occasions live.Two of those occasions with recent manly international  who has huge wraps on this young bloke.His kicking game is long,organised and he has time.He destroyed my local side last year.He just needs a chance.

Mortimer would have been running  around in reserves all last yearif he was behind a premiership winning halfback in 08 also.He got the chance and grabbed it.this kid will too.Remember he was playing well all last year as well and every man and his dog on this site was bagging orford so it is not as though he has only become an option this year.i thought he should have been blooded in the second half of last season at 5/8.

I have no problem with Foran.He is fantastic.Iknow that the end game is to have hodkinson at half.Any other option has a myriad of guys playing out of position and a pressured kicking game.I think Des is a great coach but sometimes doesnt trust inexperienced players early enough.Look at mortimer,idris,pearce,folou,slater...you could name dozens of them.good enough,old enough in my book,particularly backs.With 4 (maybe 5 if ground not ready)away games first up I just hope we dont leave it till too late.If Foran is a natural half i am a bad judge.what he is is a tough,uncompromising ball runner and sledgehammer hitter.

i love  our squad but doubt seriously our chances when we are forced into playing a high risk williams out of postion in the centre for no reason other than slowly working our best option into the side.

 

[Matabele]

3 things:

1.  If Sue Ridgepipe rates Hodkinson that will do me.

2.  If Sue Ridgepipe rates Hodkinson that will do me.

3.  If Sue Ridgepipe rates Hodkinson that will do me.

 

[susan ridgepipe]

mata

it is simple.

as a young bloke you are rated the best of breed.

recover from horrendous injury


you then take the next step and are rated the best at the penultimate level

the NRL team you play for does not have a regular halfback, have played very well in recent years but have a history of bad field position.

you have a great kicking game

Round one - off to sunny coast

still there in round 5

phone rings.player agent on the line......

dont let it happen des.

 

[Matabele]

Sadly we know Des stripes.  If there's one knock on the bloke, it's that he doesn't trust anyone under 25 and is slow to take a punt on inexperience.  It's the hallmark of his coaching career and a shame he hasn't learned the lessons of the past yet.

 

[susan ridgepipe]

yes.it is strange.

he was a great player and  is a great coach with all the attributes.players respect him greatly.

he is a very conservative and humble guy by nature and this probably flows into his thoughts towards more risky options.

 

[Garts]

If he definately plans on using Hodkinson in the season and end up with him at half I do not understand why he would wait till later.  You sure the plans are for Hodkinson to be half be seasons end?

Still hoping Des does one of his changes before kick off Monday!!!!!

 

[Matabele]

Still hoping Des does one of his changes before kick off Monday!!!!!

  Hodkinson is slated to play in Cairns on the weekend.  I guess if he is absent you might have hope, but don't hold your breath.