Barrett on Big Sports Breakfast tomorrow

[40 years an eagle]

I see him being used in the case of a mid-game injury. Who would replace Api at hooker or DCE/Croker at half/five-eighth? I don't see him being brought on to change the course of a match.
Can you name another versatile option in our roster?

I see the logic in that mate but the REALITY is that a spot on the bench taken up by "a utility" has amounted to VERY FEW game time minutes in every game throughout the season.

Playmaker injuries that can't be handled by an on-field reshuffle are very few and far between and that's why some of the starting 13 train in different positions as well as their own.

I would rather get 40 minutes out of a hard-running, hard-defending backrower( which will rest 2 starting forwards for 20 minutes each) EVERY WEEK!

Getting 5-10-20 minutes a game from a bench utility is wasting 20-40 minutes of needed hard work every game because of the needless fear of losing a playmaker.

We will win more than half of our games and probably be leading on the scoreboard at the time if a playmaker injury occurs.
We will always have a better chance of holding onto the scoreboard with a fresh/ish backrower and a reshuffle that we trained for than bringing on a utility.

 

[winnyason]

Trent a players coach very diff to desmond and even toovs
* I say there may debut t wright in round 1 pending trials
* Api he got big wraps on continue to improve
* croker at 6 just not sure on this one.
* interesting about we need to improve again to make 8.
* defence was solid except 2 blow out games

 

[Kevinward777]

Trent a players coach very diff to desmond and even toovs
* I say there may debut t wright in round 1 pending trials
* Api he got big wraps on continue to improve
* croker at 6 just not sure on this one.
* interesting about we need to improve again to make 8.
* defence was solid except 2 blow out games

Hard to argue with any of that mate

 

[Kevinward777]

Trent a players coach very diff to desmond and even toovs
* I say there may debut t wright in round 1 pending trials
* Api he got big wraps on continue to improve
* croker at 6 just not sure on this one.
* interesting about we need to improve again to make 8.
* defence was solid except 2 blow out games

And even though many disagree. If Tom Wright performs well in the trials, and not just okay, but well, I would be very happy to give him a go in the centres.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

We need to improve each year! IMO the competition is going to be very tight and there will be lot of traffic fighting for the top 8. If we stagnate and think we can go through the motions and make the top 8 because we finished 6th last season we won't. TB has challenges this year. First and foremost with the 5/8 vacancy and secondly with Dylan Walker's absence during the early rounds of the comp. Too much pressure is being placed on Croker too soon IMO. It is a tough assignment for a young fella with limited first grade experience, who is coming back from serious injury, to be expected to control the game in first grade. It is one thing to excel at training and another to handle the pressure cooker of game time. I really hope young Croker handles the pressure and has a injury free season. I also concerned about Walkers early absence. We need blinding speed and x factor in our centres. The draw suggests that we can't afford a slow start this season so I hope we unearth someone special during the trials. I'm hoping it's Tom Wright because he has blinding speed and x factor. But he too is young and inexperienced! Having said that if these young guys step up and play to their potential this could be the beginning of another manly Dynasty! Fingers crossed!

 

[BOZO]

We need to improve each year! IMO the competition is going to be very tight and there will be lot of traffic fighting for the top 8. If we stagnate and think we can go through the motions and make the top 8 because we finished 6th last season we won't. TB has challenges this year. First and foremost with the 5/8 vacancy and secondly with Dylan Walker's absence during the early rounds of the comp. Too much pressure is being placed on Croker too soon IMO. It is a tough assignment for a young fella with limited first grade experience, who is coming back from serious injury, to be expected to control the game in first grade. It is one thing to excel at training and another to handle the pressure cooker of game time. I really hope young Croker handles the pressure and has a injury free season. I also concerned about Walkers early absence. We need blinding speed and x factor in our centres. The draw suggests that we can't afford a slow start this season so I hope we unearth someone special during the trials. I'm hoping it's Tom Wright because he has blinding speed and x factor. But he too is young and inexperienced! Having said that if these young guys step up and play to their potential this could be the beginning of another manly Dynasty! Fingers crossed!

Love your work TE !!!

 

[jbb/james]

This is the fundamental issue manly has in that we have to recruit, uncover a 5/8 to control the game despite having cherry .cherry is a great player who really has a dig but the fact that we have to find a player who plays leadership roles on field in game management to compliment him so much is a worry

Look i hope im wrong. I hope there was a plan to let green do it all and now we have a youngster he will step up in the "upstairs department " and start to play the long game.

Everyone keeps talking about hastings, croker etc as there big season, but for mine its how cherry goes with game management and not just ball running . Its his big breakout season.

This season with how the cards have fallen gives cherry the opportunity to take his game to the next level. He could stamp himself as an international for a long time if he gets this right or at least begins too.

I bet he is a great influence for the young guys, no doubt but expecting our young guys to carry too much burden with stifle progress .

Its time cherry. I know he will have a dig but he has to really step up with some boreing plays. That's what gets the team consistency

 

[robbiea]

I still think even after all the Croker talk ,that Hastings is in line to start .I think mgmt are keeping pressure of him.Just a hunch.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I still think even after all the Croker talk ,that Hastings is in line to start .I think mgmt are keeping pressure of him.Just a hunch.

I wondered about that myself, robbie. Definitely a possibilty.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Wouldn't surprise me. Both will get a run in the trials. Certainly Hastings has a lot more experience with the pace of NRL, plus he's a decent goal kicker.

 

[Kevinward777]

Hasting’s appears to be the most logical choice for a number of reasons. He has thirty odd games under his belt, appears to have the type of game that would allow him to play the role Green did without too much trouble. And he can kick goals. I’m surprised he isn’t really being spoken about. Even when Trent talked about goal kicking, his name was not mentioned. Strange.

 

[BOZO]

Hasting’s appears to be the most logical choice for a number of reasons. He has thirty odd games under his belt, appears to have the type of game that would allow him to play the role Green did without too much trouble. And he can kick goals. I’m surprised he isn’t really being spoken about. Even when Trent talked about goal kicking, his name was not mentioned. Strange.

Stranger things have happened Kevin 😉

 

[Kevinward777]

Stranger things have happened Kevin 😉

Good series Stranger Things.

 

[40 years an eagle]

I get the feeling Hastings is disliked and is going to be shed. Maybe Baz is just getting whatever he can out of him beforehand but maybe it's all smoke and mirrors.

 

[Spartan Eagle]

I also feel that Hastings must still rub people the wrong way . Surely someone with his touted talent would be in the front running for the position?

 

[Woodsie]

Hastings is on our books and therefore is 100% in the running ... what is hurting him more than any other possible reason is his less than stellar performances in reggies last year.

You are only as good as your last game so there is no good talking him up ... we have seen him play .... the only thing that can change that is outstanding trial and game form. I am certain he will get his opportunity unless he spits the dummy.

 

[Gambit]

He spat the dummy, hello Blacktown.

 

[winnyason]

And even though many disagree. If Tom Wright performs well in the trials, and not just okay, but well, I would be very happy to give him a go in the centres.

Yeah I know a lot of people have concerns on tom defence me being one. But he natural attacking reminds me of Phil Blake. I think we need another X factor type player he certainly got ability.

 

[Kevinward777]

Yeah I know a lot of people have concerns on tom defence me being one. But he natural attacking reminds me of Phil Blake. I think we need another X factor type player he certainly got ability.

Absolutely... hopefully he kills it in the trials and demands to be picked. Because let’s face it, we all know what Matt Wright is going to bring. He’s dependable and solid backup, but he isn’t going to break a game open. And as someone has already pointed out, because of our draw we really need a good start to the season.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I still think even after all the Croker talk ,that Hastings is in line to start .I think mgmt are keeping pressure of him.Just a hunch.

Yeah,my hunch is that Trent wants to keep Hastings keen and not allow him any latitude to get comfortable,don't know who will start but Hastings is still in the mix until something concrete is known...