Cust vs Croker at 9

[rmd]

Some interesting stats on Croker over the first 7 rounds:
Rounds 1 to 4
Running metres = ave 12m per game
Tackles = ave 34 per game
Missed tackles = ave 3 per game

Rounds 5 to 7
Running metres = ave 40m per game
Tackles = ave 40 per game
Missed tackles = ave 1 per game

It certainly looks like he is improving however, we did play 3 of the top 5 in the first 4 rounds.

I think Croker is an 'honest' player, the type of player Des loves in terms of his 'no-frills' player, which he has always had in every team I can remember, like Willo. A player who trains hard and contributes, can cover positions in the backs and forwards, not a standout, but always 'puts-in'.

I'm not saying it's the right philosophy, particularly at 9 however, I think that's where Des' mind is at and always has been.

 

[rmd]

Oh Yeah?

Well.... screw you buddy!

That's so funny. It took me three times to read the message and wonder why you were so upset. On the first two reads I just read through the typo.

 

[ManEagle]

In many considerations in life I will do a "Pro v. Con" analysis of the problem. My answers are then weighed to give me a decision of "either, or".

Not trying to teach any one to suck eggs, but this has been and still is a viable business decision making tool.

When analysing two teams in this week's tipping contest, I will conduct this analysis of each team's players, with the "Pro" question being, which player(s) can win the game for their side.

I now ask you;

Do you think Cust or Croker could win the game for you?

And hows all that analysis working out for ya....
*Looks through tipping comp....page 1 no...pages 2...no.....pages 3 nope..where the fk is he *
Pretty good by the look of things............

Sorry couldn't help myself just being a smart @ss....
Carry one analysing....
Its good advice in any case.
Cheers

 

[rmd]

I won the tipping comp for a major Tipping Competition, with big prizes, for three years in a row and that was over 15 years ago.. My secret was a rather famous NRL statistician, who I was fortunate to meet and befriend (and he wasn't in the tipping comp). He wasn't as famous then and was happy to give his reasons why a team would win or would not with all his statistical knowledge on the NRL. He is an encyclopaedia of NRL knowledge.

Each week after he had done all the analysis, I'd call him and he'd give me his tips and over those 3 years he had close to an 80% success rate. I probably dipped it up and down a bit, as I'd always back Manly.

I think he actually alerted coaches to his statistics in trying to earn a 'buck' and while he did have some success in the media, he just unfortunately didn't have the media presence. I think Des may have adapted his ideas with his statistician 'Will Badel', to analyse player performance.

So, yep, if you have the data, and that's hard to get, use it, as you'll likely be far more successful however, if you don't have the data then you're just a 'mug' like the rest of us and using your best judgement.

With all his data, I can recall that my contact got only 3 rounds correct over 3 years. Lies, lies and damn statistics.

 

[John Nicholson]

And hows all that analysis working out for ya....
*Looks through tipping comp....page 1 no...pages 2...no.....pages 3 nope..where the fk is he *
Pretty good by the look of things............

Sorry couldn't help myself just being a smart @ss....
Carry one analysing....
Its good advice in any case.
Cheers

Dear Mr Smart @ss....

I may be analytical, however, being a reformed punter I have previously come to the answer to "cash in my pocket or someone else's?"

I still believe that Cust is a game winner, if you give him the right exposure to NRL, whereas Croker will struggle to hold his place, let alone, win a Dally M or even be a Daly clone.

Like a rollin' stone!

 

[Will on the hill]

In many considerations in life I will do a "Pro v. Con" analysis of the problem. My answers are then weighed to give me a decision of "either, or".

Not trying to teach any one to suck eggs, but this has been and still is a viable business decision making tool.

When analysing two teams in this week's tipping contest, I will conduct this analysis of each team's players, with the "Pro" question being, which player(s) can win the game for their side.

I now ask you;

Do you think Cust or Croker could win the game for you?

Cust is most likely to win a game for you but is also most likely to lose a game for you(through defence or risky options in attack). Given our attacking options in other areas, Des has gone for the safety first option.

 

[The better Robbo]

Again no game time for Cust. Not sure what's doing here? You can bet your bottom dollar as soon as Lawton is fit and available he will come in for Cust. Hopefully Des would give Lawton more game time than he does Cust. We can't continue with Croker for 70 minutes if we are to be serious contenders. Croker should play no more than 20-25 mins a game.
Obviously Des doesn't like something in Cust's game.

 

[winnyason]

Again no game time for Cust. Not sure what's doing here? You can bet your bottom dollar as soon as Lawton is fit and available he will come in for Cust. Hopefully Des would give Lawton more game time than he does Cust. We can't continue with Croker for 70 minutes if we are to be serious contenders. Croker should play no more than 20-25 mins a game.
Obviously Des doesn't like something in Cust's game.

Api ruck area keeping us in 2 minds was big difference. Need someone to offer this if lawton can great.
Croker tries hard but simply is a duck out of water at 9

 

[Spartan Eagle]

Croker should captain the Blacktown Worker's side for the rest of the season. They need an honest no frills toiler to lead them.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Saab wouldn't have scored that last try if Cust hadn't thrown a cut-out ball from dummy half at the start of the play. Croker would have just shuffled it on.

Cust has way better attacking instincts and skills than Croker. I get that Croker racks up a lot of tackles and that he's filling the role Des wants him to fill. But sometimes we just need a point of difference, and giving Cust 15 minutes at the very end of the game doesn't give him much of a chance to provide that.

 

[JBW]

Neither are the long term answer, Cust offers slightly more in attack, Croker has been incredible in defence for the past three matches, considering we have points in our backline I think the need to keep the defence in the middle strong gives Croker the nod.

That being said, can't wait to have a specialist 9 in the role. Geez I'd love Parcell back, his speed in the six again era would be so valuable.

 

[The better Robbo]

Neither are the long term answer, Cust offers slightly more in attack, Croker has been incredible in defence for the past three matches, considering we have points in our backline I think the need to keep the defence in the middle strong gives Croker the nod.

That being said, can't wait to have a specialist 9 in the role. Geez I'd love Parcell back, his speed in the six again era would be so valuable.

Yeah Croker does his job well BUT he gets way too many minutes in my opinion. Cust should be playing at least 30 minutes! He hardly gets chance to show what he can do, he is a match winner and can turn a game on his own with individual brilliance. Again, Croker is valuable with his defence but we need more spark. I really hope Lawton hits the ground running and carves up. We need him starting and either Croker or Cust off bench. Wouldn't it be amazing if Fainu is cleared and allowed to play the last couple games. We could have a Lawton and Fainu combo come finals time. Optimistic I know

 

[pjayz]

Again no game time for Cust. Not sure what's doing here? You can bet your bottom dollar as soon as Lawton is fit and available he will come in for Cust. Hopefully Des would give Lawton more game time than he does Cust. We can't continue with Croker for 70 minutes if we are to be serious contenders. Croker should play no more than 20-25 mins a game.
Obviously Des doesn't like something in Cust's game.

Yep, he looks on borrowed time to me. I have no inside info, but if Fainu comes back and with Lawton, I think Cust will be in Blacktown for the foreseeable future. It won’t surprise me to see us release him next year.

 

[manlyfan76]

Yep, he looks on borrowed time to me. I have no inside info, but if Fainu comes back and with Lawton, I think Cust will be in Blacktown for the foreseeable future. It won’t surprise me to see us release him next year.

And he hasn't done anything wrong. Tuff spot.

 

[jbb/james]

Yep, he looks on borrowed time to me. I have no inside info, but if Fainu comes back and with Lawton, I think Cust will be in Blacktown for the foreseeable future. It won’t surprise me to see us release him next year.

Just a question. Is it even possible to get both on the field this year due to spots and cap. I remember reading quite late that manly hadnt applied for the exemption for this season for fainu in spot and coin. Not too long after lawton was signed.

 

[Kevinward777]

Croker has been much improved - definitely doing a job for us.

 

[pjayz]

And he hasn't done anything wrong. Tuff spot.

I agree. I would prefer him to play as many if not more minutes than Croker, it just seems he is somewhat on the outer. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Broncos pick him up cheap if they miss out on some of the big guns.

 

[Remy]

Yep, he looks on borrowed time to me. I have no inside info, but if Fainu comes back and with Lawton, I think Cust will be in Blacktown for the foreseeable future. It won’t surprise me to see us release him next year.

Crocker is off contract end of this year no? Surely he doesn't get a contract renewal.

 

[pjayz]

Crocker is off contract end of this year no? Surely he doesn't get a contract renewal.

No I don't think he will; but I also fear for Cust. The Fainu trial will certainly play a part here; if Fainu doesn't return we must go to market, none of our options are what we need from a primary number nine. I like Lawton as our 14 though.

I could be way off regarding Cust. I'm just sensing (like Robbo) that something is amiss.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Just watched the second half of the Warriors and the Cows, and while it wasn't a high quality game, it's way harder to defend a dummy-half like Jake Granville (even though he's probably well past his best) who is a threat to run or throw a long ball. Croker does one thing every play: dumps the ball off one-wide of the ruck. Sure, he might go left or he might go right, but that's all he's going to do so that's all you need to defend. We need somebody who asks more questions, otherwise all the pressure falls onto Tommy and our halves.