Mate you are entitled to your opinion, as am I. Your perspective is that you are happy with the way he is playing. My perspective is that I'm not happy with the way he can't control a game and the lack of a decent kicking game. I also don't buy into all these excuses. If the backs aren't scoring tries then could it be because the playmakers can't set them up ? Wingers aren't getting good ball ?? perhaps it's not getting there quick enough ? How many tries from kicks this year for us ?? How many repeat sets from forced dropouts ? If our forwards are scoring more tries then someone is making a decision that going through the middle is our plan - if that's not our playmaker and Captain then who is running the show out there ? I haven't gone through stats, but I'd be interested to know what stats he is dominating compared to his peers - I reckon probably only 40/20's at a guess.
Also have a look around the NRL and see how many inexperienced halves are running around at the moment, he's not the only senior playmaker trying to ply his trade with a junior partner. So Tommy is so important to our team that the Australian halfback can't win a game without riding his coat tails ? Answer me this, who is charged with running the team out there on the field ? who sets the structures ? who runs the plays ? who has to make the most of what we have ?? who makes the decisions ? It's not all his fault, but given he is the Captain and playmaker he has to shoulder a larger burden than the rest of the side. It IS on him, that's his job. Cust is close to outplaying him at the moment.
Just because I criticise the guy doesn't mean I don't think he can't play. Clearly he can, but it's his lack of consistency that is killing us. I'm not looking for a scapegoat, I'm just dumbfounded about turning up here every time after a loss and seeing the excuses trotted out. They are endless, I've never known a player to get cut so much slack. If you are happy with his contribution then great. I'm not talking effort, I'm talking actual contribution towards us competing in games. Leadership, direction, game control, all those things we have been missing of late.
I fully accept I'm swimming against the tide of popular opinion, get told that every time I post in this thread, but in my opinion he is building a legacy of being a flat track bully. Sure there will be a game in the next few weeks where we carve it up and he looks a million dollars, but then there will be some more where we don't and he doesn't. You are happy to accept that, I think he can do better. Do you think if they picked the Australian side today that he would be wearing the 7 ??
Anyway, we can't win this comp without him playing his best and utilising his full skill set, so let's hope whatever has to occur to make that happen occurs soon. If he plays well I'm more than happy to acknowledge it, but equally I'm not going to blow smoke up his nether regions when he runs around like a headless chook.
