Hodko Not Worried About #6

[HoldenV8]

Hodkinson not anxious over battle for No.6 jersey
Author Margie McDonald
Senior Reporter

Trent Hodkinson says the fact he's the only Manly half to spend time outside Daly Cherry-Evans during the 2019 trials doesn't mean he's the front runner heading into round one.

Hodkinson played in both the Sea Eagles trials - against the Sharks and then the Roosters.

His rival for the No.6 starting spot is Manly new recruit Kane Elgey. He also played in both trials but only Hodkinson had 40 minutes with Cherry-Evans, when they were used together for the opening half against Cronulla.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/03/03...ous-over-the-battle-for-no.6-jersey-at-manly/

 

[BOZO]

I love this attitude Des has instilled in to our players of putting the club first

" Des will make the final decision for the team and we're all about the team "
Manly veteran Trent Hodkinson

I think Des will go with DCE and Elgey
Cust has so much potential and Hodko went on in the Trials as well .

 

[manlyfan76]

Not worried because LG will be starting at six.

 

[Sue]

I’ve met Hodko a few times, he’s a great bloke , fantastic clubman and was a fine player but if we go with DCE Hodko Tafua Parker Suli Garrick and Elliot as seems likely given the trials for the outside backs then that is the slowest backline I’ve ever seen assembled at Manly. Tafua Parker Suli and Hodko all got totally posted in defence many times last year as well, and a big part of that is not just bad coaching ,it’s just plain speed. Fast player gets on their outside shoulder and it’s bye bye baby.Means nothing even if you are a decent defender if you can’t get your hands on them.

This game is about speed and power now.The likely backline is pedestrian without Hodko, throw him in plus his difficulty to move laterally in defence ( that miss was awful Saturday night ) and whoever we play will have a game plan served up on a plate. It’s a nightmare waiting to happen.Elgey at least has good pace and Cust showed a lovely swerve and good pace to the line Saturday night.Funa needs to play as well.

Dylan had many talents we don’t have access to now , and great speed was one of them.

 

[Fluffy]

I’ve met Hodko a few times, he’s a great bloke , fantastic clubman and was a fine player but if we go with DCE Hodko Tafua Parker Suli Garrick and Elliot as seems likely given the trials for the outside backs then that is the slowest backline I’ve ever seen assembled at Manly. Tafua Parker Suli and Hodko all got totally posted in defence many times last year as well, and a big part of that is not just bad coaching ,it’s just plain speed. Fast player gets on their outside shoulder and it’s bye bye baby.Means nothing even if you are a decent defender if you can’t get your hands on them.

This game is about speed and power now.The likely backline is pedestrian without Hodko, throw him in plus his difficulty to move laterally in defence ( that miss was awful Saturday night ) and whoever we play will have a game plan served up on a plate. It’s a nightmare waiting to happen.Elgey at least has good pace and Cust showed a lovely swerve and good pace to the line Saturday night.Funa needs to play as well.

Dylan had many talents we don’t have access to now , and great speed was one of them.

Not just speed but acceleration. A player who is quick off the mark - eg Stewart, Walker, Lyon and the good attacking hookers have this trait as well.

 

[Sue]

Not just speed but acceleration. A player who is quick off the mark - eg Stewart, Walker, Lyon and the good attacking hookers have this trait as well.

100 per cent. All the technique in the world won’t help if they get to the outside shoulder.Killer was a genius at doing it to slow defenders and equally good at defending speedsters

Slower players tend to hedge their bets when faced with oncoming traffic and don’t attack the ball carrier as they think it’s the only way to cover the attackers options. They get flat footed and are easy meat. And it gets worse if they think there outside men have similar issues. We saw it a thousand times last year. Speed allows a player to threaten the ball carrier then adjust to try to cover his options.

Masters / Jennings and Mitchell / Manu are sensational attacking players who get to the outside of men regularly so speed will be tested big time first two games.

 

[Woodsie]

Not just speed but acceleration. A player who is quick off the mark - eg Stewart, Walker, Lyon and the good attacking hookers have this trait as well.

Just as calculus is all about the rate of change .... so is speed ...... give me someone that can increase their pace dramatically over pure top speed any day ...

PSS ... this comment in no way means that I don't also rate pure speedsters ......

 

[Paw93]

slowest backline I’ve ever seen assembled at Manly

Really? Don't remember last year's when we had an overweight Suli, Parker, Taufua, Kelly, Turbo, Chez and Hodko?

 

[Sue]

Really? Don't remember last year's when we had an overweight Suli, Parker, Taufua, Kelly, Turbo, Chez and Hodko?

Kelly and Walker loads quicker than Suli Parker in the centres and Hodko hardly played at 5/8 but i take your point and that’s the issue. Garrick supposedly a flyer though so probably not much difference in the end.... let’s hope the result is different .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I’d be very VERY surprised if Trent is the first choice 5/8.

At best he might be 17th man and only used in dire circumstances.

PS: I hope!!

 

[Fluffy]

I’d be very VERY surprised if Trent is the first choice 5/8.

At best he might be 17th man and only used in dire circumstances.

PS: I hope!!

whomever De$ chooses I just hope there is enough time for them to get some combos going. if we just chop and change then forget it, just find a good defensive distributer instead