kicking?

[susan ridgepipe]

i might be missing something but our kicking game looks ridiculous.Lyon goes ok but what then?ballin kicks occasionally from dummy half and bailey is ordinary  at best.foran was recently quoted as saying he is working hard on his kicking as he has never been a specialist kicker before.

orford was not only kicking short and badly last year,he was also being isolated as he was often our only option.we were just too predictable in this area and our field position was terrible.

one thing that many have forgotten in all this halves debate is that the best kicker by a mile is not in the 17.Hodkinson has a great boot on him ,both long and short and with lyon as an option also we would not suffer in comparison to most teams.

without a long and varied kicking game you are toast in this era of field position.

i see afew hard lessons being learned early on.hopefully we are not too far back before we realise we need a halfback,not two very good players trying to be one.remember we are away for 4 weeks and could conceiveably lose them all so we better not let things drift if they dont work early on.


look at tigers -farrah,marshall,tui,tuquiri and a few of the other sidekicks can all kick.

i smell a big bad rat this monday.

 

[Garts]

Agree, at least we will find out early and can correct it.

Praying Des brings in Hodkinson on Monday and Foran to centre. If not I hope Forans kicking practice has helped.

 

[The Gronk]

snake might chime in with a few long kicks although the downtown rule doesnt favour a fullback kicking. 

 

[Chip and Chase]

LOL, Tuqiri a good kicker ?? News to me.

We managed to get through the last two seasons with a very ordinary kicker in Orford, so I can only see improvement this season now that he isn't here. Lyon isn't too shabby with the boot and Foran will only need to be adequate at best to be an improvement on Orford. I agree that a kicking game is vitally important, and one of the main reasons that Bulldogs and Dragons went so well last year, because they had a good kick chase on the back of Kimmoreley and Soward. However this year kicking from dummy half will be the key with the downtown rule being policed more heavily. That's why I really hope that Ballin has been working on that part of his game big time in the off season.

Anyway I don't think you need to be pressing a panic button just yet and talking about losing the first 4 rounds because Hodkinson isn't in the side. Let's see what gets dished up on Monday first, I'm more worried about what forward pack is going to turn up, 2008 mongrels or 2009 rabble. We could have Ben Graham or Sav Rocca as our kicker and it won't make a lick of difference if the forwards aren't doing the job.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

some figures from 2009
Ox 293 kicks 7752 metres
Lyon 61 - 1676
Ballin 48 - 2081
Bailey 31 - 1035
Matai 11 - 190
Foran 9 - 343

 

[ROBBO71]

some figures from 2009
Ox 293 kicks 7752 metres
Lyon 61 - 1676
Ballin 48 - 2081
Bailey 31 - 1035
Matai 11 - 190
Foran 9 - 343

These stats alone should highlight to the "experts" how much we will miss Orford this season & beyond. According to these figures, he averages 26 metres a kick while Ballin averages 43 metres! A number of those kicks from Orford would've been close to the line but I still believe it is a telling stat.

I thought his kicking game, passing game & direction of the team in 2009 were very poor. He did make the occasional big play like putting Choc into a gap with a high quality pass, but these moments were extremely rare. I believe he was one of the bottom 2 or 3 half-backs in the comp.

I don't see how we could be worse off with a player of Trent's potential despite his lack of experience.

In saying all of that regarding Orford, I do believe his defense was always very strong.

 

[ROBBO71]

LOL, Tuqiri a good kicker ?? News to me.

With that rounder ball the Rah-rahs use, Tuqiri managed to put a couple of goals over for the Waratahs from 45 out! It was rare to see him with the kicking duties, but it did happen.

Sorry gang, I should not've been watching that sh*t game though. My bad.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

i might be missing something but our kicking game looks ridiculous. . .

I had the same thought recently but quickly blocked it from my mind - prefer to immerse myself in cheerful thoughts these days, or at least neutral ones.
But since you brought it up, it does raise the prospect of Hodkinson playing a key role. Maybe the selection of T Rex is just a ruse to fool the Tiges? At least it's a great relief to know Matai can help out with a few booming 17metre torpedoes if needed.

 

[Matabele]

Agree, at least we will find out early and can correct it.

Praying Des brings in Hodkinson on Monday and Foran to centre. If not I hope Forans kicking practice has helped.

  We all know Mr Risk averse won't make a major change until we've been howling for it for 8 weeks.  This team he has named really concerns me as it is rubbish and we know we're stuck with it for the first ten weeks, barring injury. 

 

[KaZa]

I think some of you are overreacting.

Its a good side. Gulavao is injured still. Cross will eventually come in for the lackluster bailey.. and i assume Trent will eventually get the half spot.

1. Stewart
2. Robertson
3. Lyon
4. Matai
5. Williams
6. Foran
7. Hodkinson
8. King
9. Ballin
10. Perry
11. Watmough
12. Kite
13. G Stewart

14. Seu Seu
15. Cross
16. Rose
17. Rodney/T Williams/Gulavao etc.

 

[Chip and Chase]

[quote author=Garts link=topic=182577.msg253796#msg253796 date=1268130834]
Agree, at least we will find out early and can correct it.

Praying Des brings in Hodkinson on Monday and Foran to centre. If not I hope Forans kicking practice has helped.

  We all know Mr Risk averse won't make a major change until we've been howling for it for 8 weeks.  This team he has named really concerns me as it is rubbish and we know we're stuck with it for the first ten weeks, barring injury. 
[/quote]

So the team is rubbish, yet bringing in one untried half will solve all our problems ??? Or are there other superstar players that are lurking in the shadows that only you are privvy to ? Let me guess.....Phil Morwood ?

 

[Ryan]

Remember how long it took before Des brought A. Walker from fullback to 5/8, and we started winning games? It took as long as the season being over before he decided to do so.

C&C - there are clearly better options than has been selected. Des has made the "easy" choices, rather than the innovative one.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Ryan, the way I see it is that Des doesn't have any options (plural) at his disposal. Given current injuries, the only option (singular) available may be to give Hodko a go, like it or not he hasn't chosen to, so we just live with it and see how Foran and Lyon go before we bag the bejesus out of a side that we haven't even seen play yet. Surely you and Mata can't be suggesting that better options exist in giving guys like Lussick, Mauro, and Hoppa Jnr a start ??

 

[Fluffy]

In the juniors Foran's short kicking was good but didnt do much of the long kicking so it is definatly an unknown.

Lyons long kicking was good in 2008 so hopefully he has got back to that level and will no doubt be our primary kicker.

 

[DSM5]

This sides reasonable.  It's early days and not the time to bag it.  Sure there are contentious positions and debates good, but to bag players before seeing how they perform after a lay-off is a bit rich.  At least I gave Orford a season or two before I caned him.  Des is not a complete fool, so he just might have seen improvement in Tony and Bailey to select them.  Monday will give us all pointers and reasons to either bag or praise.  Bring it on.  .     

 

[King]

Look at their halves. Benji Marshall is over-rated. Can't tackle.
Those flick passes rarely come off. Lui is small and has about the same experience at NRL level as Foran.
Our big boppers will run at them all game. I don't rate Marshall.

At least Lyon and Foran can defend.
Look at the positives you pesimistic fools.

Lyon did the majority of kicking in the 2008 grand final. He was superb.
Brett Stewart is back and fit. There is 2 tries for us. One in attack and defence.
Tim Sheens is already having nightmares of what snake will do this time.

Des has picked the most experienced side possible. Foran will get a chance early on to settle into the halves. Then Hodkinson will be eased in once Foran has settled. I'd prefer to take two ex-international halfbacks opinion (Hasler, Toovey) on who should start and what's best for the team.
We will be fine. It will be scrappy as the start of the season always is.

Think postive guys

Bring on Monda.

 

[Rambo1987]

I think Des will not Bring Hodkinson in for a few weeks yet until Kieran has settled in. The only way Hodkinson will start will be off the bench in place of Seu Seu.

As for Bailey his defence is great and he covers for Choc's misses. Both Glenn & Rodney both good defenders and apart from them the rest struggled last year.

As for Tony Williams i still believe he could be the next SBW (Hard runner and not leaving early) and I remember his palm off against the Tigers last year.

Lets wait and see how Des's side goes....... SUPPORT OUR TEAM

 

[King]

I think Des will not Bring Hodkinson in for a few weeks yet until Kieran has settled in. The only way Hodkinson will start will be off the bench in place of Seu Seu.

As for Bailey his defence is great and he covers for Choc's misses. Both Glenn & Rodney both good defenders and apart from them the rest struggled last year.

As for Tony Williams i still believe he could be the next SBW (Hard runner and not leaving early) and I remember his palm off against the Tigers last year.

Lets wait and see how Des's side goes....... SUPPORT OUR TEAM

Great Post Rambo1987 

 

[susan ridgepipe]

i am bretts biggest fan but until i see him play this year i will reserve judjement on how much of an asset he will be until this court case is settled.im sure he is a good bloke but his life must be in absolute turmoil until this matter is dealt with and i am sure he seems like a guy who would be worried sick as he is not a deadbeat like many others at the centre of this sort of thing..imagine trying to concentrate with that **** looming AND coming off a serious injury.

if he can manage to play well it will be a remarkeable achievement.

 

[Fluffy]

Its definatly a concern Sue but reports from the trials are his injury problems are behind him and the speed is back and after watch the 08 finals pack over the last week i know how valuable that was in attack.

Even if his head is not completely there he will go better than wangman last year at least.

and good point from King its the 2 most inexperianced half backs head to head