Lack of metres from dummy half

With Hodges in the 6, he and Ballin could interchange. However, I guess the opposition would expect Hodges to run the ball every time he went into dummy half, so it could defeat the purpose. Ballin is a specialist defensive hooker. Hodges is a great attacking hooker. Foz seems totally uninterested. It could be worth a shot.

At this stage, I'm all for shaking things up! Let the players have some fun with it. Give them a bit more free reign on the field and it might jolt them back into loving footy again!
 
Perhaps after losing DCE, Foran, Choc and the Gifty fallout the management were worried about more fallout. Look at what Luke, Smith create from dummy half. Ballin has no speed/ tricks out of dummy half. Very one dimensional, great defender though.
 
With Hodges in the 6, he and Ballin could interchange. However, I guess the opposition would expect Hodges to run the ball every time he went into dummy half, so it could defeat the purpose. Ballin is a specialist defensive hooker. Hodges is a great attacking hooker. Foz seems totally uninterested. It could be worth a shot.

At this stage, I'm all for shaking things up! Let the players have some fun with it. Give them a bit more free reign on the field and it might jolt them back into loving footy again!

Don't get me wrong but I wouldn't play Matt Ballin at 5/8 because I just don't think his style of play suits the position. As you said, he's a specialist defensive hooker.

I'm not sold on JLJ as a long term halves option but I would prefer to play him or Hodges at 5/8 and leave Matty at hooker.
 
No dummy half will look good until the players win the contact in attack & defence.
The speed of opposition attack is making their 9,6 & 7 look like world beaters but unfortunately its the dominance in the tackle with has the reverse effect when we have the ball.
Tough to get out with the defence all set after a slow play the ball - the simple answer to this when Manly do challenge this area, is to bring in Hodges.
 
I watched some of the NSW Cup match and Hodges had a shocker, from the 20 minutes I saw. He runs from dummy half too often, and stifles play. He has a long way to go to reach Balin's standards.
 
The thing about dummy half running, is it's only effective when the forwards are bending the line and getting quick play-the-balls; something that simply is not happening this year. Cast your minds back to the second half of the preliminary final against the Bunnies in 2013, and Matt Ballin's dummy half running was instrumental in winning us that game. He can be quite effective darting from dummy half, but it's pointless to even try when the forwards are getting pummelled, slowly getting to their feet and lethargically rolling the ball through their legs for the next ruck.
 
The thing about dummy half running, is it's only effective when the forwards are bending the line and getting quick play-the-balls; something that simply is not happening this year. Cast your minds back to the second half of the preliminary final against the Bunnies in 2013, and Matt Ballin's dummy half running was instrumental in winning us that game. He can be quite effective darting from dummy half, but it's pointless to even try when the forwards are getting pummelled, slowly getting to their feet and lethargically rolling the ball through their legs for the next ruck.
Next week Segeyaro will show us all how to run from dummy-half.
 
Next week Segeyaro will show us all how to run from dummy-half.
And he'll do it behind a pack that's going forward.

I am not suggesting that Ballin is the most dynamic runner from dummy half, but the opportunity to be effective is severely hampered by the lack of grunt we currently possess.
 
Our problem is at the ruck on both sides of the ball. In defence our guys are too slow to their feet and not putting pressure on the first receiver and allowing opposition to make easy metres and putting the rest of the line under pressure. In attack we are getting dominated and allowing their defensive line time to get set and move forward which is drastically cutting into the time we have for our playmakers and the metres our forwards should be making. The best thing though is that this isn't a talent issue, our problem is either attitude or lack of fitness.
Next week Segeyaro will show us all how to run from dummy-half.
Next week Jake Turbo will show us how Segeyaro gets smashed running from dummy half
 

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