Manly Centres an issue

[Snake]

Were Lyon and Matai that fast? I think Matai was... but even if he slowed down he got better at other things.

I'm just thinking re: Parker - surely he knows that he is a decent defender but kinda slow. So he, the coach, someone should be figuring out the best lines, etc so he can get his winger away.

He's not going to do a Saab... but how can he get 'em into a gap.

Jorge wasn't going to do length of the field tries, but give him the ball 10 metres out and most times he would barge on over.

I dunno....

Answers on a penguin.

Lyon was a lot quicker than Matai. Skivvy was one of the slower centres in the comp but he got to top speed really quickly so his first 10m were decent enough to see him poke his nose through.
Killer was pretty quick and I remember him scoring an 80m try for the Eels against the Dragons and Nathan Blacklock couldn’t get near him.

 

[Snake]

I think we get rid of Suli and Walker. They both have talent but as you mention, Walker has slowed down and that was his real strength. Suli is always going to struggle with energy...it’s just not in him. He is the kind of player that should be at the Tigers...in and out of the side every second week on big coin with little return (a la Joey Leilua). Some players make a career out of this sort of thing.

Parker is touch and go. He is big and a good defender but he has little speed and terrible hands. I think he should be retained for depth but I don’t think he should be a top line centre.

Harper is a quality footballer with speed, evasion and a good pass...I’d have him in the team every week.
We should go to market for another centre and an edge backrower.

 

[maxta]

Lyon was a lot quicker than Matai. Skivvy was one of the slower centres in the comp but he got to top speed really quickly so his first 10m were decent enough to see him poke his nose through.
Killer was pretty quick and I remember him scoring an 80m try for the Eels against the Dragons and Nathan Blacklock couldn’t get near him.

Very true and Lyon almost caught a runaway Billy Slater over 70m with a 7m start...I always felt Lyon was such a great team player and up with Matt Gidley as the best centre to gift his winger unopposed runs to the Try line....he had a swerve, kicking game and superb defence, due to having so many qualities, his speed is possibly overlooked, as many outside backs rely on pure speed alone, so are judged just on that attribute.
I think Matai had a good burst of speed, but agree was not up with Lyons genuine pace, Matai also had a big step that often beat his opposite number.

 

[maxta]

I think we get rid of Suli and Walker. They both have talent but as you mention, Walker has slowed down and that was his real strength. Suli is always going to struggle with energy...it’s just not in him. He is the kind of player that should be at the Tigers...in and out of the side every second week on big coin with little return (a la Joey Leilua). Some players make a career out of this sort of thing.

Parker is touch and go. He is big and a good defender but he has little speed and terrible hands. I think he should be retained for depth but I don’t think he should be a top line centre.

Harper is a quality footballer with speed, evasion and a good pass...I’d have him in the team every week.
We should go to market for another centre and an edge backrower.

Perfect summary

 

[Scorpio]

Very true and Lyon almost caught a runaway Billy Slater over 70m with a 7m start...I always felt Lyon was such a great team player and up with Matt Gidley as the best centre to gift his winger unopposed runs to the Try line....he had a swerve, kicking game and superb defence, due to having so many qualities, his speed is possibly overlooked, as many outside backs rely on pure speed alone, so are judged just on that attribute.
I think Matai had a good burst of speed, but agree was not up with Lyons genuine pace, Matai also had a big step that often beat his opposite number.

Lyon was also sensational in aerial contests, despite not looking very athletic and not being very tall... A complete footballer.

 

[Bearfax]

Lyon was deceptively fast. Didn't look like he was moving that quickly but he was. Two of our fastest centres that I recall were Shearer and Gartner. From different ages but boy both could motor.

 

[Woodsie]

Parker is touch and go. He is big and a good defender but he has little speed and terrible hands. I think he should be retained for depth but I don’t think he should be a top line centre.

I think Parker is already seen as depth behind Walker and Suli and was never signed to be a top line centre ... and his contract would reflect that ... and given the amount of football the "gun" two have missed ... thank goodness we had him ... as long as he is prepared to sign for reasonable money I would keep him ...

Silvertail's problem is they all judge him as a starting centre ...

 

[maxta]

Lyon was also sensational in aerial contests, despite not looking very athletic and not being very tall... A complete footballer.

Yeh that take on the fly against Penrith on the bell - 2 offloads later and Symonds scores the winner in the corner with Soward crying a river

 

[Snake]

I also remember when Lyon was pretty well past it and we were calling for him to retire, he went down to Canberra and gave the much younger Jarrod Croker an absolute bath. He was a hell of a player and hell of a captain.

 

[Under the Sticks]

When have Suli and Walker played as well in the same game as Harper and Parker did today?

We have so much cap tied up in these two lazy, injury prone ill disciplined players we could be a much balanced side without them.

 

[Mataiforever]

again i think our centres a semi a short term issue than a long term one.

Suli and Walker have potential to be up there with the more damaging centres in the comp. Just need opportunity.

Parker will never be the answer, his only answer is bench 2row/centre cover. Make him a 2row please Des.

I'm already off harper in the fact that he's so small - he can't play wing and can only play centre or fullback... who we probably have covered. He runs good lines but is piss poor in defense.

Like our hookers, we have 4 on the books: Croker Cust Lawton and Fainu

The problem is that Des is picking the wrong hooker: Croker, like he's picking the wrong centre: Parker.

Just got to hope Suli comes back strong

Koula will probably be ready to play first grade next year. KNowing des and if we dont lose him than 2023.

I would be going for Phillip Sami from the Titans to shore up that other wing spot - I'd have Saab and Sami, and then if a centre goes down (Walker or Suli) shift Sami into 3 and Garrick comes in. Garrick has been a bit better but shown over the last year at a top club he'd only be a backup.

The best value for money trade on the market would 100% be Kurt Capewell - especially for us. He is apparantly been approached by Broncos for 450k - that is huge unders. I'd honestly pay 600k for him or more (with the prices these days), but if 450k is the reference point than surely 550k would get him here. Don't sign sironen and get Capewell @des

ate my words on harper for now