Morgan Harper

[Brisbane Tragic]

He is far from being Michael O'Connor but gee he glides across the ground like him and changes direction like him with the swerve just maybe doesn't have Mick's audacious sidestep. He also is playing at a very high level. To'o beat him hands down once but To'o has beaten a lot so far as he ducks under tackles. It is strange - they are sooo focused on teaching players to go high and wrap the ball but it really depends on what the opposition player brings to the table to decide which style of tackle - it also should depend on where on the field and the situation. With players like To'o who ducks and Fifita who is so strong in the upper body you just have to go low and if coming in from the side - the easiest tackle of all is to drive in around the waist yet we see players brushed off time and time with a fend. In Johnny Raper's how to play Rugby League book lol but very true and apt - and I can still remember it now - it said you should never ever get palmed off because you should be driving in so hard that a palm wont work and going low so you are under the palm anyway. Still very relevant today. It seems today all they are taught is go high and in some situations or field positions that is a totally failed strategy because a different technique would have a far better result. Certainly different body types lend themselves to different tackles. Tall rangy guys like Fisher Harris I would have thought have soo much target zone between chest and hips that you could put a great front on shot on him by aiming at midriff and then driving the shoulder straight up to chest and under the ball. Great for creating a dropped ball. Someone like Sipley who is 6 foot tall and 6 foot wide down to his feet - not much hitting zone so come in low on the hips from a side and slide down. You wouldn't use the same technique on every player... well that would be my approach but obviously a "failed" approach today. But back on point - Harper glides like the great Snoz.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

From the looks of things, while not as naturally gifted as Suli, definitely has some footy smarts.

And i would take that any day of the week. Sure Suli can on occasion break a game open just on talent but then theres the other 14 matches that follow where he does SFA.

 

[HoldenV8]

I don't want to be picky but I will be.

Next time please split your thoughts into more than just one single continuous paragraph. Sorta kinda made it hard to read.

As for the topic, I 100% agree with @Eagle of London above me here. I'd take the way Harper plays in just about every game over Suli's 1 in 15 good games any time. Suli has the talent, but damn if we haven't hit on T-Rex Mk.II here with him. Lazy as when it comes to games unless someone puts a rocket under his backside (maybe Foz should play on the right.....). I would rather see Harper actually compete against his opposite numbers and set up his support players than see Suli continually phoning it in and dying with the ball because he thinks he will break the tackle and won't pass.

 

[47MVEagle]

Harper absolutely has to remain in our team as he brings so much to the table - his determination, his skill, his energy - all of which results in major positivity in the team.

He's the guy who, the first time you play with him, you think he's a bit OTT, celebrating every little thing, but very quickly find yourself drawn in by his irresistible optimism & it spreads through the whole team.

He's also unlocked Saab's abilities & I think it's vital their combination be allowed to continue to grow.

Turbo's return Is obviously a large part of our recent change in form, but I think Harper's positive energy is the next biggest reason for it.

 

[Simonmyers11]

He is coming on nicely and can only get better. Still only early days for Harper. Between Parker and Walker, both have strengths and weakness. Parker a solid defender but no where near as dangerous as Walker. If walker can get his defense in order playing back in the centres he has a much higher ceiling in terms of talent. Dez just needs to get him back to his best. At least with the team at the moment compared to last couple of years, he will get more opportunities as their are much more ball ball players and threats on his inside to help set him up one on one with his opposition.

 

[HoldenV8]

He's also unlocked Saab's abilities & I think it's vital their combination be allowed to continue to grow.

I still maintain that Saab's try yesterday would not have happened had it been Suli with the ball at centre. Unfortunately Moses seems to have forgotten that he is allowed to pass the ball.

Harper has given two try assists to Saab so far this year, both times to unleash his speed against the opposition. That's actually one more than Suli has given to anyone since the 2020 kick-off.

 

[wombatgc]

I’m liking Lionel more each game. His defensive reads are great, and he also has realised he’s got a 2 metre Fox outside of him.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Im also loving the guys positive demeanor on the park during the game. Hes always talking and pepping up those around him especially Saab. See him yesterday in Saab's ear after that try it was like Harps was a 10 year vet of the side talking to a new kid. Great to see.

 

[The better Robbo]

Im also loving the guys positive demeanor on the park during the game. Hes always talking and pepping up those around him especially Saab. See him yesterday in Saab's ear after that try it was like Harps was a 10 year vet of the side talking to a new kid. Great to see.

My brother went to a game early in the season when Suli was centre and he said he is a mute on the field, he never says a word. Having Harper out there is complete opposite and it's no wonder our right side now seems a lot stronger in both attack and defence.
Id actually go as far to say that Harper would also bring out the best in Siro when he is back in there.

 

[manly al]

Definitely a lack of communication in defence on the edges was contributing to some very ineffective reads for a long time but could also be just a general improvement there even if Harper has no doubt improved the issue on one side at least . Guess that the consideration is whether the half chances that were [ or have been ] offered to Parker would be better exploited with the likes of Suli and Walker being put in half gaps . Brad is still dong quite well of course but again just the prospect of some better finishing on offer on the edges . Tom is most likely helping with some better direction from the back and still maintain that Suli is quite a capable defender one on one and Walker still must have a good rating if his fitness and form can return . Really have to have Harper as a i st choice centre now , just the option of considering either Walker or Suli in due course , despite again Brad "s good efforts to date . Unless Suli is considered as a winger going forward to compliment Saab on the other wing .

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

My brother went to a game early in the season when Suli was centre and he said he is a mute on the field, he never says a word. Having Harper out there is complete opposite and it's no wonder our right side now seems a lot stronger in both attack and defence.
Id actually go as far to say that Harper would also bring out the best in Siro when he is back in there.

Great info thanks. Suli to me always looks like hes got the scared chicken face on like hes just seen the farmer with a big FOff knife in his hand.

 

[silvereagle]

Definitely a lack of communication in defence on the edges was contributing to some very ineffective reads for a long time but could also be just a general improvement there even if Harper has no doubt improved the issue on one side at least . Guess that the consideration is whether the half chances that were [ or have been ] offered to Parker would be better exploited with the likes of Suli and Walker being put in half gaps . Brad is still dong quite well of course but again just the prospect of some better finishing on offer on the edges . Tom is most likely helping with some better direction from the back and still maintain that Suli is quite a capable defender one on one and Walker still must have a good rating if his fitness and form can return . Really have to have Harper as a i st choice centre now , just the option of considering either Walker or Suli in due course , despite again Brad "s good efforts to date . Unless Suli is considered as a winger going forward to compliment Saab on the other wing .

I think an easy decision coming up for Des when Suli returns. No way in the world you could drop either Harper or Parker. The good possibility for Suli is on the wing replacing Garrick. Big , fast and like Jorge, does not talk much. You don't need your wingers to talk much....just take the hard runs and all the long runs. I reckon Suli could do both and could be a great success there. DCE might have to earn every cent of his pay packet and do the goal kicking.

As for Dylan.....what do you do? Same as above you cant drop anyone. Only possibility would be through Blacktown.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Suli for Garrick could work, although for now Garrick is also cover for Turbo. I can imagine Saab becoming a fullback cover, his bomb catching has been good and he's fast enough to cover a lot of ground.

Walker to come back via Cust's no 14 spot? Subject to pizza-gate, of course.

 

[47MVEagle]

Im also loving the guys positive demeanor on the park during the game. Hes always talking and pepping up those around him especially Saab. See him yesterday in Saab's ear after that try it was like Harps was a 10 year vet of the side talking to a new kid. Great to see.

Absolutely - he has the demeanour of a player with far more first grade games under his belt.

 

[BOZO]

A Great players performance can only be as great as the Great team that he competes against

Harper is now the most underrated Centre in the game
He is a smart player,. A courageous defender and has a great burst of acceleration with great footwork that can change a game

Harper has proved that he is a complete footballer

Harper has come of age !

 

[BOZO]

I think an easy decision coming up for Des when Suli returns. No way in the world you could drop either Harper or Parker. The good possibility for Suli is on the wing replacing Garrick. Big , fast and like Jorge, does not talk much. You don't need your wingers to talk much....just take the hard runs and all the long runs. I reckon Suli could do both and could be a great success there. DCE might have to earn every cent of his pay packet and do the goal kicking.

As for Dylan.....what do you do? Same as above you cant drop anyone. Only possibility would be through Blacktown.

The predictable and pedestrian Parker in attack is as exciting as seeing your aging mother in law in lingerie

 

[The better Robbo]

Definitely a lack of communication in defence on the edges was contributing to some very ineffective reads for a long time but could also be just a general improvement there even if Harper has no doubt improved the issue on one side at least . Guess that the consideration is whether the half chances that were [ or have been ] offered to Parker would be better exploited with the likes of Suli and Walker being put in half gaps . Brad is still dong quite well of course but again just the prospect of some better finishing on offer on the edges . Tom is most likely helping with some better direction from the back and still maintain that Suli is quite a capable defender one on one and Walker still must have a good rating if his fitness and form can return . Really have to have Harper as a i st choice centre now , just the option of considering either Walker or Suli in due course , despite again Brad "s good efforts to date . Unless Suli is considered as a winger going forward to compliment Saab on the other wing .

I think an easy decision coming up for Des when Suli returns. No way in the world you could drop either Harper or Parker. The good possibility for Suli is on the wing replacing Garrick. Big , fast and like Jorge, does not talk much. You don't need your wingers to talk much....just take the hard runs and all the long runs. I reckon Suli could do both and could be a great success there. DCE might have to earn every cent of his pay packet and do the goal kicking.

As for Dylan.....what do you do? Same as above you cant drop anyone. Only possibility would be through Blacktown.

I've been saying for years I reckon Suli could be a Sivo type winger. Only problem would be his positional play but it really couldn't be any worse then his centre positioning. Id probably lean to Suli forcing his way in through Blacktown.
Walker to 14 is a real option too, spoke to my bro last night and he said the word is that "people in the know" are not sure if Walker is a centre anymore. Could explain why he hasn't played there for so long. Going by this its hard to imagine ge will be re signed as a centre.

 

[BOZO]

I've been saying for years I reckon Suli could be a Sivo type winger. Only problem would be his positional play but it really couldn't be any worse then his centre positioning. Id probably lean to Suli forcing his way in through Blacktown.
Walker to 14 is a real option too, spoke to my bro last night and he said the word is that "people in the know" are not sure if Walker is a centre anymore. Could explain why he hasn't played there for so long. Going by this its hard to imagine ge will be re signed as a centre.

Perspective time //

Walker is no specialist 14 . Walker is a specialist 4

The moral of the story
You take away a player from his best position
You take away a player from playing at his best

 

[silvereagle]

I've been saying for years I reckon Suli could be a Sivo type winger. Only problem would be his positional play but it really couldn't be any worse then his centre positioning. Id probably lean to Suli forcing his way in through Blacktown.
Walker to 14 is a real option too, spoke to my bro last night and he said the word is that "people in the know" are not sure if Walker is a centre anymore. Could explain why he hasn't played there for so long. Going by this its hard to imagine ge will be re signed as a centre.

Interesting option with Dylan at 14. Good way to ease him back into 1st grade and can cover multiple positions in the back line. Hooker / dummy half?? Well there is one way to find out and we could all be pleasantly surprised. Defence is my only question. If the case however, I reckon we loose Cust. We may in fact have already lost him given the talent coming through our juniors ( Kaeo, Latu, Humphries etc) and Des obvious reluctance to play him for extended time. Nice position for the team though.

 

[stoodamire]

I don’t hate the idea of Walker being 14. Could be like a Connor Watson type.