Fluffy
Journey Man
NSW selectors yesterday decided yet again to leave Matt Orford out of Origin. After Dropping Brett Kimmorley after a shocking first origin Orford's time had come. At 27 years old in the prime of his career there was nothing stopping him being selected bar his percieved lack of ability at that level. To make matters worse he position was given to a 5/8, not even a half back specialist. Trent Barret was always going to be in the side but Orford lost his spot to Anasta moving into 5/8 and pushing Barret to half.
Orford may well be on the market next year at a reportadly extraordinarily high cost for a non rep player. How can a player be worth 450K when he behind Andrew Johns after 1 game back? Some will say that he hasnt got the forward pack to excell at this game. If that was really the problem then wouldnt selectors want him behing an origin pack with its increased ability? And why does this only affect his chances when 2 other backs are in the current origin squads? Have a look at the players around him, his "weak" pack has 2 former rep players but its the backline that really has the good with 3 of the other 6 backs having recent representative careers. He has Scott Hill outside him who compliments Orfords game greatly, covering a lot of the shortfalls, Matt King running hard and fast out wide and Billy Slater Zipping up the middle as another option. Most halves would look good with those backs running off them.
Is Orford a superstar? No. He lacks the allround game to make it to the top. His defence is average and can be quite woeful at times. He like most half backs gets flustered when on the back foot or put under a bit of pressure. He makes many bad descisions, has many errors in his game and without stars like Slater and King running into gaps and telling him where to pass the ball he wouldnt be able to be a game breaker.
Is he the answer at Manly - No.
We need someone to compliment Monahan's and Witt's games. What we lack is options for our halves. We have a game based on 1 up, no support, no dummy runners, very few angles and the rare inside runner. Who is to blame? Well the coaching staff have a plan, so far it has us sitting in outright second after half a season so blame isnt a word id use, but they hold the resposibility of game plans. We have the best attacking dummy half in the league, why isnt he utilised properly? Its the style of attack, we play flat, ready for the couter attack. It is effective and achieves its purpose.
Improving our attack.
Coming 5th in attack scoring the majority of our tries inside the oppositions 20, many people feel we need to improve. Well here are some ideas with the current roster. Getting Flash up there will also give us a great boost.
1. Brett Stewart, one of the quickest players with ball in hand, just needs space. He needs to watch Billy Slater on Sunday and do his best to replicate. When Dunley gets the ball he should move in directly behind him and take off as Dunley does. Run the gap on the inside and call for the ball. Stewy should be running up the inside and make 5 - 10 dummy runs a game. if not he is being wasted.
2. Sam Harris. The guy can throw a pass from right to left. What we should be doing is have Sam run at the line with BK/Beaver/Watmough running an angle back towards him at the hole that he will create due to his size. Meanwhile Witt or Monas stands outside the runner for the second man play. Mix it up between the 3.
3. Less one out running. Andrew Johns and Peter Sterling's love child cant do much when there is only one out running. We need players in motion on both the outside and inside of the player with the ball. It draws the defence into the centre creating more room out wide.
We have seen Monas ability to attack last year, with 1.5 try assists per game. This year the player just arnt moving to put the opposition in 2 minds. Witt is still finding his feet and gets shut down easily in the same way. Some of our best looking tries this year have come from when the players are moving and giving the halves options and keeping the opposition players guessing, creating more time to make the right decision.
So is Orford worth 450K at Manly?
No way in hell. save cash and buy a 300K centre. It will be much better value.
Orford may well be on the market next year at a reportadly extraordinarily high cost for a non rep player. How can a player be worth 450K when he behind Andrew Johns after 1 game back? Some will say that he hasnt got the forward pack to excell at this game. If that was really the problem then wouldnt selectors want him behing an origin pack with its increased ability? And why does this only affect his chances when 2 other backs are in the current origin squads? Have a look at the players around him, his "weak" pack has 2 former rep players but its the backline that really has the good with 3 of the other 6 backs having recent representative careers. He has Scott Hill outside him who compliments Orfords game greatly, covering a lot of the shortfalls, Matt King running hard and fast out wide and Billy Slater Zipping up the middle as another option. Most halves would look good with those backs running off them.
Is Orford a superstar? No. He lacks the allround game to make it to the top. His defence is average and can be quite woeful at times. He like most half backs gets flustered when on the back foot or put under a bit of pressure. He makes many bad descisions, has many errors in his game and without stars like Slater and King running into gaps and telling him where to pass the ball he wouldnt be able to be a game breaker.
Is he the answer at Manly - No.
We need someone to compliment Monahan's and Witt's games. What we lack is options for our halves. We have a game based on 1 up, no support, no dummy runners, very few angles and the rare inside runner. Who is to blame? Well the coaching staff have a plan, so far it has us sitting in outright second after half a season so blame isnt a word id use, but they hold the resposibility of game plans. We have the best attacking dummy half in the league, why isnt he utilised properly? Its the style of attack, we play flat, ready for the couter attack. It is effective and achieves its purpose.
Improving our attack.
Coming 5th in attack scoring the majority of our tries inside the oppositions 20, many people feel we need to improve. Well here are some ideas with the current roster. Getting Flash up there will also give us a great boost.
1. Brett Stewart, one of the quickest players with ball in hand, just needs space. He needs to watch Billy Slater on Sunday and do his best to replicate. When Dunley gets the ball he should move in directly behind him and take off as Dunley does. Run the gap on the inside and call for the ball. Stewy should be running up the inside and make 5 - 10 dummy runs a game. if not he is being wasted.
2. Sam Harris. The guy can throw a pass from right to left. What we should be doing is have Sam run at the line with BK/Beaver/Watmough running an angle back towards him at the hole that he will create due to his size. Meanwhile Witt or Monas stands outside the runner for the second man play. Mix it up between the 3.
3. Less one out running. Andrew Johns and Peter Sterling's love child cant do much when there is only one out running. We need players in motion on both the outside and inside of the player with the ball. It draws the defence into the centre creating more room out wide.
We have seen Monas ability to attack last year, with 1.5 try assists per game. This year the player just arnt moving to put the opposition in 2 minds. Witt is still finding his feet and gets shut down easily in the same way. Some of our best looking tries this year have come from when the players are moving and giving the halves options and keeping the opposition players guessing, creating more time to make the right decision.
So is Orford worth 450K at Manly?
No way in hell. save cash and buy a 300K centre. It will be much better value.