Damien2812
Bencher
If the club does not get a quality number 9 next season the club will again fail to make the 8.
Totally agree, I have been harping on all season that Forward momentum in the latest NRL playing field is crucial. The best teams play a power game and the 9 feeds off that. Watch Harry Grant, he only scoots from dummy half after NAS or one of their big boppers has made metres, won the ruck and got quick play the balls.More importantly, who are our front rowers in 23. Croker was our 9 last year and we played off for a GF slot. He has tried his gutz out in a team on the back foot every week this year and been one of our best. So before you throw the baby out with the bath water, best open your eyes and have a good look who has turned up and who has not.
Exactly, the main problem is the intensity in defence and go forward in attack. Paseka and Aloai only play half a season, the Kepster not much more and as for Boyle.....which leaves us with Tapau (leaving anyway), Sips and KDL. This is where we struggleMore importantly, who are our front rowers in 23. Croker was our 9 last year and we played off for a GF slot. He has tried his gutz out in a team on the back foot every week this year and been one of our best. So before you throw the baby out with the bath water, best open your eyes and have a good look who has turned up and who has not.
and slow play-the-ballsI'd put the poor record down to forwards not going forward myself.
I actually think Croker has the potential to be a decent hooker but, for whatever reason (and it may be the players around him) he has not grown into the role...No issue with Croker starting. Given our paper thin defence he is essential. People talk about bleeding for the jumper - I think he along with Jake and Foran more than did that. However I would like to see an option off the bench that replaces him at the 25 min mark. Maybe that is Roach or GCT.
Possibly a combination of all you‘ve mentioned, its definitely a specialist position and no matter how much work goes into trying to fabricate a 9, I just think to play at this level in the modern game your going to have to have been a career 9, his all heart and effort our Froggy but his just never going to close the gap on players like Api, Grant, Robson and the like who‘ve spent their careers becoming first class 9’s.I actually think Croker has the potential to be a decent hooker but, for whatever reason (and it may be the players around him) he has not grown into the role...
I know he makes the odd lazy mistake and his passing is not generally on his highlight reel but he is relatively quick off the mark, has the ability to kick long out of hooker, reads a tired defensive effort very well and nobody can dispute his defensive ability...
The foundations are certainly there so what has stopped his development? Coaching? Team-mates? Confidence?We know he is a workhorse so it is not effort...
Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 19 | 5 | 243 | 44 | |
24 | 17 | 7 | 186 | 40 | |
24 | 16 | 8 | 275 | 38 | |
24 | 16 | 8 | 222 | 38 | |
24 | 15 | 9 | 89 | 36 | |
24 | 14 | 10 | 96 | 34 | |
24 | 13 | 10 | 113 | 33 | |
24 | 12 | 12 | -40 | 30 | |
24 | 12 | 12 | -127 | 30 | |
24 | 11 | 13 | -1 | 28 | |
24 | 11 | 13 | -126 | 28 | |
24 | 10 | 14 | -70 | 26 | |
24 | 9 | 14 | -62 | 25 | |
24 | 8 | 16 | -168 | 22 | |
24 | 7 | 17 | -155 | 20 | |
24 | 7 | 17 | -188 | 20 | |
24 | 6 | 18 | -287 | 18 |