RUNNING THE NUMBERS ON THE BLUES’ NO.7s

[mozgrame]

Mitchell Pearce is a reformed man. That much is clear. He has started 2017 in career-best form despite being paired with a new halves partner. While the mainstream media go on a ‘copy and paste’ run on the articles from previous years, talking about how Pearce is ready for Origin and the like, we will look at the statistics. The hard facts.

And just for good measure, the Test and Maroons halves Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston are included to see how the candidates for the Blues’ halfback gig stand up.

NSW Candidates

Luke Brooks
Nathan Cleary
Trent Hodkinson
Josh McCrone
Mitchell Pearce
Adam Reynolds
Aidan Sezer
Chad Townsend

Read more...http://commentaryboxsports.com/australian/nrl/running-numbers-blues-no-7s.html

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Mitchell Pearce by the length of the straight.

 

[globaleagle]

dce should find a loophole and play for the blues....just so we see Tallis' head explode.


edit: 'heads'

 

[eaglebuzz]

Hopefully his humiliation to restoration experience from last year helps him to be in a better headspace this year. He's been beyond hopeless every time he's pulled on a sky blue jersey. He owes the entire state the best performances of his career after so many years of misplaced faith in him.

 

[maxta]

Pearce all day
McCrone - WTF - this is the perfect example of how well St George forwards led by Vaughan and Packer are rolling the opposition!!

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

dce should find a loophole and play for the blues....just so we see Tallis' head explode.

That would be the backflip of all backflips!!

 

[chris_niko]

If Pearce struggles in game 1 and/or 2, I hope they go with Cleary and leave him there for a few years. Gun player for his age

 

[TimmyQ]

Look.... reality is there are plenty of players who were excellent first graders and on form should have carried that ability to Origin and didn't.. Playing NRL and Origin is the equivalent of playing footy on Earth and on Mars - totally different beast.. The truly elite can cut it but some for whatever reason can't adjust to the increased speed physicality and intensity that Origin brings. So quite frankly I couldn't give a flying f#ark how good Pearcey is currently going in the NRL... He's played 15 that's right FIFTEEN games for NSW.. think we've won about 4 of them and he's never been with coooeeeee of a man of the match or even put in a remotely dominant performance ever. He's been given more chances than crickets Marsh brothers and done absolutely zero. Enuffs enuff.. Play Maloney at half and take ure pick with 5/8. Anyone but this pretender. #rant over

 

[ricardo]

Halves will be Pearce and Maloney. Any more questions?

 

[Killer03]

Look.... reality is there are plenty of players who were excellent first graders and on form should have carried that ability to Origin and didn't.. Playing NRL and Origin is the equivalent of playing footy on Earth and on Mars - totally different beast.. The truly elite can cut it but some for whatever reason can't adjust to the increased speed physicality and intensity that Origin brings. So quite frankly I couldn't give a flying f#ark how good Pearcey is currently going in the NRL... He's played 15 that's right FIFTEEN games for NSW.. think we've won about 4 of them and he's never been with coooeeeee of a man of the match or even put in a remotely dominant performance ever. He's been given more chances than crickets Marsh brothers and done absolutely zero. Enuffs enuff.. Play Maloney at half and take ure pick with 5/8. Anyone but this pretender. #rant over

The only issue is most NSW players over the last decade have similiar win records. Gallens is atrocious. So then you go down the path of nearly a whole new team.....which is fine, but then who comes in? Cleary long term, but I'd like at least another year in first grade.

 

[Killer03]

Before we hang Pearce on his record.

Jamie Lyon....10 games. 3 wins. Not too dissimilar to Pearce.

 

[TimmyQ]

The only issue is most NSW players over the last decade have similiar win records. Gallens is atrocious. So then you go down the path of nearly a whole new team.....which is fine, but then who comes in? Cleary long term, but I'd like at least another year in first grade.

Agreed but halves win big matches. Our forward packs over the years have always been pretty strong..what we've lacked is a good kicking game and the ability to build and absorb pressure. I feel for our big boppers because on paper weve matched the Queenslanders yet we lose game after game. Like i said, i wouldnt mind if we lost all those games with Pearce if his performance individually was really strong - it simply hasnt been. Yup options limited but some just arent cut out of the right cloth for Origin.

 

[Killer03]

Agreed but halves win big matches. Our forward packs over the years have always been pretty strong..what we've lacked is a good kicking game and the ability to build and absorb pressure. I feel for our big boppers because on paper weve matched the Queenslanders yet we lose game after game. Like i said, i wouldnt mind if we lost all those games with Pearce if his performance individually was really strong - it simply hasnt been. Yup options limited but some just arent cut out of the right cloth for Origin.

He hasn't dominated for sure, and could have done a lot better. My main issue is he's probably the best current option.