Saab

[Snake]

That is a judgment call, though I agree with most of your post and the importance of the back 5 (not more important than the pack but probably equal).
But sometimes a player with a certain X factor can be 'carried' at times while they develop, assuming there is a belief that they will continue to develop. Example is Sam Walker, brilliant attack but so far weak in defence.

I’m not adamant that Saab should be scrapped but I love a winger with a strong carry. I can certainly see upside with those half chances becoming 4 points with Saab’s threat in the air and his speed.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Yea but the whole team was suffering during that 2020 period. Garrick wasn't the only one getting **** talked. We were awful back then and wooden spoon contenders. Now we are in a midst of premiership window and we got certain areas we need to change or upgrade to become actual threats and contenders. And upgrading Saab to Christian will be massive.

So just to be sure. You are actually saying that you want to swap out a guy who can score tries for fun and went within a whisker of top try scorer last year for a specalist centre who yes has done a good job on the wing but hasn't proven himself other than a few good solid games as a fill in?

25 tries last year. 25..... we have not had strike power like that in 15 years on the wing.

Hell some on here are even saying let's put Jorge back in 'he will do a job'..... Jorge was the most heavely criticised player before he was dropped. Couldn't score tries. Couldn't catch a high ball. Couldnt turn and chase. Wasn't fast. Should have been a reserve forward..... the list goes on.

This season we haven't had a fully fit and firing side on the park once. Tommy looked busted from round 1. No Shoe. No Aleo vera for most of the year. Decimated forward pack. But its all Saabs fault yes?

He's worth persisting with just for his proven strike ability last uear.

 

[KNUCKLES]

So just to be sure. You are actually saying that you want to swap out a guy who can score tries for fun and went within a whisker of top try scorer last year for a specalist centre who yes has done a good job on the wing but hasn't proven himself other than a few good solid games as a fill in?

25 tries last year. 25..... we have not had strike power like that in 15 years on the wing.

Hell some on here are even saying let's put Jorge back in 'he will do a job'..... Jorge was the most heavely criticised player before he was dropped. Couldn't score tries. Couldn't catch a high ball. Couldnt turn and chase. Wasn't fast. Should have been a reserve forward..... the list goes on.

This season we haven't had a fully fit and firing side on the park once. Tommy looked busted from round 1. No Shoe. No Aleo vera for most of the year. Decimated forward pack. But its all Saabs fault yes?

He's worth persisting with just for his proven strike ability last uear.

How many of those tries did he score in a tight contest last year though? We gave alot of thumping to lower teams last year. Easy to score when your winning and winning well. Better yet? How many tries did he let in, in those tight contests? I'd say stick with him if we had no better options, but how do u drop christian after his recent form??

 

[Budgie]

I think the Saab solution lies in the coaching staff thinking out of the box and looking at other sports. His main problem is an inability to get down low. So look at AFL and basketball, sports with an abundance of tall timber who have to get down low. Talk to their physiologists and coaches and devise a program. He has too much good in him and has shown a willingness to learn. So find a way to teach him.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

How many of those tries did he score in a tight contest last year though? We gave alot of thumping to lower teams last year. Easy to score when your winning and winning well. Better yet? How many tries did he let in, in those tight contests? I'd say stick with him if we had no better options, but how do u drop christian after his recent form??

but again i ask what are you getting? Tippytoes looks good for a 4 game rookie. he's a center by trade who hasn't been targeted so far in his career.

Saab is there to score points and that's what he does when the ball is making it to him in space which is the job of those inside him.

look at JAC. one of the best wings in the game for a decade and put into a poor side not getting him the ball in space and he's scored what twice or three times?

As a team we need to feed saab in space so he can burn.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

I agree Saab could get more involved but it is clear that his role in the team is not a metre eater!
Seems a lot of people have short memories but do we recall teams targeting Jorge with their kicking games (both bombs & in and behind).
Saab is in the side as finisher...to convert our half chances & defuse/attack.bombs that in previous years we couldn't! Thinks haven't panned out too well as yet for him this year but he & koula look a much better combo then Harper in defence.
Imo its better for team balance to have 2 different style of wingers in the team.

also Let's not forget we were a player down last night... i think the main reason he was retreating in d was that he thought he could cover the extra man with his speed (which he will learn from).

On a side note I agree Christian is going great guns, but he is yet to be thoroughly tested with the opposition kicking game also so something to be mindful of

every point absolutely nailed mate. great post

 

[KNUCKLES]

but again i ask what are you getting? Tippytoes looks good for a 4 game rookie. he's a center by trade who hasn't been targeted so far in his career.

Saab is there to score points and that's what he does when the ball is making it to him in space which is the job of those inside him.

look at JAC. one of the best wings in the game for a decade and put into a poor side not getting him the ball in space and he's scored what twice or three times?

As a team we need to feed saab in space so he can burn.

Tippytoes is 2 from 2 this year.. not a bad start at all. Yeah I get that, it's the case for any winger. The issue is for mine, is his defence, work load and unfortunately his carries coming out of yardage. I truly believe his challenge of the next year is to put on some size, in fact, I think it may be a necessity for him. Speed will only get you so far in the NRL.

 

[Shoe1]

How many of those tries did he score in a tight contest last year though? We gave alot of thumping to lower teams last year. Easy to score when your winning and winning well. Better yet? How many tries did he let in, in those tight contests? I'd say stick with him if we had no better options, but how do u drop christian after his recent form??

I think Tuipulotu will replace Parker next week, brad looked hurt.

 

[KNUCKLES]

I think Tuipulotu will replace Parker next week, brad looked hurt.

Unfortunately your probably right. But what would you do if he wasn't?

 

[Shoe1]

Unfortunately your probably right. But what would you do if he wasn't?

Tough choice, against wests I’d probably give Saab another chance but I can see the dilemma.

 

[KNUCKLES]

Tough choice, against wests I’d probably give Saab another chance but I can see the dilemma.

Well I hope he is ready to take on maumalo physically

 

[Snake]

I think the Saab solution lies in the coaching staff thinking out of the box and looking at other sports. His main problem is an inability to get down low. So look at AFL and basketball, sports with an abundance of tall timber who have to get down low. Talk to their physiologists and coaches and devise a program. He has too much good in him and has shown a willingness to learn. So find a way to teach him.

I think he can turn it around but the solution is simple...he needs to run full tilt into the opposition with speed and footwork...at the moment he runs and then braces for contact and loses his feet...as soon as he lifts his feet off the ground, his momentum halts and he gets driven back. If you look at Addo-Carr, he is tall and thin (albeit not as tall as Saab) but he uses his speed to generate power and he kinda turns side on in contact. Saab could certainly do that. It’s like he is scared of contact at the moment.

 

[Shoe1]

Tupou was a string bean too at Saab’s age. He will get bulkier as he becomes a man.

 

[skeagle]

Saab was limping after the game and in a moon boot.

 

[skeagle]

Saab was limping after the game and in a moon boot.

 

[eagleron]

I'm not sure we can drop Saab. He's like DCE's security blanket on that right side. What attacking plays will we have if he isn't there ? No more bomb to Saabs corner to use his height. No more attempted quick spread cut out ball to use his speed. No more crossfield kick in our own half to use his speed. No more early kick downfield to use his speed. If "Blankie" isn't there then we won't have many trick shots.

His defence was pretty bad last night, and his post contact metres are non existent as a rule. He adds value if we can use his speed/height, but if we can't get him in positions to utilise that then there's not a lot of other upside. Garrick used to have the same problem, getting rag dolled on carries - he has improved exponentially in that department. Saab needs to get on whatever programme Ruebs was on and work on that aspect of his game.

Unfortunately his defence has been awful all season, last season was last season and his lack of ability to move up and defend his wing is more worrying as each week passes, running backwards and escorting try scorers across the line is p1ssing me off no end, I think he needs a stint in ressies to regain confidence and learn how to defend his position, I'm on the edge of my seat every time the attack moves to his side of the field

 

[Nike]

He's down on form but has the ability. Under some pressure for sure but dumping him to reggies won't help the confidence.

 

[Eagle 1]

Unfortunately his defence has been awful all season, last season was last season and his lack of ability to move up and defend his wing is more worrying as each week passes, running backwards and escorting try scorers across the line is p1ssing me off no end, I think he needs a stint in ressies to regain confidence and learn how to defend his position, I'm on the edge of my seat every time the attack moves to his side of the field

Could be out by the looks of it, or maybe just a precaution. Either way we have depth in the backs to burn. backs, Tom, Jorge Tippy toes Kalua Garrick...solid !!

 

[John Nicholson]

FEARLESS PREDICTION; Saab's strike rate will improve as soon as Tommy T. returns.

 

[maxta]

FEARLESS PREDICTION; Saab's strike rate will improve as soon as Tommy T. returns.

Yep