Turbos D looks down on past?

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

I wasnt one bit worried about SJ stepping him, not a player in the NRL would of got a hand on him.

I was more concerned about his general positional play in defence.

Its about time coach told in not to touch the ball on the 4th tackle, even if just for a few weeks. I think this is a carry over from when DCE was our only decent kicking optioon, Tom would hit up on the 4th so DCE didnt get into decent position to kick on 5. At least get someone else to take on this role.

Agree about Tom’s hit-ups. When this has been debated recently the main argument for the tactic was that it was only employed when coming out of our own half or otherwise not in an attacking position. However yesterday there were several instances where Tom was tacked closer to the Wahs 30m line ahead of the kick. Given his proven aerial ability (and also his speed and usual effectiveness in getting to the “drop-zone”) I couldn't understand why another player can’t take that hit-up to free up Tom to contest the bombs.

 

[simon_eagle]

I wasnt one bit worried about SJ stepping him, not a player in the NRL would of got a hand on him.

I was more concerned about his general positional play in defence.

Its about time coach told in not to touch the ball on the 4th tackle, even if just for a few weeks. I think this is a carry over from when DCE was our only decent kicking optioon, Tom would hit up on the 4th so DCE didnt get into decent position to kick on 5. At least get someone else to take on this role.

Agree BD. Is Brett Stewart still around at the club? Turbo should’ve learnt these things from him.

 

[Sheikheagle]

Agree BD. Is Brett Stewart still around at the club? Turbo should’ve learnt these things from him.

Yes he is coaching in some capacity. Has the headphones on the sideline at the game. For such a small bloke he was a great defender.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think Turbo isn’t 100% saw him wincing a few times after hit ups yesterday.

 

[ManlyTragic]

I wouldn’t swap turbo for anyone!

Just sayin

 

[LeonardCohen]

Tom, earlier in his career (even before the magic run of 21') was a match winner. I cannot remember the last time he won us a game that was 'in the balance'. He either tears it up when everything is going our way, or he 'turns it up.' I cannot knock his effort but he is not a 'match winner' in the truest sense. Brett Stewart used to come up with 'big plays' in the big games at the biggest moments. Tom is, dare I say it, a flat track bully.

A guy with his status in the game, should be the difference in tight games. There are certain players in the game that frustrate opposition supporters because they invariably do something in a tight game that turns it for their side. We need Tom to be this guy. He just doesn't seem to break tackles anymore. He used to run with more of a 'hip rotation' and it meant defenders would slip off him. Now that he 'prances' with very straight hips, he just gets smashed.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Tom, earlier in his career (even before the magic run of 21') was a match winner. I cannot remember the last time he won us a game that was 'in the balance'. He either tears it up when everything is going our way, or he 'turns it up.' I cannot knock his effort but he is not a 'match winner' in the truest sense. Brett Stewart used to come up with 'big plays' in the big games at the biggest moments. Tom is, dare I say it, a flat track bully.

A guy with his status in the game, should be the difference in tight games. There are certain players in the game that frustrate opposition supporters because they invariably do something in a tight game that turns it for their side. We need Tom to be this guy. He just doesn't seem to break tackles anymore. He used to run with more of a 'hip rotation' and it meant defenders would slip off him. Now that he 'prances' with very straight hips, he just gets smashed.

Perfect, thank you LC. This articulates exactly what I’ve wanted to express this season. Tom makes his 29,000 running meters per game (half of them bashing the ball up every 4th tackle). His stats generally look outstanding…. However, it’s his propensity to disappear in the big games and at key times that is worrying. Yesterday’s game illustrated this perfectly (especially as the team’s performance overall was very good).

 

[globaleagle]

2 pages and not one Viagra joke about tom's 'D" looking down?

We really are annoyed about the draw.

 

[HK_Eagle]

2 pages and not one Viagra joke about tom's 'D" looking down?

We really are annoyed about the draw.

Perhaps he pulled it after slipping on the bath mat?

 

[globaleagle]

Perhaps he pulled it after slipping on the bath mat?

"Bath mat"....never heard it called that before!

 

[TokyoEagle]

Perfect, thank you LC. This articulates exactly what I’ve wanted to express this season. Tom makes his 29,000 running meters per game (half of them bashing the ball up every 4th tackle). His stats generally look outstanding…. However, it’s his propensity to disappear in the big games and at key times that is worrying. Yesterday’s game illustrated this perfectly (especially as the team’s performance overall was very good).

IMO, we go to Tom too much that it becomes predictable. Used more sparingly, and, at times as a decoy, it becomes more effective as teams can no longer double team him.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Well i think we have an answer. I questioned Toms D commitment as he looked a little off. Now I think its clear that he was only going at 80% in the D department up until the Camera man soccer tackle.

Even thou he missed the Fins player he looked like he went at him 100% for the first time in a long time and what happens. boom the Hammy went.

huge shame but I think we can draw a line thru Turbo ever making it back to 2021 form. Don't get me wrong he's still a top class fullback but the hammy will never let him go 100% again which is such a shame.

 

[silvereagle]

Well i think we have an answer. I questioned Toms D commitment as he looked a little off. Now I think its clear that he was only going at 80% in the D department up until the Camera man soccer tackle.

Even thou he missed the Fins player he looked like he went at him 100% for the first time in a long time and what happens. boom the Hammy went.

huge shame but I think we can draw a line thru Turbo ever making it back to 2021 form. Don't get me wrong he's still a top class fullback but the hammy will never let him go 100% again which is such a shame.

Sadly I think at 28 years of age we have seen the best of Turbo. After 6 hammies, 1 pec and 1 major shoulder surgery I think his speed off the mark and defensive abilities are badly effected. Unfortunately reminds me of the great Jonny Gibbs who played for Manly in the 80's and arguably the most gifted half back ever seen at the Manly club. He had to retire at 25 due to on-going hamstring issues. Only guy I have ever heard of that gets selected in a Kangaroos side.....with a hamstring tear. I don't think he played any games during that tour but still got selected. Testament to how good he was. I think Turbo may be at that point.

 

[master blaster]

I was saying to my mate the other day that that Knowles bloke might be a good at what he is doing but it might not be a good fit for a league player, it might be good for NFL players and basketball players but our game is more frenetic, NFL players mostly run straight and dont side step as much as a league player does, its more bash and barge than league. Anyway thats my take on this

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Sadly I think at 28 years of age we have seen the best of Turbo. After 6 hammies, 1 pec and 1 major shoulder surgery I think his speed off the mark and defensive abilities are badly affected. Unfortunately reminds me of the great Jonny Gibbs who played for Manly in the 80's and arguably the most gifted half back ever seen at the Manly club. He had to retire at 25 due to on-going hamstring issues. Only guy I have ever heard of that gets selected in a Kangaroos side.....with a hamstring tear. I don't think he played any games during that tour but still got selected. Testament to how good he was. I think Turbo may be at that point.

Johnny Gibbs (first grade career: 1976-83*) did play on that tour, but no tests.

If he had not played any games, he would be in the ‘John Harvey Basket’, who was selected to play for Australia in the 3rd test vs NZ in 1978, without taking the field.

Therefore Harvey is not officially an international**, unlike Gibbs.

*I don’t remember him playing any first grade games in ‘83, but that was the year he called it quits.

**Thankyou Australian coach Frank Stanton. Not.

 

[johnperi01]

I was at Brookvale the day we played Parra in 83 and we were soundly beaten in the battle of the top 2 teams.
Gibbsy played reserve grade that day and had a blinder but still couldn’t crack a spot back in first grade before he chose to retire.
He was my favourite player growing up, had lightning acceleration, could chip and chase, and used his speed in cover defence to make some try saving tackles. He deserved to play a lot more rep football than he did.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

IMO a definite yes. Tommy has been playing within himself and has looked fragile as our last line of defence, whereas previously he was very solid defensive fullback. Such a great talent being cruelled by confidence sapping injuries. Tom is out 7 weeks so we'll get a real good look at how Koula goes at number 1. Rueben's defence is not good enough to be the last line of defence at fullback. The collective performance of our spine has been very inconsistent and clunky this season and it needs to improve significantly in the next few weeks or we are out of the hunt in 2024. During origin well will see how Brooks and Arthur go in the absence of DCE and whether our on field game management improves.