Unpopular opinion that should be considered

[LeonardCohen]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow. Having watched Brown chalk up 80 minutes on the weekend and do such a great job of ball playing, maybe it's time to move Jake into the front row rotation with less minutes?

The reason Brown's ball playing is so effective is the superior speed at which he is going to the line before passing. He probably doesn't have the delicate sleight of hand that Jake possesses but it's a serviceable pass that is effective because it comes after the defence has been sucked in. He runs fast and hard and often three defenders are jamming on him and its creating space outside. We saw what it did on the weekend.

I thought we could only get 40-50 minutes out of Brown so I was quite happy to see him play in two stints. After seeing his 80 minute performance on the weekend, maybe he can take on that role and Jake can suit up in the front row. I'm concerned with Jake's lack of speed but absolutely love the bloke so not a knock on him as such.

Food for thought.

 

[stoodamire]

Brown was great against the Knights don't get me wrong.

But we didn't have to do much defending which didn't hamper his fitness too much.

I prefer him coming off the bench. Gives us a real lift and impact.

 

[Disco]

I think this is a fairly popular opinion tbh.

Personally I'd start Jake for 20min, then when Aloiai comes off move Kake to prop and bring on Brown, who then plays the remaining 60min at 13

 

[LeonardCohen]

Brown was great against the Knights don't get me wrong.

But we didn't have to do much defending which didn't hamper his fitness too much.

I prefer him coming off the bench. Gives us a real lift and impact.

Yep, that's a very valid point.

 

[The '47ers]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow.

Food for thought.

Jake and ball playing skills don't go together anymore, he stifles the attack if anything by getting in the way.

 

[spider]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow. Having watched Brown chalk up 80 minutes on the weekend and do such a great job of ball playing, maybe it's time to move Jake into the front row rotation with less minutes?

The reason Brown's ball playing is so effective is the superior speed at which he is going to line before passing. He probably doesn't have the delicate sleight of hand that Jake possesses but it's a serviceable pass that is effective because it comes after the defence has been sucked in. He runs fast and hard and often three defenders are jamming on him and its creating space outside. We saw what it did on the weekend.

I thought we could only get 40-50 minutes out of Brown so I was quite happy to see him play in two stints. After seeing his 80 minute performance on the weekend, maybe he can take on that role and Jake can suit up in the front row. I'm concerned with Jake's lack of speed but absolutely love the bloke so not a knock on him as such.

Food for thought.

I'm like you about Jake think should start F/R 20min first half same 2nd half. I'd have young Navale starting lock with Brown coming of the bench I would use Lawton start with Ben T on the bench aswell that way if we loose F/R Brown can cover and Ben T can cover centre.

 

[silvereagle]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow. Having watched Brown chalk up 80 minutes on the weekend and do such a great job of ball playing, maybe it's time to move Jake into the front row rotation with less minutes?

The reason Brown's ball playing is so effective is the superior speed at which he is going to line before passing. He probably doesn't have the delicate sleight of hand that Jake possesses but it's a serviceable pass that is effective because it comes after the defence has been sucked in. He runs fast and hard and often three defenders are jamming on him and its creating space outside. We saw what it did on the weekend.

I thought we could only get 40-50 minutes out of Brown so I was quite happy to see him play in two stints. After seeing his 80 minute performance on the weekend, maybe he can take on that role and Jake can suit up in the front row. I'm concerned with Jake's lack of speed but absolutely love the bloke so not a knock on him as such.

Food for thought.

Yes I think this is a very smart and logical progression for Jake moving forward (literally and metaphorically). I like the idea already expressed in this thread of starting Jake at 13 and then moving him into the front row as part of that rotation. This not only utilises Jake's strengths but also allows us to start the game with two big boppers up front and two on the bench. Depending on the game you could keep Jake on there for longer or shorter minutes.

 

[ManlyGM]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow. Having watched Brown chalk up 80 minutes on the weekend and do such a great job of ball playing, maybe it's time to move Jake into the front row rotation with less minutes?

The reason Brown's ball playing is so effective is the superior speed at which he is going to line before passing. He probably doesn't have the delicate sleight of hand that Jake possesses but it's a serviceable pass that is effective because it comes after the defence has been sucked in. He runs fast and hard and often three defenders are jamming on him and its creating space outside. We saw what it did on the weekend.

I thought we could only get 40-50 minutes out of Brown so I was quite happy to see him play in two stints. After seeing his 80 minute performance on the weekend, maybe he can take on that role and Jake can suit up in the front row. I'm concerned with Jake's lack of speed but absolutely love the bloke so not a knock on him as such.

Food for thought.

Agree with this for the most part. Think how u would rotate the front row rotation with Brown at 13 and Jurbo at prop would be interesting. I wouldn’t be playing Brown the full 80, and also he’s been a massive impact off the bench.

Maybe you start with Jurbo at lock, bring on Brown after 20 minutes and move Jurbo to prop. Jake still cleans up a lot of mess for us in the middle, he probably still has to play big minutes even though the lack of speed is a concern.

I’d definitely experiment with moving Jake to prop full time though. He isn’t getting any younger or faster, and we saw the impact Brown can have as the link man at lock. I wouldn’t be playing either of them the full 80 but overall agree with ur point.

 

[frank stokes]

However they do it, Jake needs to play the 80 imo... we have had games where they give Jake a 5min rest and the opponent is suddenly making metres straight through our ruck... cannot afford to have him sitting on the pine as the good teams will tear us a new one imo...
And I do not agree that Jake stifles the attack... engages the line and holds the opposition from sliding, creating space fo the outside backs... his passes are generally on point and every-so-often he comes up with a silky pass at the line...

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I don’t think it’s an unpopular opinion at all , in fact I think most will agree.

But Frank does have a point , when he goes off the middle becomes more brittle.

 

[LeonardCohen]

However they do it, Jake needs to play the 80 imo... we have had games where they give Jake a 5min rest and the opponent is suddenly making metres straight through our ruck... cannot afford to have him sitting on the pine as the good teams will tear us a new one imo...
And I do not agree that Jake stifles the attack... engages the line and holds the opposition from sliding, creating space fo the outside backs... his passes are generally on point and every-so-often he comes up with a silky pass at the line...

This is my only reservation. I agree with the notion that his defence keeps the middle tight. We've struggled in the past when he is not there to 'clean up' as you say. I think his speed in attack is a big problem, not a minor problem but I agree that his defence is paramount.

 

[Frogz]

We are paying all the Trbojevic's a sh1t ton of money to play regular footy & 80 minutes and Jake is the only one achieving this. Lets keep this one on the field...IMO!!!

 

[Seagles68]

I've always believed Jake T is a lock because we need his 80 minute effort in defence and ball playing skills. However, he is painfully slow. Having watched Brown chalk up 80 minutes on the weekend and do such a great job of ball playing, maybe it's time to move Jake into the front row rotation with less minutes?

The reason Brown's ball playing is so effective is the superior speed at which he is going to line before passing. He probably doesn't have the delicate sleight of hand that Jake possesses but it's a serviceable pass that is effective because it comes after the defence has been sucked in. He runs fast and hard and often three defenders are jamming on him and its creating space outside. We saw what it did on the weekend.

I thought we could only get 40-50 minutes out of Brown so I was quite happy to see him play in two stints. After seeing his 80 minute performance on the weekend, maybe he can take on that role and Jake can suit up in the front row. I'm concerned with Jake's lack of speed but absolutely love the bloke so not a knock on him as such.

Food for thought.

I'm not so sure this is an unpopular opinion coz there seems to be a lot of STs also suggesting Jake should concentrate on just being in the front row. His defence is certainly his value to the team (and of course, his persona) coz I'm not sure he does much more than taking a hit up and playing the ball when he's playing more like a front rower. I'm not a stats bloke (coz I'm lazy) so I'm just basing this on me watching him and a gut feeling but he doesn't bend the line really when he takes on the line. His leg speed is so slow, he sometimes struggles to get the advantage line against the teams with good line speed.

Having said that, as much as I love Brown's work, I think Jake has a longer shelf life at this point, given the way Brown plays. To try and even that out, I don't think Brown can play 80 mins - to save him from himself. I agree Brown is good as the link man coz, as you've said, he has a good pass but also the better leg speed to go himself and therefore drag in more defenders. So I like what Seibs has been doing (and what people have suggested in this thread) that Jake starting with 2 big fellas early and then bringing on Brown and then shifting Jake. I think it's really up to Seibs to do that strategically rather than simply at the 20 min mark or whatever. That is, depending on the team we're playing (their line speed etc) or how we start the game (eg flat and going no where).

I think what would really be an unpopular opinion is me suggesting that Brownie really needs to limit those off the fence restarts. From a crowd and player rev up it's fantastic but I reckon he's more effective in the general play hard runs and the link man role when it comes to getting us going forward. And as much as I love being at the ground and watching him do it, they're just waiting to belt the c*ap out of him ..... and they usually do. I do worry that every time he hits it up, he's not going to get back up.

 

[LeonardCohen]

I'm not so sure this is an unpopular opinion coz there seems to be a lot of STs also suggesting Jake should concentrate on just being in the front row. His defence is certainly his value to the team (and of course, his persona) coz I'm not sure he does much more than taking a hit up and playing the ball when he's playing more like a front rower. I'm not a stats bloke (coz I'm lazy) so I'm just basing this on me watching him and a gut feeling but he doesn't bend the line really when he takes on the line. His leg speed is so slow, he sometimes struggles to get the advantage line against the teams with good line speed.

Having said that, as much as I love Brown's work, I think Jake has a longer shelf life at this point, given the way Brown plays. To try and even that out, I don't think Brown can play 80 mins - to save him from himself. I agree Brown is good as the link man coz, as you've said, he has a good pass but also the better leg speed to go himself and therefore drag in more defenders. So I like what Seibs has been doing (and what people have suggested in this thread) that Jake starting with 2 big fellas early and then bringing on Brown and then shifting Jake. I think it's really up to Seibs to do that strategically rather than simply at the 20 min mark or whatever. That is, depending on the team we're playing (their line speed etc) or how we start the game (eg flat and going no where).

I think what would really be an unpopular opinion is me suggesting that Brownie really needs to limit those off the fence restarts. From a crowd and player rev up it's fantastic but I reckon he's more effective in the general play hard runs and the link man role when it comes to getting us going forward. And as much as I love being at the ground and watching him do it, they're just waiting to belt the c*ap out of him ..... and they usually do. I do worry that every time he hits it up, he's not going get back up.

Excellent post. Agree with all of what you've said. Brown's longevity is a concern and maybe a permanent shift to 80 minute games will burn him out quickly. It was probably just a once off under the circumstances with the Origin impacted round.

 

[Seagles68]

Excellent post. Agree with all of what you've said. Brown's longevity is a concern and maybe a permanent shift to 80 minute games will burn him out quickly. It was probably just a once off under the circumstances with the Origin impacted round.

Yep and I think Newcastle being so poor helped. Will be a different story this week, I think. Des will have the forwards up you would think. So the rotations will be important, particularly if Tent gets a run after missing a few games.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Yep and I think Newcastle being so poor helped. Will be a different story this week, I think. Des will have the forwards up you would think. So the rotations will be important, particularly if Tent gets a run after missing a few games.

The Titans attack looked sharp on occasions last week too. Dessie coached sides are so interesting. They always start the year off slowly and struggle to score points, looking borderline rudderless at times, then something clicks and suddenly points-a-plenty.

He must have a very specific way of coaching attack that takes time to find gears.

 

[maxta]

Jake needs to start, but the option of BOTH on the field is decent also.
But then there is the impact and I mean in BIG games coming up and after a furious 20 minutes against say a Penrith/Melbourne, Brown off the bench gives "Far" more impact than anyone else and that's going to be key in game swings and to win momentum in the tougher games.

 

[Seagles68]

The Titans attack looked sharp on occasions last week too. Dessie coached sides are so interesting. They always start the year off slowly and struggle to score points, looking borderline rudderless at times, then something clicks and suddenly points-a-plenty.

He must have a very specific way of coaching attack that takes time to find gears.

I was saying to mates at the start of the year that I thought they were a strong chance of being a top 8 side based on the squad. They certainly started poorly but about Round 5 they started getting it together. They lost a few close games and had a few injuries. But their strength is certainly the speed they can play at and I'm sure Des will be looking for that up tempo game against some of our big fellas. It'll be another test for our middles, that's for sure.

 

[nightster]

I don’t think it’s an unpopular opinion at all , in fact I think most will agree.

But Frank does have a point , when he goes off the middle becomes more brittle.

especially while Froggy is missing although Simpkins has been defending the middle pretty well.

 

[47MVEagle]

I think this is a fairly popular opinion tbh.

Personally I'd start Jake for 20min, then when Aloiai comes off move Kake to prop and bring on Brown, who then plays the remaining 60min at 13

Isn’t that what we’re already doing?

Side note: interesting to see Brown has been named at starting prop this week.