Farah from the bench & the interchange

[Boonboon2]

I realised last night one of the big advantages to Farah starting from the bench.

It saves us an interchange.

You see Robbie was playing 60 minutes both starting and from the bench. However when he starts and plays 60 minutes it uses up 2 interchanges going off and coming back on

Last night however our interchange was roughly
4 Props - On and off = 4 interchange
Aloia off for Lovett = 1 interchange
Halatau off for Farah = 1 interchange
Taylor off for Halatau = 1 interchange as Taylor isn't quite an 8 minute player with the amount of work he is doing

That is 7 interchanges leaving just 1 spare which last night was used to give Teddy a few minutes rest at then end when Aloia came back on.

However if Farah starts this all becomes very messy.
4 props = 4 interchanges
Farah/ Halatau on and off 2 interchanges
Aloia off for Lovett = 1

This would mean that either Taylor has to play 80 minutes or we have no interchanges left for injuries in the backs / forwards we hadn't planned for

These issues arrived when we made the change to dump Sironen who was playing 80 minutes in the back row most weeks although ineffectively. Also Taylor coming in meant 4 dedicated props as opposed to Aloia playing both front and back row. IMO both improvements to the team but which have nessecitated Farah to start from the bench unless he plays 80 mins

With only 8 interchange I can't see Farah starting again pending injuries as I don't see him playing 80 minutes

To me this has more to do with why Robbie is playing off the bench then any other factor

[Gary Bakerloo]

Good post and well picked up. Not that good to deserve two threads, but very good nonetheless.

[Byron Bay Fan]

it will be marvellous if this thread in good spirit and constructive a it began - just hoping and crossing my fingers. BTW, first time in my life had a bet on a footie game yesterday backing the West Tigers for ten bucks and earning $28 all up. Everybody were winners last night.

[ricksen]

I think ET will be playing 80 mins before too long, and we should be expecting 80 mins from Farah too once the Origin period is done.
The four man prop rotation is an absolute must - that quartet from last night is absolutely top 8 standard (with Felise waiting in the wings).

Be interesting what happens with Aloiai/Lovett if and when Sironen ever plays himself back into first grade.

[Snake]

I think ET will be playing 80 mins before too long, and we should be expecting 80 mins from Farah too once the Origin period is done.
The four man prop rotation is an absolute must - that quartet from last night is absolutely top 8 standard (with Felise waiting in the wings).

Be interesting what happens with Aloiai/Lovett if and when Sironen ever plays himself back into first grade.

You will be waiting a while for Sironen to play himself back into the team Aloiai/Lovett are miles ahead at this stage injury would be the only reason the lazy loafer might get a run!

[ricksen]

I think ET will be playing 80 mins before too long, and we should be expecting 80 mins from Farah too once the Origin period is done.
The four man prop rotation is an absolute must - that quartet from last night is absolutely top 8 standard (with Felise waiting in the wings).

Be interesting what happens with Aloiai/Lovett if and when Sironen ever plays himself back into first grade.

You will be waiting a while for Sironen to play himself back into the team Aloiai/Lovett are miles ahead at this stage injury would be the only reason the lazy loafer might get a run!

You're probably right.
That said, he's contracted for another 2.5 years on a decent FG wage, so we should be either looking to get him back into FG or moving him on to be honest.

[tig_prmz]

good post and well thought out.

the problem with farah off in the first 20 is we will find it difficult to ascertain authority in attack with halatau at hooker. i mean fair enough if we had ballin or another specialist hooker but halatau unfortunately doesnt play it on to the forwards as well as other specialised hookers.

yesterday it worked because we were simply hungrier. the defence in the first set was amazing and set the tone. the forwards were running at 100% but unfortunately as season comes towards the end, the forwards are not going to be as good everytime.