Yeah I don't like it. I can see a year deal makes sense but bugger parraHaha, that's the spirit BT. They were
offering Brown a chance to sign
elsewhere too. Swap is absurd
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Yeah I don't like it. I can see a year deal makes sense but bugger parraHaha, that's the spirit BT. They were
offering Brown a chance to sign
elsewhere too. Swap is absurd
Walters had a great scoot from dummy half and was a solid defender. And that was it. No kicking game, sleight of hand or trickery at all. BE was miles ahead IMOBenny was crafty like Farah was.
But Smith is clearly the best hooker ever. Possibly followed by Walters and Elias, depending on taste.
He falls off 2 many tackles and he's a hog close to the line
I'd rather have Rua he's got more size
Imo Simpkin will be pivotal to give API a spell.Name one young hooker that doesn’t?
Key thing with Simpkin is he is the youngest Hooker in the NRL by 2-3yrs in 22. He also missed a heap of time due to covid. Simpkin (21) is also younger than Rua (22). I don’t get the love for Rua, he had an ordinary reggies year in 22 and before his 10min trial burst wasn’t a name on most minds.
No way would give Simpkin to Parra for Brown. Sheens talks about building a side for 2-4yrs time, Simpkin should stay if we are trying to build the best side possible depth rotation wise.
Simpkin needs to stay. Should be first choice back up and even a chance of relieving Api over the 80 minutes each week. He has got potential.Name one young hooker that doesn’t?
Key thing with Simpkin is he is the youngest Hooker in the NRL by 2-3yrs in 22. He also missed a heap of time due to covid. Simpkin (21) is also younger than Rua (22). I don’t get the love for Rua, he had an ordinary reggies year in 22 and before his 10min trial burst wasn’t a name on most minds.
No way would give Simpkin to Parra for Brown. Sheens talks about building a side for 2-4yrs time, Simpkin should stay if we are trying to build the best side possible depth rotation wise.
I'd take Brown and keep Simpkin.Was mentioned a while back that the Nathan Brown signing would be also a player swap with Jake Simpkin .
Would make sense because the eels don’t have a backup dummy half to no knees Hodgson .
Jake has limited opportunities here
Smith also never took the line on from memory....always distributing and never let himself get tackled.Gotta disagree.. Smith for his whole carrer, played behind exceptional forwards. At Melbourne , extremely talented ,well coached, salary cap cheating forwards. Please look at the Origin stats of Farah & Smith. Farah beats him in all bar 2. Unfortunately , some NSW supporters also bought into this QLD crap that Smith was a demi god. Swap teams - Farah for Smith. Under those conditions , I dont believe Smith would have made as many origin appearances as Robbie. IMO, Smith is like Cleary.......anyone who has played footy know its easy to dominate a game when you have good forwards lay the platform........ It is a true champion that plays behind the eight ball for most of his career & still comes up trumps.(eg Andrew Johns)
re: next year addressing the backs.Gee I love the way a lot of u on this forum want to throw spots to untried kids , most of them are at least 2 years away from been 1st grade standard , blokes like brown my not be the player he was years ago but he is way ahead of what we had last year, he will teach these kids what it takes to play week in week out , so unless u to have another wooden spoon , have faith in sheens , I think he is pulling together a great forward pack , and next year he wii address the backs
Elias changed the hooker role, then Andrew Johns played that role for Australia and nswYep saw Benny play & a great admirer. I think Benny was the first hooker i remember playing that third playmaker role & kicking from dummy half. But i still think Robbie perfected it.
That was 2 years ago, a lot has changed since, Brown is not the same physically now, otherwise Parra wouldn’t be shopping him around, especially after losing 3 back rowers.How can you say his toughness is a myth simply because Blore got a good shot on him?
Brown continued playing and got one back, never backed down, had a good tussle with the young bloke and most importantly, won the game. He also backed up and did the same week after week.
Seven backs signed to the Top 30 in ‘24 so far, no halves.re: next year addressing the backs.
I noticed at this stage we only have 5 backs signed for 2024 & no halves.
Sorry there. I missed Feledy & Reilly. I would imagine these two would only be on a small contract.Seven backs signed to the Top 30 in ‘24 so far, no halves.
1. Tupou
2. Nofoaluma
3. To’a
4. Kepaoa
5. Naden
6. Feledy
7. Reilly
Yeah, probably.Sorry there. I missed Feledy & Reilly. I would image these two would only be on a small contract.
Will Smith for Nathan Brown.The Brown swap from Parra is real, the suggested that they would release Brown 1 year early from his contract, if we are prepared to give them a player in return. They have signed Josh Hodgson from Canberra as their hooker for next season, Josh has suffered 2 career threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries, in 2018 and 2020, on both knees and at 33 he is a big risk for Parra. So they inquired about us releasing young Jake Simpkin to them as a back up for Hodgson.
We have young Rua Ngatikaura coming up through the ranks, I believe this kid has something special to offer, he reminds of Brandon "the Cheese" Smith the way he plays. We also have Will Smith, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a swap on the cards.
Has anyone seen his tackling style. Does he drive in with his shoulder or pillow hugDon't write this guy off either, he's tall, rangy and very athletic, he just might be a "smokey" for us. (Ben Houston)
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Agreed - Elias brought with him the skills of a halfback to the hooker forward role. Farah continued the line of very talented hookers with halfback skills at WTs. Koroisau is similar as well.Elias changed the hooker role, then Andrew Johns played that role for Australia and nsw
Robbie was terrific but do think Elias was a better number 9 than Robbie
Hope he pulls through and shines but our recent rugby converts haven't done much. But, here's hoping 🤞Don't write this guy off either, he's tall, rangy and very athletic, he just might be a "smokey" for us. (Ben Houston)
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