Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Snidest 0 said:
This is another Adam Douehi situation where Chinese whispers and social media echo chambers conflate a players preferred position with their best - or most experienced position.

How many wingers and centres are putting up their hands for fullback money because they played there in u/16s??

The TRUTH is deflating for those who pinned their hopes on him as our fullback!

He was not even first choice in NSW Cup for Penrith.... he is a winger and not a big one!
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Get what you’re saying - he 100% isn’t a proven fullback. To be fair on Staines towards end of last year Penrith played him at fullback for a fair few games and moved Turuva to centre/wing (Turuva was preferred choice at fullback for last few years and carved up). Staines was making 250+ mtrs (made over 300mtrs few times) and line breaks everygame at the back. Watched most games and his direct style, support play and attacking the high ball was impressive (his ball playing was meh).

Laurie weakness at fullback is he doesn’t attack the ball or run direct on kick returns, his field positioning is ordinary at the back. It’s costly as it sets us on the backfoot from the outset. His benefit is he can chime in as a roving half, agility & speed.
 
Demps said:
All the all star level coaches (PM13, indigenous all stars) play him on the wing...
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The problem is he is a shorter guy 5"11 or 181cm. Playing him on the wing is going to mean we get owned on the wing.
Then I look up David Nofoaluma's height and it's 6" aka 182cm.

Ken M by contrast is
191 cm (6 ft 3 in)

When you can't score, put up a high bomb over the opposing goal line and hope your winger can outgrab the opposing winger. Height is critical here.
You cannot groom a short guy or even a shorter guy to take wing. The exception is Fox who has a stack of speed and Melbourne defensive smarts, we can't/don't do that.

I see Laurie as 6, Potentially off the bench/xfactor. Could be a center if his defence improves.

Nothing good is going to happen if we push Laurie to the wing.
 
Earl said:
I've seen him run it back hard plenty of times. The problem is he gets smashed. It's probably the wrong option. He needs to pick his moments better.

I'm just not sure he is going to be a longer term option.
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I agree. I think we will go all out for a premier FB now the Moses deal has fallen through...
 
crazycat said:
The problem is he is a shorter guy 5"11 or 181cm. Playing him on the wing is going to mean we get owned on the wing.
Then I look up David Nofoaluma's height and it's 6" aka 182cm.

Ken M by contrast is
191 cm (6 ft 3 in)

When you can't score, put up a high bomb over the opposing goal line and hope your winger can outgrab the opposing winger. Height is critical here.
You cannot groom a short guy or even a shorter guy to take wing. The exception is Fox who has a stack of speed and Melbourne defensive smarts, we can't/don't do that.

I see Laurie as 6, Potentially off the bench/xfactor. Could be a center if his defence improves.

Nothing good is going to happen if we push Laurie to the wing.
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We've gotta accept that size matters at fb or wing,and will probably cost him a long term career there..tbd.,although e deserves a shot at it this year.at least
But if he fails where else can we harness that talent.....6 or 7 are the only opportunities
For what it's worth,Gould thinks he's a 6
 
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Roar_Power said:
I agree. I think we will go all out for a premier FB now the Moses deal has fallen through...
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In my opinion we need to replace at least one out of our fullback and halves unless they come good but I can't see all 3 of them becoming gun NRL players now. Surely that doesn't happen. Maybe one of them comes good.
 
Laurie will benefit from being behind a squad going forward as much as anyone. I don't think his size is an issue he has courage. There has been other small build FB's who have held their own - fan favourites Brett H testament to that. No fullback is going to save a team with their defence if they are getting smashed everywhere else and while some are better than others defensively never seen one that hasn't been exposed by playing behind a team being dominated.
 
TCL said:
now your having a dig at us Aussies from your stinky scouser town. It was your lot that loved our crapy shows like neighbours. The sport that perfected diving without a pool, how’s Liverpool going this season spends over 800millian pounds on players and is in 8th spot. Have a bath and go drink your warm beer, have a bowl of the horrible soup your mob are named after before you soil yourself while punching on with a lamp post. (All in jest)
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I think you've been eating too many fried cane toads. 🤮🤮🤮😊
 
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crazycat said:
The problem is he is a shorter guy 5"11 or 181cm. Playing him on the wing is going to mean we get owned on the wing.
Then I look up David Nofoaluma's height and it's 6" aka 182cm.

Ken M by contrast is
191 cm (6 ft 3 in)

When you can't score, put up a high bomb over the opposing goal line and hope your winger can outgrab the opposing winger. Height is critical here.
You cannot groom a short guy or even a shorter guy to take wing. The exception is Fox who has a stack of speed and Melbourne defensive smarts, we can't/don't do that.

I see Laurie as 6, Potentially off the bench/xfactor. Could be a center if his defence improves.

Nothing good is going to happen if we push Laurie to the wing.
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Played alright in both games on wing.

He's our #1 for now.

Could see some day possibly becoming a Preston Campbell like #14 if his skills develope.
 
batboy said:
Yup.... Exactly my point.
Playing a kid whos played Fullback right through Jnr Reps into NRL on the Wing is
vastly different to claiming outright that he's a 6 or 7... (As OP'r was)
Fullbacks and wingers are often interchangable with some efficiency...
Halves on the other hand!!

Again, I'm not saying it's not possible... It may well be.
But it's certainly not a given, And he's not playing Fullback as his "Back Up spot"
- He's not Locky.....
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It's an interesting argument, makes for good discussion..


I think Laurie is more of a winger than a halves option, imo.

Locky was the prototype hey and they've been trying to make 1s into 6s ever since...

Darius Boyd, Kalyn Ponga, Greg Inglis, etc etc.

Can't see it happening with Laurie.
 
king_sirro said:
Where is this Laurie on the wing talk coming from? IMO his skillet and body composition would be completely useless as a modern day winger. I don't see it at all.
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If you have a small fullback ie Slater Papenhuyzen ...I think the key is extreme speed off the mark and good footwork to keep them out of bad situations ...and don't quite see Laurie in their boots at any stage
 
ovoevo said:
I think you've been eating too many fried cane toads. 🤮🤮🤮😊
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That’s our countryman north of the border. Second part of my story is true, my brother lived in Liverpool for a while in the mid 90s and he would tell me the story of a local who would be blind drunk shadow boxing and cursing as he staggered through the streets on his way home. One night my brother and his mates fond him sitting under a light post passed out, The woke him and helped him home. Turns out he was the nicest bloke that got tough after a few pints.
 
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