Lol we’ve been on the Titanic for years!
OFFICIAL Adam Doueihi #227
- Thread starter TIGER
- Start date
You avoid the point - again.
Garner has scored almost as many tries as both out Back Rowers this year.
He'd be an upgrade on at least 2 of our starting 17.
That's without considering both centres, Who he'd have trumped off last game as well.
jirskyr
Well-known member
I'm not clear, was Doueihi officially moved to lock? He seemed to be playing halfback to me, making loads of first touches and taking the odd short kick. Latu took a few hitups, it looked to me that Latu was lock, then at one point we had 3 halves so that Luai could kick and/or get wider.
Looked OK too except Bird is rubbish on the edge. If Taylan May can get his gear together I can only expect a very rapid call-up with Doueihi and Latu interchanging halfback/lock duties.
Looked OK too except Bird is rubbish on the edge. If Taylan May can get his gear together I can only expect a very rapid call-up with Doueihi and Latu interchanging halfback/lock duties.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
AD's 20-min cameo in the middle reinforced that we need a ball-playing line-engaging 13 to complement Luai & Latu. And furthermore, one who has kicking game will be a bonus as well as tackle-breaking ability.
Both our halves play better a bit wider IMO and this type of lock can give them time & space to maximise their strengths.
The problem is there are no locks like this who are available atm.
So maybe we do try to extend AD for 1 season or longer to play this role off the bench. I think our only hope is if AD heads to the Perth Bears and he extends for 1 season which gives us extra time to find the right player for us (Kurt Donoghue, Pheonix Crossland, Kaide Ellis at Wigan perhaps, Tyran Wishart, Dylan Walker though getting too old).
We do have 21yo Josese Lanyon & 17yo Siotame Havea Jr coming through in pathways who play this role but we need NOW.
Any others?
No argument from me that Garner is more beneficial on an edge than both of our current edge back rowers and both of our current centres.
Samuela like Seyfarth is just a fraction too slow and had no real footwork to be a constant threat on an edge and why many including myself think he will be better suited on our middles rotation.
If we had plenty of stroke within our other edge back rower and both centres, then we could get away with Samuela staying on an edge.
The issue is we do not currently have anyone suitable to take his spot, Sol Saukuru could possibly be someone to jump through the grades and be a point of difference.
Jolls
Well-known member
I had thougth that this was the role Bird was bought in to play - a bit of a Wade Graham type of role. AD executed it well in the short stint he had. AD to the bench with Twal on for the first 20 to soak up some of the defensive effort could be a decent move. Ideally we puchase in an NRL ready 13, the other potential (which could be of detriment to us) would be to convert Terrell to 13 - not sure if the has the flowing ball play required.
The only other name that comes to mind, apart from those you have already suggested, is Adam Elliott. I think he is off contract, may be a stopgap option. Still must be a month or so away from recovering from a torn bicep.
I haven’t really watched Wigan play aside from a few highlights.
Do you think Kade Ellis could play this role reasonably well for us ?
A few things I’ve heard makes me think he could be open to an earlier than expected return to Australia should an opportunity arise.
I’m sure between BWG and yourself, you have more knowledge and many more ideas than our club recruitment staff.
Bird is no centre these days, he probably didn’t ask to play there either.
Doueihi certainly sees himself as a halve, so he didn’t ask to play as a centre either.
To’a has been running the ball at half pace and missing far too many tackles recently. He may be playing injured, but whatever the case he’s no good to us in his current condition.
Taylan May really needed another week or two with limited pressure playing NSW Cup, but we are out of options, we need him ASAP.
Young Heamasi is showing some good early signs, but it’s definitely too soon to throw him in at NRL level just yet.
So even with Taylan May playing, we realistically need another centre. Naden looks too disengaged too often, I couldn’t select him.
That really only leaves us with Luke Laulilli who is not ready defensively or Charlie Staines who has not previously shown to be a good enough defender in the centres, but I think one of them needs to be selected rather than continuing to play To’a on one leg,
Both of the Titans centres are very good attacking players, Jojo Fifita in particular is an emerging beast with plenty of speed and power, so whoever lines up against him as our left centre will have a big task in front of them.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Yeah so did I re Bird but I've seen much of him dig into the line and pass out the back to a half this season, more he's been used a Josh Curran type small middle. The only two I've seen do it well for us this season are Latu & AD. Adam Elliott possibly could though his ballplaying skills seem to have been blunted by Adam O'Brien's coaching much like KPP's offloading.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I think he could. He's improved his link play in recent years and plays more like a Ryan Matterson type these days. Has that Penrith connection with Luai from juniors too.
weststigerman
Well-known member
Pretty sure Benji confirmed it in the post match presser.
By Benji making this change during games quite a few times this season, he obviously knows it works for us and makes us look a much more likely attacking team.
So the question is why is he so hesitant to do it much earlier, either from the start of games or around 20mins in ?
Because we already lose the middle even with a defensive lock on the field. Imagine what our middle would look like with one less effective defender
Trust! He Cleary didn’t trust Luai to cover Boyd and or put the stop on Niokora.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I wonder is ADs agent will look for a new deal here ?
Seems there's a new charity now the Benevofoaluma Charity has closed down?
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Sorry mate was out fishing yeah he's lightened off that's for sure no impact at all destined for reserve grade if we ever sign some new forwards.
