The halves problem

Wallyfunk1 said:
With how Jock performed in the trials and last night , we should see if there is any interest to ‘lend’ Latu to the panthers or the eels (or maybe even Melbourne) for the remaining of this year and or next year , to learn from a dominant halfback.
(I would also extend his contract with us now until 2030 or 31, before we agree to lending him to anyone)

He would be a spare in any of those sides so there is little chance he would have to play against his brothers and he would get lessons from one of the best halfbacks there are

This would solve all our halves issues for this year and next (Jock at 14)

It’s clearly worked for Jock to go away and come back ,it might be the best thing for Latu (and for us without loosing him completely)
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How would this solve our halves problem? btw, what problem is that? We have good halves depth...sending Latu anywhere is just reducing our depth
 
Our halves problem is that Luai is a 5/8, AD is a 5/8, Latu is a 5/8 and Andrew's is a 5/8.
They all look very strong in their own ways.
Madden is the only halfback at the club. No one else can kick like him, he takes the pressure off the rest.
The question is how do we play and keep 4 5/8s happy at the club?
At least one will likely need to play in the centres.
 
I actually think there’s a way to make this work without overcomplicating it.

We still need a genuine 7, and if Madden proves in the next few weeks he can be that guy, then he has to own the role. Control the tempo, be on both sides and take full responsibility for the kicking game.

Where it gets interesting is around him.

Luai and Doueihi are both more 6s than they are 7s. Doueihi especially has shown in the first few games he can excel as a running half. So we should lean into it, by simply aligning more to our player’s strengths and what they could do to make us dynamic in attack, rather than rigidly sticking to traditional league positions/numbers.

Suggested roles:
  • Madden (7) → central, owns kicking
  • Luai (6) → runs shape, leads, secondary kicker
  • Doueihi (6 style role, defending at centre) → running half, second receiver on shifts and sweeps
  • Fainu (14) → impact, plays either side, another running threat
That would gives us a number of genuine attacking weapons without losing structure. Not forcing anyone into a role that doesn’t suit them or the team, but also not losing the control that every good side still needs.
 
bigsiro said:
I actually think there’s a way to make this work without overcomplicating it.

We still need a genuine 7, and if Madden proves in the next few weeks he can be that guy, then he has to own the role. Control the tempo, be on both sides and take full responsibility for the kicking game.

Where it gets interesting is around him.

Luai and Doueihi are both more 6s than they are 7s. Doueihi especially has shown in the first few games he can excel as a running half. So we should lean into it, by simply aligning more to our player’s strengths and what they could do to make us dynamic in attack, rather than rigidly sticking to traditional league positions/numbers.

Suggested roles:
  • Madden (7) → central, owns kicking
  • Luai (6) → runs shape, leads, secondary kicker
  • Doueihi (6 style role, defending at centre) → running half, second receiver on shifts and sweeps
  • Fainu (14) → impact, plays either side, another running threat
That would gives us a number of genuine attacking weapons without losing structure. Not forcing anyone into a role that doesn’t suit them or the team, but also not losing the control that every good side still needs.
Click to expand...
This is how I see it. If the individuals buy in it could work well as a team.
 
Lestronge said:
Yep . Thats his elite skill , and if it was 2015 that would be enough . But it’s not . He has no running game , he doesn’t offer much in the way of deception with the ball … it’s obvious where it’s going , and his defence when isolated … well that’s been debated since he was a teenager . I love madden as a first drop , steady the ship , get you around the park .. grinding type half . But you need more strings to your bow .
He’s the the perfect backup half .
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Madden is the best Half in the club. He showed in the trial he’s a changed man and backed it up against the warriors. He doesn’t need a running game we have Bula, luai, douehi for that . He straightened our attack and gave everyone outside him the room to run. Kicking game alone won us that game .
 
balmain boy said:
Our halves problem is that Luai is a 5/8, AD is a 5/8, Latu is a 5/8 and Andrew's is a 5/8.
They all look very strong in their own ways.
Madden is the only halfback at the club. No one else can kick like him, he takes the pressure off the rest.
The question is how do we play and keep 4 5/8s happy at the club?
At least one will likely need to play in the centres.
Click to expand...

Whoa there …slow down ..

Madden has played one game …

We’ll see how he goes when opposition start to game plan for him ..on both sides of the ball…. His defence could be a question mark
 
Tom Shines said:
Whoa there …slow down ..

Madden has played one game …

We’ll see how he goes when opposition start to game plan for him ..on both sides of the ball…. His defence could be a question mark
Click to expand...
He had the trials in which he excelled. He demonstrated against the Wahs a skillset that no one has shown at the club in a very long time. That alone earns him a huge amount of leeway.
There's also the batches he played at Brisbane.
He's matured, he's a halfback. Like a Sexton at the dogs. The dogs has Burton and Galvin but without Sexton organising them on the field the dogs were highly erratic. Luai and Doeuihi are our equivalents to them and they need a someone to do the simple stuff so they can do the sexy stuff.
 
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bigsiro said:
I actually think there’s a way to make this work without overcomplicating it.

We still need a genuine 7, and if Madden proves in the next few weeks he can be that guy, then he has to own the role. Control the tempo, be on both sides and take full responsibility for the kicking game.

Where it gets interesting is around him.

Luai and Doueihi are both more 6s than they are 7s. Doueihi especially has shown in the first few games he can excel as a running half. So we should lean into it, by simply aligning more to our player’s strengths and what they could do to make us dynamic in attack, rather than rigidly sticking to traditional league positions/numbers.

Suggested roles:
  • Madden (7) → central, owns kicking
  • Luai (6) → runs shape, leads, secondary kicker
  • Doueihi (6 style role, defending at centre) → running half, second receiver on shifts and sweeps
  • Fainu (14) → impact, plays either side, another running threat
That would gives us a number of genuine attacking weapons without losing structure. Not forcing anyone into a role that doesn’t suit them or the team, but also not losing the control that every good side still needs.
Click to expand...

Yes this sounds like a good plan and hopefully with May, Bula, Maka and the back rowers, there is a fair bit of strike.
 
Wallyfunk1 said:
With how Jock performed in the trials and last night , we should see if there is any interest to ‘lend’ Latu to the panthers or the eels (or maybe even Melbourne) for the remaining of this year and or next year , to learn from a dominant halfback.
(I would also extend his contract with us now until 2030 or 31, before we agree to lending him to anyone)

He would be a spare in any of those sides so there is little chance he would have to play against his brothers and he would get lessons from one of the best halfbacks there are

This would solve all our halves issues for this year and next (Jock at 14)

It’s clearly worked for Jock to go away and come back ,it might be the best thing for Latu (and for us without loosing him completely)
Click to expand...
If there's one thing Luai has already done, it's learn from a dominant half.
 
balmain boy said:
He has the trials in which he excelled. He demonstrated against the Wahs a skillset that no one has shown at the club in a very long time. That alone earns him a huge amount of leeway.
There's also the batches he played at Brisbane.
He's matured, he's a halfback. Like a Sexton at the dogs. The dogs has Burton and Galvin but without Sexton organising them on the field the dogs were highly erratic. Luai and Doeuihi are our equivalents to them and they need a someone to do the simple stuff so they can do the sexy stuff.
Click to expand...

He's also 26. The perfect age for him to reach his ceiling. I love that he spent time at Brisbane under Adam Reynolds.

His running game us better than some realise too, he is quite sharp off the mark and will have his moments taking the line on when needed.
 
balmain boy said:
He has the trials in which he excelled. He demonstrated against the Wahs a skillset that no one has shown at the club in a very long time. That alone earns him a huge amount of leeway.
There's also the batches he played at Brisbane.
He's matured, he's a halfback. Like a Sexton at the dogs. The dogs has Burton and Galvin but without Sexton organising them on the field the dogs were highly erratic. Luai and Doeuihi are our equivalents to them and they need a someone to do the simple stuff so they can do the sexy stuff.
Click to expand...

Trials don’t mean a lot to me … a time for experimentation and can be against reserve graders in the main…

I have heard a stat that he has played something like 15 NRL games over the past 3 years … so he has been considered a bottom of the roster type … Now that doesn’t mean he can’t take a leap over an offseason… and he can then improve further on the back of regular NRL selection. ..but I got to see it over more than a week ..also watch the defence … couple of the Warriors tries I noted on a second viewing of the game he came up a bit short..: I expect that to be further tested
 
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Tom Shines said:
Trials don’t mean a lot to me … a time for experimentation and can be against reserve graders in the main…

I have heard a stat that he has played something like 15 NRL games over the past 3 years … so he has been considered a bottom of the roster type … Now that doesn’t mean he can’t take a leap over an offseason… and he can then improve further on the back of regular NRL selection. ..but I got to see it over more than a week ..also watch the defence … couple of the Warriors tries I noted on a second viewing of the game he came up a bit short
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I think we need to remember Madden has been training with a couple of franchise halfbacks Reynolds & Hunt, and a should-be Clive Churchill medalist in Ezra.

The games he did get opportunities in that premiership side he handled himself well.
 
EllisFan said:
I think we need to remember Madden has been training with a couple of franchise halfbacks Reynolds & Hunt, and a should-be Clive Churchill medalist in Ezra.

The games he did get opportunities in that premiership side he handled himself well.
Click to expand...
Hunt was there only last year … but yes the other two are strong players
 
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