1,6,7,AND 9

@alex said:
I too think Austin could make a great 9\. Would he want to wait 4 or 5 years for it though?

He's too good to leave out of the squad at the moment, and with Moses nipping at his heels it will be good to have quality competition for such a crucial spot.
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In the short term , bench player

Mid term work on his defence and use him as a super sub , kind of player who can play anywhere from the second row to fullback and gradually increasing his game time as our back up 9

Then it would come down to whether he or Cherrington proves to be the best 9 and take over from Farah

Patience would be the issue for all involved
 
@stevetiger said:
@simonthetiger said:
I understand the gently softly approach re Moses but he is killing it in State Cup….

I would love to see him get a go in firsts. ASAP.

Yep. Lets get him into firsts asap.
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Having two defensive problems either side of the ruck can cause issues

Teams would just work us over and try and isolate either Brooks or Moses at least once every set
 
@happy tiger said:
@stevetiger said:
@simonthetiger said:
I understand the gently softly approach re Moses but he is killing it in State Cup….

I would love to see him get a go in firsts. ASAP.

Yep. Lets get him into firsts asap.

Having two defensive problems either side of the ruck can cause issues

Teams would just work us over and try and isolate either Brooks or Moses at least once every set
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I dont really know Brooks is that much of a defensive liability, the stats say he is a lemon, but for the most part I think he is pretty good at filling the gap in the defensive line. He bounces off a fairly often but he is stopping the runners long enough for support to turn up… I dont know how to say it, but he isnt missing them as if he is a turnstyle... or maybe a better way to put it is his misses are still effective...

clear as mud.
 
@Black'n'White said:
@happy tiger said:
@stevetiger said:
@simonthetiger said:
I understand the gently softly approach re Moses but he is killing it in State Cup….

I would love to see him get a go in firsts. ASAP.

Yep. Lets get him into firsts asap.

Having two defensive problems either side of the ruck can cause issues

Teams would just work us over and try and isolate either Brooks or Moses at least once every set

I dont really know Brooks is that much of a defensive liability, the stats say he is a lemon, but for the most part I think he is pretty good at filling the gap in the defensive line. He bounces off a fairly often but he is stopping the runners long enough for support to turn up… I dont know how to say it, but he isnt missing them as if he is a turnstyle... or maybe a better way to put it is his misses are still effective...

clear as mud.
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The point I'm more making BnW is that we know that the majority of the time they won't target Anasta , despite his failings in attack he is still defending OK

They try and isolate Brooks and we can counter that to a degree on most occasions

If you have two blokes it makes it far harder to try and cover for , especially when you are on the back foot and going backwards

Use Moses for 20-30 minutes by all means , but 80 minutes and I reckon he'd be missing twice as many tackles as Brooks and they wouldn't be good misses as you mentioned as in the case of Brooks
 
The spine for next year is mouth-watering…

I'm remembering back to the summer of 05-06, though, when we were supposed to be at the start of a dynasty, and it all went off with a whimper.

Fingers crossed it will all be different this time and we have a great run. :sign: :sign: :sign:
 
Successful teams invariably get stung by the cap it is not the marque players that get forced out but the players in the tier below. So Mayer and the board will be forced over the next few years to make some pretty hard calls. Players like Austen will be in big demand elsewhere and although under contract the salary cap could force the club hand.

The point of this ramble, most peoples dream team in a few years time will probably be down a few players, but I suppose the main thing is the spine is locked up for a long time
 
I really like Austin for 9… Plenty of years to train him up...

Played better then luani when placed in there.

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_
 
In my view if Austin or Moses are not in the starting side I can't find a place for them on the bench.

14\. Taupau
15\. Gavet
16\. Sue
17\. Sirro

Each player provides balance to the side. With a ball playing hooker and fullback, Sirro could cover 5/8 if needed and is a very impressive wide running second rower.

Having 4 ball players in the 17 (if Anasta starts and we include him as a ball player) is enough and 1 more in my view is 1 too many.
 
@mremedy said:
In my view if Austin or Moses are not in the starting side I can't find a place for them on the bench.

14\. Taupau
15\. Gavet
16\. Sue
17\. Sirro

Each player provides balance to the side. With a ball playing hooker and fullback, Sirro could cover 5/8 if needed and is a very impressive wide running second rower.

Having 4 ball players in the 17 (if Anasta starts and we include him as a ball player) is enough and 1 more in my view is 1 too many.
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I don't think Sue makes the bench either. I would have Ava or Akaoula ahead of him. Austin or Moses should be at 6\. I suppose we can carry Moses on the bench to get him started in first grade but we should be running with 4 forwards on the bench and ideally 3 props.
 
@The_Doc said:
@innsaneink said:
I think we have a serious 2 year window of opportunity at a premiership after next year depending on how Moses is brought along and when Farah decides to call it a day

I agree but I think I'd up that to a 3 yr window
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Yeh im not sure when farah will finish up, 2017 is in my mind for some reason, he may extend…who knows.
Things are looking OK compared to a few short years back
 
The Year? 2005.
The Result: Grand Final Winner
The Explanation on Fox Sport: The Spine
The Spine: Hodgson, Marshall, Prince, Farah - The team were committed to each other as "Brothers For Life"
What happened in 2006 & 2007 - The Spine Broke - 2006 Marshall wrecks shoulder in game one vs St George - arguably the end of his career as he struggled with ongoing injuries and was never the same again. To his credit he battled on but truly lacked the silky skills and played on luck rather than skill in later years. 2007 Prince goes to the new Gold Coast Franchise. Mid 2007 Hodgson fractured his cheekbone and misses 7 weeks. Goes to England in 2009\. A Great Man. 2006-7: Robbie Farah was the TIgers Player of the year and narrowly missed the Dally M to Thurston in 2007\. He stands alone at the head of today's Spine. He will go down as a Legend in the game.
The new kids on the block will have Robbie's guts and determination to achieve great things. I just remind you all that I thought with the original Spine of 2005 (and I recall only hearing that term being used by Tim Sheens in 2005) that we were unbeatable! We were a dynasty waiting to happen.
Melbourne and QLD showed how this dream could be a reality - But we saw what happened post 2005 - Accidents happen. Now Melbourne and QLD are no longer going to have their Spine for the first time in many seasons. When I had my son x-rayed after a scrum collapse the doc comforted by saying I was wise to have him checked out even though he only had a strained neck injury. He said "You only have one Spine".

That's why we needed to spend the dough on securing the services of the playing group in those critical positions. Much was made about the loss of Fifita to Cronulla. Where is he today? He's not even considered a chance for SOO II.

We have a side that is better than the 2005 on paper. This comp is very tight as shown by the Table. Fit teams will be more competitive than wounded teams. Our Spine is possible the best fit spine in the comp. The problem is Potter keeps putting the team list up as initials and when they see BA as 5/8 everyone assumes he means Braith Anasta when he really means Blake Austin. Sorry for the ramble but one thing's for sure - a healthy spine is the foundation for the entire playing group - it's a shame the brothers for life couldn't last.
:
 
We now have a spine.

We now have the determination in the forward pack.

All we need now is better fifth tackle options and we will be set

That and Gareth Ellis to be a surprised signing. The last guy we got back from England seem to be doing alright this year

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_
 
Hey LT Marshall fractured his eye socket in Round 1 v Saints 2006

I thought he did his shoulder in GF replay in Townsville in 2006
 
We all know how great Ellis was for our club but I thought Mark Flanagan had ability and wasn't given enough time by Sheens and when he did during semi finals footy he played well
 
Once Moses is 5/8\. I'd like Austin developed as a centre. He's a skilful dude. I haven't heard anyone mention playing Austin at centre. Probably for good reason, ie; doesn't have experience there. However he has played as a wide running 2nd rower., which isn't too dissimula. He would be able to set up a winger, something our centers have struggled with. Defensively he can tackle, positional he may get caught out (initionaly). Speed, there has good centers that are slower.
Don't know if he's the one but I'd love to see a dangerous centre/ wing combo in the likes of Matt Giddley/Tahu.
 
@Tigerdon said:
Once Moses is 5/8\. I'd like Austin developed as a centre. He's a skilful dude. I haven't heard anyone mention playing Austin at centre. Probably for good reason, ie; doesn't have experience there. However he has played as a wide running 2nd rower., which isn't too dissimula. He would be able to set up a winger, something our centers have struggled with. Defensively he can tackle, positional he may get caught out (initionaly). Speed, there has good centers that are slower.
Don't know if he's the one but I'd love to see a dangerous centre/ wing combo in the likes of Matt Giddley/Tahu.
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I think Austin could make and a handy centre but as long as he is prepared to spend 6 months in NSW Cup learning the defensive side of the position

Lots of players have no problems with the attacking side but struggle with the defensive side of the position

We have tried many players over the last few years in that position that struggled defensively with centre

Mitch Brown ,Beau , Moltzen just to name a few
 
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