2027 half back and five eigth

[magpies forever]

WT have rarely valued a good #7. Yes, Prince & Lui in Sheens first time but the basic tactics was throw the ball to Benji and hope. The value of set plays and halfback based organisation is foreign to us. Madden has been the best half , such as he is, for a long time. Nor do we have any great pressure coming through lower grades apart from Latu and Andrews- and in some ways you could argue both are 5/8 style. Doueihi is a ball hog and rarely passes which kills our attack and negates any form of set plays. However, he is a good kicker and goal kicker. It's a puzzler, not sure how WT progress this.

 

[magpies forever]

I think your hopes of Doueihi moving to lock might be sunk quicker than the Bismark Jolls, think he'll worm his way back into the 6 jersey or demand a release

Maybe he could be persuaded to play at centre but I'm starting to think it's 6, if he's going to dig his heels in then bugger off bubble head.

You reading this Benji.

The Doueihi situation has to be resolved in the off season. WT cannot go into 27 season treading on egg shells with this.

 

[Jolls]

If it was just about individuals 💯 agree but then you have to contend with all the relationships within the squad and sometimes off the field as well. It's never as simple as the coach dropping a player for another without considering consequences - especially when losing is entrenched already - and the action may not improve the situation.
Its the reason why the coach is always the fall guy for teams poor performances because it is very easy for more than one person to turn on the coach and clubs to replace them, than it is to replace a number of disgruntled players who think they know better.
We know that all clubs back the coach until the players don't and then it's curtains for the coach. Not sure how much influence Douehi has on and off the field with people within the club but we will find out.

Yes it is a balancing act for sure. But is it is also about the exact issue that AD was supposedly "protesting": standards.

AD has no right to the postion based on experience or performance. Sure he has scored some stong tries as a 6; but at what cost?

Doueihi’s ability to improve the performace of thiose outside of him is laughable, his passing game as a half is limited, his kicking game has no control, and his defensive lateral speed is gone. In shore he does not have the abaility to play 6.

If he stays, he has to make a fist of it at 13 or his fallback position, with May returning and Averillo in the mix, is as a backup centre.

It's time to stop the romatic myth of AD as a "senior player" and "leader". If Benji wants to show this club has standards, he gives Andrews first shot as 6 because he has earned it. Schuster has the opportinity to push Andrews out based on preformance.

The best thind AD can do for the club is demonstrate that positions are earned on merit. We accepting mediocrity if we hand AD the 6 jersey. Throwing a raw spine of Andrews and Latu Fainu into the NRL is a gamble; but it is worth a try. AD can sit on the bench as a backup.

 

[Jolls]

I think your hopes of Doueihi moving to lock might be sunk quicker than the Bismark Jolls, think he'll worm his way back into the 6 jersey or demand a release

Maybe he could be persuaded to play at centre but I'm starting to think it's 6, if he's going to dig his heels in then bugger off bubble head.

You reading this Benji.

I hope you are right. I have been banging the drum for a while; AD's best postion is on the roster of another club.

 

[orange&black]

Re Schuster: I don’t really remember whether he has the defensive desire, and I realise he has trimmed down dramatically, but if the reported personal drive and will for success is true, and he has worked on his fitness and strength, perhaps he would make a great 13. He has all the skills. Twal back to prop rotation and Mann coming on to give Josh a breather.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

The Doueihi situation has to be resolved in the off season. WT cannot go into 27 season treading on egg shells with this.

Couldn't agree more man, do it now before pre season starts I say, that crap festering away is a disruption that will create unwanted media attention.

The last thing you want with new recruits coming in, new combinations to be formed, it's a distraction we just can't have which the last 2 seasons have shown.

 

[Jolls]

Great post Jolls. Agree 100% and i think Benji would as well.
The only problem is how any of the alternative selections would play out. I mean the options if for instance Andrews is not ready for weekly NRL, or Latu isn’t resilient enough, and then we have Madden at 7 who is just mostly OK.
In order to take the road you’re proposing we may all have to be patient enough for the first part of the season while the young blokes get match hardened.

It is a risk for sure. But hasn't Andrews earned a crack?

We have a full pre season ahead of us and both he an Latu will be much better for it. Jock is a good backup at 7 and AD/Schuster are capable fo filling the gap at 6 should Javon falter.

I really hope that Benji gives them first crack at it. In my view the postions are theirs to lose - with AD, Schuster and Jock given the challenge to unseat them before the season kicks off.

A smart Benji would have had discussions with all of them outlining how he sees them fitting into the NRL side and what he needs to see of them over the of season to get the first crack at it.

 

[Jolls]

Re Schuster: I don’t really remember whether he has the defensive desire, and I realise he has trimmed down dramatically, but if the reported personal drive and will for success is true, and he has worked on his fitness and strength, perhaps he would make a great 13. He has all the skills. Twal back to prop rotation and Mann coming on to give Josh a breather.

He has been out of the media and Benji has kept in under wraps. I don't know what his desire is and as a fan don't really care. As an individual though I do hope that he can turn his footy career around.

I expect that Josh Schuster will play wherever is best for the team. What is best for the team though, in my opinion and I hold no sway, is for him to be pushing Javron hard for the 6 postion and in competition with AD for both 6 and 13.

AD knowing he is not first choice at center, 5/8. 1/2 or lock may be the wake up he needs to work on the skills required to be good at one of them or take the leap to join another club of his own accord.

 

[Telltails]

Yes it is a balancing act for sure. But is it is also about the exact issue that AD was supposedly "protesting": standards.

AD has no right to the postion based on experience or performance. Sure he has scored some stong tries as a 6; but at what cost?

Doueihi’s ability to improve the performace of thiose outside of him is laughable, his passing game as a half is limited, his kicking game has no control, and his defensive lateral speed is gone. In shore he does not have the abaility to play 6.

If he stays, he has to make a fist of it at 13 or his fallback position, with May returning and Averillo in the mix, is as a backup centre.

It's time to stop the romatic myth of AD as a "senior player" and "leader". If Benji wants to show this club has standards, he gives Andrews first shot as 6 because he has earned it. Schuster has the opportinity to push Andrews out based on preformance.

The best thind AD can do for the club is demonstrate that positions are earned on merit. We accepting mediocrity if we hand AD the 6 jersey. Throwing a raw spine of Andrews and Latu Fainu into the NRL is a gamble; but it is worth a try. AD can sit on the bench as a backup.

Yep that's how it should be. I have been on and off the Douehi train but he lost me last season.

I just don't think clubs back coaches in matters where a player gets talked up in the media like Douehi has especislky at a losing club. And in Benji's case we are constantly reminded that he is a rookie yadah yadah and it is every likelihood he won't be supported anywhere given our lowly position and the whole Douehi best player tag that he seems to have a hold on
Surprisingly Douehi's form at the club has been patchy at best and at its worst was not FG standard yet he gets talked up all the time.
I was hoping for our sake and his that he asked for a release but it won't surprise me if any dramas next year will be around him and his relationship with Benji and it's quite likely that he will survive beyond the coach.

 

[Flippedy]

good summary
worried about the spoon this year

Yeah pretty insipid looking team, not much punch there sadly.

 

[hammertime]

I suspect that there is plenty behind the walkout; but he turned his back on his mates. That is the ultimate betrayal. AD is definitely not a leader; he talks himself up. We don't hear it from elsewhere except from Benji.

AD has us in a bind as I doubt any club will touch him at the price he wants after his walkout. We have signed him until 2029 so he needs to make it work to build his own profile (ego) and we need to make him work for us. Can he come back from his betrayal? Potentially, but he needs to work for it - we shouldn't be allowing him to play 6 based on "experience".

Javon and Josh have every right to expect that they have as much of a chance of playing 6 in 27 as AD. The position is there to be earned - and AD has not earned anything based on his lack of morals and his performance (likely injury hindered) in the second half of the season.

Andrews has, he has shown he has mastered cup level.
Schuster has, he has swallowed both pride and pay to come and play in cup. He also has 50 games of NRL experience and should be hitting his prime at 26. A dark horse yes - but shouldn't be ruled out before we have had a trial.

You are on the moner - we can't win a premiership if our leaders aren't leading. This was exactly the point I was making. If we want to build culture you have to do it from the ground up. Buying it in doesn't work - it may kick start something but culture comes from leadership and the club has lacked it, from the top down, for a decade or more.

AD is not the answer at 6 unless he beats out Javon Andrews and Josh Schuster on merit and performance; that is only after he had had a crack at playing where Benji needs him most. Once the recruitment has finished we may have a better feel for it; but right now he shoudl be at the back of the pack for any shot at the 6.

I hear you mate. You're not wrong.

I want to think that AD has put himself in a position now that he can't turn his nose up at playing a position. While I agree experience is not everything, we can't have two juniors playing in the halves. I think either AD or Madden has to be there.

AD needs to improve a lot this offseason if he wants to stay in the halves. While his ball running is superb, his passing and short kicking game is rubbish. He doesn't have all the attributes. With the passing issues, I also think that he wouldn't make a good link man at 13 either.

I actually always thought that with a bit more bulk, he'd make a great edge back-rower.

 

[orange&black]

AD has done himself no favours. I think his only potential landing spots would be Bears or PNG as I can’t see any established clubs taking him on at 7, or 6 with his history.
The day he walked out was the day he took a path leading to a crossroad in his NRL career.
I’ll be very surprised if there isn’t some more to play out between him, Benji and the club.

 

[Jolls]

I hear you mate. You're not wrong.

I want to think that AD has put himself in a position now that he can't turn his nose up at playing a position. While I agree experience is not everything, we can't have two juniors playing in the halves. I think either AD or Madden has to be there.

AD needs to improve a lot this offseason if he wants to stay in the halves. While his ball running is superb, his passing and short kicking game is rubbish. He doesn't have all the attributes. With the passing issues, I also think that he wouldn't make a good link man at 13 either.

I actually always thought that with a bit more bulk, he'd make a great edge back-rower.

I think Latu and Javron is a risk as well, but if I had the clipboard it would be the starting postion going into the pre-season with with Jock, Schuster and AD given the job of unseating them.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

WT have rarely valued a good #7. Yes, Prince & Lui in Sheens first time but the basic tactics was throw the ball to Benji and hope.

Yet, in our entire existence, the only times we have played finals is when those two were at 7. Maybe that should tell you something about the importance of a good 7.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

AD has done himself no favours. I think his only potential landing spots would be Bears or PNG as I can’t see any established clubs taking him on at 7, or 6 with his history.
The day he walked out was the day he took a path leading to a crossroad in his NRL career.
I’ll be very surprised if there isn’t some more to play out between him, Benji and the club.

Bears yes. PNG no way. They have much larger fish to fry. Anyway, if he was leaving, there would at least be rumblings by now. Safe money is that he’s staying.

 

[magpies forever]

Yet, in our entire existence, the only times we have played finals is when those two were at 7. Maybe that should tell you something about the importance of a good 7.

Agree fully, but the club itself seems ambivalent.