TIGERS
Well-known member
That's nearly Top Gun territory. Egos writing checks that bodies can't cash etc.... but the Credit is due, he's a first grade halfback.
Adam Doueihi #227
- Thread starter TIGER
- Start date
That's nearly Top Gun territory. Egos writing checks that bodies can't cash etc.... but the Credit is due, he's a first grade halfback.
Holman Barnes #1 Fan
Well-known member
Doueihi will get injured at some point. Then it will be Latu's time to shine.
was for 6 games at least. If he has mind over matter and gets over all his setbacks/injuries and performs above his normal standard
,he is a stronger person than most in here
Tucker
Well-known member
He’ll already be in the rehab room.
Have watched Latu alot before he joined and just not convinced he is a 7. His best position is where Luai plays as a left edge controller. He doesn’t have a great kicking game and isn’t a big organizer whilst also struggles to rove around the park. Latu is one heck of a talent, will only grow and is a game changer but not as convinced as others are on him at halfback.
Holman Barnes #1 Fan
Well-known member
So you're saying we have 20 rounds of Jock Madden to look forward to. Great...
all heart no technique, kid looks a natural.Special
Jolls
Well-known member
This is why we need a hybrid 7/13 as opposed to trying to change his natural talents in the short term. Let him develop naturally and move him as required. No need to stifle his development by shoehorning into the conventional 7 position. Put the 7 on his back but develop our play around the assets we have - imagine how dangerous our attack could be if we didn't try to play the way other teams do but play wohat works for us.
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
Talent is one thing but mental toughness is what many players have lacked. A dominant 7 can cover for this but we haven’t had either over the years
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
And Latu won’t? That kid can get injured sitting up from the toilet.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
I’m far from convinced about AD at 7. A few games at end of the season is one thing. Starting from round 1 and going an entire season is another.
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
Same. 1 thing though how often has he trained in the position in preseasons gone by. Hopefully will be in his favour.
hank37w
Well-known member
He'll be fine in round one, not sure about the rest of the season.
I'm with you. Douehi at 13, ball-playing out to two very dangerous halves on either side and also giving us a booming kick when we need it. If they get the combinations right, it makes total sense, and as you said, Latu should naturally develop there with more time in the position (fingers crossed he can stay on the field).
Have zero issue us making and forming our own style but at some point someone needs to run the team & direct players to setup positions.
Our lack of structure and organization killed us last year and was a big reason we lost the close / low scoring games.
I don’t like AD at lock, I actually think that will cramp him and his effectiveness will be alot less compared to running wider on the right side.
Latu could eventually become a different style of 13 given his nugget frame, speed /zip, short ball play and defensive traits but he needs time and he also needs to get alot of games in a row under his belt. Latu running in the 30-30 zone would be more effective than AD would be.
twentyforty
Well-known member
Our disorganisation was on show in our last game. Up 28 - 12 at the break, one team came out fired up with a tactical response, while we floundered and consequently lost the 2nd half 0 - 28.
Surely we must have known they would spread to the left at every opportunity.
Jolls
Well-known member
With what we have ot our disposal I think Benji needs to throw out the convention of the conventional 13 and 7, For us I think they are just numbers if our goal is to run a combination of Luai, AD and Latu. for this to wrok we need to develop a system that works for us; similar to the way Conulla developed it with Wade Graham.
I totally agree with you about our lack of structure but with the players we have I don't think we need to overcomplicate it. Latu would benefit from a bit more structre and Luai from a little less. What we require structure wise is players on their edges running lines that work for thir play maker so thay can be hit as required. It gives our playmakers options. Sure we can incorporate block plays etc, but not too much as it stifles natural playmakers.
Who drives the boat? That's where our problem lies; if AD is the leader he says he is - time to step up and show his football IQ. To me he needs significant development - he can play, and play well, in bursts; but he is a lazy player on both sides of the ball at times. If he wants to be in the halves mix he needs to step up in a big way - not just one or two games or in patches during games.
Benji has a lot to do over this off season to get us firing. He has made the decision not to recruit a specialist 13 so let's see what he makes of what we have. How this flows down into the lower grades is another big question mark that needs to be addressed at some point.
Keeping the roles simple but the location & commitment of the roles is 100% key.
Fundamentals are also important.
The challenge I have with our formation is the impact defensively. Because we don’t practice the setup and formations it then means we can’t defend it, as defensively we don’t train for it. It drives over commitment & over playing an individual hand.
The amount of times players over clock defensively or in attack forming congestion or looking lost that leads to opposition scoring / line break / easy field position was high - could pick it multiple times in most games. It impacts the scoreboard or even field positioning & workload.
Rugby League is actually a very simple game majority of time. We can do something different but we need to respect the fundamentals as well in doing so.
