OFFICIAL Blake Ayshford [Discussion]

[alexaki]

blake Ayshford is a very underrated player…played out of his skin during the finals...

 

[Moh]

Sure is, I just sat back and laughed at the hate he was getting from here.

 

[Geo]

The blokes who did not rate Ayshford are the same people who didn't want Liam back!!

They can only register size or speed - and are blind to the value of genuine footballers who just get better over time!!

Mark my words - and those of another genuine footballer named Todd Payten (who some of the fleas also wanted gone this season) - this kid is the real deal and is an old-school instinctive player with a load of talent and intelligence!!!

Red …every one is entitled to their opinion....

Even the Coach said.....Ayhsford's place in the side was in danger mid season...To his credit he lifted his form at the backend and his class shone through...

As for Toddy...well IMO him missing from the Dragons game is the reason Wests Tigers did'nt raise the Proven/Summonds trophy this year...

 

[MightyMaggy]

I think some people are well ahead of thereselves. Ayshford had a very below average season, and played well the last 4 games. Without being hasty, I believe the Ayshford/Ryan combination was one of the most unthreatening centre pairings going around in the NRL. I dont remember a specific time this year where they legitimately busted through. So I think ill reserve a bit of judgementm and see how Ayshford fairs with Tuquiri/Tuiaki outside him next year.

Jennings and Lawrence are lightyears ahead of him and the usual suspects of Lyon, Gasnier, Cooper will always come up in origin selection.

Which game/s did Ayshford and Ryan play as the centre pairings?

 

[MightyMaggy]

I think some people are well ahead of thereselves. Ayshford had a very below average season, and played well the last 4 games. Without being hasty, I believe the Ayshford/Ryan combination was one of the most unthreatening centre pairings going around in the NRL. I dont remember a specific time this year where they legitimately busted through. So I think ill reserve a bit of judgementm and see how Ayshford fairs with Tuquiri/Tuiaki outside him next year.

Jennings and Lawrence are lightyears ahead of him and the usual suspects of Lyon, Gasnier, Cooper will always come up in origin selection.

Which game/s did Ayushford and Ryan play together as the centre pairing?

 

[hadds75]

I meant Centre/Wing pairings.

 

[Kul]

I don't know how people are saying that Ayshford was poor this year.
By any standard, Lawrence was the one that was poor.

I've just gone over the stats for the first half of the year Rounds 1-13\. Keeping in mind that Ayshford was injured for Rounds 12,13 and half of 11, the stats were:

Ayshford: 1 t/a, 17 t/b, 153 tackles, 5 offloads, 2 linebreaks
Lawrence: 2 t/a, 26 t/b, 174 tackles, 5 offloads, 11 linebreaks

NOTE: Lawrence was BEHIND Ayshford in all those stats (except for linebreaks) until he got injured in the Souths game. In the following games against the Knights and the Warriors, Lawrence received a heap of ball and his stats skyrocketted, overtaking Ayshford. All things considered, i'd say it was a very even first half of the year.

I'll sit down and do the second half of the season soon, but even from this far out i'm convinced that Ayshford had a great season. His one-on-one wrapping defence saved countless tries and ultimately games for us. With robbie and benji's pet plays revolving around Lawrence, it's no supprise that he gets the spotlight.

 

[hadds75]

I don't know how people are saying that Ayshford was poor this year.
By any standard, Lawrence was the one that was poor.

I've just gone over the stats for the first half of the year Rounds 1-13\. Keeping in mind that Ayshford was injured for Rounds 12,13 and half of 11, the stats were:

Ayshford: 1 t/a, 17 t/b, 153 tackles, 5 offloads, 2 linebreaks
Lawrence: 2 t/a, 26 t/b, 174 tackles, 5 offloads, 11 linebreaks

Ayshford is a great defensive centre, I dont think anyone will really doubt that.

I dont think you need stats, all you need to do is look at that nice backline move we do which usually starts with Payten running at the line and throwing it back to a running half, and check out the difference in how much better we look when we spin it to Lawrence side as opposed to Ayshford sides.

the only stat Id be interested in looking at is linebreaks, and id put them in winger/centre combinations as alot of the wingers linebreaks are due to the centre. Heres that stat. Lawrence/Tuquiri = 36 , Ayshford/Ryan = 13.

 

[Kul]

Ok full season stats:

Try Assist: Ayshford 4, Lawrence 3
Tackle Break: Ayshford 57, Lawrence 55
Tackles: Ayshford 307, Lawrence 411 *Lawrence racked up huge numbers playing 5/8, otherwise it was fairly even
Offloads: Ayshford 14, Lawrence 12
Line Breaks: Ayshford 9, Lawrence 19

Again, Lawrence's huge tally of line breaks can be attributed in part to those pet plays from the scrum. However, that aside, he clearly does posses a better ability to open up the line and outpace the opposition.

Overall I'd still defend Ayshford against calls that he is a poor player when clearly the stats say otherwise

 

[redemption]

Tuqiri made alot of those LBs from balls from his halves and not Lawrence (like the Lui pass against the Raiders).

Like virtually every team in the competition we have a side which we favour in attack - that being the left. Lawrence is a brilliant hole-runner so it is understandable - but Blake has other strings to his bow!

He reads play (especially in defence) a hell of a lot better than Rowdy!

 

[Kul]

@hadds, i completely agree with what you are saying about Lawrence's ability to break through the line and he has Ayshford covered here. Benji and Robbie know this and send the ball to him on our Hail Mary plays and thankfully it pays off.

But clumping Ryan with Ayshford isn't fair. Ryan is an inept winger who has NO presence of the field. The opposition would have no hesitation in coming in to wrap up Ayshford knowing it's only Ryan outside him. IF you had Tuqiri or Tuiaki there, the defence would undoubtedly think twice, hesitate and then the gaps would open for Ayshford to make those linebreaks.

I think the problem isn't Ayshford, it's his wingman.

 

[Kul]

He reads play (especially in defence) a hell of a lot better than Rowdy!

100% mate!

his wrapping defence when we were scrambling saved us many games this year.

 

[hadds75]

But clumping Ryan with Ayshford isn't fair. Ryan is an inept winger who has NO presence of the field. The opposition would have no hesitation in coming in to wrap up Ayshford knowing it's only Ryan outside him. IF you had Tuqiri or Tuiaki there, the defence would undoubtedly think twice, hesitate and then the gaps would open for Ayshford to make those linebreaks.

I think the problem isn't Ayshford, it's his wingman.

Ill give you that and see how he goes next year with someone better, and im sure the stats will improve significantly. But on this years stats, we have very little at best when we go to that side. I dont remember too many times this year we went to the Ayshford/Ryan side and out of nowhere they created somthing for us, which realistically is one job of a back, to provide flair and attack to the side.

Also to the other poster: On that try vs Raiders, if wed done it on Ryans side, he would of been tackled by Dugan on the 40m line.

 

[redemption]

No doubt you are right about Ryan not scoring that try (although that could probably be said for many of the wingers in the comp - Lote absolutely flew)! That being said - how does that suggest Ayshford is the problem?

We seem to all agree that the weak link is at wing - not centre!

 

[hadds75]

Ill agree on that for now, but would like to reserve judgement till I see him with someone else. My issue isnt Ayshford, as id have him in the side (Whether at centre or not ill decide next year with TNT or LT with him). My issue is more that side and maybe moving Ryan will change everything, Hopefully. I dont think many could honestly say when we spun it to the right hand side in attack you really felt like we were going to threaten. As I asked earlier, can anyone name a time in the whole year (im sure there is one), where that side created us somthing out of nothing. And detracting from Ayshford, on Ryan, does anyone think Ryan would of scored Nightingales two tries last night?

I dont think Ayshfords a bad player, and hes defence is fine, as good as any centre, but whatever the stats say, on this year I felt him, or his combination with Ryan, was limited in attack. Maybe theres a common link between Ayshford and Collis, and I hope that that link isnt there round 1 so we can see.

On that try vs canberra, maybe im stretching it, I probably am, but Lawrences running ability at the line im sure played a minor part in dragging in defenders. Even if he did nothing in terms of touching it.

 

[Moh]

I don't know how people are saying that Ayshford was poor this year.
By any standard, Lawrence was the one that was poor.

So true.

Love Rowdy, but he had a pretty average season for most part I'd say. Still got himself selected for the Aussies. Brilliant!

 

[tiger_tigers]

played superbly tonight , great performance in every aspect

 

[MacDougall]

His defense is remarkable. I used to think he was a hog but I think it's just because he is so strong he gets his arms free every time but is selective with when he pushes the offload. So not a hog, just a smart player.

 

[biggest_tigers_fan]

he wouldnt look out of sorts in a rep jersey maybe city/country first but imagine nsw backline if i was a selector lol
1.hayne/dugan
2.b.morris
3.ayshford
4.lawrence
5.uate
6.carney
7.pearce

 

[Team_Tiger]

He had a cracker tonight. His defense really stood out in the back part of last season and he's continued to improve even more. How awesome is our centre pairing? I wouldn't swap them for any other in the NRL.