Yep, as I said hopefully they assess based on form after a couple weeks. Nothing to do with being interested. Ivan was the only one that had the guts to drop him to reserves several years ago, and that did wonders for him. Picking off history is rubbish that this club is really good at
David Nofoaluma #164
- Thread starter Geo
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hank37w
Well-known member
Wish you hadn't said that, next thing you know that old drunken Buzzard at the Telecrap will report that we are signing Nathan Merritt.
hank37w
Well-known member
Unless of course, they are picking up their mouth guard.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
He was an effort player but come on guys, did his best work in England. Lost us a few big games when we shifted him to FB. Let’s not get carried away.
I am quietly confident that Nofa’s in fir a good year. As I have stated previously he’s been hamstrung by coaches with a negative attacking mantra. Also the forward pack that let’s face it, defence where poor. Second rowers that came in, centres that followed. This is what happens in all the poor defensive sides. I am hoping with our new second rowers that this will change and therefore Nofa’s defence will be better! Which is mostly what people complain about.
twentyforty
Well-known member
Watching Greg Marzhew at 177cm, think he’s a great buy for the Knights. He’s a T’o’o clone.
twentyforty
Well-known member
Hard to know what Nofa will dish up this year? He loves running with the ball and is a brilliant finisher. Lee reckons he needs a reason to play well, so what is his reason or motivation this year?
hank37w
Well-known member
Lee giving him a pay rise and further extension.
Loves the club and a new team outlook is all he needs. Look I hate to talk him up too much for this year, as I don’t want to put the mock on him. So I will leave it there, it’s up to him and the team now.
twentyforty
Well-known member
No, surely not? Lee doesn’t do anything to influence the outcome of a game.
hank37w
Well-known member
Doesn't beat his chest as much as he used to do either.
Probably worked out that it hurts if you do it constantly.
twentyforty
Well-known member
The CEO and Chair were heavily involved in recruitment and wanted To be more in control of hiring coaching staff. Which seemed odd, considering that they both admit to knowing next to nothing about football?
Jolls
Well-known member
I understand where you are coming from but I think the analogy is wrong. The old days of a winger sticking with his winger and playing man on man defence went with the dinosaurs. Since then slide and umberella systems have come, and gone (although elements are still used). In the modern game the edge it is primarily about protecting the inside shoulder and mirroring the choices of the inside player. Particularly inside our own 40. We don't have to follow this example and will have our own take on it; however, from what I have seen so far that is the basis of the model we are employing.
So if the centre goes in to protect his inside shoulder to protect against the attack splitting the line then the winger goes in. The protection for this are the kelpies in the team - the fullback and lock - scrambilng (cover defence for us dinosaurs) combined with our old mate the sideline.
Nofa has been caught out many times with overlaps and many times by not following the lead of this centre partner. One is a team issue and one is a bad read. He can't be blamed for the decisions of his inside players nor can he be blamed for an overlap if he is protecting his inside shoulder. The poor performance of the team is what has made Nofa look in poor in defence at times. Nofa's attitude in blaming others is what has made himself look bad.
There are signs that our defensive patterns are improving. Twice last week we had the sideline and numbers in cover to pick up the outside men and take them into touch. Haven't seen that, less odd occasions, for a few seasons.
the modern defensive structure is underpinned by attitude. If we protect the inside shoulder and don't have the urgency or commitment to scramble the defence fails. Robbie picked it like a snotty nose in the recent podcast; Wests Tigers have tried to be Melbourne and the Roosters but without the foundational skills.
I recall the Tommy tribute game where we leaked what felt like 100 tries down our edges. Who's fault was that debacle - Nofas? No it was an attitude issue.
I agree with you - I think Nofa has the potential for a good year, but not because of the change in attacking style, but an improvement in attitude and commitment in defence.
Unfortunately that is based on one game against Canberra. If we recall the game against the Warriors the same defensive issues that had plagued us for a couple of seasons were on show for all to see.
Let's see if we can string a few good defensive efforts together before we start to crow. Only when our defence is strong will we have the foundation from which to attack.
Different times I know but if you look at our 05 record from round 16 on we only leaked 16 per game (13 if you take out the two big losses against Melbourne and Penrith). If you recall the change in our fortunes was related to the change in our defensive attitude - prior to that we could score points but we let shit tins more in. That my friend is what attitude brings.
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Very good reply, well written and I understand where u are coming from and agree. To answer a few of the points u raised.
The pitch fork brigade have been after Nofa for quite a long time before he said anything about his team mates.
In regards to him playing better was not solely based on the new attacking style. I believe this style will play to his strengths more and therefore he will be a happier player, then a better player. Nofa has played well over the past few years but he’s been down a bit, I believe with the new coaches and style this will improve.
The last sentence is the biggest statement yet...it is entirely up to this team to perform to the best of their ability and paycheck for the jumper,the fans and the club as a whole..
This year has to show a fair bit of improvement on the last couple of years to once again instill confidence into the members and fans who have suffered over the years with poor team performance...they are professional players,all we need is professional performance...
Jolls
Well-known member
Get where you are coming from. Looking forward to seeing how he performs. He can be a match winner as we know. I trust we see the best of him; he has to know that he is under pressure from the young brigade. I trust that the competition brings out the best in all of them.
Showed plenty of love for Melbourne, which he was happy to sprout to every news outlet, when he had to leave them to come back here.
If he plays well enough to keep his spot then so be it.
Doesn't deserve to get picked just because he's a junior or our highest try scorer.
He's been dumped to reggies before so he'd better be going at 100%
Personally think Tupou and Staines are superior and will prove that soon enough.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
He
That being said, they may be more important but they are still the least important. If the winger has to make a decision whether to slide or to stay, or if he's forced to make a 1 on 1 tackle, it's too late by then. The team has already let the opposition inside our 20, the inside pressure has already let the outside men down. Wingers should never be made to do one on one tackles.
Those pressure decisions the winger has to make happens along with the centre. It doesn't help that we keep changing our centres every game. Noffa has defensive problems for sure but they can be hidden behind a decent team. Changing the winger has never and will never make you a better defensive team.
That's a valid point that the wingers are more important to defensive structures than they were before. Remember when Benji used to defend on the wing.
That being said, they may be more important but they are still the least important. If the winger has to make a decision whether to slide or to stay, or if he's forced to make a 1 on 1 tackle, it's too late by then. The team has already let the opposition inside our 20, the inside pressure has already let the outside men down. Wingers should never be made to do one on one tackles.
Those pressure decisions the winger has to make happens along with the centre. It doesn't help that we keep changing our centres every game. Noffa has defensive problems for sure but they can be hidden behind a decent team. Changing the winger has never and will never make you a better defensive team.
Snidest 0
Well-known member
Utter rubbish!!!
It is a 13 man game and one poor defender can kill you regardless of the position!
All this talk about a good winger ?
Months ago I said Kenny is constantly hobbling with persistent knee ,ankle ,groin issues
As such I couldn't pick him. Had no idea his knee issues would happen in the first 10mins of his first trial . If you want to see defensive issues just check the tapes on the Tigers vs Dragons 2nd last round last year and see who missed tackles and didn't chase at all
Months ago I said Kenny is constantly hobbling with persistent knee ,ankle ,groin issues
As such I couldn't pick him. Had no idea his knee issues would happen in the first 10mins of his first trial . If you want to see defensive issues just check the tapes on the Tigers vs Dragons 2nd last round last year and see who missed tackles and didn't chase at all
