Fitzy - Must be a good trainer...must

C

Chunk

Well-known member
I think we are all pretty happy with things generally with our team atm however there is still the puzzling inclusion of our beloved Fitzy on the bench.

It seems obvious to most that we should have another forward on the bench or at least a young player with true potential who would make an impact or even another hooker.

I have heard that Fitzy is a very good trainer and is great to have around the team.

Maybe in the modern game a players training performance and not just on field performance is just as important to selection.

Sorry just trying to make sense of it all.
 
Sheens usually carried a winger on the bench last year as well in Rhys Hanbury. He only ever played 5 minutes too, but he was a good replacement in the backline when things went wrong. I don't really have an opinion on this, but it may be something to do with Sheens only wanting to utilise a 3 forward rotation and have a "utility" for the backline who could fill in at dummy half if required. Fitzy may not be the man for this, but that is another argument.

80 minute players:

1\. Ryan
2\. Tuqiri
3\. Ayshford
4\. Lawrence
5\. Brown
6\. Marshall
7\. Moltzem
9\. Farah
12\. Ellis
13\. Heighington

Rotation:
8\. Gibbs (Avg 50-55 mins per game)
10\. Galloway (Avg 50-60 mins per game)
11\. Payten (Avg 50-55 mins per game)

14\. Fifita
15\. Fulton
16\. Flanagan

Fulton can play 80 minutes if required
- He comes on to tighten the defence when the props are tiring
- If there is an injury he can be left out there for the duration of the game without using an interchange
Flanagan can play long minutes if required (played 80 mins vs Roosters)
- As above
Fifita can fit into the prop rotation (Avg 20-25 mins per game at the moment)
- He can keep us moving forward when the other guys are off the field

So really we only have 3 guys who need to be rotated in a match. Flanagan and Fulton serve mainly as defenders when the big guys are getting tired and Fifita rotates with Payten, Gibbs and Galloway to keep eating metres throughout each half.

I'm pretty sure the way it's structured is that Fitzy is a back-up reserve and will never see more than 5 minutes in a game unless there is an injury in the backline.
 
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?

fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.

anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower

fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game

to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
 
@ron burgandy said:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?

fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.

anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower

fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game

to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
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yeh, or having a gamebreaker like taumata there. like barba at the dogs, just bring him on at the end of the game to spark something. when fitzy comes on, it seems like its just sheens putting him on for the sake of it
 
Ron very few disagree with you on this point. Befuddles the mind how anyone can even call Fitzy a utility. I thought multi-skilling requires at least one core skill.
 
@ron burgandy said:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?

fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.

anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower

fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game

to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
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100% Agree

Fulton or Flanagan should be more then enough to cover for any injuries to the backline

1) Ryan - Moltzen will go to the 1 with Fults or Flanagan to 6 Benji to 7
2) Lote or Brown - Ashyford to shift to wing Fults or Flanagan to Centre
3) Lawarance, Ashyford or Benji- Fults or Flanagan Straight in
4) Moltzen- plays like a 5/8 anyway so they would fit straight in.
5) Farah- Both can play dummy half so easy cover there too.

I just fail to see a reason to have Fitzy on the bench. Anything he can cover so can Fulton or Flanagan
 
A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)

The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.
 
@ron burgandy said:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?

fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.

anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower

fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game

to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
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I see your point, but just playing devils advocate here, maybe putting a forward into the backs mid-game is more disruptive than just re-shuffling the backline due to the backs training with and knowing all the calls and moves?

Possible Sheens thinking???

Wings & Fullback swaps
Ryan injured | Fitzy to 1.
Lote injured | Fitzy to 2.
Brown injured | Fitzy to 5.

Centres
Lawrence injured | Brown or Tuqiri to 4\. >>> Fitzy to 5\. or 2.
Ayshford injured | Brown to Tuqiri 3\. >>> Fitzy to 5\. or 2.

Halves
Marshall injured | Lawrence to 6\. >>> Brown or Tuqiri to 4\. >>> Fitzy to 5\. or 2.
Moltzen injured | Farah to 7\. >>> Fitzy to 9.
**OR**
Molten injured | Marshall to 7\. >>> Lawrence to 6\. Brown or Tuqiri to 4\. >>> Fitzy to 2\. or 5.

I would personally go for a 5/8 that could play centre if needed. Taumata would be perfect, but I'm not the coach.
 
@smeghead said:
A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)

The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.
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Heaps of sides do it.

Sheens always does it at the start of the year.

But everyone goes balmy every time the team is picked.

He picks two reserves that get a lot of game time.One gets about 5 mins if there are no back injuries.

Im not too worried who the utlity is,it was Hanbury last year.
 
@simonthetiger said:
@smeghead said:
A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)

The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.

Im not too worried who the utlity is,it was Hanbury last year.
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The concept is fine (although personally I prefer 4 big boppers) but the specifics (Fitzy) are flawed.
 
im not against a utility but it has to be the right one (ala halatau) who can play in the forwards if an injury to an outside back doesnt happen

its just a waste of a spot using fitzy, daniela or similar players who really only cover wing adequatly.

a bench of

fifita
payten
flanagan
moors/cayless

is what i want to be looking at

IMO flanagan is the utility, can play back row 5/8th and centre and thats what you really need not a winger playing unfamiliar roles.
 
I dunno…Flanagan is a fringe first grader finding his place in the NRL.....he doesnt need to be lumped with the utility job which is widely underrated imo

Let him focus on one thing
 
@innsaneink said:
I dunno…Flanagan is a fringe first grader finding his place in the NRL.....he doesnt need to be lumped with the utility job which is widely underrated imo

Let him focus on one thing
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I agree. I wouldn't be comfortable with Flanagan filling in as the utility. Fitzy's spot is open IMO to anyone willing to grab it and it's clear, that nobody has stepped up just yet. As I said earlier, I reckon once Taumata picks up some fitness and begins to dominate in NSW Cup, he'll get the call up in place of Fitzy.

There's no point in throwing Pritchard or Daniela in the mix because I doubt Sheens considers them 'utilities'. Just outside backs.
 
I would think a player like Josh Davis would be more suited…is a back but has the ability to also play in the backrow. That way if a back is injuryed we have a genuine back to play tehre and if a forward is injured our bench isn't left as short in covering for the forwards.
 
@Illek said:
I would think a player like Josh Davis would be more suited…is a back but has the ability to also play in the backrow. That way if a back is injuryed we have a genuine back to play tehre and if a forward is injured our bench isn't left as short in covering for the forwards.
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Davis could be worth a shot, same with Nu Akeripa if he were match fit, both can play in the backrow, both can play in the centres, though both are unproven in first grade.
 
would not be suprised In time TNT no doubt will be on the bench, and slowly given more game time each week.
Will anybody be questioning that ?
yes I know he can double up as a forward.
Fitzy can fill in at hooker if required, and would not be suprised if he is picked there if Robbie gets called up for rep duties.
have one question, who will be the scapegoat for the team if Fitzy not there?
last year it was John Morris alot.
Fitzy is picked in the top 17 because the coaching staff want him there.
 
I'm a fan of the 14 being a match winner/impact player. You dont see a backup winger on the bench in Origin or Tests Matches?! Further more, I think the old adage of 9, 7, 6 & 1 isnt as important in todays game as the 9, 6, 1 & 14\. This is the combination I believe will win 'Super Star' teams big games/premierships.

Having a geniune bench option that can cover backline injuries, give your 9 a rest, or more importantly, give you a match winning injection is the catalyst for a team like the Tigers. We sometimes play our hand too often and having that second playmaker option on the bench will sometimes re-invigorate the attacking flair which is the Wests Tigers.

Players like Arana Tuamata, Blake Lazarus & (I know im gona cop a spray for this one) Tim Moltzen are perfect for this role. All have a speed game. All have genuine playmaker abilities. All have that X Factor… :bulb:
 
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