Forward Pack Discussion

[king_sirro]

IMO Benji is doing our attack a lot of harm not establishing a ball playing lock to help our halves. I actually dont care who chooses, but he has time choose someone. and train them there in that role. Guys like Pole and Twal just cant play 13, well not the type of 13 we require anyway. The best at it is Latu, but he is also our best 7 and you dont want him being banged up the middle so young. Other options that have shown the skill to possibly get there are Sione, Doueihi and Seyfarth. Just pick one of them Benji and train them in that role. This 3rd front over crap is killing us.

 

[Airport05]

Twal at lock to start game
Latu Fainu comes on at 7 and pushes AD to 13 in attack
hinges on May being able to play close to 80

This is what I'm hoping as well. Gives us a bit of flexibility throughout the game and a chance to throw two different attacking structures at our opposition, which would be hard to prepare for. I don't necessarily think it means we need Terrell to play big minutes though. With Sione, Hunt and Bunty on the bench and Twal joining the rotation, we should be able to give him a decent spell.

Anyway, that's just my two cents worth of pure speculation.

 

[jrtiger]

The comments from track watchers at open training seem to point towards it being more of the same from last season with a defensive 13 to start off with possibly Latu as the utility.

But part of me thinks Benji has something up his sleeve that is different to last season in that spot.

food for thought, the 'starting pack' at the open session was Bunty, Twal and Seyfarth.

 

[innsaneink]

I dont think we want two halfbacks during one game...our attack has been rubbish in the red zone the last few years...two 7s wont be helping that

 

[upthetigers]

food for thought, the 'starting pack' at the open session was Bunty, Twal and Seyfarth.

First Galvin now Bunty why is it always the new blokes leading the way

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

I dont think we want two halfbacks during one game...our attack has been rubbish in the red zone the last few years...two 7s wont be helping that

latu can play as a second 6 on other side of ruck and AD can distribute from middle much like how yeoh does for penrith, it will get latu and luai that bit wider

 

[Vicious]

I dont think we want two halfbacks during one game...our attack has been rubbish in the red zone the last few years...two 7s wont be helping that

How do you come to that conclusion when our attack looked at its best last season when we had Luai, Doueihi and Latu Fainu all on the field at the same time ?
The issue with them all being on the field at the same time is how we will cope defensively, but it’s perfect in regards to our attack,

 

[hammertime]

Twal at lock to start game
Latu Fainu comes on at 7 and pushes AD to 13 in attack
hinges on May being able to play close to 80

Twal to start is good to blunt their attack. But Latu could directly rotate through 13 and 9.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

food for thought, the 'starting pack' at the open session was Bunty, Twal and Seyfarth.

So Bunty for impact, Twal lock down the middle in D and Seyfarth as effort-based lock with some link play.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Either that or Latu straight to 13. Then cover Api for a spell.

AD is the biger body he should play that 13 role, latu is a natural for the halves

 

[hammertime]

AD is the biger body he should play that 13 role, latu is a natural for the halves

Sure. But you dont want to change around too much in the spine mid game. Will be interesting to see how benji plays it.

 

[diedpretty]

If we have both Twal and Seyfarth regularly in our 17 we can start making holiday arrangements for September now.

 

[king_sirro]

AD is the biger body he should play that 13 role, latu is a natural for the halves

I have big concerns with AD as a 13. IMO the lock needs to understand that he is the middle man that is creating space for others to make the big plays. He needs to be ok with that. I believe Doueihi doesnt have that personality, he wants to make the big plays himself, not create space for others to do it. Which is fine, just not suitable to the role that he would be required to play at 13. I also fear he isnt tough enough week in week out to play it.

 

[king_sirro]

How do you come to that conclusion when our attack looked at its best last season when we had Luai, Doueihi and Latu Fainu all on the field at the same time ?
The issue with them all being on the field at the same time is how we will cope defensively, but it’s perfect in regards to our attack,

Geez do you deliberately twist what people say every single time? He is talking about the suggestion of starting AD at 7, then switching him to lock and CHANGING the 7 to Latu mid game. He isnt saying anything about having all 3 on the field at the same time

 

[Jolls]

Twals running game has been very good the last 2 years. He's no lock though.

Exactly

 

[Jolls]

Twal at lock to start game
Latu Fainu comes on at 7 and pushes AD to 13 in attack
hinges on May being able to play close to 80

If AD is to be a 13 he should have been training there all off season. Different body type; different fitness level etc. This is a professional team not a pub side running out after a glass of port and raw oyster as a warm up.

 

[Jolls]

latu can play as a second 6 on other side of ruck and AD can distribute from middle much like how yeoh does for penrith, it will get latu and luai that bit wider

Then stick the bloody 13 on his back and be done with the bullshit!

 

[Jolls]

I have big concerns with AD as a 13. IMO the lock needs to understand that he is the middle man that is creating space for others to make the big plays. He needs to be ok with that. I believe Doueihi doesnt have that personality, he wants to make the big plays himself, not create space for others to do it. Which is fine, just not suitable to the role that he would be required to play at 13. I also fear he isnt tough enough week in week out to play it.

I share your concerns, especially as he has shown a heart the size of a pea at times and floats in and out of games - demonstrating a clear lack of commitment. However, as we didn't bite the bullet and buy in a FG ready/experienced 13 to do the job he is probably the best we have (unless Benji has identified a young bloke and has him hiding in the car park during the open trainign sessions).