Forward pack

[crazycat]

Something has shifted in the NRL.

Someone like NAS was worth 850k to the storm a season. Yes his form has dropped a little, but not that much.
Bunty Afoa was a Warriors Regular, now is punted to us as Unwanted.
K Hunt would be a prop pick 5 years ago, Craig Fitzgibbon pushed him away and we picked him up.

The Junior Paulo style battering rams are no longer in favour.

We see the Titans struggle at the bottom of the table with arguably one of the best packs in the comp. Heck QLD mainly picked Titans players.


The only exception seems to be Payne Haas who is just such a huge but fast unit.

Is this the end of the Battering rams?

 

[Buttface]

Something has shifted in the NRL.

Someone like NAS was worth 850k to the storm a season. Yes his form has dropped a little, but not that much.
Bunty Afoa was a Warriors Regular, now is punted to us as Unwanted.
K Hunt would be a prop pick 5 years ago, Craig Fitzgibbon pushed him away and we picked him up.

The Junior Paulo style battering rams are no longer in favour.

We see the Titans struggle at the bottom of the table with arguably one of the best packs in the comp. Heck QLD mainly picked Titans players.


The only exception seems to be Payne Haas who is just such a huge but fast unit.

Is this the end of the Battering rams?

Nope.
There will always be the need for one or two in ya side even if it’s of the bench.
They are the ones you hate to tackle. It’s always like here we go this nut case again. It’s the little bit of the crazy x factor in them.

 

[TheEnz]

Junior Paulo has slimmed down, improving his stamina and lateral movement, and he’s been outstanding for Parra this year. The game has become faster with the six-again rule and longer ball-in-play time, so while battering rams are still crucial for maintaining or regaining momentum, they also need to defend at a higher intensity when on the field. Hunt will shed some kilos in the offseason and look completely different by round one—at least, that’s the hope!

 

[crazycat]

Nope.
There will always be the need for one or two in ya side even if it’s of the bench.
They are the ones you hate to tackle. It’s always like here we go this nut case again. It’s the little bit of the crazy x factor in them.

Sure,
then why is a 850k NAS being punted by the storm for a 500k subsity!

Your best coaches, Bellamy, Webster, Fitz... They are all moving to lighter, more mobile forwards. KPP seems to be a good pickup in that respect (if the knights did nothing with him).

Heck, I love the battering rams. I loved seeing Taupau or someone just ram through a defensive line.
So I don't get why they seem to be punted now.

 

[jadtiger]

Sure,
then why is a 850k NAS being punted by the storm for a 500k subsity!

Your best coaches, Bellamy, Webster, Fitz... They are all moving to lighter, more mobile forwards. KPP seems to be a good pickup in that respect (if the knights did nothing with him).

Heck, I love the battering rams. I loved seeing Taupau or someone just ram through a defensive line.
So I don't get why they seem to be punted now.

Age injury and lack of horizontal movement are parts of the reason and in the case of NAS you can also add in discipline.

 

[bptiger 0]

Something has shifted in the NRL.

Someone like NAS was worth 850k to the storm a season. Yes his form has dropped a little, but not that much.
Bunty Afoa was a Warriors Regular, now is punted to us as Unwanted.
K Hunt would be a prop pick 5 years ago, Craig Fitzgibbon pushed him away and we picked him up.

The Junior Paulo style battering rams are no longer in favour.

We see the Titans struggle at the bottom of the table with arguably one of the best packs in the comp. Heck QLD mainly picked Titans players.


The only exception seems to be Payne Haas who is just such a huge but fast unit.

Is this the end of the Battering rams?

No why , all the above were pushed out by young blokes coming through , the warriors have some great young blokes , the sharks have a mile of forwards , the titans just not well coached, thus the coach is sacked .

The game will always have big forwards to bend the line so the backs can go forward

 

[Buttface]

Sure,
then why is a 850k NAS being punted by the storm for a 500k subsity!

Your best coaches, Bellamy, Webster, Fitz... They are all moving to lighter, more mobile forwards. KPP seems to be a good pickup in that respect (if the knights did nothing with him).

Heck, I love the battering rams. I loved seeing Taupau or someone just ram through a defensive line.
So I don't get why they seem to be punted now.

May not be “in favour” currently ?
But certainly not “the end”
There will always be a place for point of difference in ya team. That’s why NRL is a great game.
Nas is on the decline, with terrible discipline, but tell me you don’t want a 25 year old version in your team?
I know I do.

 

[upthetigers]

May not be “in favour” currently ?
But certainly not “the end”
There will always be a place for point of difference in ya team. That’s why NRL is a great game.
Nas is on the decline, with terrible discipline, but tell me you don’t want a 25 year old version in your team?
I know I do.

I reckon Nas will end up at the dogs but Melbourne will have to chip in

 

[Buttface]

I reckon Nas will end up at the dogs but Melbourne will have to chip in

I reckon it’s highest bidder for NAS.
Where/when is this R360 thing at? When are they ready to go?
I reckon Nas will care more about his bank account than what code he plays.

 

[crazycat]

I reckon Nas will end up at the dogs but Melbourne will have to chip in

Heck Melbourne have paid 500k a season and said to NAS "you are free".

He could take a min val contract i.e. 120k and get picked up, making 620k a season. OR he could just focus on Boxing early.

I am sure a club out there will be willing to pay 200k+ for him.

 

[innsaneink]

I reckon it’s highest bidder for NAS.
Where/when is this R360 thing at? When are they ready to go?
I reckon Nas will care more about his bank account than what code he plays.

Probably his last deal so has to make the most of it

 

[Buttface]

Probably his last deal so has to make the most of it

Yeah not begrudging, they are the talent, without them we’re watching union or some crap. I just reckon Nas is at that point where his given his all and if the Storm don’t want me then the highest bidder it is. Has he played in a GF and won?

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Benji said it in Terrell May's podcast where he thinks that a penalty or dropped ball is worth way more these days than it was 20 years ago. It's all about momentum in today's game. Guys like NAS are liabilities to their team because they generate so much negative play with stupid errors and brain-dead penalties.

Guys like Josh King and Terrell May, who work hard in defence and make very few errors, are worth way more than a guy who makes a few big runs then puffs out.

 

[innsaneink]

Yeah not begrudging, they are the talent, without them we’re watching union or some crap. I just reckon Nas is at that point where his given his all and if the Storm don’t want me then the highest bidder it is. Has he played in a GF and won?

2017, 2020

 

[gregjm87]

Something has shifted in the NRL.

Someone like NAS was worth 850k to the storm a season. Yes his form has dropped a little, but not that much.
Bunty Afoa was a Warriors Regular, now is punted to us as Unwanted.
K Hunt would be a prop pick 5 years ago, Craig Fitzgibbon pushed him away and we picked him up.

The Junior Paulo style battering rams are no longer in favour.

We see the Titans struggle at the bottom of the table with arguably one of the best packs in the comp. Heck QLD mainly picked Titans players.


The only exception seems to be Payne Haas who is just such a huge but fast unit.

Is this the end of the Battering rams?

I think the battering rams are every bit important today as ever. The only difference today being you only need the one on the field. An 'A' runner who's job it is to either suck in multiple defenders creating a numbers advantage or when tackled by just one or two blokes win contact and get a quick play the ball.

I don't think you can be a successful team without a good A runner. The problem is to have a bloke that can do this in attack as well as not be a defensive liability is becoming rarer and rarer as the speed of the game is seeing fewer big men cope with the defensive side of the game. There are however still more than a few out there. Haas is the obvious one. AFB, Tapine and Papallii, Leota, Whyte, Kaloamatangi, Utoikamanu through the finals and Leo Thompson and Paseka (in patches) were doing it before this year. Plus you can see some coming through who will become this guy; Mariota, Hughes, Patea

Like others have said we lack a front rower and a lock. Outside of Hunt who struggles with minutes, repetitions and defence We don't have an A runner at our club (though I am still a little hopeful Pole can become this guy). We've Plenty of decent enough B runners who follow up this guy. Then add a good lock that can position these guys with selective short passing and you will be winning the forward battle consistently.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I think the battering rams are every bit important today as ever. The only difference today being you only need the one on the field. An 'A' runner who's job it is to either suck in multiple defenders creating a numbers advantage or when tackled by just one or two blokes win contact and get a quick play the ball.

I don't think you can be a successful team without a good A runner. The problem is to have a bloke that can do this in attack as well as not be a defensive liability is becoming rarer and rarer as the speed of the game is seeing fewer big men cope with the defensive side of the game. There are however still more than a few out there. Haas is the obvious one. AFB, Tapine and Papallii, Leota, Whyte, Kaloamatangi, Utoikamanu through the finals and Leo Thompson and Paseka (in patches) were doing it before this year. Plus you can see some coming through who will become this guy; Mariota, Hughes, Patea

Like others have said we lack a front rower and a lock. Outside of Hunt who struggles with minutes, repetitions and defence We don't have an A runner at our club (though I am still a little hopeful Pole can become this guy). We've Plenty of decent enough B runners who follow up this guy. Then add a good lock that can position these guys with selective short passing and you will be winning the forward battle consistently.

Agree. It’s about balance.

Most the high performing teams this year had an impact prop in the 17 that just runs hard & direct, quick play the ball and momentum / space shifts.

With the lack of squad depth previously it has limited our ability to play the forwards more effectively. I like what Richo & Benji are forming it appears to be a genuine shift

 

[Buttface]

2017, 2020

Thanks Ink, so he’s got a couple, he would have been stinging missing the last two GFs, worked all year, got back in the side and missed out on the big dance. Like most humans he’ll blame anyone else, the NRL, the rules, the bloody short-ass people, etc. I can see him taking the highest bidder off any code. I reckon he probably realises unless he’s at one of 3 clubs his chance of another ring are slim and even then he’s still a long shot to get on the field.
Imagine a highly disciplined and hungry Nas in ya team.
Bellend knows it a pipe dream.

 

[TIGERS]

Something has shifted in the NRL.

Someone like NAS was worth 850k to the storm a season. Yes his form has dropped a little, but not that much.
Bunty Afoa was a Warriors Regular, now is punted to us as Unwanted.
K Hunt would be a prop pick 5 years ago, Craig Fitzgibbon pushed him away and we picked him up.

The Junior Paulo style battering rams are no longer in favour.

We see the Titans struggle at the bottom of the table with arguably one of the best packs in the comp. Heck QLD mainly picked Titans players.


The only exception seems to be Payne Haas who is just such a huge but fast unit.

Is this the end of the Battering rams?

I don't think its a strictly tactical decision. The storm can poach other players easy as.

 

[crazycat]

Benji said it in Terrell May's podcast where he thinks that a penalty or dropped ball is worth way more these days than it was 20 years ago. It's all about momentum in today's game. Guys like NAS are liabilities to their team because they generate so much negative play with stupid errors and brain-dead penalties.

Guys like Josh King and Terrell May, who work hard in defence and make very few errors, are worth way more than a guy who makes a few big runs then puffs out.

You have answered my question above...

Momentum.

Hence the Slow plays of Klemmer, the brain sprays of Bateman.

All which disrupt momentum.


So does KPP + Bunty fit the above?
NZ used to do a stack of offloads. Then Kearney came in and focused on completions, making them boring and a spooner team. Bunty doesn't fit Webster's plans, and you have to say with Webster that whatever he is doing is working. Heck NZ performing better without Reece Walsh it's got to be good coaching.

LIkewise KPP. Known for offloads but hasn't done many under O'brien at Newcastle. Has mistakes and errors in his game, although has a high workrate.

So does the hiring of Bunty and KPP and the firing of Bird, et al fit the momentum line?
I think you have a point.

 

[crazycat]

I don't think its a strictly tactical decision. The storm can poach other players easy as.

Yea,... that grates.

I mean how much has us dealing with 500k cap paperweights ruined our season?
Storm, meh they will still be top 4 next season.

We are dying for an Adam Reynolds style halfback, Brisvegas offer 500k begging wage and he accepts 🙁
NOTE: same coach when we signed Jackson Hastings for 700k, Reynolds either wasn't asked to come here or wouldn't come here.

Storm can pick their reserve grade at a higher standard then some of our first grade, yes that SUCKS!