Heath Mason #288

[crazycat]

Impossible to defend aganst big fowards from close range when you have Madden, Mason and Hope in the line with zero stopping power. The players either side get dragged out od shape as well.

Yep, but these are all "Depth" options. Even Madden was never meant to start, as a reserve half he has been decent.

That said, it shows what we need as "Depth", people who can tackle and hold the line.

The only option we have like that is "Skelton", not the best and has weaknesses. But he at least doesn't get pushed around like others.

 

[Tom Shines]

I thought Luke was … ok yesterday . I thought he adjusted well to 195xm Saab , and just let him catch it , as he’s not very strong upper body wise and nearly every time was incapable of getting his arms free . But it took him a little bit early , and he lost out by trying to compete with Saab .
He was strong out of yardage .
I guess people will focus on his error , but I personally think the team has lost its ability to defend its errors and that’s a huge problem . No matter who.
The million line breaks at the end are because , when we are missing a player we compress the field big time , and decent halfbacks find their edges really well against us . We always seem to go down by a man , when we. Are playing one of the elite halfbacks . lol

Luke has improved this year ..he is turning into a reasonable finisher … he made errors on both sides of the ball which let’s be honest he does most weeks ..

Right now though I don’t know if they have better options if BM is going to continue to ignore Skelton

 

[Lestronge]

Luke has improved this year ..he is turning into a reasonable finisher … he made errors on both sides of the ball which let’s be honest he does most weeks ..

Right now though I don’t know if they have better options if BM is going to continue to ignore Skelton

I don’t see how he can ignore him now . I’d go Skelton and Luke L with Masi and Turuva in the centres . It’s not great for the right side attack , but at least you know they will hold thier own defensively . We have to start with Latu at half IMO, especially defensively .

 

[ShanghaiCharlie]

We need a mid-season purchase at centre desperately

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I don’t see how he can ignore him now . I’d go Skelton and Luke L with Masi and Turuva in the centres . It’s not great for the right side attack , but at least you know they will hold thier own defensively . We have to start with Latu at half IMO, especially defensively .

Anything but no Mason.

 

[The Chad]

Mason is the new whipping boy.

A 5/8 playing centre in KOE & fullback in the NRL.

I'd be looking at him to be #14 & give Api cover.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Mason is the new whipping boy.

A 5/8 playing centre in KOE & fullback in the NRL.

I'd be looking at him to be #14 & give Api cover.

He would get steamrolled tackling in the middle....

 

[The Chad]

He would get steamrolled tackling in the middle....

Probably. We have coaches. Work on the defence. He's not much smaller than Hope & nobody says "Hope will get steamrolled in the middle".

Well, some probably do. And he does.

But that is how I'd be trying to use him going forward.

 

[king_sirro]

He would get steamrolled tackling in the middle....

He defended very well playing lock in the trials.

 

[TigerNeddyK]

As it stands,

Jahream Bula is the #1
Jack Attard, back up.
Logan Deinninger, outside back utility.

Taylan is our best centre
Starford cannot even take the field
Patrick Herbert is a reserve grader

Makasini has a very high ceiling
Tavana has a lot to work on
Turuva is locked in

We need to bring some players in next year

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3.
4. Taylan May
5.

+ whatever we do with Makasini
We need first grade ready players + depth

The gabrael centre could be one out of the box, he was a really good junior and played a lower grade grand final as a centre before doing his acl, ,,, Logan brooks will improve every single week and really could play anywhere in the backline…just needs to be properly developed… Mason could become a quite decent 7 , but needs further coaching and experience.. nugggety , tough little 7 that can kick ,, the club should really only play him there as he doesn’t have the physical attributes to make it in the NRL in any other position

 

[The Chad]

Have to remember that Mason is the ripe old age of 20 too

 

[diedpretty]

Is he a better half than Madden?
If not whats the point?

Not now he is not but had he been developed as a half and given time to do so in reggies who knows how he would of gone. He is still only 20 yrs old - talk about destroying a career.

 

[Mccarry]

Mason has improved out of site under the high ball. He definitely puts in giving hope that he will continue to grow as a long term versatile utility player. Three or four years in cup and he will be a different proposition.

 

[Oldman]

All the talk about fullback cover for when Bula isn’t available, who gets that role should come from how the coach wants him to play,
A 200 running metre a game type doing hit ups every set of six
(Teddy/Edwards)
OR
An attacking player sweeping around the back receiving the ball from the 5/8 at speed.
(Ponga/Walsh)

From what I have seen
Mason & Turuva = middle doing a hit every set type.

How I would like to see a fast dangerous wide running fullback
in our squad.
I know Bula is quick over distance it’s the excelleration over the first 10 that I haven’t seen that the team needs.

 

[tig_prmz]

Have to remember that Mason is the ripe old age of 20 too

In my head, it just makes it worse. He has ticker but lacks speed and agility for fullback.

Has he been playing lock/middle in nsw cup?

 

[weststigers]

Yep, but these are all "Depth" options. Even Madden was never meant to start, as a reserve half he has been decent.

That said, it shows what we need as "Depth", people who can tackle and hold the line.

The only option we have like that is "Skelton", not the best and has weaknesses. But he at least doesn't get pushed around like others.

Depth is meant to get a start at some point for some games - they need to be up to it as well.

Our issue is too much depth on the field at the one time due to a horrific and lengthy injury toll.

 

[Moh]

We need a mid-season purchase at centre desperately

Could it be our year where we snag a very good mid-season deal off the back of drama elsewhere?

 

[Rusty]

We need a mid-season purchase at centre desperately

Rocco Berry... I know for a fact that he wants to come to Australia, the kid can play, off contract next year...can find an injury though.

 

[Adam Doobie]

Mason has improved out of site under the high ball. He definitely puts in giving hope that he will continue to grow as a long term versatile utility player. Three or four years in cup and he will be a different proposition.

I would be willing to persist with him for another year on a small contract. So long as he keeps improving I'm happy to have him here. Seems to have a good attitude based on what I've heard.