Is Blake looking more and more like a backrower?

[Goose]

End of last year alot of people were calling for Blake to become a back rower, at the time I thought it was a terrible idea, last year, I thought Blake was close enough to our best player and had a sensational year,
This year he seems to be moving no where near as well particuarly laterally and his ball running altho not like a traditional edge back rower, not really looking much like a centre either.

I reckon he is starting to look like a back rower and perhaps his days as a centre a numbered.

 

[cktiger]

I would tend to agree … but I think we are already over our quota of backrowers.
He seems to be getting a bit lost lately , and then puts himself back in the game.
He's got the size and speed to make a go of lock but I can't see Sheens trying it just yet.

 

[jas83]

Honestly at the moment he is looking more like a non first grade player. His defense has been poor and doesn't provide much in attack. It's a shame as he was our best back in 2011\. I wouldn't have him as a first grade centre in 2013 at this stage.

 

[skywalka]

He only seems to be getting the ball in traffic this year which isn't his fault. His defence has looked worse than it is because of mistakes/laziness by those inside him. I used to think he was just a fill-in for centre and would run out of puff but unless we get a Jennings like centre he has earned his spot.

 

[happy_tiger]

Not on his defensive efforts just gone Makes 10 tackles misses 6

Backrower :roll

 

[fergiefurr]

Ayshford is a sheens type player, ok in a lot of positions but not great in any. Has as many bad games as he has good. Too slow to be a top class back, too small to be a good forward, not skillful enough to be a half.
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[hybrid_tiger]

Ayshford is a sheens type player, ok in a lot of positions but not great in any. Has as many bad games as he has good. Too slow to be a top class back, too small to be a good forward, not skillful enough to be a half.
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Spot on.

Not to mention his defense has been abysmal this season.

Wouldn't be in my team next year.

 

[Raptor]

I have reservations about him everytime I see him run out, this years he seems to of forgot everything he was doing right at times he may show a bit of it but that has been very rare this year and only for a fleeting moment.
His defence is his biggest concern to me too many he's left grasping at players, he needs to really take a leaf out of Rowdy's book and work on his defence big time until he does improve it I wouldn't have him in my side.

 

[Goose]

Not on his defensive efforts just gone Makes 10 tackles misses 6

Backrower :roll

he is missing tackles because he is not being mobile enough to defend at centre, it is easier to defend in closer.

 

[system]

A centre asked to play too many positions throughout his career in every match.

As such a centre who is terribly down on form and confidence.

When was the last time you saw any of our centres see clean ball in space with time?

 

[The_Tooth]

I'm sort of with the first poster. Hated the idea of him in the backrow at this stage of his career, but tending to think he would go better in tight.
In his defense though injuries have stuffed up all cohesion (especially in defense), different wingers outside him through the year, then he's had Blair and Ellis swapping sides, Benji has let him down at times in defense.
Everyone keeps mentioning the fairytale of 2005\. Understand we had bugger all injuries that year and the team gelled so well because of it. Blokes like Fitzhenry and Elford looked twice the player they actually were.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

A centre asked to play too many positions throughout his career in every match.

As such a centre who is terribly down on form and confidence.

When was the last time you saw any of our centres see clean ball in space with time?

There would also be immense pressure on him to stop the spread of the ball given Utai is outside of him. If Utai gets isolated there's trouble as he doesn't have the speed to cut them down if they get on the outside of him.

 

[Sabre]

Looking more and more like a reserve grader
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[innsaneink]

Looks like a commuter lately…waiting for a bus

 

[Tigersmurf]

See, this is what gets to me. I can watch Robbie and Benji miss tackles which lead to tries through the middle of the ruck and bugger all gets said about it. Then for some reason when we lose a game (against the best team in the comp and only by 1 point), Blake is the one whom gets singled out.

I think he makes a solid contribution. He looks like a backrower because he takes to ball up strongly and the opposition are now aware of him and cramp him for room. He is tall and lanky and as such can be difficult to tackle.

He had a slump earlier in the season but I believe he is now playing well. Solid centre whom I wouldn't swap for a Jamie Lyon or a Jack Reed. I think his tall lanky frame and laid back style can often be misuderstood as being lethargic - which is far from the truth.

 

[fergiefurr]

You wouldn't swap ayshford for Jamie Lyon…..rightio then....
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[mitch2040]

See, this is what gets to me. I can watch Robbie and Benji miss tackles which lead to tries through the middle of the ruck and bugger all gets said about it. Then for some reason when we lose a game (against the best team in the comp and only by 1 point), Blake is the one whom gets singled out.

I think he makes a solid contribution. He looks like a backrower because he takes to ball up strongly and the opposition are now aware of him and cramp him for room. He is tall and lanky and as such can be difficult to tackle.

He had a slump earlier in the season but I believe he is now playing well. Solid centre whom I wouldn't swap for a Jamie Lyon or a Jack Reed. I think his tall lanky frame and laid back style can often be misuderstood as being lethargic - which is far from the truth.

Smurf you said he's being singled out because of a single game but then admit he's had a form slump this year… Then going on to say you wouldn't swap him for Jamie Lyon, head in the game mate ayshford shouldn't be starting in 2013 based on this season.
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[slacko]

I would move him on
And we have too many back rowers as it is.
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[Guest]

Blake is good enough to bounce back from a disappointing 2012\. I don't see him as a long term centre, he's no rocket but he does move across the ground reasonably well. I can see him developing into a Kevin Proctor style backrower, and Blake does have a good ability to stand in tackles and poke his head through the line in attack.

He's around the 100kg mark this season. If he was to put on another 2-3kg of muscle in the off-season, I'd be looking at him as a backrow option and I'd be looking at partnering Nofoaluma with Lawrence for next season. We need to get some speed out wide again for next season.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Blake is good enough to bounce back from a disappointing 2012\. I don't see him as a long term centre, he's no rocket but he does move across the ground reasonably well. I can see him developing into a Kevin Proctor style backrower, and Blake does have a good ability to stand in tackles and poke his head through the line in attack.

He's around the 100kg mark this season. If he was to put on another 2-3kg of muscle in the off-season, I'd be looking at him as a backrow option and I'd be looking at partnering Nofoaluma with Lawrence for next season. We need to get some speed out wide again for next season.

Agree with all that, seems to occasionally walk through the defensive line and poke his nose through with no great effort
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