OFFICIAL Jock Madden #244
- Thread starter TheDaBoss
- Start date
The Chad
Well-known member
With the NRL about to be 2 teams deeper in the next couple of years, Jock Madden is ensuring his next contract is a healthy one.
He could start for 2-3 teams now. His kicking game is better than anyone at the club.
That said, he's the 4th half at the club & will be selected as such.
We are in such a good spot right now. Imagine a couple of years ago having to watch our back-up 7, let alone the 4th guy, step in & play.
The way he finds grass with nearly 50% of his kicks is fantastic. Slows the return, keeps teams pinned. Teams can win with that kicking game. It's not THAT different from what Cooper Cronk used to offer the Storm. So-so athlete with a terrific kicking game to put his team in great position.
He could start for 2-3 teams now. His kicking game is better than anyone at the club.
That said, he's the 4th half at the club & will be selected as such.
We are in such a good spot right now. Imagine a couple of years ago having to watch our back-up 7, let alone the 4th guy, step in & play.
The way he finds grass with nearly 50% of his kicks is fantastic. Slows the return, keeps teams pinned. Teams can win with that kicking game. It's not THAT different from what Cooper Cronk used to offer the Storm. So-so athlete with a terrific kicking game to put his team in great position.
tigerman80
Well-known member
Our best team is with madden at 7. He is the best half in the club by a country mile. Doueihi showed today that his first instinct is to run and passing is secondary. He would make an amazing centre as the ball is always going to come out with madden at 7.
7. Madden
6. Luai
5. Makasini
4. Douehie
3. May/toa
2. Turuva
1. Bula
7. Madden
6. Luai
5. Makasini
4. Douehie
3. May/toa
2. Turuva
1. Bula
Odessa
Well-known member
His kicking game was the difference in the end but the basics are simply but very hard to do over and over and over again
Like I have said before kick to the corners and chase hard pin them down and kicking I find is more important this year because it breaks momentum
ShanghaiCharlie
Well-known member
Totally agree. Passing game is the concern from left to right and lack of long kicking.
At the end of the day he is a good reserve grade half doing a good job filling in. He is another Sean O'Sullivan. A technically good organising half but not first grade leader in a full strength team.
Talk of him displacing Luai or Doobie is ridiculous. Latu is way in front of him also as a half and especially as a benchie.
He has been playing soundly but he really has some limitations. Adam Reynolds-lite.
Oscar Martinez
Well-known member
JOCK IS CLUTCH!
stevied
Well-known member
Can't agree. Madden's organisation and excellent kicking demands that he stays in the tesm. Luai comes in at 6 with Douehi going to centre and Maka to wing.
stevied
Well-known member
That's it exactly. The jigsaw fits together perfectly!
hank37w
Well-known member
I'd say, YES, YES, YES, but I'm not from City Ford so we'll just have to wait and see.
stevied
Well-known member
I agree with some of your points but I think, overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Regarding the long kicking, Madden was regularly under pressure and forced to rush as the Eels were out to cut his time. As others have pointed out, Douehi is not a half in a good, cohesive team and does not possess some of the assets you list for Jock. Also, some of Douehi's passing in the last two games has been deplorable. He'd be the first to admit it.
stevied
Well-known member
Yes, yes, yes (for once).
Last ditch efforts on almost every try (almost saving one), yelling instructions whilst in the middle of making a tackle, kicking game and control 💯
I want to see a couple more games but he is making a compelling case to remain in firsts. Don't forget he had a few great games filling in years ago before regressing. But this is some of the best genuine halfback play we've had in a long, long time.
He organises super well. Steers us around the pitch. While we didn't blow them away on the scoreboard, how many poor sets did we have directionally? 1, 2 max. Every set well was well structured and we were consistently getting over the advantage line. Kicking game was quite smart too.
He also runs the ball to the line, engages defenders and then passes. His passing could be a bit crisper, yes, but he'd also benefit from Luai at second receiver who's much better suited there than Doueihi (and of course with To'a and May in the centres who are both better strike options than Turuva and Makasini, for now anyway).
This is a great problem to have. When is the last time we've had several injuries and yet our backups have come in and played like first graders? Normally our first graders play like backups!
He organises super well. Steers us around the pitch. While we didn't blow them away on the scoreboard, how many poor sets did we have directionally? 1, 2 max. Every set well was well structured and we were consistently getting over the advantage line. Kicking game was quite smart too.
He also runs the ball to the line, engages defenders and then passes. His passing could be a bit crisper, yes, but he'd also benefit from Luai at second receiver who's much better suited there than Doueihi (and of course with To'a and May in the centres who are both better strike options than Turuva and Makasini, for now anyway).
This is a great problem to have. When is the last time we've had several injuries and yet our backups have come in and played like first graders? Normally our first graders play like backups!
Can we break the 3 game hoodoo?
Although an unearthed stat from last night is it is our first time winning back-to-back away games since round 15-16 in 2019
Tom Shines
Well-known member
4) Can they win three in a row?
Lot to overcome …
Madden followed up Warriors game with a big game … I have confidence in his goal kicking…
He has a few limitations in his game …like a few others in the team…but I’m looking real hard to keep him in the starting side
Buttface
Well-known member
What about the short kick off for Sam that got us the ball back then kicks one from 45m, when the game is on the line. And the dropout to Sam late in the game. And his cross field kicks to the backs.
He kick shit out of parra.
Can’t be dropped.
Disagree abit. Yes passing needs to be crisper but he is only 2 games in. Still getting used to the team.
His long kicking game is as good as most bar Moses,Cleary and Burton etc. I think API and Luai when he returns needs to kick more to not have a target on himself everytime. He's kicking 50m on the full which is enough if you have a fast play the ball on the last.
He plays direct and is a great organiser. Takes pressure off API I've noticed. Think he should remain and Douhie to centre. Makes defence better on the dges and gives another target for a bomb on that side.
stevied
Well-known member
Thanks for highlighting all those specific kicks Butt. There were many critical examples that had a significant impact on the game. Who else in the squad could have done that? Nitpickers point out a lack of long kicking game but, really, he's been so valuable to the team, the past 2 weeks.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Has done what’s asked of him so far. Been blessed to have been in the right places at the times and capitalised. Saw a comment that some teams might come sniffing for him. We have no reason to let him go next year. He’s proving to be great depth at a minimum. The make up of the bench is going to be really interesting once Luai comes back. Maybe it will mean Latu playing more mins in the middle 🤔
Odessa
Well-known member
He hasn't got a well rounded game but his strengths have been the Tiger's weakness for awhile
One has to wonder if good old Tim Sheenuis philosophy of having the best 17 player's in the club play on game day regardless of position?
Would you pick AD or Seyfart on the bench?
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