Jock Madden #244

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Jock was superb on the boot. Some critical conversions there and he nailed it

 

[Jolls]

Eels v Wests Tigers​

• Dally M votes: Jock Madden 6, Kai Pearce-Paul 2, Jahream Bula 2, Junior Paulo 1, Adam Doueihi 1.

I'm not saying he didn't play well - but there are areas in his game that he needs to work on. You can take that list as gospel(Dally M votes) if you want but looking at his performance critically there were errors (and I highlighted what I saw). I'm not sure what the judges were watching but the reason we didn't win by the length of the Flemington straight is that we didn't take advantage of the damage we made up the centre of the park. I can point very clearly to the two players responsible for not taking advantage of that - and they had 6 and 7 on their back.

 

[Buttface]

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.

Sorry, just it’s been so long since we’ve had a proper 7, I’m a little excited.

 

[Ed Reschs]

Jock is doing a good job; but, he isn't shining as brightly as some on here think. I expect that many overate Jock's preformances as we haven't had a decent halso for so long. There is a difference in the quality of what Jock has been producing for us and the leading halfbacks. That is not to say that with more reps and some hard work he can't progress.

It is the small differences in quality that make a difference on the scoreboard. The fundamentals are fine: he finds the grass with his kicks when required, he digs into the line, has a reasonable passing game and brings his supports onto the ball (for the most part). On the downside. His kicking is reasonably accurate, certainly the best in the club, but he does not always land it where it needs to be. He needs to land it on top of the defender so Tino/Bula have the momentum to outleap the opposition - a couple of times Tino has been in the right place only for him to look silly as the ball goes over his head. This is all about reps - but the Cleary's, Moses' amd Reynolds of the world nail this time after time - and this skill equals points on the scoreboard. On the other side of the coin his defence just isn't there - it could be a bit of rust and adapting to a new system. His defence agaisnt Parra certainly improved over last week, but he got himself into the perfect position to defend both Simonsson's and Twidle's first try and missed the assignment by going too high and over the top of the player instead of driving them over the touchline. I think a FG half should nail those defensive moments as getting that right would have saved 8 points!

Don't get me wrong Jock is playing well - but I think we need to be a bit more critical of his performances; there is definitely room for improvement and I think he would agee.

The guy got all 6 Dally M points. First true 7 we have had in many many years

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

 

[Buttface]

Jock is doing a good job; but, he isn't shining as brightly as some on here think. I expect that many overate Jock's preformances as we haven't had a decent halso for so long. There is a difference in the quality of what Jock has been producing for us and the leading halfbacks. That is not to say that with more reps and some hard work he can't progress.

It is the small differences in quality that make a difference on the scoreboard. The fundamentals are fine: he finds the grass with his kicks when required, he digs into the line, has a reasonable passing game and brings his supports onto the ball (for the most part). On the downside. His kicking is reasonably accurate, certainly the best in the club, but he does not always land it where it needs to be. He needs to land it on top of the defender so Tino/Bula have the momentum to outleap the opposition - a couple of times Tino has been in the right place only for him to look silly as the ball goes over his head. This is all about reps - but the Cleary's, Moses' amd Reynolds of the world nail this time after time - and this skill equals points on the scoreboard. On the other side of the coin his defence just isn't there - it could be a bit of rust and adapting to a new system. His defence agaisnt Parra certainly improved over last week, but he got himself into the perfect position to defend both Simonsson's and Twidle's first try and missed the assignment by going too high and over the top of the player instead of driving them over the touchline. I think a FG half should nail those defensive moments as getting that right would have saved 8 points!

Don't get me wrong Jock is playing well - but I think we need to be a bit more critical of his performances; there is definitely room for improvement and I think he would agee.

I will admit to being a little blinded by the light and riding the wave, but as I said before the game consistency is his next challenge. I reckon you’re a little harsh but fair. He is landing some of those kicks perfectly but yeah not all and that second cover tackle he should’ve got, but if we have a ref who doesn’t get dominated by the maggot we have 13 on the park.
Fair points though Jolls and by Tuesday 4pm I usually take the rose coloured glasses off.

 

[BBTF]

I agree that some people are getting carried away (god love them). He is doing a great job as a back up half and doing some good things. Some of the areas he is doing well in are much better than what we have had (EG - short kicking), but his passing is really slow and the distribution from centre of the field to the edges has been painful. His long kicking game is pretty limited. He is trying to torp it to get more distance but really struggles. He even kicked early on the 3rd tackle yesterday and Greg Alexander commented it didn't have the legs on it at all.

Don't get me wrong. I am a fan. I think he is a good game manager, and has his assets. With all the ball we had from 20-60 mins yesterday, we should have blown Parra out of the game, but we didn't have the players to do it.

 

[bbobb]

I agree that some people are getting carried away (god love them). He is doing a great job as a back up half and doing some good things. Some of the areas he is doing well in are much better than what we have had (EG - short kicking), but his passing is really slow and the distribution from centre of the field to the edges has been painful. His long kicking game is pretty limited. He is trying to torp it to get more distance but really struggles. He even kicked early on the 3rd tackle yesterday and Greg Alexander commented it didn't have the legs on it at all.

Don't get me wrong. I am a fan. I think he is a good game manager, and has his assets. With all the ball we had from 20-60 mins yesterday, we should have blown Parra out of the game, but we didn't have the players to do it.

Personally, I think he is doing exceptionally well for a guy that didn’t play NRL last year and just iced a pressure win in his second game this year.
I agree he has things to work on but I would. think there is some up side here. I am looking forward to see where his ceiling is after he can get a few games under his belt.

 

[stevied]

Sorry, just it’s been so long since we’ve had a proper 7, I’m a little excited.

No, I meant it Butt! There were so many pinpoint kicks and I forgot some of them. I agree, great to have a genuine halfback!

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

85mins
16 runs
94 run metres
5 pcm
1 try assist
25 tackles made
1 forced dropout

 

[GNR4LIFE]

 

[happy_tiger]

They said Douhie's groin issue was due to the demands of running more as a half, and he's not kicking because of it. Makes an easy case to move him to the centre where we have injuries.

My only issue is that his lateral movement seems compromised ....and you can't be dealing with that at centre
Once his groin is good.....no worries at centre

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

This guy has to be in top 13. I have to disagree with Braith Anasta. This guy keeps the team real. Moving forwards Not sideways.

 

[EllisFan]

85mins
16 runs
94 run metres
5 pcm
1 try assist
25 tackles made
1 forced dropout

1kg of ice in his veins

 

[stevied]

1kg of ice in his veins

Seems that way now. Has self belief.

 

[EllisFan]

Seems that way now. Has self belief.

The ability to block out the madness of that crowd and put it over the black dot from 40m out tells me a lot about that guy. Enjoying watching him play and could prove the sneaky recruitment story of the season.

 

[mtd#2]

Interested to see what Benji does with Jock going forward. That was one of the best kicking performances I've ever seen from a WT half. Doueihi and Luai are better players than him and are more important to the team, but neither of them have the skill set he does.

Depending on how the next few weeks go, Jock has the opportunity to force Benji's hand so that he can't be left out.

His kicking game alone warrants selection imo. Our last tackle options are sooooooo much better than we have ever had before. He has the ball on a string and I reckon theres plenty more to come

 

[crazycat]

For all the criticism...
This is our RESERVE HALF.

Jock has done better then:
Sezer
Brooks
Jackson Hastings
Humble
John Morris when at halfback.

Look does he have points to improve, YES. He will improve them.
Our halves are meant to be Luai and AD. Jock is easily outshining a whole littany of failed halfbacks and failed reserve halfbacks at our club.

 

[Tim Sheens]

I agree that some people are getting carried away (god love them). He is doing a great job as a back up half and doing some good things. Some of the areas he is doing well in are much better than what we have had (EG - short kicking), but his passing is really slow and the distribution from centre of the field to the edges has been painful. His long kicking game is pretty limited. He is trying to torp it to get more distance but really struggles. He even kicked early on the 3rd tackle yesterday and Greg Alexander commented it didn't have the legs on it at all.

Don't get me wrong. I am a fan. I think he is a good game manager, and has his assets. With all the ball we had from 20-60 mins yesterday, we should have blown Parra out of the game, but we didn't have the players to do it.

To be fair, we did pretty well blow "Parra out of the game" during that period and a lot of that was due to Api being able to concentrate on his own role with Madden controlling things.

The match turned the moment that Turuva at centre couldn't ice the try scoring opportunity, when Taylan would probably have been a player able "to do it". Then the unlucky sin bin because of injury truly resurrected the eels hopes. Laulilii then made up for that with great yardage to keep us in it.

 

[king_sirro]

I agree that some people are getting carried away (god love them). He is doing a great job as a back up half and doing some good things. Some of the areas he is doing well in are much better than what we have had (EG - short kicking), but his passing is really slow and the distribution from centre of the field to the edges has been painful. His long kicking game is pretty limited. He is trying to torp it to get more distance but really struggles. He even kicked early on the 3rd tackle yesterday and Greg Alexander commented it didn't have the legs on it at all.

Don't get me wrong. I am a fan. I think he is a good game manager, and has his assets. With all the ball we had from 20-60 mins yesterday, we should have blown Parra out of the game, but we didn't have the players to do it.

Long kicking game limited? He has the biggest boot in the club by a long way