Jock Madden

[Red88_Tiger]

What ever happen with jock I hope he plays a year at 14 before being thrown in the deep end like brooks was. Melbourne do really well in blooding halves and I think it’s the main reason they are able to consistently be strong in the halves

 

[earl]

A few more changes are required than a change of spine.

You are right but it's the biggest area that needs fixing. Our forwards and backs are serviceable.

Imagine swapping Melbourne's, Souths, Penrith's Cronulla's spine with ours. Is there a worse spine in the comp than ours ?

 

[Rusty]

What ever happen with jock I hope he plays a year at 14 before being thrown in the deep end like brooks was. Melbourne do really well in blooding halves and I think it’s the main reason they are able to consistently be strong in the halves

I think sadley he wont be given that chance. He or O'Sullivan will be a Dolphin next year

 

[Shooter Mcgavin]

What ever happen with jock I hope he plays a year at 14 before being thrown in the deep end like brooks was. Melbourne do really well in blooding halves and I think it’s the main reason they are able to consistently be strong in the halves

Yeah would be keen to see halves of Hastings and Madden until AD gets back and AD pushing madden to the bench when he gets some match time under his belt.

Thompson for Brooks swap I’d be down for.
Flanagan for Brooks swap I’d say no deal.

 

[getagrip]

cut it however you want blame whoever you want. Fact is madden drops the ball titans score. He holds possibly different outcome. Brooks doesn’t make the tackle/effort they possibly run the length of the field and score. It is all what ifs but what is fact is madden dropped the ball and they scored.

I'd like to know why he didn't wrap up the ball with both hands instead of trying to fend off a tackler

 

[GNR4LIFE]

cut it however you want blame whoever you want. Fact is madden drops the ball titans score. He holds possibly different outcome. Brooks doesn’t make the tackle/effort they possibly run the length of the field and score. It is all what ifs but what is fact is madden dropped the ball and they scored.

Him losing us the game cemented him as a true Wests Tigers
player.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

I'd like to know why he didn't wrap up the ball with both hands instead of trying to fend off a tackler

Reminds me on that finals game vs NZ when the only thing Moltzen needed to do to was keep his hand on the opposition player…

 

[jirskyr]

I don't know, I just don't see it.

What I see in Jock Madden is epitomised by that 79th-minute error, where he does really try hard and looks to be in the right places at the right time, but lacks killer instinct and has almost zero threat in attack.

If we comparing him to Luke Brooks, that's a very low bar to set. Madden should be clearly pushing himself in to replace Brooks, because Brooks has had 150 lives and nobody will shed a tear if he's dropped, but Madden has not offered anything superior, with his only defence being he is some 145 games junior.

Madden doesn't straighten the play, I've yet to really see a passing game and his tactical kicking really isn't any better than Brooks.

Maybe if you keep him in long enough he'll become a half-decent tough halfback who can kick and tackle, but I can't yet see how he will ever win you a match, or create fear in the opposition. He would need a pretty high-level 5/8th to do the creating for him.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

If we comparing him to Luke Brooks, that's a very low bar to set.

That right there is the root of why there is hype for Madden. He’s done a few good things, but like Laurie last year, anything good he does is being made out like we’re witnessing a prodigy.

 

[sparci]

I don't know, I just don't see it.

What I see in Jock Madden is epitomised by that 79th-minute error, where he does really try hard and looks to be in the right places at the right time, but lacks killer instinct and has almost zero threat in attack.

If we comparing him to Luke Brooks, that's a very low bar to set. Madden should be clearly pushing himself in to replace Brooks, because Brooks has had 150 lives and nobody will shed a tear if he's dropped, but Madden has not offered anything superior, with his only defence being he is some 145 games junior.

Madden doesn't straighten the play, I've yet to really see a passing game and his tactical kicking really isn't any better than Brooks.

Maybe if you keep him in long enough he'll become a half-decent tough halfback who can kick and tackle, but I can't yet see how he will ever win you a match, or create fear in the opposition. He would need a pretty high-level 5/8th to do the creating for him.

had a good passing game, directed the forwards around well, demanded the ball, has a FAR better last tackle kick than brooks lollipop dabs. For a bloke that apparently didn't shine in reserves I think he's done pretty well and is good value for money at the moment. Lacks spark yeah, but hopefully whoever is playing in the halves alongside him will provide that. I think in time with experience this guy can be a very effective organising half that our team desperately needs and has lacked with brooks (seen by his inability to close out the melbourne game for example). Tough break on him last weekend but i really hope he is kept in the starting side.

 

[sparci]

That right there is the root of why there is hype for Madden. He’s done a few good things, but like Laurie last year, anything good he does is being made out like we’re witnessing a prodigy.

not so much hype, but support for a young player coming through.

 

[king_sirro]

I don't know, I just don't see it.

What I see in Jock Madden is epitomised by that 79th-minute error, where he does really try hard and looks to be in the right places at the right time, but lacks killer instinct and has almost zero threat in attack.

If we comparing him to Luke Brooks, that's a very low bar to set. Madden should be clearly pushing himself in to replace Brooks, because Brooks has had 150 lives and nobody will shed a tear if he's dropped, but Madden has not offered anything superior, with his only defence being he is some 145 games junior.

Madden doesn't straighten the play, I've yet to really see a passing game and his tactical kicking really isn't any better than Brooks.

Maybe if you keep him in long enough he'll become a half-decent tough halfback who can kick and tackle, but I can't yet see how he will ever win you a match, or create fear in the opposition. He would need a pretty high-level 5/8th to do the creating for him.

I must be watching a different game. Jock has straightened our attack a number of times that's comparable to how Adam Reynolds does it. He hasn't done it enough, and needs to implement that more, however he has done it a number of times. As far as being no threat, his running game looks much sharper then anticipated. Steps off both feet, and is quick off the mark. He looked likely a few times taking the line on.

So I guess I disagree a fair bit.

 

[TCL]

Him losing us the game cemented him as a true Wests Tigers
player.

I think the young fella has potential and is doing a job for us while Hastings is out. i haven’t seen anything to suggest that he will be picked over brooks when Hastings returns however what have we got to lose.

 

[TrueTiger]

had a good passing game, directed the forwards around well, demanded the ball, has a FAR better last tackle kick than brooks lollipop dabs. For a bloke that apparently didn't shine in reserves I think he's done pretty well and is good value for money at the moment. Lacks spark yeah, but hopefully whoever is playing in the halves alongside him will provide that. I think in time with experience this guy can be a very effective organising half that our team desperately needs and has lacked with brooks (seen by his inability to close out the melbourne game for example). Tough break on him last weekend but i really hope he is kept in the starting side.

I reckon with the lack of games last year and the chance of playing in FG this year,under Madges coaching he is improving every week,slowly but surely his skills and ability are starting to come through.....at least one thing is for sure he is an honest worker who always trys his best....

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I must be watching a different game. Jock has straightened our attack a number of times that's comparable to how Adam Reynolds does it. He hasn't done it enough, and needs to implement that more, however he has done it a number of times. As far as being no threat, his running game looks much sharper then anticipated. Steps off both feet, and is quick off the mark. He looked likely a few times taking the line on.

So I guess I disagree a fair bit.

100% our attack was far more direct when Jock was in charge it also looked more co-ordinated to the wider men. When Brooks was leading it we just looked totally lost unless he was up for a blindside play.

Jock looked to play eyes up footy, Brooks is in a massive rut and playing game plan football but without actually driving the play when an opportunity arises.

 

[Lukic]

He played pretty well. Not crowning him, but was a level above Brooks (doesn't mean much) and pretty good for a younger, inexperienced bloke.

The Titans have a pack with plenty of representative level players and yet we held our own in the field position battle. Madden's organisational play was a big part of it. You could see him standing in at first-receiver a lot and calling the plays to help structure our sets. Having a halfback that can do this makes a huge difference and goes to show how the success of your forward pack is as much about the quality of the players steering them around the pitch as it is the forwards themselves. There's a reason why teams like the Storm, Roosters, Souths, Penrith can chuck half a reserve grade pack out onto the field and still win the field position battle. It's why I hate all the completely insane comments people defend Brooks with blaming our pack or the forwards for his failures when the truth is, his failures as a halfback are why we would always get destroyed in the field position battle.

I don't think Madden will ever be one of the league's great halves. He doesn't have game-breaking speed, strength or running-ability generally. His boot is ok and it looks like he can create overlaps and put people through gaps. I think he projects as someone who could be a decent enough first grader, especially if paired with an FB and 5/8th who can create points. Laurie (if he gets back into form) and Doueihi actually fit reasonably well with him I think, but I wouldn't play him ahead of Hastings as I'd really like to see Hastings/Doueihi have a good go of it first.

End of the day, he's certainly worth offering an extension. You could do a lot worse than him as your back-up halfback, and I think he's definitely good enough to win footy games with in an organising halfback role.

 

[Roar_Power]

I think Madden has really stepped up this year…and I didn’t think he had it in him. Looked really good in the Roosters trial and his short and long kicking are strengths. Could be the long term saviour but I’ll reserve judgment to mid year.

 

[Madge]

On a similar trajectory to Tom Dearden. Make of that what you will. They play a very similar style. We're a regular pairing together for the schoolboys for a couple of years.