Luke Garner

[weststigerman]

Massively improved since round 1. The rule changes seem to help him.

His defence has improved a lot and he’s very dangerous running off Brooks.

 

[BAGNF05]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

 

[hobbo1]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

But now we’re on 2
They’re on zero ?

 

[tigger19]

Didn't think he could turn it around but has, really putting in and great to see

 

[tony soprano]

He is super fit now. Credit to coaching and performance staff. He is a beast!

Dominate player.

 

[tony soprano]

I heard him in a video saying takes him an hour to get ready in the morning because he does Sculli breathing exercises. Must be really following the program.

 

[tony soprano]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

2 is like 27 to us

 

[sleeve]

Never understood the spray Garner copped on here a few weeks back because imo at the time he was the only forward who was making dominant aggressive tackles. I think his form all year has been pretty good and currently he is almost first forward picked. Great to see him playing well.

Yes, i had many arguments saying the same as you. People were bagging, Twal, Brookes,and Garner, when they were playing well. I think it's a mind set people get! I said months ago , he has a Steve Menzies look about him, a definite keeper.

 

[old_man_tiger]

The criticism I had of him wasn't in regards to technique, he is one of our best in that regard. It was positional. Something has changed on the edges apparently. They mentioned this after magic round and although the warriors game was vomit worthy our last 3 wins have shown better defensive structures and Garner has looked great.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Both Garner and Blore ate up the metres last night. Huge effort in post-contact. Brooks is doing a great job at isolating defenders on the left side. It's coming off good work in the middle. Brooks can run the ball then pick a man to make metres. It's all coming together.

The boys in the middle need to keep this up because that's where it all starts. What I saw last night late in the game was a blueprint for how we need to play.
1. Amone or Stefano take a hit up, get front-foot ball,
2. Brooks hits an edge player, either the second rower or centre, whoever is in a better position to make a good run.
3. Spread the ball. Should be able to get a fast play of the ball if the defence numbers up.
4. If we got a fast play, spread it again. Should be hitting an edge player on the other side if you can. Short side could be an option too.
5. Keep hitting them until last play, then the halfback should choose his best kick.

It's how rugby league has been played for 100+ years. We finally have the cattle to execute a simple game plan. I'm seeing us execute our good-ball sets a lot better these days. Our guys have plenty of experience executing a bad ball set, that's been drilled in over the last 2.5 years. Now our guys actually know how to execute a good ball set, and it's showing in the improved quality of our performances.

The halves seem to recognise when it is a bad-ball set and when it's a good ball set. I think this is Moses Mbye's greatest quality, and why Brooks has been a revelation lately. Last night is what a game looks like when it has been managed well by the halves. It's what we've been screaming for for years. It warmed my heart to see. Conversely, Penrith's halves poorly managed their sets. They were slow, clunky, and didn't seem to know where to go. I give credit to our defence for this. Guys like Brooks and Seyfarth were so quick that Penrith felt panicked.

Great insight, thanks.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

2 is like 27 to us

not a bad effort since everyone said, "this Panthers team is still much better than the WT FG" :blush:

 

[cochise]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

2 is like 27 to us

not a bad effort since everyone said, "this Panthers team is still much better than the WT FG" :blush:

On paper it was.

 

[clontarfkid]

Big difference hes not falling off critical tackles this season...that was a dealbreaker in previous seasons

Looks more effective in attack too...possibly a little bigger??
Hes now a keeper

 

[BAGNF05]

Still lazy and will get found out if we’re in any important games at the business end. Wins against depleted Dragons and ravaged Panthers shouldn’t change opinions too much.

 

[rihannafan1]

Both Garner and Blore ate up the metres last night. Huge effort in post-contact. Brooks is doing a great job at isolating defenders on the left side. It's coming off good work in the middle. Brooks can run the ball then pick a man to make metres. It's all coming together.

The boys in the middle need to keep this up because that's where it all starts. What I saw last night late in the game was a blueprint for how we need to play.
1. Amone or Stefano take a hit up, get front-foot ball,
2. Brooks hits an edge player, either the second rower or centre, whoever is in a better position to make a good run.
3. Spread the ball. Should be able to get a fast play of the ball if the defence numbers up.
4. If we got a fast play, spread it again. Should be hitting an edge player on the other side if you can. Short side could be an option too.
5. Keep hitting them until last play, then the halfback should choose his best kick.

It's how rugby league has been played for 100+ years. We finally have the cattle to execute a simple game plan. I'm seeing us execute our good-ball sets a lot better these days. Our guys have plenty of experience executing a bad ball set, that's been drilled in over the last 2.5 years. Now our guys actually know how to execute a good ball set, and it's showing in the improved quality of our performances.

The halves seem to recognise when it is a bad-ball set and when it's a good ball set. I think this is Moses Mbye's greatest quality, and why Brooks has been a revelation lately. Last night is what a game looks like when it has been managed well by the halves. It's what we've been screaming for for years. It warmed my heart to see. Conversely, Penrith's halves poorly managed their sets. They were slow, clunky, and didn't seem to know where to go. I give credit to our defence for this. Guys like Brooks and Seyfarth were so quick that Penrith felt panicked.

Bloody well said. We are making so many more 50m+ sets this past month. The last few seasons there were so many games where we were stuck with 40m sets, bringing guys like Taylor and Huth off the bench (good clubmen, average players).

 

[Lukic]

Garner looked really good when he first came into first on the left edge when Rowdy got injured. For whatever reason last year Madge moved him to the right edge and Luciano to the left and that was a huge part of why Garner regressed. Some people are just better suited to a certain side with the way they run lines, carry the ball and their footwork. Garner's pretty clearly one of those players and it's no surprise that swapping them again has seen his form improve.

 

[happy_tiger]

Garner looked really good when he first came into first on the left edge when Rowdy got injured. For whatever reason last year Madge moved him to the right edge and Luciano to the left and that was a huge part of why Garner regressed. Some people are just better suited to a certain side with the way they run lines, carry the ball and their footwork. Garner's pretty clearly one of those players and it's no surprise that swapping them again has seen his form improve.

For most blokes it is their palm .....Ellery Hanley was a great example

 

[hodgo]

i wasnt a garner fan. he always had skills but seemed disinterested in defence. The last month and a bit i honestly think you could argue that he has been everybit as good as luch and luch has been real good.

 

[rustycage]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

27 in a row?

Each time I've watched Kikau this season, he's been a good player in a good team. I'm kind of thinking he's a bit of a myth. He certainly is imposing, but there's plenty of games that he's far from a stand out. Garner has been very solid for some time now and I'm hoping still on an upward trajectory.

 

[DGilly]

I think he’s been strong in defence! Every now and then he bends someone in defence, just needs to do it more. I also agree he’s not the type to do dirty hit ups out of trouble. But I think we can use him more in attacking. Use him like a kikau is close to the line! He can break a tackle. Hopefully this comes the more our combinations play together, I feel like we don’t use our edges as well either.

Comparing Garner and Kikau ?

We can compare Garner to Kikau now after last night. I know who I'm preferring.

One hot day don’t make a summer. Panthers won 27 in a row, we’ve won 2.

Didn't realise the GF was 27 games ago