Matt Bell - Lock

[Tiger8989]

What a difference it makes to our defense when he starts at lock.
Last year when Rhino was injured he started at lock 2 or 3 times and I think we won all games.
He is hands down the best defender we have at the club and tightened up the middle of the ruck bigtime.
Ball and all tackles and prevents offloads.
His attack isnt great, but as long as he makes 10 meters and pops the occasional ball then he should start.
He's not really an impact player so not much use of the bench - he should be there for the first 30mins and the last 20 mins….it is one of the main reasons we improved last night.

 

[Peaches]

Yeah he was certainly good at lock. I think its his best position too. Definately looked a different team without Anasta and Fulton in the backrow.

 

[kh_canada]

Yeah our backrow having a clean slate worked well. Thompson is obviously a starter, but he would also be effective as an impact player. Bell also made a good start from second row, we just have to sort through Blair's best position.. if Bell takes 13 and Blair doesn't work effectively from second row then we have a problem on our hands..

 

[Goose]

very good defensively, lacks punch in attack, but there is very few "perfect players"

I like him in our side defending in the middle

 

[mtd]

his attack will come the more game time he gets

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[stevetiger]

I really like him. I think he is one of our best defenders and he has the size to play prop. At lock he cleans up all the time.

I'm not sure where to play him but I think we need him out there.

 

[TIGER]

Meh

 

[system]

He has a great tackling style at the hips which controls the offensive player on the ground as well

 

[everett]

Big fan of his and our best buy last year.

Great defender and his best position is lock. Maybe he can rotate with Fulton coming off the bench.

 

[Wacko_Jacko]

Tackles anything that moves, made 3-4 tackles on line on Monday night where he just made effort after effort. There the type of players I want in my team

 

[LaT]

When he went to lock last year he started with a blinder, something like 44 tackles and was great. Other games at 13 were less effective. I remember Bell missing a few games last year because he was dealing with some personal things at the time, hopefully everything is going well off field and we see him enjoying footy. He has certainly been a value signing for us.

 

[snowleopard]

When he went to lock last year he started with a blinder, something like 44 tackles and was great. Other games at 13 were less effective. I remember Bell missing a few games last year because he was dealing with some personal things at the time, hopefully everything is going well off field and we see him enjoying footy. He has certainly been a value signing for us.

Agree LAT. That game was against Penrith and it really showed his potential as lock. For us to be successful in 2013 we need a player who can lockup the middle of the ruck..and that is what he has proven to be very good at, especially against Storm on Monday night. This must put a lot of pressure on Blair ..and that is a good thing.

On a side note I see that Moors was given a couple of chances in NRL but is now in State Cup. Seems Bellamy can make big changes in some players..but not in all

 

[boonboon]

Was solid yep but isn't a starting first grader in the nrl. Blair has been in much better form this year and our 2nd best forward behind woods for mine. Bell defends well and needs to interchange with Fulton and perhaps Buchannan

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

He was very impressive and the stats don't. But it was his repititions that was impressive . Melbourne couldn't get through the middle of the Tigers.

Keep him there Mr Potter.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Sorry folks "the sta's don't lie" is what I meant to say - Cheers

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Sorry again - I shouldn't type, holding a stubby of Coopers Pale Ale, listening to Richo on Fox - it's so distracting! I just meant Bell's tackle stats were great! Cheers!

 

[fergiefurr]

He fits well into our team. We have enough guys who can do the flashy stuff, a no frills bloke like bell is perfect for us.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Absolutely right fergiefurr - Missing Heighnington was always going to be the challenge and having a bloke like Anasta in the pack was always a mistake. Bell is a rock in the middle - I'm not worried about his attack just as you said - we've got plenty of try scorers elsewhere - Bell is a man who has a job to do and he did it really well on Monday and I hope he has a chnace to do it again vs the Dragons!

 

[The_Phantom]

One of the best one on one defenders in the side. Certainly stiffens the ruck area up. Might lack a little in attack but he should be in the run on side every week.

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[Shooshmeister]

Is commited like Fulton. Both great defensive players, good attackers, but Bell has a bit more size over Fulton. I'm a fan of both guys, both toilers. Unfortunatley you would have to relegate fulton to the bench where he isn't really an impact player. I think the back row should be Blair, Thompson and Bell. Fulton, Eddy, BMM and Akoula on the bench.