M'BYE

[TonyTiger]

Mbye has bulked up too much which has affected his pace and agility, hopefully he can get some sprint training under his belt during the summer - he looked awesome for us when he came over toward the end of 2018 - was very sharp and always looking to capitalise. This year he looked like a Disinterested slug.
He’s a Clayton's Captain - too quiet, Benji and Robbie handled the role for him this year.
Benji should be anointed captain this year in his final season, he has the passion to drive us and just look what the Kiwi Captaincy did for him!
(Benji getting 800k less than Latrell to captain the side - totally unselfish - Rockstar Legend!)

 

[Tiger_Steve]

Bottom line for me is that he is worth $500k odd. So unless WT were to be paying well less than the difference between that and his actual contract to offload him, then there is no point trying to move him on and even less reason for us to keep worrying about it. Paying overs for sure, but that is done and can't be changed whether Moses remains or not, so time to suck it up and just move on.

Can't be any worse than the Farah contract/s situation, which cost WT plenty and they are still paying a price for.

I reckon this is exactly right. He isn't really a problem for us. You can also use him wherever we need him most. You can play him at 9 next year for instance.


Got me thinking Earl.....beyond forgetting what we are paying for him, and beyond his potential at centre. He really does have possibly the most versatile skillset (maybe with MCK) in the club. Can play 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 in various levels of capability.

Cant we all play 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9... with varying levels of ability?

 

[Tiger5150]

Bottom line for me is that he is worth $500k odd. So unless WT were to be paying well less than the difference between that and his actual contract to offload him, then there is no point trying to move him on and even less reason for us to keep worrying about it. Paying overs for sure, but that is done and can't be changed whether Moses remains or not, so time to suck it up and just move on.

Can't be any worse than the Farah contract/s situation, which cost WT plenty and they are still paying a price for.

I reckon this is exactly right. He isn't really a problem for us. You can also use him wherever we need him most. You can play him at 9 next year for instance.


Got me thinking Earl.....beyond forgetting what we are paying for him, and beyond his potential at centre. He really does have possibly the most versatile skillset (maybe with MCK) in the club. Can play 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 in various levels of capability.

Cant we all play 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9... with varying levels of ability?

Not to NRL standard, no.

Thompson....could play 1, 2 or 5
Nofo 2 or 5
Momo, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc

Benji is probably the other one that could cover the same positions but at his age, Id have Mbye as more versatile

 

[TYGA]

@Earl It's more the intensity and work ethic that I think might have prompted @TYGA alluded to as "avoiding collision". The fullback role is a demanding position. The centre position I feel as though suits Mbye, as he has the pockets of intensities that vary, where he can pick his moments at the right time, and blanket his deficiencies in that department., i.e the rushing defence, shutting down the play and putting on a big hit.

I was referring mainly to multiple feeble tackles at fullback which were Mitchell Moses style. He improved at centre after getting a rocket and moved by the coach. That’s after being given the honour of captaincy. It’s the same story at the Dogs did exactly the same things. He was good at centre there too so maybe Madge has worked out his best role. It’s not Mbyes fault Cleary can’t manage a salary cap or value players properly.

 

[Madge]

@TYGA ah alright, apologies.

 

[TYGA]

@TYGA ah alright, apologies.

All good

 

[happy_tiger]

I think a lot of the baggage with Mbye is not only that he is being paid overs but that he was brought to the club as a bit of a saviour at a time when we needed not only a name but a strike attacking weapon. Mbye isnt really either. Ironically I think he was suffering the same thing at Bulldogs.

If....massive IF.....we managed to jag Latrell, well Mbye is no longer that guy. Sure he is still getting paid ridiculous money but less expectation. I think if Mbye could be left to just do a job, he could do it well.

Personally I was very pleasantly surprised with his performance in the centres. Defensively he was the best in the comp and i think there is a bit of upside there.

Overall I was pleased with the way Madge read him and used him last year. Massive difference from previous coaches in that when something wasnt working, we didnt just keep banging away it it for a whole season (think Rankin etc).

Good point Glenn ..the focus on him would lessen greatly from opposition teams if we get more attacking options

But then it depends what position he will now play as well

 

[Tiger_Steve]

I think a lot of the baggage with Mbye is not only that he is being paid overs but that he was brought to the club as a bit of a saviour at a time when we needed not only a name but a strike attacking weapon. Mbye isnt really either. Ironically I think he was suffering the same thing at Bulldogs.

If....massive IF.....we managed to jag Latrell, well Mbye is no longer that guy. Sure he is still getting paid ridiculous money but less expectation. I think if Mbye could be left to just do a job, he could do it well.

Personally I was very pleasantly surprised with his performance in the centres. Defensively he was the best in the comp and i think there is a bit of upside there.

Overall I was pleased with the way Madge read him and used him last year. Massive difference from previous coaches in that when something wasnt working, we didnt just keep banging away it it for a whole season (think Rankin etc).

Good point Glenn ..the focus on him would lessen greatly from opposition teams if we get more attacking options

But then it depends what position he will now play as well

Thought someone said on here that Maguire wants him as 9. This really surprises me as I thought Benji and Reynolds were excellent at the end of last year

 

[happy_tiger]

I think a lot of the baggage with Mbye is not only that he is being paid overs but that he was brought to the club as a bit of a saviour at a time when we needed not only a name but a strike attacking weapon. Mbye isnt really either. Ironically I think he was suffering the same thing at Bulldogs.

If....massive IF.....we managed to jag Latrell, well Mbye is no longer that guy. Sure he is still getting paid ridiculous money but less expectation. I think if Mbye could be left to just do a job, he could do it well.

Personally I was very pleasantly surprised with his performance in the centres. Defensively he was the best in the comp and i think there is a bit of upside there.

Overall I was pleased with the way Madge read him and used him last year. Massive difference from previous coaches in that when something wasnt working, we didnt just keep banging away it it for a whole season (think Rankin etc).

Good point Glenn ..the focus on him would lessen greatly from opposition teams if we get more attacking options

But then it depends what position he will now play as well

Thought someone said on here that Maguire wants him as 9. This really surprises me as I thought Benji and Reynolds were excellent at the end of last year

Short term that worked I agree , but I can't see Benji keeping that up for 25 rounds

 

[Sart0ri]

Watching the highlights reminded how good he has been at times. I don't know how much of last year he was injured but he looked down on confidence.

It can be tricky to get the best out of players, people need the right amount of direction and pressure and it is different for everyone. I would say he is one of the options for 5/8 next year, if he could be close to his best most games then that would be awesome for the WT.

 

[tigertye]

@happy_tiger

If they go down that path again next year with Benji covering hooker to start, who plays 6? Didn’t Matto cover it last year?

Will be interesting to see what happens with the No.9 next year. Liddle’s out for the foreseeable future. Brittain has only been rumoured and Simpkin probably isn’t ready.

I think Mbye is almost going to be forced to play 9 or 6 to start games because Reynold’s can’t go 80.

Talau seems like the only one who’s shown he can handle centre to cover Mbye. For what it’s worth I think Mbye and Momirovski are our best centre pairing, but lack of a quality 80 minute No. 9 might force some changes.

3.Talau
4.Momirovski
6.Marshall
7.Brooks
9.Mbye

14.Reynolds

or


3.Talau
4.Momirovski
6.Mbye
7.Brooks
9.Marshall

14.Reynolds

 

[hammertime]

Centre this year, then 5/8th next year when benji retires.

 

[steve-o]

@tigertye I think you’re right with the first grouping i.e. Mbye at 9, Benji at 6.

 

[tigertye]

@steve-o

Yeah. Marshall went well there at the start of games, but I think it’s much cleaner and disruptive to the team to just interchange the 9’s between the bench if that’s the way they decide to go.

 

[happy_tiger]

@happy_tiger

If they go down that path again next year with Benji covering hooker to start, who plays 6? Didn’t Matto cover it last year?

Will be interesting to see what happens with the No.9 next year. Liddle’s out for the foreseeable future. Brittain has only been rumoured and Simpkin probably isn’t ready.

I think Mbye is almost going to be forced to play 9 or 6 to start games because Reynold’s can’t go 80.

Talau seems like the only one who’s shown he can handle centre to cover Mbye. For what it’s worth I think Mbye and Momirovski are our best centre pairing, but lack of a quality 80 minute No. 9 might force some changes.

3.Talau
4.Momirovski
6.Marshall
7.Brooks
9.Mbye

14.Reynolds

or


3.Talau
4.Momirovski
6.Mbye
7.Brooks
9.Marshall

14.Reynolds

The problem as @geo pointed out is who defends in the middle if we go with that plan

Ideally we need an actual hooker and the uncertainty with Liddle in 2020 doesn't help the situation

 

[Dyloh]

They should use Mbye instead of the Shar Peis for for the Purex ad, dude is sofT with a capital T. Make a mean as man of steel for 2022 but.

 

[Jimmy]

@happy_tiger
my best guess is
Mbye attack at 6, defend at 9
Benji attack at 9, defend at 6
JR off the bench for the majority of the game
with a Back 5 consisting of
1.Trell
2.Thommo
3.Momo
4.Talau
5.Nofo

in saying that I really hope that doesn't happen as that just straight-up sucks
this is what I hope we see in 2020
1.Trell
2.Momo
3.Mbye
4.Talau
5.Nofo
6.Benji

9.Grub

14.Thommo(lose foward, backline cover, could spend time around the ruck for 10 mins if grub is tired.

 

[tigertye]

@happy_tiger


That's very true. Whether Mbye or Reynolds could cover the middle in defence is another story. They're both on a good pay packet and decent players in their own right which makes it hard to leave them out of the team, but this hooker issue could force them both to play there and they'll have to work on their defence through the off season.

Outside of Liddle, there really isn't anyone who comes to mind that's dedicated no.9 in the squad with Farah gone. Once Liddle's back I have doubts as to whether he can get through 80mins anyway.

I like Reynolds. He puts the team first and brings plenty of energy to the team. He's a quality backup for Benji and has a little bit of utility value, but his price tag to cover that role isn't worth it.

If we could somehow get another club to pick up most of his contract (which would be tough) and pick up a decent 80min hooker, I think the balance of the team would be much better.

That would allow us to pick another forward utility on the bench (maybe MCK) who can cover centre. Play Mbye at centre and if injury strikes Mbye can cover a backline reshuffle. Instead of playing musical chairs with players just to cover this issue with the no.9.

 

[TheDaBoss]

sigh



can we have a trail match in december please.... 🙂


and can Lawrence not get a horrenderous injury during a practice match

 

[trafford10]

Mybe contract value is $950k pa. Luckly for you guys the dogs are STILL paying $175k a season to the end of his contact.