stevied
Well-known member
And he still has a penchant for cutting back inside when he has men on the outside waiting for the ball. Great runner but not a halfback A lot of us see it. Why doesn't Benji?
LIVE GAME Round 7 versus Brisbane
- Thread starter Suzie-Q
- Start date
Live Game Discussion
king_sirro
Well-known member
Doueihi is in great form as a footballer. So bloody valuable ti this team and provides so much spark. However he is in ordinary form as a 7 in regards to what the team needs him to do. If he could do the traditional 7 stuff and also play the way he is he woukd be a million dollar player. He just doesn't have the ball playing and it will cost us a finals spot if Benji sticks with him.
stevied
Well-known member
And none of the following factors should mean that Douehi at 7 is set in concrete;
*Preseason training with Luai and Douhie at 6 and 7
*Douehi's rapport with Benji
*Douehi's express desire and belief that he should be a half
*Douehi's leadership qualities
*Douehi's outstanding form when running the ball
*Fear that moving Douehi will affect his form
For the umpteenth time, Douehi is not a 7. Neither is Luai but he's played Origin as a 6. Madden is a 7 and had the team humming in attack. In my opinion, Benji needs to make the hard call. Jock and Jarome at 6 and 7, Douehi at 13 or 3, not sure which one.
crazycat
Well-known member
Makasini was suffering from Nerves BAD.
He did drop it twice.
A little time in reserve grade and he will be right.
AD is dumb. Good player but dumb. Runs and runs and runs which is great as a 6. But he got so outplayed by a smart Reynolds not funny. Even that try before half time Reynolds counted the numbers at marker and put a player through in the inside. You could see his eyes before the play.
AD gets the ball and thinks run or has some pre existing play in his head like bringing KPP back in on the inside which is so telegraphed and slow.
AD thinks run first.
Our 20m attack has been terrible for years w/o a half.
We never run block plays or strip numbers and when jock did it last week and AD passed to Bula we scored.
The problem with AD is his lebbo staunch ego. If he’s not the main man he goes into is shell a bit which is why at center he’s not been great in the past. Mitch moses is the same. Staunch leb. If he’s not calling the shots he goes quiet. Robbie farah was the same. It’s in their nature.
Unfortunately we have jarome so he ain’t getting moved so it’s AD to center and jock to 7.
If jock played last night or against souths we win.
Everyone underestimates a controlling half.
AD has a terrible passing game.
Yes he’s a game breaker, great runner, strong carrier etc.
But as I said to my mate - the only way we win with AD at 7 is if he has a blinder of a game. He has to almost win them solo for us like he did against bulldogs last year but that’s not sustainable every week.
Idk if Benji has the balls to move AD to center just yet. He might give it another go but we looked so much better with. Jock on the field last night when he came on
AD gets the ball and thinks run or has some pre existing play in his head like bringing KPP back in on the inside which is so telegraphed and slow.
AD thinks run first.
Our 20m attack has been terrible for years w/o a half.
We never run block plays or strip numbers and when jock did it last week and AD passed to Bula we scored.
The problem with AD is his lebbo staunch ego. If he’s not the main man he goes into is shell a bit which is why at center he’s not been great in the past. Mitch moses is the same. Staunch leb. If he’s not calling the shots he goes quiet. Robbie farah was the same. It’s in their nature.
Unfortunately we have jarome so he ain’t getting moved so it’s AD to center and jock to 7.
If jock played last night or against souths we win.
Everyone underestimates a controlling half.
AD has a terrible passing game.
Yes he’s a game breaker, great runner, strong carrier etc.
But as I said to my mate - the only way we win with AD at 7 is if he has a blinder of a game. He has to almost win them solo for us like he did against bulldogs last year but that’s not sustainable every week.
Idk if Benji has the balls to move AD to center just yet. He might give it another go but we looked so much better with. Jock on the field last night when he came on
watersider
Well-known member
It's interesting to change your halfback after such a period of stability and quality from the team. That's a run of form we've not seen since 2019 and we made quite a few changes to accommodate returning players.
I don't know if madden makes the difference but it surely leaves everyone wondering if he would have. Just highlights why it is unwise to switch a winning team.
On the halves, they seemed to both start at first receiver wider of the ruck than madden does and they weren't playing straight or fast, often changing the pace or cutting back, which led to a more improvised style of play. It took longer for them to get the ball and their wider play made our backline slower and more bunched. This gave Brisbane time to push up and pressure our outside backs.
When luai and doueihi combined it was sideways and messy.
When madden plays halfback he seems closer to the ruck in receiving the ball and he also plays straight. This pulls the defensive line towards him and creates space out wide as a consequence, where luai and doueihi setup wider and pulled defenders towards the outside. Madden also passes faster and sets up mainly to also get the ball on the next play. This made us fluid and threatening. I've seen doueihi play this way where he is more direct and simple in his movements, but he's currently in his mode where he gets indecisive and stuck with the ball too much.
The kicking produced a number of turnovers and a try, but it didn't feel like it had the same control and placement of madden.
Madden's play in our run of wins wasn't perfect, we squandered plenty of chances with him, but I think this game proved how much better we looked with him organising us. It was noticeable in the attacking areas, but I also felt we struggled switching momentum effectively in the way a madden long range kick has done for us.
I really think it starts with madden at 7. Our team needs someone steering the team around and simple and consistent style against the more improvised play of our outside backs and forwards. Having both halves also playing that way just doesn't work. You need a better mix, and it's not really about player quality as both Doueihi and luai obviously have their strengths. Doueihi seems a more natural fit in the halves for Madden being a strong running type, but luai could also be a decent pairing with him.
I don't like doueihi in the centres. I know it should work because of his running and strength, but he never handles the reduced space of centre well and lacks that burst of acceleration that the best centres have. His best spot is at 6, and potentially at fullback, so I'd either play him there or not.
I also like the role Latu plays off the bench and I wouldn't put our spare half on the bench. You just have to make the hard decision and pick one and drop the other.
Alternatively, if they persist with doueihi he has to play halfback as a halfback. That is closer to the ruck running straight and on the front foot with a pass first mentality. None of this dinking around.
We need a halfback. Benji's pursuit of Reynolds and recruitment of madden at least highlights he sees this. Big test for Benji to solve this issue and negotiate the personalities.
I don't know if madden makes the difference but it surely leaves everyone wondering if he would have. Just highlights why it is unwise to switch a winning team.
On the halves, they seemed to both start at first receiver wider of the ruck than madden does and they weren't playing straight or fast, often changing the pace or cutting back, which led to a more improvised style of play. It took longer for them to get the ball and their wider play made our backline slower and more bunched. This gave Brisbane time to push up and pressure our outside backs.
When luai and doueihi combined it was sideways and messy.
When madden plays halfback he seems closer to the ruck in receiving the ball and he also plays straight. This pulls the defensive line towards him and creates space out wide as a consequence, where luai and doueihi setup wider and pulled defenders towards the outside. Madden also passes faster and sets up mainly to also get the ball on the next play. This made us fluid and threatening. I've seen doueihi play this way where he is more direct and simple in his movements, but he's currently in his mode where he gets indecisive and stuck with the ball too much.
The kicking produced a number of turnovers and a try, but it didn't feel like it had the same control and placement of madden.
Madden's play in our run of wins wasn't perfect, we squandered plenty of chances with him, but I think this game proved how much better we looked with him organising us. It was noticeable in the attacking areas, but I also felt we struggled switching momentum effectively in the way a madden long range kick has done for us.
I really think it starts with madden at 7. Our team needs someone steering the team around and simple and consistent style against the more improvised play of our outside backs and forwards. Having both halves also playing that way just doesn't work. You need a better mix, and it's not really about player quality as both Doueihi and luai obviously have their strengths. Doueihi seems a more natural fit in the halves for Madden being a strong running type, but luai could also be a decent pairing with him.
I don't like doueihi in the centres. I know it should work because of his running and strength, but he never handles the reduced space of centre well and lacks that burst of acceleration that the best centres have. His best spot is at 6, and potentially at fullback, so I'd either play him there or not.
I also like the role Latu plays off the bench and I wouldn't put our spare half on the bench. You just have to make the hard decision and pick one and drop the other.
Alternatively, if they persist with doueihi he has to play halfback as a halfback. That is closer to the ruck running straight and on the front foot with a pass first mentality. None of this dinking around.
We need a halfback. Benji's pursuit of Reynolds and recruitment of madden at least highlights he sees this. Big test for Benji to solve this issue and negotiate the personalities.
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Viva_Zapata
Active member
No video of Api 100% falling off was shown. If he had any sort of hand on him, then it's a tackle. What we did see was he was close enough to assume he had contact.
Would work a treat.
hank37w
Well-known member
Don't forget to send Benji the memo.
user118245
Well-known member
Just wish we had a game managing 7 like Reynolds maybe even mentored by him to control games and guide the ship instead we got $1.1m Kyle Flanagan and a centre in the halfback spot.
Yeah we noticed this at the game. The ruck slowed down a lot for both sides.
stevied
Well-known member
Yeah, right!
stevied
Well-known member
It's so obvious to us. How come Benji doesn't see it??
stevied
Well-known member
He just needs to be strong. Put personalities aside and do it.
Still annoyed.
We need Jock from the start.
His direction and control.
That loss hurts.
Imagine what a full strength Broncos could've done.
However;
1 point loss.
We didn't get smashed.
But the better teams won't be so easy on us.
Penrith won by a field goal in Golden Point.
We just didn't have a chief on the field to lead the show.
We need Jock from the start.
His direction and control.
That loss hurts.
Imagine what a full strength Broncos could've done.
However;
1 point loss.
We didn't get smashed.
But the better teams won't be so easy on us.
Penrith won by a field goal in Golden Point.
We just didn't have a chief on the field to lead the show.
Fair points, Tyga, and I agree with you about AD's contribution. I don't think he needs to be at 7 to do that.
Tweed_Tiger
Well-known member
Yep still frustrated think we need jock out there at 7 and either AD at centre or 6 or 14 and luia at 6 or 14.
We had enough ball to score at least 2 more.
We had enough ball to score at least 2 more.
Tucker
Well-known member
Yes the pack is the big positive in this squad currently.
They have been doing their job all year.
