This comes up year after year, I think mainly due to the lack or constant changing of the halfback or maybe through that Wests Tigers phenonoman where nobody overcalls Benji and Robbie.
I was so frustrated with Benji's attacking kicks whilst in the Panthers red zone. If Nofo and Simona especially didn't pull a rabbit out of their hats with their tries, this would have been the main reason we lost imo (because we would have had our chances).
Benji's last play options have been well below par for a player of his experience and stature in the game. Sterlo said something very similar in the commentary. The attacking kicks are either too early in the count, too short, too long, or the chasers have no idea what and when its coming. I think even Farah has lost faith in Benji and is doing alot of grubbers himself this year.
You see every other team have well drilled attacking kick plays, where everybody knows what the play will be, where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do. Just about every team scores atleast one try a week with a well placed cross field kick to their outside backs, not Wests Tigers. We all know Benji's strength is off the cuff plays but that doesn't work with attacking kicks unless he's chipping or grubbering for himself (something Benji rarely does - he actually kicks and fades backwards out of the play).
So the questions are, do they train for these set kicking plays enough? Does Potter only want Benji or Robbie orchestrating these plays? Does Benji hog it (overcall Sirro) looking for the limelight? Does Sirro have the kicking game to warrant him getting the ball in the red zone on the last?
This is something imo that Potter needs to address. I say, give Sirro that responsibility for a game and see how he handles it, because Benji has proven over the years his short kicking game is too inconsistent. If Benji and Potter want him at 5/8 and Sirro is the halfback then let the halfback do his job and leave the 'run the ball plays' to Benji.
I was so frustrated with Benji's attacking kicks whilst in the Panthers red zone. If Nofo and Simona especially didn't pull a rabbit out of their hats with their tries, this would have been the main reason we lost imo (because we would have had our chances).
Benji's last play options have been well below par for a player of his experience and stature in the game. Sterlo said something very similar in the commentary. The attacking kicks are either too early in the count, too short, too long, or the chasers have no idea what and when its coming. I think even Farah has lost faith in Benji and is doing alot of grubbers himself this year.
You see every other team have well drilled attacking kick plays, where everybody knows what the play will be, where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do. Just about every team scores atleast one try a week with a well placed cross field kick to their outside backs, not Wests Tigers. We all know Benji's strength is off the cuff plays but that doesn't work with attacking kicks unless he's chipping or grubbering for himself (something Benji rarely does - he actually kicks and fades backwards out of the play).
So the questions are, do they train for these set kicking plays enough? Does Potter only want Benji or Robbie orchestrating these plays? Does Benji hog it (overcall Sirro) looking for the limelight? Does Sirro have the kicking game to warrant him getting the ball in the red zone on the last?
This is something imo that Potter needs to address. I say, give Sirro that responsibility for a game and see how he handles it, because Benji has proven over the years his short kicking game is too inconsistent. If Benji and Potter want him at 5/8 and Sirro is the halfback then let the halfback do his job and leave the 'run the ball plays' to Benji.
