Time to go Robert Lui..........
- Thread starter cnx_tigers
- Start date
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system
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Adam Blair beside Robert Lui and thisdiscussion is no longer an issue.
So far Lui has had a arm grabber and the smallest backrower playing today as his inside cover men.
Ray Thompson is a average defender at best but nobody runs at him because one of the Sims boys sits on his inside shoulder.
Soward is a speedbump but Beau Scott cleans up his mess.
Our problem is that we carry two weaker defending halfbacks
So far Lui has had a arm grabber and the smallest backrower playing today as his inside cover men.
Ray Thompson is a average defender at best but nobody runs at him because one of the Sims boys sits on his inside shoulder.
Soward is a speedbump but Beau Scott cleans up his mess.
Our problem is that we carry two weaker defending halfbacks
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
Goose, I suppose you could say I am a Lui fan, but I'll admit he has largely been dreadful this year. I can see there is talent there though, and I'm willing to give him the time and experience to improve.
You may not think Marshall was just as poor defensively but go and watch some tapes when Benji first came into first grade - he was just as much an arm grabber as Lui is now.
Some of the garbage I have read about Lui is just crap this year, seems no matter what the performance or result he is always a target. I even read someone comparing him to John Morris a few weeks ago…i mean c'mon.
Smeg is right as usual. Other teams protect their defensive liabilities, we simply expose them and offer zero protection.
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You may not think Marshall was just as poor defensively but go and watch some tapes when Benji first came into first grade - he was just as much an arm grabber as Lui is now.
Some of the garbage I have read about Lui is just crap this year, seems no matter what the performance or result he is always a target. I even read someone comparing him to John Morris a few weeks ago…i mean c'mon.
Smeg is right as usual. Other teams protect their defensive liabilities, we simply expose them and offer zero protection.
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I am with HT on this one. I am a Lui a fan and will be one of the first to admit that his form over the last couple of months has been average, even poor on occassion. His defence is atrocious to say the least, however I think too many people are now focusing too much on this weakness and failing to see the positives.
I will forever maintain that he can kick a football much better than Marshall or Farah (I think it was last week that he booted one dead from about 70 metres). However he doesn't get the opportunity to sharpen his skills because Marshall and Farah are too stubborn and proud to let Lui take control of this particular facet of the game. Anyone who thinks Marshall and Farah are accomplished kickers of the footy in general play are dilussional - it is one of the worst parts of the Tigers game. Sure they can provide the odd piece of brilliance, but for the most part it is awful.
I reckon he has a class running game, he is strong with the ball in hand and regularly breaks through tackles making half/full breaks. If we had players in our side who backed up our ball runners Lui would have 20 more try assists (fact of the matter is, Moltzen only sniffs around Marshall).
He can pass, people seem to downplay the fact that Lui has laid on some tries this year with some nice passing. Is it exceptional? No. Is it better than Moltzens or Millers? I think so.
He does take the wrong option sometimes, but this comes down to experience. I definitely don't think he has been losing us games with his decision making.
Lui looks average sometimes when he does the old prance around and dish off to a second rower to get smashed. We have really been lacking options a lot this year and coming up with some wasteful plays. He needs to take more control and give more direction.
Does he direct our side? No, I don't think he does. Should he? Yes, I think he should. Is it his fault that he doesn't? I highly doubt it.
Late last year he was in hot form and people were talking about him being a future Origin rep, I am confident that he can find that kind of form again. He would be massively down on confidence, and it is not easy to break out of a form slump when the whole team is playing poorly (which the Tigers have been for the most part).
My conclusions - give him the rest of 2011 - give him the pre-season - it is too late for household changes anyway.
End rant.
I will forever maintain that he can kick a football much better than Marshall or Farah (I think it was last week that he booted one dead from about 70 metres). However he doesn't get the opportunity to sharpen his skills because Marshall and Farah are too stubborn and proud to let Lui take control of this particular facet of the game. Anyone who thinks Marshall and Farah are accomplished kickers of the footy in general play are dilussional - it is one of the worst parts of the Tigers game. Sure they can provide the odd piece of brilliance, but for the most part it is awful.
I reckon he has a class running game, he is strong with the ball in hand and regularly breaks through tackles making half/full breaks. If we had players in our side who backed up our ball runners Lui would have 20 more try assists (fact of the matter is, Moltzen only sniffs around Marshall).
He can pass, people seem to downplay the fact that Lui has laid on some tries this year with some nice passing. Is it exceptional? No. Is it better than Moltzens or Millers? I think so.
He does take the wrong option sometimes, but this comes down to experience. I definitely don't think he has been losing us games with his decision making.
Lui looks average sometimes when he does the old prance around and dish off to a second rower to get smashed. We have really been lacking options a lot this year and coming up with some wasteful plays. He needs to take more control and give more direction.
Does he direct our side? No, I don't think he does. Should he? Yes, I think he should. Is it his fault that he doesn't? I highly doubt it.
Late last year he was in hot form and people were talking about him being a future Origin rep, I am confident that he can find that kind of form again. He would be massively down on confidence, and it is not easy to break out of a form slump when the whole team is playing poorly (which the Tigers have been for the most part).
My conclusions - give him the rest of 2011 - give him the pre-season - it is too late for household changes anyway.
End rant.
TurnStyle
Well-known member
great thread! lots of people are making really good points and i agree with the objective points most of us are posting with here.
i have to say my jaw dropped when i saw lui's "attempt" to tackle right on his line and the fact is it was completely unacceptable for any player in the NRL.
i have been a fan of his since he first got a go from NYC and he had really improved defensively until recently.
he is getting hugely targeted and constantly has to tackle the big guys, but this is part of the game. and i completely agree that marshall was as bad if not worse defensively (and didn't i bang on about that?!) but the last couple of seasons he has improved this area out of sight (which = no bagging from turnstyle!). i always said he could tackle but just didn't.
so the fact is his tackling can be abysmal and costly. however, he has had nowhere near the grace period given to marshall and i'm sure he will improve no end.
if he is still at the tigers next year I'm sure he will be better for the experience. in my view, he has a fantastic ability to throw a pass to put someone through a gap and it was only a few games ago he shot out an absolute blinder and as someone else posted, you need someone to back you up for this to happen.
also, he really impresses me how he hits the line with ball in hand (previously posted) and i love the fact that we have a half back who is not always going to pass as it gives just that little bit less predictability.
and no, this is certainly not the time to drop him….
i have to say my jaw dropped when i saw lui's "attempt" to tackle right on his line and the fact is it was completely unacceptable for any player in the NRL.
i have been a fan of his since he first got a go from NYC and he had really improved defensively until recently.
he is getting hugely targeted and constantly has to tackle the big guys, but this is part of the game. and i completely agree that marshall was as bad if not worse defensively (and didn't i bang on about that?!) but the last couple of seasons he has improved this area out of sight (which = no bagging from turnstyle!). i always said he could tackle but just didn't.
so the fact is his tackling can be abysmal and costly. however, he has had nowhere near the grace period given to marshall and i'm sure he will improve no end.
if he is still at the tigers next year I'm sure he will be better for the experience. in my view, he has a fantastic ability to throw a pass to put someone through a gap and it was only a few games ago he shot out an absolute blinder and as someone else posted, you need someone to back you up for this to happen.
also, he really impresses me how he hits the line with ball in hand (previously posted) and i love the fact that we have a half back who is not always going to pass as it gives just that little bit less predictability.
and no, this is certainly not the time to drop him….
