UTAI - I NEED HELP TO UNDERSTAND

S

snowleopard

New member
I cannot for the life of me figure out why we keep picking Utai on the wing when we effectively give the opposition a 1 or 2 try head start each week. One try at least from an uncontested bomb and another from his customary dropped ball on first tackle (like on Monday). This isn't something that has just happened..it happened all last year and now again against the Roosters & Knights in 2013\. Can anyone open my eyes and explain why he keeps getting picked on the wing?
 
He actually did something a bit new on Monday, he didn't contest a bomb, which bounced up, then didn't contest the bouncing ball. Interesting ploy by utai.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
his strength is bringing the ball out of our half, he does this very well, that is why we pick him.

I think his weaknesses outweigh his strengths, but there will be plenty that support him (at least before this game)
 
@Goose said:
his strength is bringing the ball out of our half, he does this very well, that is why we pick him.

I think his weaknesses outweigh his strengths, but there will be plenty that support him (at least before this game)
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Thanks Goose. Understand the bringing the ball back bit but he seems to drop it a couple of times each game, usually in our 20 and it usually costs us either 1 or 2 more sets of defence and worse case a try.
 
Doesnt matter who is there….if we keep losing the ruck and defending like that....the winger will be always under the pump, in the corner on the last

Maybe if we could get it so theyre kicking from further out and our wings are picking it up with room to move, instead of them being 10m from our line on the last???
 
@snowleopard said:
@Goose said:
his strength is bringing the ball out of our half, he does this very well, that is why we pick him.

I think his weaknesses outweigh his strengths, but there will be plenty that support him (at least before this game)

Thanks Goose. Understand the bringing the ball back bit **but he seems to drop it a couple of times each game, usually in our 20 and it usually costs us either 1 or 2 more sets of defence and worse case a try.**
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So does Manu Vatuvai, but they keep picking him too.

Its a myth it happened all last year….it happened several times, not sure how many, but tell me which winger hasnt been outleapt and scored against.
When the opposition winger has 15m run up and youre plonked in the corner of the touch in-goal and dead ball line...youre on a hiding to nothing
 
@innsaneink said:
Doesnt matter who is there….if we keep losing the ruck and defending like that....the winger will be always under the pump, in the corner on the last

Maybe if we could get it so theyre kicking from further out and our wings are picking it up with room to move, instead of them being 10m from our line on the last???
Click to expand...

Although I agree in principle, the team does put undue pressure on Utai which emphasise his weaknesses, his replacement will also likely be under the pump, I still think we'd be better served by someone else. I actually think when Reddy came on to the wing, AYshford looked more comfortable in defence as well (which is not necessarily related, but I noticed)
 
If teams didn't score from bombing wingers and fullbacks then nobody would do it.
Every week, in every game, a winger or fullback gets beaten by a bomb - including the likes of Slater.
The only difference with Utai is that he starts with the extra disadvantage of being short.
If the coach really wants him in the team he should move him in and let a taller guy cover the position on the last.
Still won't stop every try but might help.
Whether he deserves to be in the team for other reasons will be the coach's call.
 
@Goose said:
@innsaneink said:
Doesnt matter who is there….if we keep losing the ruck and defending like that....the winger will be always under the pump, in the corner on the last

Maybe if we could get it so theyre kicking from further out and our wings are picking it up with room to move, instead of them being 10m from our line on the last???

Although I agree in principle, the team does put undue pressure on Utai which emphasise his weaknesses, his replacement will also likely be under the pump, I still think we'd be better served by someone else. I actually think when Reddy came on to the wing, AYshford looked more comfortable in defence as well (which is not necessarily related, but I noticed)
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Click to expand...

Ayshford probably looked comfortable as they concentrated their attack at the right hand side also Goose after Utai was yanked

I think in many ways I would use Utai as a player who you could bring in and out of the squad as needed

This week though we all know if Penrith stick to their normal tactics they will bomb Utai a lot

And no Tigers fan should feel comfortable with that , unless our forwards can keep the Panthers out of the red zone ,which I'm not confident about either
 
His hit ups in our own 20 are invaluable, but the days of playing a midget winger are over. No other team does it. They get found out time and time again, especially against a side with a good kicking game.
 
The primary roles of a winger are:

- finish tries
- save tries

Making yards from dummy half is just an added extra. He is surplus to requirements in first grade.
 
He returns the ball really well. He can also score a try when given half a chance. He is a very good player in a lot of situations.

His real problem is taking the high ball at times.

Personally I think he has to go to the bench or reserves but he has been good for us in the past and he does a lot of good things.
 
Spot on

@innsaneink said:
Doesnt matter who is there….if we keep losing the ruck and defending like that....the winger will be always under the pump, in the corner on the last

Maybe if we could get it so theyre kicking from further out and our wings are picking it up with room to move, instead of them being 10m from our line on the last???
Click to expand...
 
Well it seems the consensus is that no one really questions his ball running value, especially kick returns and one off the ruck when the side is under pressure but :-

Due his physical limitation (height) in taking high balls
Poor positional play
Habit of getting crunched and dropping the ball on kick returns
Suspect one on one defence

It's hard to justify holding a wing position in the NRL these days, especially when wingers are targets for high/cross field bombs and the trend is for wingers to be taller rather than shorter to both minimise the chances of another player out jumping them and to represent a threat in the air when their team hoists a bomb.

Valid comments were also made about poor defence leading to poor field position and therefore increasing the potential number of bombs that can be hoisted.

IMO the only way to defend Utai on the wing against bombs is for another player to swap positions when we are under attack in our 20-30 zone but think this will cause more problems than it solves.

Solution, use Utai off the bench for his power running late in each half and have him also there as a backup in case one of the backs gets injured, although what you gain in running might be negated by his defensive capabilities. Identify a winger who is either tall or safe in the air (preferably both) , has pace and/or ability to break tackles and has good positional sense.

Any ideas on the best qualified replacement would be from current players?
 
Utai should be a bench forward. He'd give us some much needed spark and extra go-forward at the back end of both halves. More importantly, he wouldn't be left isolated on the wing where his lack of speed and size is being exposed a tad too often for my liking.
 
@Flippedy said:
Utai should be a bench forward. He'd give us some much needed spark and extra go-forward at the back end of both halves. More importantly, he wouldn't be left isolated on the wing where his lack of speed and size is being exposed a tad too often for my liking.
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Agree; this is where I see his future.
 
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