UTAI's Defence

[alexaki]

Just watched the replay this morning…..Gasnier beat him everytime he went down Utai's side..his defence was very poor last night...gee I hope Lawrence is back next game... 😛ray:

 

[stryker]

All of them on that left side, Utai, Lote and Benji were dreadful it was only the heroic cover defense of fulton etc who saved us out there.

 

[barra]

Yes Utai had no idea of how to handle Gasnier and didn't stop him all night. At least Benji was able to hang on a bit in his tackles.

He also crept up and out of the line in the first half and that allowed Soward to slip behind him and set up the Nightingale try.

You are right Stryker, so glad Fults was there with them.

 

[Defiant]

It was nice of the Dragons to leave them alone in the second half.

 

[tigerdan]

I think Gasnier probably changed ended Utai's career as a centre. Oh well, lawrence back next game.

 

[Liddy]

I felt a little sorry for him….the Coach shouldn't have put him in that position.

Having said that, he did play centre for Auburn last year in the A Grade Comp..... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[barra]

That's true Liddy, he is really out of his depth at centre in the NRL though. His game has dropped in all aspects since being taken away from his customary position and for the sake of the team and Matt he should be used as a winger or not at all.

 

[tigergirlz]

Was out of his depth. Get into that hyperbaric chamber Chris!

 

[claws]

Instead on focusing on Matt's defensive issues of last night - which were always going to be an issue, as they are for any other centre in the game, trying to contain Gaz. It is a credit to him and his team mates the way they covered for each other. Matt did a lot of defensive work covering and helping other players as well. Matt may have not completed one on one tackles, but he did manage to unbalance Gaz, which impeded his forward motion and his ability to take on the cover defense successfully.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

wasnt utai one of them that forced a dropout in the 78 min i think covering nightingale. he wasnt that bad -

 

[stryker]

If Lawry is out next week then Matt should not be the center again. Either Brown to center and Matt to the bench, or Ryan to center and Matt to wing.

Coming off the bench would be more beneficial to the team I'd say as his meters gained through the hard yards is his strength.

Two 15 minute stints where he makes 70 meters through strong hit ups will make the side a better all round team.

 

[barra]

X - That's right mate he was in on that gang tackle. I don't think anyone is questioning his desire or commitment, it's his defensive technique that has always been a concern and playing him in the centres during the finals against the best team does no one any favours!

It's more a coach decision to play him away from where he has played best that I'm questioning.

Where that leaves him from here on in I'm not sure, maybe the bench I think.

 

[happy_tiger]

Because of many issues he has Lack of lateral movement ,speed off the mark ,lack of size He will struggle at centre defensively .
He gives 100% no one questions that i think if Lawrence isn't ready next week that Beau should get the job at centre and play either Utai or Brown on the wing and the other off the bench

 

[tiger4ever]

utai has been great for us….he positional play isnt the best but everytime he runs the ball he makes metres and very quick play the balls which gives us a roll on so thats crucial.Hes a better winger so i wouldnt mind if he got put back there.The way moltzen played he has to fullback so utai coming off the bench with brown coming in to the centre

Tigers05 i think is laughing at us.lol

 

[Goose]

Utai was outclassed, it happens.
He is good at what he does, which is truck the ball out of our own half, but he is a limited player.
He has done much better than I expected and would happilly see him retain a spot on the bench once Lawrence comes back in

 

[rossop]

It was nice of the Dragons to leave them alone in the second half.

It baffled me as well. I was very concerned at halftime but how good was the second half!!

 

[magpiecol]

X - That's right mate he was in on that gang tackle. I don't think anyone is questioning his desire or commitment, it's his defensive technique that has always been a concern and playing him in the centres during the finals against the best team does no one any favours!

It's more a coach decision to play him away from where he has played best that I'm questioning.

Where that leaves him from here on in I'm not sure, maybe the bench I think.

What are you talking about."against the best team". Weststigers are the best team in the comp and will win this year.

As for Utai, his one on one with Gasnier was not great, however there are a lot of full time centre's that have trouble with him. He played ok and did not let the side down. He never lost the ball in tackles, unlike Lote and Benji. I notice that you said nothing about those two.

Everyone did their job to the best of their ability and they will be very hard to beat for the title.

 

[tigertales]

It was nice of the Dragons to leave them alone in the second half.

It baffled me as well. I was very concerned at halftime but how good was the second half!!

x3 For a team with a great coach they dont play too smart. They should have been hammering that side of the field all night, not to mention kicking for goal (and a dropgoal wtf) when they really should have kept the pressure on us.

 

[barra]

X - That's right mate he was in on that gang tackle. I don't think anyone is questioning his desire or commitment, it's his defensive technique that has always been a concern and playing him in the centres during the finals against the best team does no one any favours!

It's more a coach decision to play him away from where he has played best that I'm questioning.

Where that leaves him from here on in I'm not sure, maybe the bench I think.

What are you talking about."against the best team". Weststigers are the best team in the comp and will win this year.

As for Utai, his one on one with Gasnier was not great, however there are a lot of full time centre's that have trouble with him. He played ok and did not let the side down. He never lost the ball in tackles, unlike Lote and Benji. I notice that you said nothing about those two.

Everyone did their job to the best of their ability and they will be very hard to beat for the title.

Sorry Col my bad it was a typo - that should have been best team**S** - meaning the teams we play in the finals.

I didn't comment on Benji, Lote or anyone else, or about Utai's positives (of which he has good ones) because this thread is about Utai's Defence. I like the guy but he cost us a try when Soward got in behind him and it could happen more against the best teamS, especially if he continues to be selected in the centres.

 

[LethalGurlie]

Wait a minute…we are talking about Gasnier, the best centre in the comp, could anyone really match it with him? We can nag and whine about Utai's defense but he did play out of position, he's usually a winger, and yeah while i've been told wingers and centres are similar it's still not his pet position...i like utai, he clawed his way back to A Grade at the beginning of the year and played beautifully for us...he has one or two bad games and then can't match it with Gas and now he's enemy number one...everyone has a bad game or two, or hell even three...but we won the game in other positions hands down so lets not dwell so much on utai and think about who we have next week!