hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
There is a lot of anger on here about Ryan and Heighington potentially leaving but I think people need to look at this realistically.
There was talk last year that the club tried to move both of these players on, to Penrith. At the time, I suspect a large portion of our fans (myself included) were more than happy to let them go. It didn't end up happening.
Fast forward a year later and it now appears to be happening. The only real difference this time is that Ryan is coming off a very good season, without a doubt his best in first grade, and so the masses have gone into a fit of rage.
Look at it this way. Beau Ryan is not an elite NRL winger. Far from it. He's a good, solid, dependable player on his day but he is not a match winner. Yes, I admire his effort and enthusiasm and he's had a great year but realistically this is as good as he's going to get.
Look at the best wingers in the game right now and they are all big, strong and fast. They return the ball like a steamtrain. They make massive metres and are capable of breaking the line at any time. Look at Jorge Tafua the other night against the Cowboys. Ryan can't make that kind of impact. Yes, he's safe, he will catch most bombs, he won't make too many errors but he's not the style of player who can have that sort of impact. In other words, he's expendable.
Heighington is the same. Been an average player for a long while now. Again, I admire his enthusiasm and he's been a great servant for the club but he makes minimal impact in both attack and defense. He's a poor defender on our own line and he is regularly dominated in tackles when carting the ball up. With Fulton in the side, it is my opinion that a quality NRL team can't afford to carry two small backrowers. Fulton is a MUCH better defender.
Ryan and Heighington are both solid first graders but they are not star players, they are not match winners, they are not players who must be retained at all costs. These players are the likes of Farah, Marshall, Woods, Galloway, Lawrence. Yes, some of our star players aren't in very good form but they remain class acts and should be kept at all costs. Ryan and Heighington don't fall into this category. Nor do the likes of Ayshford, Moltzen etc.
The club has needed a cleanout for years. It's happening. There may be issues with the way its happened, but so far at least, the players who appear to be off aren't irreplaceable.
The only issue with this cleanup is that the coach doesn't appear to be in the same position as many of his players. It clearly doesn't matter if he performs or not. He won't be moved on. He wasn't between 2007-2009 and he certainly won't be now. That is a problem.
Otherwise, I am all for a cleanout. The real issue here is that Sheens should be gone too. The club may as well use the broom properly and not just clean up the small crumbs.
There was talk last year that the club tried to move both of these players on, to Penrith. At the time, I suspect a large portion of our fans (myself included) were more than happy to let them go. It didn't end up happening.
Fast forward a year later and it now appears to be happening. The only real difference this time is that Ryan is coming off a very good season, without a doubt his best in first grade, and so the masses have gone into a fit of rage.
Look at it this way. Beau Ryan is not an elite NRL winger. Far from it. He's a good, solid, dependable player on his day but he is not a match winner. Yes, I admire his effort and enthusiasm and he's had a great year but realistically this is as good as he's going to get.
Look at the best wingers in the game right now and they are all big, strong and fast. They return the ball like a steamtrain. They make massive metres and are capable of breaking the line at any time. Look at Jorge Tafua the other night against the Cowboys. Ryan can't make that kind of impact. Yes, he's safe, he will catch most bombs, he won't make too many errors but he's not the style of player who can have that sort of impact. In other words, he's expendable.
Heighington is the same. Been an average player for a long while now. Again, I admire his enthusiasm and he's been a great servant for the club but he makes minimal impact in both attack and defense. He's a poor defender on our own line and he is regularly dominated in tackles when carting the ball up. With Fulton in the side, it is my opinion that a quality NRL team can't afford to carry two small backrowers. Fulton is a MUCH better defender.
Ryan and Heighington are both solid first graders but they are not star players, they are not match winners, they are not players who must be retained at all costs. These players are the likes of Farah, Marshall, Woods, Galloway, Lawrence. Yes, some of our star players aren't in very good form but they remain class acts and should be kept at all costs. Ryan and Heighington don't fall into this category. Nor do the likes of Ayshford, Moltzen etc.
The club has needed a cleanout for years. It's happening. There may be issues with the way its happened, but so far at least, the players who appear to be off aren't irreplaceable.
The only issue with this cleanup is that the coach doesn't appear to be in the same position as many of his players. It clearly doesn't matter if he performs or not. He won't be moved on. He wasn't between 2007-2009 and he certainly won't be now. That is a problem.
Otherwise, I am all for a cleanout. The real issue here is that Sheens should be gone too. The club may as well use the broom properly and not just clean up the small crumbs.
