Wests Tigers veteran Chris Lawrence says it’s time for young halves to deliver on potential

[newtiger]

Chris was our best back rower last season. And people want to bag him? A young, handsome and somewhat intelligent and articulate players? Speaks far better than Robbie or Woodsy ever have.

Last year at the Simon Dwyer charity match Rowdy spent most of the game chatting to children taking selfies with them, a Great clubman.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

A great clubman he is and a very marketable bloke in general. I don't think there is much question about that.

I think all of us would love more of our players' talking to be done ON the field though instead of off it, we have had enough of empty promises and throwaway lines that the likes of Benji, Robbie etc had perfected over the last decade.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

I think Rowdy is spot in in regards to why its taken some time for the halves to deliver on their potential, but if Taylor doesn't let them play their natural game, they will struggle and will be more likely to look for another coach/team that lets them play their own game.

Apart from pass kick run and tackle…just what is their natural game...?

Talking, giving direction, counting, sticking it to opposition forwards, controlling the clock, managing field position, maintain concentration in defence… and some think there over-paid?!

 

[Geo]

I think Rowdy is spot in in regards to why its taken some time for the halves to deliver on their potential, but if Taylor doesn't let them play their natural game, they will struggle and will be more likely to look for another coach/team that lets them play their own game.

Apart from pass kick run and tackle…just what is their natural game...?

Talking, giving direction, counting, sticking it to opposition forwards, controlling the clock, managing field position, maintain concentration in defence… and some think there over-paid?!

If the forwards don't lay the platform… get the better of or at least hold their own with opposition packs...well their 'natural game' won't be much good will it...may as well end up in the backyard...

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Ballin will lead the way down the park!

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Ballin will lead the way down the park!

Not if Robbie has anything to do with it - I am hoping he gets the captaincy back.

 

[LCA]

Hopefully Chris will deliver in the second row as he has been very average since his injury.
Cant believe we still carry him. Dead wood.

Couldn't agree more.

And, more concerning, is that we are expected to feel something positive about his position on the leadership team?

He's a liability. A has-been.

How desperately low must this club be to fall back on Chris Lawrence as being marketable?

If any of the 1000 back rowers we've signed step up, Rowdy will be playing NSW Cup.

Couldn't agree less. He was our best backrower at the end of last year, and he looks like he's bulked up nicely over the off-season.

I'm sure they chose him in the leadership group because he's a whole-hearted 80 minute genuine leader, not because he's marketable.

Exactly Masterton.

Some people on this forum would not know a footballer if they fell over one. I'll say this again. If we signed Hayne and Falau the haters of Taylor and this club would decry their purchase. They will never be satisfied.

Hmm…a leap of faith there, magpiecol. You don't have to say things "again" for us to know that you're blinkered and delusional. Once is enough....in fact, more than enough.

 

[happy_tiger]

I think Rowdy is spot in in regards to why its taken some time for the halves to deliver on their potential, but if Taylor doesn't let them play their natural game, they will struggle and will be more likely to look for another coach/team that lets them play their own game.

Apart from pass kick run and tackle…just what is their natural game...?

.

To play what they see in front of them and not be bogged down by high percentage robotic play isolated from each other on opposite sides of the ruck.
Maybe I can put it more simply for you: Backyard Footy.

You mean like what we did from every season from 2005 onwards

Whats our success rate again premiership wise ??

 

[stevetiger]

I think Rowdy is spot in in regards to why its taken some time for the halves to deliver on their potential, but if Taylor doesn't let them play their natural game, they will struggle and will be more likely to look for another coach/team that lets them play their own game.

Apart from pass kick run and tackle…just what is their natural game...?

.

To play what they see in front of them and not be bogged down by high percentage robotic play isolated from each other on opposite sides of the ruck.
Maybe I can put it more simply for you: Backyard Footy.

You mean like what we did from every season from 2005 onwards

Whats our success rate again premiership wise ??

More like how we played in 2005\. That is winning footy. Unfortunately we went away from that and it hasn't been successful.

 

[happy_tiger]

Wasn't successful in 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009, 2010,2011 , 2012

And 2012 we were favourites to win the comp

Have to ask why it isn't successful Steve ??

 

[diedpretty]

Ballin will lead the way down the park!

Not if Robbie has anything to do with it - I am hoping he gets the captaincy back.

Give it a rest Byron - thankfully won't happen - the team is looking to the future not the past.

 

[ghost]

Wasn't successful in 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009, 2010,2011 , 2012

And 2012 we were favourites to win the comp

Have to ask why it isn't successful Steve ??

we made the top 4 in both 10 and 11.

one would say thats been a pretty good year.

 

[Geo]

Wasn't successful in 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009, 2010,2011 , 2012

And 2012 we were favourites to win the comp

Have to ask why it isn't successful Steve ??

we made the top 4 in both 11 and 12.

one would say thats been a pretty good year.

I think you mean 10 and 11…12 we finished 10th after starting the season as Premiership favourites and Sheens got the flick...

Consistently Successful Teams build the game on the back of solid defence earning the right to attack...No point scoring 30 if you let in 50...

Grand Finalists from the past 10 years have mostly come the 2 best defensive teams in the Comp...

 

[stevetiger]

Wasn't successful in 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009, 2010,2011 , 2012

And 2012 we were favourites to win the comp

Have to ask why it isn't successful Steve ??

It was successful. We won the 05 grand final. You can't get more success than that. Sometimes the bookies get it wrong when it comes to being favourites to winning the comp.

I know you have your theory that you have to stick too and it backs up JT and his master plan for success but maybe your theory is simply wrong.

 

[stevetiger]

Consistently Successful Teams build the game on the back of solid defence earning the right to attack…No point scoring 30 if you let in 50...

No point letting in 10 if you can't score 4.

Consistently successful teams score more points than they let in on a consistent basis. Its that simple.

 

[Russell]

Wasn't successful in 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009, 2010,2011 , 2012

And 2012 we were favourites to win the comp

Have to ask why it isn't successful Steve ??

It was successful. We won the 05 grand final. You can't get more success than that. Sometimes the bookies get it wrong when it comes to being favourites to winning the comp.

I know you have your theory that you have to stick too and it backs up JT and his master plan for success but maybe your theory is simply wrong.

I think the game has changed since 2005 - no more flukes.

 

[ghost]

Wow….to suggest 05 was a fluke for the sake of yer argument.

Nice one.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wouldn't say it was a fluke, but the game has certainly been changed to stop that sort of football winning competitions.

 

[Geo]

Consistently Successful Teams build the game on the back of solid defence earning the right to attack…No point scoring 30 if you let in 50...

No point letting in 10 if you can't score 4.

Consistently successful teams score more points than they let in on a consistent basis. Its that simple.

I guess the Score more points than them works when you can actually score more points than them but I wouldn't say it's consistent..

Nice selective quoting though It didn't actually address the fact that …Grand Finalists from the past 10 years have mostly come the 2 best defensive teams in the Comp...

No way 2005 was a fluke...Sheens himself accredited the incredible run in the finals series on the back of our improved defence conceding only 6,6,12, and 16 points during those games...