Why I Think Blair WASN'T Benched

[radiowave82]

South Sydney have a very strong forward pack, and we need our forwards to perform well. Blair has now acknowledged that he needs to do more work (the interview is on weststigers.com.au), and this game is a golden opportunity to redeem himself to that end. If he fails, then that's when Potter will get into benching/NSW Cup territory with him.

 

[pHyR3]

yeah pretty much, benji's drop to the bench is a signal to put in or get out from potter. blair will be playing with the boys in NSW Cup come round 11 or 13 if he doesn't pull his head in.

 

[Tigerpete]

Yep. It's one last chance for Blair. Potter would be silly to dump both Benji and Blair with the lack of experience already there. Could well find Blair and Benji in different scenarios next week. If Blair is dropped, i'd expect Benji to start once more.

 

[Frank_the_tank]

Probably his last chance to prove he isn't a cream puff.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

…because Farah probably never requested it!

 

[Tigerdave]

Yeah after Gordie having a go, it'll be interesting to see how he responds. If he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see him dropped.

However, if he does perform and then sits back and coasts for the next game, how long till Potter benches him?

 

[Justo]

He'll get a faux mohawke friday morning, play ok friday night. Mohawke will grow out and he'll go back to playing pedestrian again. Well, if history has anything to say about it.

He's a dud. Has been since he pulled on a tigers jersey and will be until he swaps it with another clubs.

 

[bonstonker]

he will lift his workrate and have 13 hitups.10 of them will be inside the opposition 30.
and people will say his involvement was great. :unamused:

 

[Paris_Cobbs]

Blair made 31 tackles against the Sharks, so he reached a more than reasonable level of involvement there. In attack, he looks to me to not have been given a role to play. Sure, he could manage a few more carries, as Bonstonker says, but so what? We have seen flashes of his real ability in attack only fleetingly this and last season. A try running off Benji and an offload or two. Tedesco needs to follow him around when he has the ball, and Sirro maybe.
He is a natural and skilful attacking footballer who needs to be given a role to play, beyond that of a bash-up prop or lock.

 

[alex]

I would've played him at lock where he started the year pretty solid. He needs to be in the middle so he doesn't go missing and not take hit ups 20 minutes apart.

 

[sameulcon]

I would have picked at prop this week with a simple instruction. Every time Woods has a hit up you MUST take the next one. Simple as that Adam…

My forward back would have been,

8\. Woods
9\. Farah
10\. Blair
11\. Pettybourne
12\. Murdoch Masilla (needs a rocket up his arse)
13\. Fulton

Bench cosisting of Ava, Thompson (give me energy and line speed), Buchanan/Groat, Sue

 

[Newtown]

Why doesn't Potter look at the videos of the matches Blair played for Melboune? He could study what it was that made Blair excel in those games. Was it the playing structure, how he blended into the teamwork, the ever present threat of being dropped etc? Coaches really need to find the key to players like Blair. If Potter finds that key he is more than halfway towards improving the team.

 

[owley_girl]

I keep reading people say "He is a natural and skilful attacking footballer". Ummm, can anyone name one time in the last year and a bit where such amazing skill has been on show. Surely we would have seen something. Not even a hint.

As someone who has to suffer through many Storm games, even at Melbourne Blair lacked attacking skill. Like most forwards at Melbourne Blair looked better than he was. He just did his boring, nigglely wrestling job. Can anyone name one forward who left Melbourne and continued to perform at such lofty levels? Take them out of that structured Storm play and they struggle. Watch Brian Norrie when he moves on. Must be something in that southern water.

 

[happy_tiger]

The list may be long and distinguished by the time Potter is finished

Anyone want to have a guess how long Benji will be on the bench ??

 

[1974semifinal]

I keep reading people say "He is a natural and skilful attacking footballer". Ummm, can anyone name one time in the last year and a bit where such amazing skill has been on show. Surely we would have seen something. Not even a hint.

As someone who has to suffer through many Storm games, even at Melbourne Blair lacked attacking skill. Like most forwards at Melbourne Blair looked better than he was. He just did his boring, nigglely wrestling job. Can anyone name one forward who left Melbourne and continued to perform at such lofty levels? Take them out of that structured Storm play and they struggle. Watch Brian Norrie when he moves on. Must be something in that southern water.

People want Blair to do a lot of things in attack and defence….but he cannot do it..compared to me he is a Big man..but on the field he does not have a the presence to worry the other big boppas..he is not big enough , fast enough or have the ball skills to worry other teams..and he is lazy.

 

[Frank_the_tank]

I keep reading people say "He is a natural and skilful attacking footballer". Ummm, can anyone name one time in the last year and a bit where such amazing skill has been on show. Surely we would have seen something. Not even a hint.

As someone who has to suffer through many Storm games, even at Melbourne Blair lacked attacking skill. Like most forwards at Melbourne Blair looked better than he was. He just did his boring, nigglely wrestling job. Can anyone name one forward who left Melbourne and continued to perform at such lofty levels? Take them out of that structured Storm play and they struggle. Watch Brian Norrie when he moves on. Must be something in that southern water.

People want Blair to do a lot of things in attack and defence….but he cannot do it..compared to me he is a Big man..but on the field he does not have a the presence to worry the other big boppas..he is not big enough , fast enough or have the ball skills to worry other teams..and he is lazy.

That and he can't fight! Remember him and Stewart, that was pathetic.

Intimidation factor of a marshmallow.

 

[stevetiger]

People want Blair to do a lot of things in attack and defence….but he cannot do it..compared to me he is a Big man..but on the field he does not have a the presence to worry the other big boppas..he is not big enough , fast enough or have the ball skills to worry other teams..and he is lazy.

I'm not going to call him lazy because different people have different abilities when it comes to being able to go all day. He isn't one of those guys that has a massive workrate.

I think he is a good solid footballer but I agree with everything you have stated above. He isn't big enough or fast enough or have enough skills to be a top line player. I doubt he had that ability at Melbourne either. I think he is simply a dud buy.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

I keep reading people say "He is a natural and skilful attacking footballer". Ummm, can anyone name one time in the last year and a bit where such amazing skill has been on show. Surely we would have seen something. Not even a hint.

As someone who has to suffer through many Storm games, even at Melbourne Blair lacked attacking skill. Like most forwards at Melbourne Blair looked better than he was. He just did his boring, nigglely wrestling job. Can anyone name one forward who left Melbourne and continued to perform at such lofty levels? Take them out of that structured Storm play and they struggle. Watch Brian Norrie when he moves on. Must be something in that southern water.

He probably tore us a new one when we played Melbourne a few years ago and our recruitment being so insightful thought lets throw everything at this chap

 

[Fade_To_Black]

South Sydney have a very strong forward pack, and we need our forwards to perform well. **Blair has now acknowledged that he needs to do more work** (the interview is on weststigers.com.au), and this game is a golden opportunity to redeem himself to that end. If he fails, then that's when Potter will get into benching/NSW Cup territory with him.

Pretty sure it is not the first time he has said something like this….yet he still has his finger wedged firmly in his clacker week after week. Time to pull it out.
Seems every WT player inherits the ability to make mindless statements and promises yet fails to walk the walk come the weekend. Sick of it. Put up and F*#*#*g shut up they need to be told.