Wingers undervalued?

[larrycorowa]

So my view is that structure football is largely dead. Teams playing flat off quick play the balls with support pushing up (instead of hanging back for the structured plays) are starting to gain ascendency.

That being said are fullbacks who are crucial to second man plays overvalued compared to wingers? Given the move to more unstructured football I would contend a big metre eating winger with the ability to offload is as valuable as a ball playing fullback. Should we being making a play for big fast skillfull wingers. Jordan Rapana, josh mansour, the big Fijian Melbourne winger, Oates and Holmes are probably some of the more influential players in the competition and probably the most undervalued.

Thoughts?

 

[larrycorowa]

We can't compete by following convention wisdom, we got to be ahead of the curve

 

[cqtiger]

We've got one metre eater winger in Nofa and if rumours are on the mark Rona should be on the other wing. We've also got Thompson and Fonua but I'm not sure how they will go as regular first graders.

 

[innsaneink]

Gotta learn to win the ruck first

 

[GNR4LIFE]

We've got one metre eater winger in Nofa and if rumours are on the mark Rona should be on the other wing. We've also got Thompson and Fonua but I'm not sure how they will go as regular first graders.

Fonua was a regular first grader at the Storm. He's a lot better than a lot of people realise.

 

[larrycorowa]

Gotta learn to win the ruck first

They are a big part of winning the ruck in attack. We need another nofo, what we save on fullback I reckon we pay overs for a superstar winger. Just have to look at mansours influence last week, Oates does the same, rapana etc. just gets them on the front foot and makes it easier for the props to make good metres.

 

[tig_prmz]

Gotta learn to win the ruck first

defensively we struggle but in attack i think we are doing pretty good at the ruck.

centres are undervalued if anything tbh.

 

[larrycorowa]

When the heat comes on we struggle to make metres.i would think the stats would support my argument.

 

[avocadoontoast]

We've got one metre eater winger in Nofa and if rumours are on the mark Rona should be on the other wing. We've also got Thompson and Fonua but I'm not sure how they will go as regular first graders.

Fonua was a regular first grader at the Storm. He's a lot better than a lot of people realise.

Yep, absolutely. To be honest if we do sign Rona then Nofoaluma will need to improve out of sight to be a walk up starter for next year. I'm quite excited for Fonua to come on board. I think he'll be a great signing.

 

[larrycorowa]

Well nofo is almost leading in tackle busts and would be going well in metres gained despite carrying a knee. Kev on the other hand…..

 

[king_sirro]

So my view is that structure football is largely dead. Teams playing flat off quick play the balls with support pushing up (instead of hanging back for the structured plays) are starting to gain ascendency.

That being said are fullbacks who are crucial to second man plays overvalued compared to wingers? Given the move to more unstructured football I would contend a big metre eating winger with the ability to offload is as valuable as a ball playing fullback. Should we being making a play for big fast skillfull wingers. Jordan Rapana, josh mansour, the big Fijian Melbourne winger, Oates and Holmes are probably some of the more influential players in the competition and probably the most undervalued.

Thoughts?

Disagree about structure being dead. I chose a set in Penriths game tonight to predict it to the missus, they were attacking Canberras line and predicted exactly what they did each tackle, even down to how many passes they would throw each tackle and where on the field they would get tackled. The game is more structured then ever.

 

[larrycorowa]

Depends on your definition. We have been highly structured with our whole attacking structure being around setting up for second man plays to Tedesco. This means we go through the motions for 3-4 tackles to get ready. This telegraphs that these plays are coming and allow defences to adjust. Bulldogs and Souths would be other examples of highly structured football that's not working. Melbourne still works because they execute so precisely after 10 years.

 

[earl]

We've got one metre eater winger in Nofa and if rumours are on the mark Rona should be on the other wing. We've also got Thompson and Fonua but I'm not sure how they will go as regular first graders.

Fonua was a regular first grader at the Storm. He's a lot better than a lot of people realise.

I reckon this as well. I think we have too many options now in the backline. I like this though.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Gotta learn to win the ruck first

They are a big part of winning the ruck in attack. We need another nofo, what we save on fullback I reckon we pay overs for a superstar winger. Just have to look at mansours influence last week, Oates does the same, rapana etc. just gets them on the front foot and makes it easier for the props to make good metres.

Wingers (and centres) work from kick returns to assist the forwards getting back onside and generally play little part in the half of the field where the ruck is normally won and lost for mine. They have been used in that role for many years and apart from the acrobatic finishing lifting in standard, I think little has changed.

 

[ricksen]

Good wingers are very much valued and paid accordingly. There's just not many of them around.

 

[Masterton]

Well nofo is almost leading in tackle busts and would be going well in metres gained despite carrying a knee. Kev on the other hand…..

I think Kev has been well over 100 metres every game since he moved to the wing. Not saying he's a world-beater, but he's doing better than most of our forwards.

 

[Tigerdon]

We haven't paid big money for any outside backs (including fullback) but competition for the second wing position will be fierce the quality players already signed up for 2018\. I think it will be the case of who's play impresses Cleary the most. Nofo does attack with power and effort. Like a Mansour or Oates style.

with Lolohea, Suli and Milne shaping up as favourites for fullback and centres.
and Noffa highly likely to play right wing…
MWZ, Thompson, Fonua and possibly Rona will be in a battle for the Left wing position.

The way Cleary is building the squad it's more likely he will try and add the same type of depth to the forwards as he has done in the backs.

Unless some clubs have to shed players because they have miss managed the salary cap and we could pick up players of the quality of Dylan Edwards/Connor Watson/ Ferguson/ Kahu/ Johnston on the cheap.

 

[Russell]

We haven't paid big money for any outside backs (including fullback) but competition for the second wing position will be fierce the quality players already signed up for 2018\. I think it will be the case of who's play impresses Cleary the most. Nofo does attack with power and effort. Like a Mansour or Oates style.

with Lolohea, Suli and Milne shaping up as favourites for fullback and centres.
and Noffa highly likely to play right wing…
MWZ, Thompson, Fonua and possibly Rona will be in a battle for the Left wing position.

The way Cleary is building the squad it's more likely he will try and add the same type of depth to the forwards as he has done in the backs.

Unless some clubs have to shed players because they have miss managed the salary cap and we could pick up players of the quality of Dylan Edwards/Connor Watson/ Ferguson/ Kahu/ Johnston on the cheap.

In my opinion if we have signed or will sign Rona - he will not be in a fight for a wing spot, he will have it.
So far in front of Thompson, MWZ and Fonua it isn't funny. The others would be fighting it out in reserve grade.

Can't see Edwards, Ferguson and Kahu being let go by their clubs even if over the cap, others would go before them. Watson who cares.

Our biggest problem is a goal kicker. Yes Lolo kicks but 666% is not good enough.

 

[TrueTiger]

Good wingers are very much valued and paid accordingly. There's just not many of them around.

One less since I retired and was a goalkicking demon in my hayday…. :smiley:

Iknow,I know ...self praise is no recommendation....

 

[cqtiger]

We've got one metre eater winger in Nofa and if rumours are on the mark Rona should be on the other wing. We've also got Thompson and Fonua but I'm not sure how they will go as regular first graders.

Fonua was a regular first grader at the Storm. He's a lot better than a lot of people realise.

Yep, absolutely. To be honest if we do sign Rona then Nofoaluma will need to improve out of sight to be a walk up starter for next year. I'm quite excited for Fonua to come on board. I think he'll be a great signing.

I understand what you guys are saying but a part of me doubts that they will set the world on fire. Starring in the ESL is one thing, I remember Rankin was well liked over there too.

And yes, they both played in NRL teams before going OS but my question is if they were that good why didn't they stay?

I hope I'm wrong but I think they were signed purely as back up players.