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I think we are all pretty happy with things generally with our team atm however there is still the puzzling inclusion of our beloved Fitzy on the bench.
It seems obvious to most that we should have another forward on the bench or at least a young player with true potential who would make an impact or even another hooker.
I have heard that Fitzy is a very good trainer and is great to have around the team.
Maybe in the modern game a players training performance and not just on field performance is just as important to selection.
Sorry just trying to make sense of it all.
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I stopped trying to make sense of this years ago.
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Sheens usually carried a winger on the bench last year as well in Rhys Hanbury. He only ever played 5 minutes too, but he was a good replacement in the backline when things went wrong. I don’t really have an opinion on this, but it may be something to do with Sheens only wanting to utilise a 3 forward rotation and have a “utility” for the backline who could fill in at dummy half if required. Fitzy may not be the man for this, but that is another argument.
80 minute players:
1. Ryan
2. Tuqiri
3. Ayshford
4. Lawrence
5. Brown
6. Marshall
7. Moltzem
9. Farah
12. Ellis
13. HeighingtonRotation:
8. Gibbs (Avg 50-55 mins per game)
10. Galloway (Avg 50-60 mins per game)
11. Payten (Avg 50-55 mins per game)14. Fifita
15. Fulton
16. FlanaganFulton can play 80 minutes if required
- He comes on to tighten the defence when the props are tiring
- If there is an injury he can be left out there for the duration of the game without using an interchange
Flanagan can play long minutes if required (played 80 mins vs Roosters) - As above
Fifita can fit into the prop rotation (Avg 20-25 mins per game at the moment) - He can keep us moving forward when the other guys are off the field
So really we only have 3 guys who need to be rotated in a match. Flanagan and Fulton serve mainly as defenders when the big guys are getting tired and Fifita rotates with Payten, Gibbs and Galloway to keep eating metres throughout each half.
I’m pretty sure the way it’s structured is that Fitzy is a back-up reserve and will never see more than 5 minutes in a game unless there is an injury in the backline.
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if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?
fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.
anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower
fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game
to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
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@ron burgandy:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?
fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.
anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower
fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game
to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
yeh, or having a gamebreaker like taumata there. like barba at the dogs, just bring him on at the end of the game to spark something. when fitzy comes on, it seems like its just sheens putting him on for the sake of it
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Ron very few disagree with you on this point. Befuddles the mind how anyone can even call Fitzy a utility. I thought multi-skilling requires at least one core skill.
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@ron burgandy:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?
fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.
anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower
fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game
to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
100% Agree
Fulton or Flanagan should be more then enough to cover for any injuries to the backline
- Ryan - Moltzen will go to the 1 with Fults or Flanagan to 6 Benji to 7
- Lote or Brown - Ashyford to shift to wing Fults or Flanagan to Centre
- Lawarance, Ashyford or Benji- Fults or Flanagan Straight in
- Moltzen- plays like a 5/8 anyway so they would fit straight in.
- Farah- Both can play dummy half so easy cover there too.
I just fail to see a reason to have Fitzy on the bench. Anything he can cover so can Fulton or Flanagan
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A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)
The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.
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@ron burgandy:
if sheens was hell bent on having a utility back for this year then why the hell did he let halatau go?
fitzy isnt even a top 25 contracted player which makes it even more weird, im not to familiar with the lower grades but surely there has to be someone there who has more utility value then fitzy.
anyway fulton, ellis and flanagan can cover a centre position if an outside back goes and payten can play prop if we lose a front rower
fulton and flanagan can fill in at 5/8th if we lose one of our halves during a game
to me it seems like we have it covered and having fitzy is a waste, having another strong forward on the bench seems logical as if an injury occurs in the halves or outside backs we have players who can fill in there competently for half a game if need be
I see your point, but just playing devils advocate here, maybe putting a forward into the backs mid-game is more disruptive than just re-shuffling the backline due to the backs training with and knowing all the calls and moves?
Possible Sheens thinking???
Wings & Fullback swaps
Ryan injured | Fitzy to 1.
Lote injured | Fitzy to 2.
Brown injured | Fitzy to 5.Centres
Lawrence injured | Brown or Tuqiri to 4. >>> Fitzy to 5. or 2.
Ayshford injured | Brown to Tuqiri 3. >>> Fitzy to 5. or 2.Halves
Marshall injured | Lawrence to 6. >>> Brown or Tuqiri to 4. >>> Fitzy to 5. or 2.
Moltzen injured | Farah to 7. >>> Fitzy to 9.
OR
Molten injured | Marshall to 7. >>> Lawrence to 6. Brown or Tuqiri to 4. >>> Fitzy to 2. or 5.I would personally go for a 5/8 that could play centre if needed. Taumata would be perfect, but I’m not the coach.
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@smeghead:
A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)
The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.
Heaps of sides do it.
Sheens always does it at the start of the year.
But everyone goes balmy every time the team is picked.
He picks two reserves that get a lot of game time.One gets about 5 mins if there are no back injuries.
Im not too worried who the utlity is,it was Hanbury last year.
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@smeghead:
A back on the bench is something we will have to wear for a while (round 10 is my prediction)
The Warriors do it with McKinnon and he is a fullback or winger, not much more.
Im not too worried who the utlity is,it was Hanbury last year.
The concept is fine (although personally I prefer 4 big boppers) but the specifics (Fitzy) are flawed.
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im not against a utility but it has to be the right one (ala halatau) who can play in the forwards if an injury to an outside back doesnt happen
its just a waste of a spot using fitzy, daniela or similar players who really only cover wing adequatly.
a bench of
fifita
payten
flanagan
moors/caylessis what i want to be looking at
IMO flanagan is the utility, can play back row 5/8th and centre and thats what you really need not a winger playing unfamiliar roles.
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Ron it concerns me when I agree with you.
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I dunno…Flanagan is a fringe first grader finding his place in the NRL…he doesnt need to be lumped with the utility job which is widely underrated imo
Let him focus on one thing
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I dunno…Flanagan is a fringe first grader finding his place in the NRL…he doesnt need to be lumped with the utility job which is widely underrated imo
Let him focus on one thing
I agree. I wouldn’t be comfortable with Flanagan filling in as the utility. Fitzy’s spot is open IMO to anyone willing to grab it and it’s clear, that nobody has stepped up just yet. As I said earlier, I reckon once Taumata picks up some fitness and begins to dominate in NSW Cup, he’ll get the call up in place of Fitzy.
There’s no point in throwing Pritchard or Daniela in the mix because I doubt Sheens considers them ‘utilities’. Just outside backs.
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