Round 1 - Bulldogs vrs Broncos; Pre-Match Discussion

[noisetheory]

the funny thing about maranta is he's usually very safe at the back

just cant find a try line or beat a defender to save his life.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I think Barba's ball playing is pretty limited, it's just that he can use his speed and agility to get on the outside of defenders and create 3 on 2s or 2 on 1s. That's kinda going to disappear if he plays in the halves, unless he just plays as a second fullback.

When he was in the halves at the Bulldogs he basically did play like a second fullback, only running it slightly less and kicking it more. He still scored and set up a lot of tries with his running game though, and his ball-playing wasn't terrible (although in 2010 the Bulldogs were). In six full games (or 70+minutes at least) in the halves at NRL level he scored 6 tries and set up another 4.

 

[Dexter]

IMO Hook will go with his best 17 and Barba at 6 Hoffman at 1 is his best option by a long way. Barba at 6 at least has the potential inside 20 to make something happen and just maybe compensate for Hoffs inability to make something happen and put him into some space where he excels.

If we can just get some rucking structure aside from the one out stuff we just could lift a bit. If we turn up week one and haven't changed anything then FMD it will be a looooooong hard year.

We are in this Bulldogs game with a big chance, the next 2 games we get the Cows and Roosters then Dragoons and Eels so I think we are a big chance of being 3 from 5 to start the year.

 

[Sproj]

The issue longterm is both Milford and Barba are probably better at fullback. One of them has to be in the halves so why not get Barba in there now and let him be the guy. He is bigger than Milford after all. It's not ideal but it's probably our best option long term.

I have been absolutely against playing Barba at five-eighth to accommodate a sooky whinger who wants to be a fullback but this actually makes a lot of sense. Excellent post!!

 

[Art Vandelay]

the funny thing about maranta is he's usually very safe at the back

just cant find a try line or beat a defender to save his life.

Maybe we can develop some kind of angled-mirror contact lenses that make everything in your field of vision rotated 90 degrees. That way Maranta will try to crab across field and accidentally end up over the tryline.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I have been absolutely against playing Barba at five-eighth to accommodate a sooky whinger who wants to be a fullback but this actually makes a lot of sense. Excellent post!!

Don't worry, it won't be accommodating Hoffman if Kahu comes back and pushes him back to the wing after a few rounds. Supposedly he was doing well in the Cowboys trial at the back.

 

[Brett]

Don't worry, it won't be accommodating Hoffman if Kahu comes back and pushes him back to the wing after a few rounds. Supposedly he was doing well in the Cowboys trial at the back.

Kahu looked good at Fullback in the Cowboys trial. Such a pity he got injured.

 

[bazza]

the funny thing about maranta is he's usually very safe at the back

just cant find a try line or beat a defender to save his life.

I guess that skill set of being safe at the back comes from being a fullback.

Heck he's played every position in the back line besides halfback. Even Five-eighth. From all reports his played all those positions to a high standard... EXCEPT WING... and what do we do... WE PLAY HIM ON THE WING. WTF!!!

We all see him in the worst possible light when he plays wing, as he's not a winger. Poor guy, he's career is probably tarnished due to the mistake of playing him on the wing.

I reckon if he was put into first grade for the very first time, as anything but a winger, we'd all be like he goes alright.

He's a pretty handy fullback. I'm pretty sure he played in the first under 20's state of origin.

 

[FaceOfMutiny]

That game last season where Hoffman got injured and Maranta filled in at fullback he played well, he followed whoever had the ball ready for an offload/pass and seemed comfortable and I thought he did well to be honest.
He just really sucks on the wing.

 

[Russell Coight]

mate its a certainty. absolutely gaurentee that maranta will be on our wing in rnd 1

:(

 

[Unbreakable]

Thaiday confirmed today that Barba & Hoffman will interchange between Five-Eighth and Fullback, if anyone didn't believe Chris Garry, yuck.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Kahu looked good at Fullback in the Cowboys trial. Such a pity he got injured.

He willingly throws himself at a full-speed Taumalolo to save a try in a pointless trial match, only to do his knee in the last few minutes. That's just cruel.

 

[Russell Coight]

I guess that skill set of being safe at the back comes from being a fullback.

Heck he's played every position in the back line besides halfback. Even Five-eighth. From all reports his played all those positions to a high standard... EXCEPT WING... and what do we do... WE PLAY HIM ON THE WING. WTF!!!

We all see him in the worst possible light when he plays wing, as he's not a winger. Poor guy, he's career is probably tarnished due to the mistake of playing him on the wing.

I reckon if he was put into first grade for the very first time, as anything but a winger, we'd all be like he goes alright.

He's a pretty handy fullback. I'm pretty sure he played in the first under 20's state of origin.

He is the most awkward uncoordinated heartless back I've ever seen.

 

[Broncoman]

the funny thing about maranta is he's usually very safe at the back

just cant find a try line or beat a defender to save his life.

Exactly right. In defence or at the back he isn't to bad but when you need him in attack he is useless.

 

[Unbreakable]

He is the most awkward uncoordinated heartless back I've ever seen.

Say it to his face

 

[Kimlo]

I just hope this 5/8 switcheroo is Griffin's idea, and not some kind of pressure applied by Hoffman which forced Griffin to compromise on the team he really wanted. I really hope so.

 

[bazza]

Say it to his face

OMG hahaaa, his smiles just as bad as his attack hahhaa:o_o:

 

[Brett]

OMG hahaaa, his smiles just as bad as his attack hahhaa:o_o:

That's a bit rich, mate. Where's the photos of you with a big smile on?