Danoz Direct
NRL Captain
- Oct 12, 2013
- 3,800
- 1,285
Please no.
2018 NRL Side
- Thread starter PerthBrissy987
- Start date
mitch222
State of Origin Captain
- Apr 4, 2014
- 8,260
- 7,836
Needs McGuire at hooker, Gillett at 5/8
- Jan 25, 2014
- 40,880
- 29,945
Lodge at fullback. Milford in the front row.
- Dec 12, 2014
- 6,063
- 6,643
mitch222
State of Origin Captain
- Apr 4, 2014
- 8,260
- 7,836
Milf would excel in the front row. He would love the maccas trips
- May 21, 2013
- 19,651
- 20,801
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/15...utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NetworkContent
Corey Oates a chance for Maroons bench utility role: Kevin Walters
Maroons coach Kevin Walters believes Corey Oates's looming back-row transition could lead to the Brisbane Broncos big man rekindling his representative career and offer Queensland rarely seen versatility.
Walters will get a first-hand look at Oates' much-hyped move from the flank into the forwards when the Broncos assistant takes the reins from Wayne Bennett for this Saturday's pre-season trial against Gold Coast Titans at Toowoomba.
Oates will come off an extended bench for Brisbane in his first outing as a forward since 2015, with Bennett giving him two trials to prove he can cut it as an NRL second-rower.
Bennett has been circumspect with his comments around Oates' positional switch, as he has been throughout much of the 23-year-old's career, suggesting earlier this week the four-time Queensland rep could find himself in reserve grade thanks to the club's strong back-row stocks.
Wearing his Maroons coaching cap, Walters is understandably enticed by the prospect of Oates succeeding as a second-rower, which could allow Queensland greater flexibility and injury cover across their 17 in the Holden State of Origin series.
"I think everyone is eagerly awaiting his back-row switch, it's a big move for him and a big change," Walters told NRL.com.
"I think Corey has come to the conclusion that it's now or never for him to make the switch into the forwards.
"He's been training there all pre-season with the Broncos so it's going to be really interesting to see how he goes.
"From an Origin perspective he'd be a pretty handy guy, if you can play several positions and do them well it's a great thing to have up your sleeve.
"And that's what I'd say Corey is trying to achieve as well. If you can have a back-rower of his calibre that can play on the wing as well, that's pretty unique."
It is understood Oates is already one of the highest paid flyers in the NRL but has maxed out his earning capacity as a winger at the $450,000 salary he is pocketing.
Off contract at the end of this season but with his first preference to stay at Red Hill, Oates is eyeing both the payday that a successful switch into the forwards would deliver and a return to the interstate arena.
The Baralaba junior was dropped after a heavy Origin I loss last year, despite a strong 2016 debut series on the wing.
The likely rise of Michael Morgan into a starting halves role, as well as Greg Inglis's return from injury and ability to play five-eighth, also gives Walters flexibility around his utility role.
Star playmakers Anthony Milford, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans and Corey Norman all have the potential to fill a bench position, and if one was joined by Oates, Queensland could cover multiple injuries in the backline and pretty much any game situation.
Walters said he would not hesitate to play the 105-kilo specimen on the wing even if he is playing from the Broncos bench or in their back row.
"I'd certainly consider him, he's a talented young fella Corey," Walters said.
"From a wing perspective, he's certainly right up there but as a back-rower, we'll just have to see how he goes through the trials and into the season.
"But in game one last year, he wasn't our worst player by any means, not by a long way. We just had to get Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai into the side but in 2016 he did a great job for Queensland on the wing.
"If he can prove that he can handle that edge or working through the middle as well, that's a pretty handy asset for Corey and Queensland."
Corey Oates a chance for Maroons bench utility role: Kevin Walters
Maroons coach Kevin Walters believes Corey Oates's looming back-row transition could lead to the Brisbane Broncos big man rekindling his representative career and offer Queensland rarely seen versatility.
Walters will get a first-hand look at Oates' much-hyped move from the flank into the forwards when the Broncos assistant takes the reins from Wayne Bennett for this Saturday's pre-season trial against Gold Coast Titans at Toowoomba.
Oates will come off an extended bench for Brisbane in his first outing as a forward since 2015, with Bennett giving him two trials to prove he can cut it as an NRL second-rower.
Bennett has been circumspect with his comments around Oates' positional switch, as he has been throughout much of the 23-year-old's career, suggesting earlier this week the four-time Queensland rep could find himself in reserve grade thanks to the club's strong back-row stocks.
Wearing his Maroons coaching cap, Walters is understandably enticed by the prospect of Oates succeeding as a second-rower, which could allow Queensland greater flexibility and injury cover across their 17 in the Holden State of Origin series.
"I think everyone is eagerly awaiting his back-row switch, it's a big move for him and a big change," Walters told NRL.com.
"I think Corey has come to the conclusion that it's now or never for him to make the switch into the forwards.
"He's been training there all pre-season with the Broncos so it's going to be really interesting to see how he goes.
"From an Origin perspective he'd be a pretty handy guy, if you can play several positions and do them well it's a great thing to have up your sleeve.
"And that's what I'd say Corey is trying to achieve as well. If you can have a back-rower of his calibre that can play on the wing as well, that's pretty unique."
It is understood Oates is already one of the highest paid flyers in the NRL but has maxed out his earning capacity as a winger at the $450,000 salary he is pocketing.
Off contract at the end of this season but with his first preference to stay at Red Hill, Oates is eyeing both the payday that a successful switch into the forwards would deliver and a return to the interstate arena.
The Baralaba junior was dropped after a heavy Origin I loss last year, despite a strong 2016 debut series on the wing.
The likely rise of Michael Morgan into a starting halves role, as well as Greg Inglis's return from injury and ability to play five-eighth, also gives Walters flexibility around his utility role.
Star playmakers Anthony Milford, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans and Corey Norman all have the potential to fill a bench position, and if one was joined by Oates, Queensland could cover multiple injuries in the backline and pretty much any game situation.
Walters said he would not hesitate to play the 105-kilo specimen on the wing even if he is playing from the Broncos bench or in their back row.
"I'd certainly consider him, he's a talented young fella Corey," Walters said.
"From a wing perspective, he's certainly right up there but as a back-rower, we'll just have to see how he goes through the trials and into the season.
"But in game one last year, he wasn't our worst player by any means, not by a long way. We just had to get Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai into the side but in 2016 he did a great job for Queensland on the wing.
"If he can prove that he can handle that edge or working through the middle as well, that's a pretty handy asset for Corey and Queensland."
We'll gillet has played a game there, and maguire had done it for Samoa. I think if that happens we bite the bullet and tell Gordie he was right
I bleed Maroon
International Rep
- Apr 17, 2013
- 15,152
- 19,059
The season starts in less than a month, calm down buddy.
GCBRONCO
International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 21,180
- 19,397
Corey Parker kicked at around 72.5 percent over his career, not too many people would have had him as the primary goal kicker if the opportunity had been there. Milford is a good backup kicker but I wouldn't want him as the primary at any stage. In the modern era even 70-75 percent people wouldn't regard as outstanding. Hell I'd prefer Kahu take the field goal attempts over him as well.
Kahu strikes it with much better accuracy and generally if he misses it's because of distance which you could attribute to the injury he was carrying last season. At times he had a strike rate into the low to mid 80's. Imagine how good he could be without the injuries he has sustained.
Jamayne Isaasko may still make the round 1 side(and kick on from there) so there would be no need for Milford to do so outside of extreme measures.
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is kahu any good at penalties/conversions? I don't think I've ever seen him kick, probably because of his injury. If he is looking healthy, and has some knack at it, he might be worth a go as he seems to possess the poise for it. Put it this way, if the broncos were a soccer team, it would be him I'd want to be taking penalties.
- Feb 27, 2010
- 29,055
- 11,704
He's been kicking them for the last 2 years... where have you been? :p
Alec
International Rep
- Mar 4, 2008
- 19,294
- 12,302
Really? I thought he kicked way more than anyone since Parker retired.
tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
- 12,280
- 13,217
The ****?? He has been our primary kicker since Parker retired.
GCBRONCO
International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 21,180
- 19,397
On average so far his kicking at 77.22 percent on average since 2015. He jumped from 68.75 percent to 79.25 percent from 2015 to 2016 which is massive (and he did take a decent amount of attempts in 2015). Slightly dropped in 2017(from 79.25 to 78.95) but at stages he was kicking in the 80's before the injury problems of 2017 set in.
