Beale to five-eighth next year?

[Coxy]

Would Beale at fullback with Hoffman in the halves be considered?

I don't know if the Hoff has the skills there - just a question!

Considering the Hoff struggles with the 2nd man play I doubt he'd be any better than Beale.

 

[ningnangnong]

Considering the Hoff struggles with the 2nd man play I doubt he'd be any better than Beale.

Yeah, I can only see Hoffman playing fullback for the rest of his career - which is fine, because he'll be one of the best in the game in a few years time, if he's not already!

 

[rnabokov]

I read Jeba's piece - simply excellent writing and his point is very well made.

I rate Beale as an absolute untapped goldmine. Well, it is being tapped now I guess as Jeba observes.

I wonder what will happen should Beale continue to improve each match to the point where Hoff has a really serious threat to his apparent ownership of the FB spot. I reckon it's on the cards, especially given Hoff's serious problems with his timing in 2nd man plays.

But then, at this point in time, sure Hoff is the man, and whatever, I reckon Beale would make a terrific 5/8, particularly given his increasing skill at reading the game and getting his timing right. That's what makes Locky so special, and that's where I see Beale as showing great promise.

But can Beale kick? Well, I bet he can...

 

[Dexter]

Well I must be the only one who thinks Beale is better than Hoff. They are both very good but I think Beale brings a bit more in attack and that for mine just gives him an edge.

I can't see him as a 5/8 yet but maybe after a few years at fullback and using him as a ball playing option he will develop.

 

[rj9]

Well I must be the only one who thinks Beale is better than Hoff. They are both very good but I think Beale brings a bit more in attack and that for mine just gives him an edge.

I can't see him as a 5/8 yet but maybe after a few years at fullback and using him as a ball playing option he will develop.

Guys,

People are talking about BOYD as a 5/8. If that is the case I see no reason why Hoffman/Beale could not make the transistion. I am just not convinced on Corey Norman at all.....

Thoughts?

 

[Coxy]

I'm certainly not convinced on Corey Norman. He may well have the talent, but he's too soft.
He'd certainly have a speed edge on Ben Hunt, but Hunt's been getting that first grade game time up the middle, invaluable defensive practice.

Frankly I would think Hunt is the front runner, Norman is a close second, Capewell a dark horse, and Beale/Hoffman last resorts if none of the other three looks viable.

As for Beale vs Hoffman in general, I think Beale probably has a slightly better ability to read the play than Hoffman, but Hoffman's speed and strength is undeniable. His kick returns are lethal. He looks likely to break the first line on almost every run. A bit like Karmichael Hunt, that gives an incredible advantage to the team in terms of momentum.

Question will be how Hoffman recovers from this knee injury. PCL doesn't usually cause too many dramas, but mentally it might play on him a bit. We'll see. We're blessed to have 2 options so quality though.

 

[m1c]

Hoffman will never be a 6. Ever.

From what we have seen this year it seems Norman will get first crack at 6. As always, the situation is dynamic. It will all depend on the strength of Hunt and Baptise' off-season. Hook will always carry a bench hooker and I'd hazard a guess that unless Baptise has a big one, Hunt may retain his bench role. Capewell is not in the picture.

I wouldn't be surprised if Beale is given trial time there. He's certainly an option. IMO his passing isn't too far behind Normans.

 

[Coxy]

Hoffman will never be a 6. Ever.

From what we have seen this year it seems Norman will get first crack at 6. As always, the situation is dynamic. It will all depend on the strength of Hunt and Baptise' off-season. Hook will always carry a bench hooker and I'd hazard a guess that unless Baptise has a big one, Hunt may retain his bench role. Capewell is not in the picture.

I wouldn't be surprised if Beale is given trial time there. He's certainly an option. IMO his passing isn't too far behind Normans.

I'm not so sure Norman is the heir apparent. Baptiste is ready for first grade, so can see him slotting onto the bench. Hunt has proven he's more robust at first grade level, so I think barring a really poor offseason and trial showing, he'll be number 7, with Wallace shifting to number 6.

 

[m1c]

Norman has been the back up 6/7 all year so I take it from that he's the front runner. Hook has had every chance to throw Hunt into that role, as IMO Baptise seems more than ready for small minutes off the bench (which is all Macca's back up will get).

I'm a Baptise fan and think it's much more worthwhile carrying him on the bench than Hunt, however Hook seems to think otherwise.

You are right about Norman though, he does seem a bit flakey.

 

[Coxy]

Norman has been the back up 6/7 all year so I take it from that he's the front runner. Hook has had every chance to throw Hunt into that role, as IMO Baptise seems more than ready for small minutes off the bench (which is all Macca's back up will get).

I'm a Baptise fan and think it's much more worthwhile carrying him on the bench than Hunt, however Hook seems to think otherwise.

You are right about Norman though, he does seem a bit flakey.

But that's just it, when he's thrown Norman into the fray he's basically just taken a back seat and let Wallace run things. The fact Hunt has been there week in, week out tells me he's higher in the pecking order, even if he's not playing strictly a halves role. Being in at dummyhalf gets him closer to the action and as the first hands on the ball in every movement, gives him a closer look at defensive patterns, and how the attack works.

Not saying Hunt for sure, but that's just how I'm reading it.

 

[Nashy]

If Norman never wears a Broncos jersey again, I'll be happy. He's had more than enough chances to prove his worth in the team, and he's for the most part, been hopeless. All the other young players have done well, what's wrong with him that he blows?

 

[Coxy]

If Norman never wears a Broncos jersey again, I'll be happy. He's had more than enough chances to prove his worth in the team, and he's for the most part, been hopeless. All the other young players have done well, what's wrong with him that he blows?

I wouldn't go that far, but he doesn't look ready to me. He seems to be someone that will crack under pressure, or worse, go into his shell and let everyone else do it. Can't afford that.

But again, a full offseason training with the squad, and then trials and early rounds next year, maybe he'll come good. But right now I don't see him with the mental capacity to play first grade in the halves.

 

[Dexter]

Geez that's a harsh assessment of where Norman is at. Not everyone develops at the same pace Nashy. On pure football ability you can see he has it but needs to mature physically and mentally before he really comes into his own. Look at Copley this year for instance, his first few games in the top grade were ordinary and didn't show much at all but the club has brought him along nice and slow, now he looks a real prospect and is still only 20.

One of the drawbacks of the NRL is not being able to sit kids on the sideline and give them 15 mins or so like used to happen, it's easier with hooker because a we tend carry one on the bench. Maybe next year Norman will get the utility bench spot and Hunt will continue to play some minutes at d/half to give Norman some game time.

Give Norman the time he needs and we will end up with a good one.

 

[Coxy]

Biggest problem we have is that there's no genuine reserve grade, so you can't groom kids against men until they're ready for NRL. Playing in front of 352 people at Piggabeen Reserve or Bishop Park in QLD Cup isn't exactly an enticing prospect, so if another club is prepared to offer you a shot you up and leave. Opportunities at other clubs come up more and more with salary cap pushing more experienced but not necessarily superstar guys towards England later in their career to cash in. That opens up opportunities for younger guys.

If there was a genuine reserve grade competition, played as a curtain raiser for the NRL game, giving fringe players that experience of playing at the best venues, travelling etc, it would greatly improve the quality of players coming into the NRL and I think limit the need for players to move clubs early to get a go.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Pretty harsh on young Norman. He isn't ready yet but has played a few good games for the club. I am not sure how he has really had the chance to prove himself in the 6 yet?

 

[Dexter]

Biggest problem we have is that there's no genuine reserve grade, so you can't groom kids against men until they're ready for NRL. Playing in front of 352 people at Piggabeen Reserve or Bishop Park in QLD Cup isn't exactly an enticing prospect, so if another club is prepared to offer you a shot you up and leave. Opportunities at other clubs come up more and more with salary cap pushing more experienced but not necessarily superstar guys towards England later in their career to cash in. That opens up opportunities for younger guys.

If there was a genuine reserve grade competition, played as a curtain raiser for the NRL game, giving fringe players that experience of playing at the best venues, travelling etc, it would greatly improve the quality of players coming into the NRL and I think limit the need for players to move clubs early to get a go.

That's correct Coxy, but I don't see much of a push for a proper reserve grade to be reintroduced. Wouldn't that be great going to the footy and watching all the clubs players over 3 games just like the old days.

Back in the day you would play c grade and they selected all the reserves for b grade from your game and so on. If you had really good game you would get asked to sit the line for A grade. At first you would be sh@tting yourself every time someone got injured then after a few times you kinda hoped someone would go down, eventually you'd get time and go on fromthere.

The thing is you took a lot of confidence from the slow progression now it's just you're in and don't let us down. It's a lot for a kid like a Norman to handle and sometimes it can destroy a career.

 

[Coxy]

Yep, it's disappointing.

It's interesting to note Locky came through in that old environment.
I remember in 1994 David Peachey played in the Under 21 and Reserve Grade Grand Finals for Cronulla. They won both.

 

[Meat77]

In 1985 Chris Guider played in all three grades in the grand final for St George, winning 2 but happily for me losing First Grade!