80 minute Dummy Halves are the way of the future.To my mind an 80 minute hooker is a compromise to an under-performing pack. It's too much to expect a player to do it and maintain a consistent performance. Something has to give.
So assuming our pack is fine, it makes sense to play mecca off the bench. With Turpin the preferred candidate, he will play a good 60 minutes, with mecca filling in the remainder and leaving an option as lock, second row in the event of injury or depending on the bench to relieve a younger forward that starts. It's the kind of role berrigan used to fulfill and with Turpin's versatility and that of our starters, makes sense.
People may talk about other hookers playing 80, but inevitably it leads to poor performance down the line. Camera smith manages it, but only with having spells away from the spot on the field, and he's not exactly your average hooker.
Dobbo warning (read with caution)
Stated Seibold has told him that both Turpin and Macca will be in the 17 for round 1.
Bird has secured the FB role
Isaako, Herbie and coates to play it out for the wing spot.
Reckons Fifita isn’t going anywhere
Don't mind giving bird a go at 1, but pushing isaako to the wing is no good
Agreed, but I'm not sure he's willing to push isaako out of the team.I doubt Isaako will be pushed to the wing ... more likely ISC, as I believe Seibs sees him as a fullback, not a winger.
Out of Coates and Farnworth, I would go with Farnworth as i think he is more ready than Coates, plus he has the added bonus of goal kicking, which we'll need without Isaako
To my mind an 80 minute hooker is a compromise to an under-performing pack. It's too much to expect a player to do it and maintain a consistent performance. Something has to give.
So assuming our pack is fine, it makes sense to play mecca off the bench. With Turpin the preferred candidate, he will play a good 60 minutes, with mecca filling in the remainder and leaving an option as lock, second row in the event of injury or depending on the bench to relieve a younger forward that starts. It's the kind of role berrigan used to fulfill and with Turpin's versatility and that of our starters, makes sense.
People may talk about other hookers playing 80, but inevitably it leads to poor performance down the line. Camera smith manages it, but only with having spells away from the spot on the field, and he's not exactly your average hooker.
How many clubs right now have 80 minute hookers? It may be the way of the future with interchange restrictions but even then it won't make players more capable of doing it.80 minute Dummy Halves are the way of the future.
Interchanges are almost certainly going to reduce again, and with the use of the HIA ruling now in place and obviously not going anywhere, it's going to come to a time where literally every side will need to carry an 80 minute (or at least 80 minute capable) Dummy Half in their squad.
I think the Bench of the future looks like:
14. Spare Outside Back/Utility
15. Bench Middle 1
16. Bench Middle 2
17. Bench Middle 3 or a Bench Edge player
Some clubs will get lucky and be able to combine 2 roles in a single player, and I think it makes an absolute Utility like Shaun Berrigan, Kurt Gidley, Adam Douehi etc worth their weight in gold, but the 80 minute Dummy Half is almost certainly here to stay in my opinion.
I was pro five-eighth for a long time but with Milf at the back the biggest pro is we can have Dearden in the team. I think Croft will do wonders but I don’t want to see Dearden go either and that spine would solve that eventual problem
Dearden is a numpty. Locking on first / second tackle. Straight out of the Ben hunt handbook. Can't afford to have play makers make such stupid decisions.
As the late Jack Gibson once said: "They'd boo Santa Claus, this mob. "18 year old halfback puts in an early kick in trial match, only wins a penalty. That's it boys, he's done. I'm sure Alfie and Joey never made such a shocking mistake, not even in their teens.
Dearden is a numpty. Locking on first / second tackle. Straight out of the Ben hunt handbook. Can't afford to have play makers make such stupid decisions.