tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
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which is also a valid reason. Especially under the circumstances.
BroncosFever
State of Origin Rep
- Jun 6, 2014
- 6,091
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I’m suggesting your view towards Billy is biased before he even sets foot on the field, his qualities as a hooker don’t compare with any of the elite but with what we have in our roster, he’s easily one of the best options we have.
tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
- 12,898
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Yes I know, but what we have in our roster is part by design.
Sproj
Immortal
Senior Staff
- Sep 6, 2013
- 55,314
- 67,614
Best wedding I ever went to was in Italy, good choice.
Wolfie
International Captain
- Jan 14, 2015
- 23,611
- 38,973
I'm not the greatest fan of Riki but i totally agree with you. Because he hasnt been David Fifita levels of good for us, some want him dumped and replaced with the next new shiny young player ( Piakura or Robati for example ) then if they dont work who's next. If we sign another back rower, its one to use in tandem with Riki and help him learn. Its called development.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
- 15,411
- 35,837
Of course he’s easily one of the best options. There is currently only 2 options. Paix and Billy. Though the club has seemingly signed someone so the discussion is probably moot. Unless of course the new hooker we sign is better than Billy but Billy keeps getting picked because Billy would then be the third best option.
Culhwch
NRL Captain
- Mar 28, 2008
- 4,304
- 10,783
Do you think there might be some correlation between the quality of player a team can attract, and their recent record? Storm, Panthers, Roosters, and so on - I think you'll find it is a bit easier for them to attract a better level of talent than the team that finished last and close to last the past two seasons.
Reynolds really was an anomaly, and we more or less lucked into that one. But until we start winning consistently again, we're going to have to patch some holes with some willing if otherwise average journeymen like Billy Walters.
It's not the end of the world to have players like that in the spine, if you can compensate in other areas, which hopefully will include a healthy Reynolds, a more experienced Mam, and Walsh in 2023.
I mean, we did win a premiership with Shane Perry at halfback.
P
pagey
State of Origin Rep
- Aug 19, 2013
- 7,444
- 5,975
think he can transform into a prop much like tapine? when he first came in he was very physical, seemed to like the contact. just needs to add some size.
Financeguy
NRL Player
- Apr 24, 2013
- 2,091
- 3,321
Agree that development of a player comes at different times but not every player is suddenly going to become a good/great/gun player just because they rack up 75-100 games.
Our problem is we have a number of players that are in this "development" stage such as Niu/Walsh, Cobbo, Mariner, Herbie, Mam, Paix, Hetherington, and to a lesser extend Carrigan before you even throw Piakura and Robati into the mix. I personally think Riki is one of the lowest upsides of that list.
With Capewell rightly or wrongly cementing 1 backrow spot we need to make a call eventually on who we keep out of Riki, Piakura and Robati as it is crazy to be investing ~400k or more each in all 3 of them when contracts are up.
Back row should be such a weapon on the field, we are currently shooting blanks and the thought of another 2-3 seasons of it whilst Riki develops isn't a happy one.
Renegade
State of Origin Captain
Contributor
- Mar 14, 2008
- 9,260
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I dunno Riki just seems like a good defender and not much else. His hands are pretty average, he doesn't threaten the line, he doesn't have any offload or x factor about himself. His main two positives seem to be he's a good defender (so are most 2nd rowers) and he's a real team player, one of the first to celebrate tries and/or being a good guy at training or whatever.
Hell even Alex Glenn at least used to have a good running game and dined out on the fringes when he was younger.
but everyone knows that I don't rate him too highly, I would happily lose him in exchange for someone else/freeing up space.
Mustafur
State of Origin Captain
Contributor
- Jun 13, 2019
- 10,023
- 14,464
Riki is a really fast backrower but he doesn't use that with the ball much, it only shows when set up for a line break, he also does have some ball skills but holds back alot on it, and when he does Errors come.
Robati on the other hand might be a little slower but seems much better with his footwork and ball skills, it's hard to judge his defence on such little game time this year but on the games we have seen on him his ceiling looks a bit higher.
Backrowers these days are Centres who do more defence I think in most teams there isn't much of a size difference between the two positions, you want them to have the running and ball skills of the outside backs but capable of the extra defensive load.
Robati on the other hand might be a little slower but seems much better with his footwork and ball skills, it's hard to judge his defence on such little game time this year but on the games we have seen on him his ceiling looks a bit higher.
Backrowers these days are Centres who do more defence I think in most teams there isn't much of a size difference between the two positions, you want them to have the running and ball skills of the outside backs but capable of the extra defensive load.
Swordfish
QCup Player
- Aug 24, 2022
- 965
- 1,818
I wish we keep cloning Gillett over & over to play back row. I love his style of play. A true Bronco at heart and play style.
upthebroncs
NRL Player
- Oct 16, 2016
- 2,555
- 1,608
He ruined our attack on the right edge countless times. I'd say his best position for us would be as a bench middle forward.
upthebroncs
NRL Player
- Oct 16, 2016
- 2,555
- 1,608
If we want to look for ways to improve our side going into 2023.. Not starting Riki as one of our edge backrowers is something to be looked at IMO.
upthebroncs
NRL Player
- Oct 16, 2016
- 2,555
- 1,608
I believe this was a very poor year for Staggs in comparison to how well he could be playing. I think we should replace Riki with Staggs in the backrow.. Staggs can just focus on his powerful running game for the most part, not having to worry about setting up his winger etc..
Battler
State of Origin Rep
- Dec 4, 2013
- 7,144
- 7,004
Yep he’s got a physique that would rival SBW’s but provides zero attacking threat and is easily handled by defenders. It’s honestly baffling.
Piakura, on the other hand, has something about him in attack. He gets past defenders easily and just looks like a threat with the ball.
upthebroncs
NRL Player
- Oct 16, 2016
- 2,555
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He has horrible timing and awareness. These things come naturally to SBW.
Felt like every game I would see Riki over run his line early and Reynolds would have to give up on the play. This happened more than once a game haha.
Allo
International Rep
Forum Staff
- Sep 28, 2012
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It all depends on what sort of player a) Riki can be, and/or b) we want him to be
Can he be a hole-running, offloading attack weapon like a Kikau, and do we want that? If so, shape attack structure to allow that, because currently all we do is use second-rowers as decoys or give them flat hard at-the-line passes they always spill and make them look useless
If he can’t, replace him progressively with Robati or Piakura, or if we don’t want that, then focus on making him a defensive god like Gillo was and don’t expect any more than that
Can he be a hole-running, offloading attack weapon like a Kikau, and do we want that? If so, shape attack structure to allow that, because currently all we do is use second-rowers as decoys or give them flat hard at-the-line passes they always spill and make them look useless
If he can’t, replace him progressively with Robati or Piakura, or if we don’t want that, then focus on making him a defensive god like Gillo was and don’t expect any more than that
