Corey Oates

[Brett]

Just back on Oates, I'd like to see him drop a couple of kilos ( maybe less weight work ) and play some centre. Sort of like the young Gene Miles. Like Miles, move into the forwards in time. A big fast rangy centre would be great although if you all think that's wrong then ,okay into the forwards. It's just that he's so young to be thrown in there.

I'd like to see him put some muscle weight on and move into the centres. He's too skinny to do much damage there ATM.

 

[subsbligh]

He's a good one.

He's a natural footballer. Wing is not his first choice position but he's made a bloody good chop of it and showed pretty good pace when he took that intercept. Maybe he could make that spot his own.

Do a Luke Lewis eventually.

 

[rnabokov]

Ideal on the bench, and then would make a great centre when Hodges retires, or wing if it means keeping Maranta out.

Can't see him in the back row for the next few years although I'm sure he would be good there as well

 

[john1420]

No doubt it depends on our recruiting drive, but I think he should find a place in 17 somewhere

 

[Huge]

I'd like to see him put some muscle weight on and move into the centres. He's too skinny to do much damage there ATM.

6 foot 4 inches/ 193 cm and 105 kilos of muscle.....too skinny lol.

 

[Brett]

6 foot 4 inches/ 193 cm and 105 kilos of muscle.....too skinny lol.

Well, IMO he is. He could easily bulk to 110kgs (if he's currently 105kgs), without sacrificing speed. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Rowan Edwards]

Oates has been one of the few highlights of the season. Hopefully we find a space for him on the bench once our first choice wingers come back next year.

 

[Alec]

We've got enough fatties in the forwards. Just let him remain a tall quick lanky dude.

 

[rnabokov]

No doubt it depends on our recruiting drive, but I think he should find a place in 17 somewhere

I think Oates is a must for the starting 17 from now on (depending on form of course.)

Let's also hope the recruiting drive isn't in reverse gear

 

[Brad Miers]

I have watched Oates play a lot of junior football and have always been the go-to player of the team. He is very fast and mobile for a big man running in the centres.
I agree he should be nurtured on the bench used as a wide running forward.
One attribute not seen at this stage is his kicking ability. I have not seen a player place kick so far.

 

[Renegade]

Don't turn him into Dane Carlaw v2 (a strong, fast, strapping runner who can play wide, but we told him to pack it on so he could be a bulky second rower).

Really promising player, getting caught out a bit on the wing but to be expected as it's not his position. hopefully he takes note of where he's going wrong and learns from it.

 

[Brett]

Don't turn him into Dane Carlaw v2 (a strong, fast, strapping runner who can play wide, but we told him to pack it on so he could be a bulky second rower).

Really promising player, getting caught out a bit on the wing but to be expected as it's not his position. hopefully he takes note of where he's going wrong and learns from it.

The biggest mistake he's making is not staying on his man.

I played quite a bit of junior league up until I was 17, in a variety of positions, including wing, and one of the most important things on the wing was to always stay on the outside of your opposite winger. If your opposite centre beats your inside defenders, well then the rest of the team should be good enough to slide and cover him, but to let your opposite winger score a try on the outside of you, is unforgivable as a winger. At least, that's what it was like 15 years ago, lol. I assume it hasn't changed much...

 

[KingWebcke]

I played quite a bit of junior league up until I was 17, in a variety of positions, including wing, and one of the most important things on the wing was to always stay on the outside of your opposite winger. If your opposite centre beats your inside defenders, well then the rest of the team should be good enough to slide and cover him, but to let your opposite winger score a try on the outside of you, is unforgivable as a winger. At least, that's what it was like 15 years ago, lol. I assume it hasn't changed much...

It was always like that when I played there too. You have the best defender in the team (the sideline) outside you, so all you have to do is manage that gap. There are exceptions but we were always taught that it is better to let a player target the gap between you and the centre because it is easier for cover defenders to reach them than it is if they are beating you on the outside shoulder.

 

[lockyer]

great young prospect, has the size to cause real damage, not a back though, but the experience will be handy later on, id put him hard on the weights next year

 

[Broncs1459]

Hope it doesn't turn into a Ben teo position where he leaves because there are so many back rowers at the club. I haven't seen enough to suggest he would be better then Reed/kahu/Copley in the centers either. Hopefully he keeps Thaiday/Glenn/Gillet on their toes.

 

[broncos4life]

He didn't have many of those skills when he played in the second row either.

When he was playing well in the backrow his game was always pretty simple: crash through the line and trample defenders, plus getting quick play the balls. Whether he plays at prop or not doesn't change the fact that he has never used much footwork or been an excellent offloader. His game was always pretty simple and it doesn't seem to work that well anymore, even when he does get the opportunity.

Yeah he's never had those skills has he... Got the 2nd row dally m two years in a row and is constantly selected for qld/Australia cos of his cool hair...

 

[KingWebcke]

Yeah he's never had those skills has he... Got the 2nd row dally m two years in a row and is constantly selected for qld/Australia cos of his cool hair...

I was never implying anything of the sort! Thaiday's ability is undeniable and he was a great backrower before 2012, but even in his heyday his success wasn't the result of great footwork, passing or a Beetson-like offload. He ran good lines, combined well with Lockyer and had a brute strength that allowed him to monster defenders.

But that style of play doesn't seem to be quite as effective anymore. If you watch games today it seems like the more successful second rowers have a bit more finesse and less of an emphasis on raw strength and power. It means that Thaiday just doesn't have the same impact he used to and unless the game changes dramatically he is going to continue being a bit old-school as a backrower.

 

[rnabokov]

I was never implying anything of the sort! Thaiday's ability is undeniable and he was a great backrower before 2012, but even in his heyday his success wasn't the result of great footwork, passing or a Beetson-like offload. He ran good lines, combined well with Lockyer and had a brute strength that allowed him to monster defenders.

But that style of play doesn't seem to be quite as effective anymore. If you watch games today it seems like the more successful second rowers have a bit more finesse and less of an emphasis on raw strength and power. It means that Thaiday just doesn't have the same impact he used to and unless the game changes dramatically he is going to continue being a bit old-school as a backrower.

We haven't used any of our running back rowers effectively with any consistency since Lockyer retired. We squander skill and talent. Hunt will hopefully fix that. To a large extent I hope.

Thaiday, despite being a a bit porky, is, like many players in Griffindor, a victim of a) poor conditioning and b) a 1990's game plan. All he does is run get a pass and make a 45 degree angle for the outside backs. Predictable. No support runners, but then mostly, he doesn't look to offload when he hits the line. Or the turf.

At the same time, I have also seen him play a good passing game, especially close to the line. Sometimes. Not very often actually.

Long live Griffindor!

As for Oates, I think his future is in the outside backs. I see him as an ideal replacement for Hodges when that time comes