Corey Oates

[Harry Sack]

He's got the goods. The mere fact he's gone from second row and impressed as a winger is evidence of his ability as a footy player.

He's huge, and only 18 and so strong.

I would have fucking exploded if he held that ball from the Morris shoulder charge and managed to score.

Where Hook plays him is a conundrum.

**** that was a farce wasn't it.

Oates is a gun. Fingers crossed his development is handled well

 

[hidethesuspect]

Yeah I know, at first I almost shouted for joy when he hit Morris, but alas the ball spilled out, so close!

 

[pagey]

Pretty sure hook was the one that spotted him and signed him straight away and gave him a start , so you could say that we can thank him for that .

 

[rnabokov]

I'm making a space next to my pics of Gene Miles

 

[Brett]

He's got the goods. The mere fact he's gone from second row and impressed as a winger is evidence of his ability as a footy player.

He's huge, and only 18 and so strong.

I would have fucking exploded if he held that ball from the Morris shoulder charge and managed to score.

Where Hook plays him is a conundrum.

You've gotta think his best position will be Centre for next year, at least. Running lines on the right hand side off whoever our 5/8 is and running off Barba.

 

[rnabokov]

I still say keep him on the wing or as an emergency back rower (which = centre at Red Hill) until Hodges retires, then centre in 2015 (when Hodges moves into the back row :loool: )

 

[Morkel]

You've gotta think his best position will be Centre for next year, at least. Running lines on the right hand side off whoever our 5/8 is and running off Barba.

Yeah but despite one or two hiccups, Glenn defensively has been awesome on that right side. Between him & Reed they'd come close to the best defensive pairing in the game. It's also allowed Prince to move one position out in defence (between Glenn & the Maranta) which helps a lot, and will be equally beneficial if we have a rookie half next year or Milford arrives but is less than solid in defence.

 

[Brett]

I still say keep him on the wing or as an emergency back rower (which = centre at Red Hill) until Hodges retires, then centre in 2015 (when Hodges moves into the back row :loool: )

I've been reading a few of your posts in relation to this and it seems your main point is that because he's scored a lot of tries, we should keep him there?

I would argue that Hoffman scores a shit tonne of tries down that side too. It's mainly due to Jack Reed and the quality ball we're able to get down that side. Not saying Oates isn't a great finisher - Because I think he's got tremendous Rugby League instincts - I'm just saying I think we should use him a bit closer to the fringes of the ruck where he can use his size and speed a bit more, ala the run and try against Newcastle the other week.

 

[Brett]

Yeah but despite one or two hiccups, Glenn defensively has been awesome on that right side. Between him & Reed they'd come close to the best defensive pairing in the game. It's also allowed Prince to move one position out in defence (between Glenn & the Maranta) which helps a lot, and will be equally beneficial if we have a rookie half next year or Milford arrives but is less than solid in defence.

Great point re: defence. It's always going to be a trade off. Do we know what Oates is like in defence? Alex Glenn can definitely play Centre, no questions...

 

[Morkel]

Honestly, the fact that we are continually shuffling players around in non-specialist positions is making me more and more ill. This is exactly the reason we have been so poor. As fans, we are getting so used to it that we are becoming immune to the negative effects of doing so in hope of sparking, well, something.

There's a difference between doing it to cover injuries, doing it to strengthen the team, or doing 'just because he can play there'. TBH, rarely is the latter being discussed. Right now, we're alternating between covering injuries (Glenn to centre) and strengthening the team (Oates to centre).

A good example would be Aubusson for the Roosters this year. He's a back-rower that's been shuffling between the two positions all year, often mid-game, and it hasn't had a detrimental effect on their team.

 

[subsbligh]

Keep Oates in the backs until he bulks up and gets some more experience.

 

[Rabbir]

Can we play forwards in the forwards and backs in the backline please.

 

[Porthoz]

I was amazed at his speed again last night. In his break that resulted in Morris' shoulder charge, he just ran away from Inu as if he was standing still.

We could do a lot worse than a backline like this next season:

1- Barba
2- Hoffman
3- Reed
4- Copley/Glenn
5- Oates
6- Milford (if he comes)
7- Hunt

 

[Alec]

Can we play forwards in the forwards and backs in the backline please.

Agreed, I really fear that we are going to hurt his development by playing him on the wing, like we did with Hunt at hooker.

 

[Nashy]

Griffin's words at the pressed "He's not a winger".

 

[GCBRONCO]

Yeah his not Maranta, he doesn't bomb tries so clearly his not Griffin's idea of a winger, shit we better get him out of the backs, last thing we need is a strike power on the wing.

 

[Sproj]

Oates has to be in the side somewhere next year and I'd certainly put him in the trials at centre, he could be a real gun there for us. But then Glenn is great defensively so he has been good at centre. Just need an attacking right option and Oates might be good for that.

 

[rnabokov]

My whole point in wanting to play Oates on the wing is this, and I do not mean that is where he should stay for the rest of his career.

1. He is a gold mine. End of story. He is exactly what we need FOR THE TEAM in 2014. We need points. How many tries did our wingers score this year and who were the they? I rest my case.

2. He is 18 and learning the ropes. Wing is IMO a good place to start for someone like Oates who has clearly shown he can play there, enjoys it immensely, and outscores any winger we have except Hoffman (who is a specialist winger pretending to be a FB). On his contribution this year, he is therefore a gold mine for us while he comes to grips with 1st grade.

8 tries in 9 games? Yes please. Kahu is too slow, Drew is nowhere near Oates yet, if ever, and then there is Maranta

2. Wing is, unlike a number of idiot journos who say : "... relegated to the wing", a vitally important position yet has less pressure on a junior player as it is a specialist position with specialist skills BUT less than say a centre, who is required to perform a broader range of functions, with more pressure to perform them well or else ... like heavy defence, setting up plays, turning on a dime and chasing;

Again, Oates has taken to wing like a duck to water.

He is learning support play, finishing, catching and running. Anyone who can give Uate a run for his money = a good winger, and later, a good centre or back rower.

3. The last thing we need is to overload him at age 18/19. Sure, we can whack him in the forwards and use him as a battering ram under Hook's coaching methods but I feel that is both counter-productive, and we have enough back rowers at this point in time

4. Centre. For mine, Kahu is the ideal fit. He is relatively experienced, quick enough, has great instincts, a beautiful step and can pass. Ideal for mine until Hodges returns.

5. When necessary, Oates can always be benched if we are desperate, say through injuries to key players

Like I say, for mine, Oates has the potential to be the next Gene Miles. The last thing we need to do is to do a Norman on him and throw him in the deep end with only an ego for a life raft

To end my rant, the LAST THING HE NEEDS IS TO BULK UP. He is long and lean. He is not a Papalli, or Bukuya or Parker.

Hands off the pies Hook