Finals Week 3 - Sea Eagles vs Broncos - Build Up Thread

[rnabokov]

Could work. He'd be more a Greg Bird style 6 than a Lockyer. Maybe with a player like Beale at the back we can afford to have that.

Are you serious? Comparing Gillett to Bird? Bird is a clod. Gillett has excellent footwork, decent ball skills and good speed. Given it's finals football I'd rather Gillett than Norman or Hunt if Lockyer doesn't make it.

 

[ethos]

I think it's a genuine option, the other being a halves combo of Hunt and Wallace. I can't see Norman being thrown into that situation so why not Gillett and if it's sucks on the night we go back to Wallace and Hunt with Glenn giving Macca a break if he needs it.

The more I think about it the more I like it.

Yeah I'm thinking if Gillett does start at six, it will just be for the opening exchange with either Hunt or Norman coming off the bench after that. Hopefully Griffin has enough sense, and faith in an inexperienced guy, to put a proper playmaker there. Win or lose, I'd much rather Norman or Hunt than Gillett.

 

[Ghibli]

WE need a genuine long range kicking option, Wallace will need assistance, this is where Hunt or Norman is above the likes of Gillett.

 

[Bucking Beads]

We have a #### load of ivans on the board at the moment. Backrowers in the 6 never works. Ben hunt to 6 Macca to play 80 or glenn to fill in for 10 if locky doesn't play

 

[dukey]

Are you serious? Comparing Gillett to Bird? Bird is a clod. Gillett has excellent footwork, decent ball skills and good speed. Given it's finals football I'd rather Gillett than Norman or Hunt if Lockyer doesn't make it.

Yes, I'm serious, in that Bird is a lock playing in the halves. If Gillett plays at 6 he won't be throwing pinpoint cutout passes and putting in inch-perfect kicks, he'll be first and foremost a ball runner with a few playmaking duties thrown in.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Watmough and etc won't be able to run through Gillett the way they (might) run over Norman. With Beale, Wallace, McCullough and Hunt in the team we have more than enough kickers and playmakers.

 

[Blox_party87]

Exclusive interview with Lockyer himself at 6pm tonight on channel 9

 

[Alec]

So what's with all the conflicting reports on Lockyer? One doctor says he doesn't risk permanent injury (or at least any more than usual, I assume), and another doctor says he could lose his eyesight. Someone says he'll play, someone else says he won't.

 

[Porthoz]

Locky WILL PLAY!

 

[Kris]

Locky WILL PLAY!

/thread

 

[Porthoz]

Griffin says Gillett will carry no. 6 if Locky fails to back up...

http://www.nrl.com/gillett-is-nrl-final-standby-for-lockyer/tabid/10874/newsid/64868/default.aspx

 

[Blox_party87]

Yeh mentioned it before

 

[Bucking Beads]

Griffin says Gillett will carry no. 6 if Locky fails to back up...

http://www.nrl.com/gillett-is-nrl-final-standby-for-lockyer/tabid/10874/newsid/64868/default.aspx

Well he changed his tune..

 

[m1c]

Geeze I hope it's not Gillett. IMO our attack is mediocre and will suffer even more without Locky. Gillett is one of the good things we have going for us - the last thing we need is to change his role.

 

[user_nat]

Did (most) people forget about the game against the Eels last year where Gillett played half a game at 5/8 and did very little?
Didn't work against a crummy team, won't work in a prelim.

To be fair Wallace and McC are in better form now.

 

[Alec]

Did (most) people forget about the game against the Eels last year where Gillett played half a game at 5/8 and did very little?
Didn't work against a crummy team, won't work in a prelim.

To be fair Wallace and McC are in better form now.

Yeah, I remember. I'm not a fan of putting players in the halves just because they can break some tackles. It reminds me of 09 when we lost Wallace.

 

[ningnangnong]

I can't help but feel Hook is playing a few games with the media here.

If Lockyer doesn't play, I reckon we'll see Hunt or Norman as his replacement. Hook's just doing his utmost to keep the attention away from those two.

Or, as earlier mentioned, Gillett could just be used for the opening 20-30 minutes where the intensity is really high and you can't afford any major defensive slip ups.

 

[Mister Wright]

This decision is Henjack-esque. (sp). Up until this point of the season I have respected every decision that Griffin has made, however if he goes through with this one I will not forgive him unless we win. What is the point of giving Hunt all this experience in the NRL if he isn't going to be used in the halves at some point in his career? If he is seen at the club as a backup hooker, then if I were him I'd be looking for a new club ASAP.

 

[rnabokov]

First, what's with all this "grind" stuff? Grinding nearly cost us the Dragons match. It's the free, fast and furious running attack as in the Warriors match that defines this team's greatness, not "grinding" out wins. Sure, playing tough and controlling the middle is crucial but against Manly, if we try that stilted attacking plays we did v Dragons we won't score a point, unless it's a field goal. By Gillett.

How many times v Dragons did we have them pinned on their line, desperate n shagged out? Where was the little kick into the in-goal with a few runners? I reckon there were 3 to 4 tries there.

Where was that relentless running by Glenn, T'eo and Gillett? Short passes and angled runs. They mangled the Warriors defence, and the score showed it. Saw precious little of that v Dragons. I hope we don't try grinding out Manly. It won't work. Their defence is up to it - at least another notch up on te Dragons.

As for Gillett at 5/8, you can't compare his play now to last year. He has matured enormously. For all we know, his passing game is there waiting. Maybe not so much in the kicking department, but Wally can do most of that. Play Norman v Manly? Last option in my book. If Locky doesn't make it, for mine Gillett is the best option, especially defensively, especially if he is on Foran who is really going to test us big time.