Hoffman in the halves

[Big Pete]

Wouldn't call it a bombed try on that particular play but definitely an error since he lost the ball in the tackle.

Glenn wasn't running a good line, seemed like he was running back inside instead of through the gap. Still should have given it but not a bomb try.

I found it funny the last time we ran through the video review, we were all happy to criticise Hoffman, but the next night on Sterlo they showed about 3 Barba bombed tries which didn't even rate a mention.

 

[Renegade]

Barba good, Hoffman bad.

 

[Cult]

I wouldn't mind if Hoffman moved to fullback when the opposition is kicking if Barba has another shocker. Definitely not permanently though.

 

[Alec]

I still find it a little funny people think Barba is a genuine ball player, and sad that he's being forced to play as one... but he's Lockyer or Wally Lewis compared to Hoffman's Jeremy Smith (the half).

 

[CaptainHook]

I found it funny the last time we ran through the video review, we were all happy to criticise Hoffman, but the next night on Sterlo they showed about 3 Barba bombed tries which didn't even rate a mention.

Good catch, Pete. The analysis on Sterlo if often eye opening.

Regarding Hoffman, maybe he should focus on getting us repeat sets rather than the all or nothing play. When we are in the opposition 20, just put a little grubber in and rally his outside men for a good kick chase - that would give him confidence that he at least got a result and the more time he spends on the opponent's tryline the more time he has to develop his decision making.

 

[Porthoz]

Wouldn't call it a bombed try on that particular play but definitely an error since he lost the ball in the tackle.

Glenn wasn't running a good line, seemed like he was running back inside instead of through the gap. Still should have given it but not a bomb try.

I found it funny the last time we ran through the video review, we were all happy to criticise Hoffman, but the next night on Sterlo they showed about 3 Barba bombed tries which didn't even rate a mention.

Yeah, that's called exception in Barba's case, as opposed to Hoffman, who does it as a rule.

 

[Big Pete]

There's been a lot of exceptions this year then...

 

[Porthoz]

There's been a lot of exceptions this year then...

Seriously, you're going there?

 

[Big Pete]

It isn't a stretch to suggest that Barba has come up with a lot of blown plays in his own right.

Doesn't excuse Hoffman, just an interesting observation that in one of Ben's better games, Fox were able to highlight three blown opportunities which were missed by all of us on here.

 

[CaptainHook]

I'm not a big fan of the 'stop gap' mentality of choosing a halves combination. If Hoffman and Hunt are not viewed as a long term halves combination (and capable of winning a premiership) then we need to try something new. I think we need some experience in the halves. Here's an idea from left field: How about Terry Campese? Experienced, good organisation and direction, good kicking game, etc. Don't know if Campo is off contract or whatever but we could do worse...

 

[Big Pete]

The problem is, basically any halves combination this year is a stop-gap option until Milford arrives.

 

[CaptainHook]

The problem with that though is that it makes it a wasted year. I don't mind fans thinking like that, but if the coaching staff are buying into it then it's a concern.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't think they are, I believe the plan is to work around it and if it doesn't develop then they'll look at other alternatives. I'm not talking out of my arse or ideals either, every press conference has basically re-affirmed that rhetoric. Even when the Broncos have won he's basically said 'it wasn't pretty and we need to work on a few areas but they did some good things tonight'. Except for last week of course where basically he laid the blame on the entire team.

I find the Campese suggestion interesting because I don't think he'll be available until next season and I don't know if he'd even be a good fit for us regardless. Then again, with any Raider, unless they're off contract, you'll have a hard time getting them to release any of their players to come up here and play for us after the Milford saga.

 

[Unbreakable]

All we're doing at the moment is developing Hoffman's ball playing ability for the Bulldogs next season, I'd much rather us use this "Stop-Gap" period to develop another one of our players, one who hasn't asked for a release and is off-contract for 2015. (Kahu comes to mind)

 

[Manbush]

I'm not a big fan of the 'stop gap' mentality of choosing a halves combination. If Hoffman and Hunt are not viewed as a long term halves combination (and capable of winning a premiership) then we need to try something new. I think we need some experience in the halves. Here's an idea from left field: How about Terry Campese? Experienced, good organisation and direction, good kicking game, etc. Don't know if Campo is off contract or whatever but we could do worse...

Love Campo, his passion and love of the club but he's never been a great organiser and while a long kick never been the most accurate and lacks a short kicking game, many want Cornish to replace him for those reasons plus his reluctance to run which was always his strongest suit.

Contract wise expires end of 2015 though half expect him to retire end of this year.

Hook should give one of your highly thought of youngens a run, IMO if Milf was a junior of yours he still woundnt have debuted with how reluctant Hook is to give a young half a go.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I will be interested to see what happens with the Halves if Milford decides not to come. IMO Hoffman has no future in the halves so going with the stop gap situation would be a poor idea IMO.

 

[Art Vandelay]

The only move that would potentially not be stop-gap would be Barba to 6. If Milford renegs we will undoubtedly look outside the club for a half. If Milford plays 6 for us next year then everything is a stop-gap. But there is still the possibility that Milford becomes our new fullback, in which case Barba would be the likely 6 in 2015.

I'm not as critical of Griffin as most on this site, but I'm pretty disappointed we haven't even tried this option, as even a failed experiment would not really weaken the side based on current form for Barba and Hoffman, and would provide valuable insight for next year.

 

[Bucking Beads]

If Barba was destined to be our 6 I'd have thought he would be the 6 now. Milford will be our 6 if he comes IMO.