Matt Gillett's Rep Career

[Big Pete]

Gillett has been one of the Broncos best in recent years.

Why hasn't his career kicked on at representative level? Why has he only started twice (and for two losses) at this level?

 

[Danoz Direct]

Re: Matt Gillett Rep Career

I think it is because he has made a habit of making errors that have put the team on the back foot at crucial times.

 

[Alec]

His defence was abysmal for a long time too.

 

[subsbligh]

He's gone up a notch this year IMO, especially in his extra efforts in defence.

 

[Brett]

I'll combine a few answers here - His defence until this year has been poor. His ball handling at times is poor and he doesn't often run good lines off his Halfback like the best Second Rowers do. He also looks awkward as **** when he runs.

 

[Porthoz]

I'll combine a few answers here - His defence until this year has been poor. His ball handling at times is poor and he doesn't often run good lines off his Halfback like the best Second Rowers do. He also looks awkward as **** when he runs.

His halfback is the one to blame for this, not the other way around, and his defense last year was very, very good!
There is a huge difference between Gillett under Hook and Gillett under Bennett in terms of defense.

He does have a dropped ball on occasion, but mostly in attacking position, which while not ideal, is not as bad as putting your team under defensive pressure.

 

[Brett]

His halfback is the one to blame for this, not the other way around, and his defense last year was very, very good!
There is a huge difference between Gillett under Hook and Gillett under Bennett in terms of defense.

He does have a dropped ball on occasion, but mostly in attacking position, which while not ideal, is not as bad as putting your team under defensive pressure.

So you'd say that a Halfbacks job is to create an angle somehow for the Second Rower to run to? I'm not sure I understand how this works. I've always thought the outside running players job is to read the defensive line, and run at where you think a weakness might be, whether it be in between 2 defenders, at a smaller defender, or to a weakness of a particular defender. The Halfbacks job is to deliver the ball at the right time and pick the right player to throw the ball to. If you could explain this one to me would be good.

Gillett's defence last year was much improved, I agree 100%. It's even better this year. I guess the old Hook days are hard to forget.

 

[Porthoz]

So you'd say that a Halfbacks job is to create an angle somehow for the Second Rower to run to? I'm not sure I understand how this works. I've always thought the outside running players job is to read the defensive line, and run at where you think a weakness might be, whether it be in between 2 defenders, at a smaller defender, or to a weakness of a particular defender. The Halfbacks job is to deliver the ball at the right time and pick the right player to throw the ball to. If you could explain this one to me would be good.

Gillett's defence last year was much improved, I agree 100%. It's even better this year. I guess the old Hook days are hard to forget.

That's the point... this is NOT happening.

 

[Brett]

That's the point... this is NOT happening.

Okay, I understand that. But, what does that have to do with Gillett not running good lines? Or are you saying that perhaps Gillett IS running good lines, but Hunt isn't finding him at the right time?

 

[Porthoz]

Okay, I understand that. But, what does that have to do with Gillett not running good lines? Or are you saying that perhaps Gillett IS running good lines, but Hunt isn't finding him at the right time?

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Seen it plenty of times.

In fairness, I have seen Gillett butcher a few ones as well.

 

[Brett]

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Seen it plenty of times.

In fairness, I have seen Gillett butcher a few ones as well.

I can agree with this I guess. I'll have to pay closer attention to the lines Gillett is running. A lot of the times you see him get the ball flat footed out wide, then crab back in field.

 

[Brent81]

Re: Matt Gillett Rep Career

I think it is because he has made a habit of making errors that have put the team on the back foot at crucial times.

EG in the GF he dropped the ball near our line when we were 10 - 0 up. Lead directly to a Cowboys try.

I'm not sure what I think of Gillett. What I do know is that if he wants 700 k he'd better play a bit better than we has been recently.

 

[Allo]

Gillett is a line or angle-runner, not a hole-hitter. And there is a distinct difference. He works best attacking the line when he's running back across the 'grain' of the defence or has at least 5 metres or so to use his fend or the little step-shimmy that a lot of players do before the line.

95% of his drops come when we throw crash balls or those short passes where he hits the line nanoseconds after the ball touches his hands and thus he drops it. He needs more time and space than we currently give him. Because so far it's mostly either what happens above or he's flat-footed and makes about 5 metres trying to fend and crab his way to a gap to try and get through

 

[Alec]

Gillett is a line or angle-runner, not a hole-hitter. And there is a distinct difference. He works best attacking the line when he's running back across the 'grain' of the defence or has at least 5 metres or so to use his fend or the little step-shimmy that a lot of players do before the line.

95% of his drops come when we throw crash balls or those short passes where he hits the line nanoseconds after the ball touches his hands and thus he drops it. He needs more time and space than we currently give him. Because so far it's mostly either what happens above or he's flat-footed and makes about 5 metres trying to fend and crab his way to a gap to try and get through

With halves who can use their back rowers well, the hole hitters are just far better than these angle runners. Angle runners just sounds like - "pass them the ball and hope they do something". In a perfect world, you'd want Hunt using him better and Gillett aiming for holes, cause the few times he's done that, he looked better than ever.

 

[rnabokov]

For mine Gillett is a huge talent but one who needs direction which means a 1st class coach who can bring out his best, provide him with discipline and most importantly, attacking structures. Bennett is the man for that and, since Bennett has been at the helm, Gillett's game has improved out of sight. His defence is one example where our right side is now possibly the best defensive right hand edge in the comp.

As for line and hole running, I recall how good he was combining with Lockyer. I am hoping with the continuing fantastic coaching by Bennett, he will get more and better opportunities with good ball on that edge from Hunt exactly in the same way Roberts is starting to show what he can do since Milford has been working on his combinations with him. Personally, I feel if Milford worked a lot more on the right edge with Gillett and Roberts, we would be scoring a lot more points down the right hand side, and we would see just how effective Matt can (and will) be.

I am hoping Hunt learns to set the stage on the right edge a lot more, building on what as he already done a few times this year. Gillett's ball security is an issue, but then, if Gillett had the structures say Cordner gets, then I feel there would be less dropped ball.

My final thoughts are that Gillett also has great ball playing skills which can be better utilised and I am hoping Bennett focusses on that as well. Gillett has for too long been used as a battering ram by lesser coaches than Wayne.

As for his rep career, again, it's for me a matter of good coaching and the role and structures that Gillett is given. If he is used effectively, I see him as one of the best back rowers going around. I hope he gets to show what he can really do this year.

 

[coreyh88]

Previously he has been given very few minutes in the rep arena and this was justified due to his poor defence. Last year that improved out of site although he was not utilised at all in attack. This year hunt has been utilising him however hunt and milford aren't working as well together as milford is now taking more responsibility however remaining on the left hand side. I think this is the year that gillett finally deserves a starting spot in origin and maybe the teams tasman. His form will improve at club level if milford starts to act as a first receiver or hunt starts to utilise the short side more often. Gillett is looking great in attack again though.

As stated previously he does have great ball playing and it's a shame it's not utilised however there isn't really a need for it at this stage.