pick your Round 1, 2012 team

Don't forget Baptiste. He would surely be able to cover in the halves if need be.
 
Bucking Beads said:
Don't forget Baptiste. He would surely be able to cover in the halves if need be.
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Baptiste is a good call. Having him there could also send a message for McCullough to lift his game, otherwise he could be replaced by a very promising player.
 
There's a subtle brilliance to Hunt that only Rugby League experts such as Coxy can possibly see.
 
Big Pete said:
There's a subtle brilliance to Hunt that only Rugby League experts such as Coxy can possibly see.
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:-)

I'm certainly not claiming he's a superstar but I thought he added a lot off the bench last season and given Hook's love of a bench utility I can't see why he wouldn't maintain that role, assuming he doesn't beat Norman to a halves spot.
 
I don't think anybody's underrating Hunt either.

He's a solid no thrills footballer. Considering we have an awesome pack I can understand why people want to include as many forwards as possible but on the other hand I think you and Brizz are right in saying that Hook likes having a utility player occupy the bench as an insurance policy and believe that Hunt will be there come Round 1.
 
How is it overrating him to suggest he's a decent bench utility? The way some (like you) write him off you'd think he was Jeff Robson...
 
Coxy said:
How is it overrating him to suggest he's a decent bench utility? The way some (like you) write him off you'd think he was Jeff Robson...
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Do you think he's better or more talented than Wallace?
 
He's definitely got more natural ability than Wallace. Better? No. Wallace has produced more. But then he's had the opportunity to. Wallace would still be in the bottom 5 halfbacks in the NRL. I don't see him as a long term option.

Hunt may be, but I agree he hasn't shown a lot in first grade so far. And considering about 30 of his 40 first grade appearances have been as hooker off the bench it's a bit much to assess his capability either way as a first grade half.

And yet people seem happy to throw Norman in there who has shown far less than Hunt.

Just astounds me.
 
Coxy said:
He's definitely got more natural ability than Wallace. Better? No. Wallace has produced more. But then he's had the opportunity to. Wallace would still be in the bottom 5 halfbacks in the NRL. I don't see him as a long term option.

Hunt may be, but I agree he hasn't shown a lot in first grade so far. And considering about 30 of his 40 first grade appearances have been as hooker off the bench it's a bit much to assess his capability either way as a first grade half.

And yet people seem happy to throw Norman in there who has shown far less than Hunt.

Just astounds me.
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:lol:

Oh wait... that wasn't a joke? :rash:

And Norman has shown far more than Hunt in far less time.
 
The problem that Wallace has had is that whenever Lockyer hasn't been there he's often been lumped with a terrible five-eighth as his halves partner. Guys like Carroll, Gillett and even Thaiday (I'm sure there's been others.. Glenn?) who shouldn't be anywhere near second receiver at NRL level. I remember in the Manly prelim final last year, Wallace would get the ball, look for someone on his outside to pass to, and there'd be literally no one there. It made Wallace look a worse player than what he is.

The likely Norman/Wallace halves combo should be allowed to start with a clean slate. Hopeful they'll compliment each other nicely.
 
Porthoz said:
:lol:

Oh wait... that wasn't a joke? :rash:
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Nope, not a joke.

Look at the halves in the comp and get back to me with more than 4 of them that Wallace is better than. I'm thinking Souths, Cronulla, Dragons (if they use Hornby) and Tigers (if Moltzen is it he's about equal with Wallace IMO).

And Norman has shown far more than Hunt in far less time.
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I think they've shown about the same. All that Norman has shown is he's a faster runner. That's fairly meaningless.
Norman's also shown he can be dogs balls and go into his shell and MIA. Wow, give him the captaincy.

Look if he continues to show the form like he did in the first trial and earns the first shot at the 6 jersey, good on him. I maintain that they need to give whatever halves combination they go with at least 6 weeks at the start of the season to gel. All I'm saying is that Hunt should be the bench utility in that case, because he's done a great job in that role last season and it provides good insurance in case Corey has one of his "ZOMG I'm scared where's mummy" games.
 
The problem for both Hunt and Norman is neither have really had a decent run of games in their preferred positions to impress. Both are equal at this stage but I feel Norman has more spark about him and is more likely to do something special.
 
Coxy said:
Nope, not a joke.

Look at the halves in the comp and get back to me with more than 4 of them that Wallace is better than. I'm thinking Souths, Cronulla, Dragons (if they use Hornby) and Tigers (if Moltzen is it he's about equal with Wallace IMO).
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Cronulla has Todd Carney, who I actually consider better than Wallace, alongside Thurston, Cronk, Shaun Johnson and DCE. Two of which are entering second year, which as we know, can make world beaters turn to crap. These are the only halfbacks in the comp I'd trade for Wallace!

Mitchell Pearce and Scott Prince are more talented, but have shown nothing last year to deserve being ranked above him.
Mullen and Sandow can be better, are more talented, but can also be terrible liabilities, so I won't class them above Wallace either.
Hodgkinson, Lui, Hornby, Walsh, McCrone, Moltzen and whoever wears souffs 7, don't measure up.

As Ethos said, let's first see what Wallace with a capable pivot and full strenght team around him, can do...

I think they've shown about the same. All that Norman has shown is he's a faster runner. That's fairly meaningless.
Norman's also shown he can be dogs balls and go into his shell and MIA. Wow, give him the captaincy.

Look if he continues to show the form like he did in the first trial and earns the first shot at the 6 jersey, good on him. I maintain that they need to give whatever halves combination they go with at least 6 weeks at the start of the season to gel. All I'm saying is that Hunt should be the bench utility in that case, because he's done a great job in that role last season and it provides good insurance in case Corey has one of his "ZOMG I'm scared where's mummy" games.
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Norman is a faster runner, better kicker, better passer and has more creativity in his pinkie than Hunt as a whole. Hunt is a good halve, but he's more in the Wallace mold (solid, good organisational halfback), than a Thurston or Prince (in his better days).
Corey only just turned 21 and hasn't had that much experience in the NRL, so I do expect him to have a shocker a few times, but as long as he shows progress and gains stability with the help of an experienced campaigner such as Wallace, the job is his.
 
The Rock said:
Ben Hunt has played over 40 first grade game. Overall you could say he has been average at best, agreed? (Without maybe the 3-4 really good random games). He hasn't really shown any glimpses of being outstanding, so I doubt he ever will be.
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I feel pretty much the same way. I've never rated Ben Hunt. I still don't.

The amount of Dumb plays he's made so far, far outweigh anything good he's done. Maybe my expectations are too high.. But still, as you say, he's been average.

I'd prefer to roll with Norman and Wallace in the halves and not have Hunt in the team at all. :finger:
 
If you want to talk underrated - Wallace doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for 2011.

IMO he was a Top 5 halfback and like a lot of people on here I had him in the bottom 5 in 2010.

Was great to see.
 
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