Scorchie
NRL Captain
Contributor
- Mar 16, 2008
- 4,199
- 5,235
Lock or 5/8
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Number6
QCup Player
- May 21, 2016
- 945
- 412
5/8 but like to have a look at him in hooker. Not enough go forward for lock without established power forwards. Centre would be fine but seems wasted unless given the hodges role (although prefer to give Roberts that kind of free hand).
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Number6
QCup Player
- May 21, 2016
- 945
- 412
Milf to halfback only if plays headphones in with Alfie in one ear and Locky giving step by steps on the kicking option... has anyone ever heard of trying to put a square peg in a round hole?
Rellum
BRL Player
- Sep 30, 2016
- 51
- 33
He would be great at lock.
Those all those suggesting he couldn't handle lock because of all the middle forward stuff, that misses the point that he wouldn't play like a front rower/middle forward, he would have to play more like Matterson did so it would mean Wayne allowing a different more creative style of football, floating as a second playmaker on either side of the ruck. It would also allow him to run at opposition halves.
If Wayne just wants three front rowers in the middle like everyone else then no, he shouldn't play there.
Those all those suggesting he couldn't handle lock because of all the middle forward stuff, that misses the point that he wouldn't play like a front rower/middle forward, he would have to play more like Matterson did so it would mean Wayne allowing a different more creative style of football, floating as a second playmaker on either side of the ruck. It would also allow him to run at opposition halves.
If Wayne just wants three front rowers in the middle like everyone else then no, he shouldn't play there.
Battler
State of Origin Rep
- Dec 4, 2013
- 7,164
- 7,041
It sounds good in theory, but I hope to god McGuire, Sims, Lodge, etc are up for it, because our props are going to have to do a lot of work to compensate.
Rellum
BRL Player
- Sep 30, 2016
- 51
- 33
Well you have three options,
Keep the same need for hit ups a set and get your second rowers/edge forwards to do a few more hit ups.
Keep the same hitups and get Bird to do all those hits ups.(I have already said that would be pointless as he is not a front rower)
Don't do as many hit ups and use the ball more to stretch and tire the opposition defense, hopefully getting more one on ones which can lead to offloads and broken play. I am one of those people who don't like the very risk free and structured game of the NRL at the moment and finding ways to get away from that is something that the Broncs need to do. We have really been the only team in 2015 and parts of this year, apart from maybe Melbourne this year, to try and break away from that style of play and I want that to continue and expand.
The real challenge of Bird at lock is defensively, that is where he might need to bulk up a little or rejig who defends where.
Wolfie
International Captain
- Jan 14, 2015
- 23,671
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I think you will find Macca will take up a lot of the slack defensivley, and in attack you will see Bird more than Macca at a guess. I dont think any of our forwards will have to compensate for Bird at lock so to speak because we wont be playing the same type of footy.
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pagey
State of Origin Rep
- Aug 19, 2013
- 7,444
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Not to sure about that we looked to be more creative around the ruck. Not sure giving macca more defensive load is the best thing to do.
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Broncs_Fan
NRL Player
- Jun 5, 2015
- 2,603
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or going forward.
Wolfie
International Captain
- Jan 14, 2015
- 23,671
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But having a forward playing basically as a second five eighth is going to be huge for us i think. Maccas game is more based around his defence anyway rather than his attack so i dont think its going to put a lot more work on him. Darren and Jason Smith, Ellery Hanley were great locks and probably a similar size to Bird. I just think the biggest issue people have to get their head around with Bird playing lock is that he isnt a modern day lock who is basically another battering ram prop. He wont play that way, we shouldnt compare him to any of those sort of footballers.
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pagey
State of Origin Rep
- Aug 19, 2013
- 7,444
- 5,975
Not saying bird shouldn't be lock . I just want to see macca be more creative, which will help our go forward aswell. If we keep having him take on the defensive load, we will continue to see our one out rucks when he tires. Im all for more creativity but isn't boyd our second 5/8th. Darren smith was also one of our highest try scoring centers , also one of our best defensive centers.
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Viti
NRL Player
- Feb 2, 2011
- 1,540
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Taking nothing away from Macca I just don’t think he has the creativity in his game, what he lacks in explosiveness and flair he makes up for in toughness and work rate. I think putting bird in at lock will help make up for Macca’s lack of creativity and give us more speed around the middle of the field which could make all the difference in the world to our attack.
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pagey
State of Origin Rep
- Aug 19, 2013
- 7,444
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You may be right. I thought macca was making some progress before he got injured.
Mightybroncs2k17
NRL Player
- Jan 15, 2017
- 1,092
- 2,290
To be honest the Bird signing is still slightly puzzling from my point of view. I’ve never really seen him do anything special but I haven’t necessarily paid much attention to him. Still happy to have him coming given the big wraps on him, if he’s the dangerous player he’s portrayed as I’d say stick him in lock and gets his hands on the ball.
