Round 8 - Broncos vs. Rabbitohs - Pre-Game discussion

[Brett]

What do people make of the point that Vidot off-sets a lot of the forwards hit up numbers by usually being the first or second tackle when we're in the middle of a territorial arm wrestle?

It's a fair point. Vidot's carries are always strong. I don't have the stats to back this up, but I would guess he's made close to 10 meters per hit up this season and they're always hard meters, with 2 or 3 guys on him every time. He's a surprisingly strong guy and has a good, safe carry too.

 

[rnabokov]

What do people make of the point that Vidot off-sets a lot of the forwards hit up numbers by usually being the first or second tackle when we're in the middle of a territorial arm wrestle?

I think that's what all wingers do in every team. The fact Vidot makes those extra metres is fantastic.

At the same time, I want to see him score some tries from cross field bombs. Like, how many has he scored from cross field kicks this season? Am I wrong? Is he not a weapon that we are not using?

 

[bazza]

Wonderful essay, based on the fallacy that Parker is playing as props do. Think of it as him being a prop that plays like a lock, not the other way around... because there is a difference.

How many times this season have you seen Parker take the first or second hit-up? He is still taking the same runs at the same time in the set and with the same efficiency. Yes, he does occasionally, and I stress the word occasionally, take an early hit-up, but most of the times, he has been playing where he has always played. By the way, whether you're a prop or a lock, you're still running at and trying to stop the same big guys, so that physical aspect is another non issue you're using to argue your case.

I don't base conclusions out of statistics, I use them as a tool to verify and confirm my views, which is how statistics should always be used!

Sorry mate, that 10 on his back is blurring your vision to everything else. Maybe you should stop and think why Parker is playing with that number, instead of worrying that he's being used as a classic prop, which he is not!

So if he's still playing like a lock, I guess we're only starting with one prop then...

Fair enough he may be playing prop similar to how he plays lock, but I still feel in doing that we've weakened two positions. It means we only have one specialist prop starting that is playing the role of a traditional prop. I also feel although Gillett is doing a fine job at lock, he is still better suited on the fringes rather than through the middle, something Parker excels at. I still feel the forward pack is stronger and more balanced, with two specialist props, Parker at lock, and two fringe second-rowers.

I do respect your opinion though and I can see where your coming from, but this is just my opinion...

 

[bazza]

he made a pass left to right to hunt on tackle 5 for a kick. the pass bulleted 2metres into the grass and luckily bounced another 8 meters to hunt. dude can't pass fullstop

Haha I noticed that too, but for some reason at training he seems to land those passes. At training he has got perfect technique while passing, and at times it does sort of seem that he is a real five-eighth, or at least is becoming one, but then come game time, well that's another story...

 

[bazza]

I posted the same thing (added tackles as well) in the Knights post game thread. But people who are arguing that he is not as effective at prop as he is at lock are disregarding the stats because they don't backup their opinion.

Imo, nothing has changed with the way Parker is playing, except the number on his back, and the stats backup my opinion.

Stats are fine, but they don't reveal everything... What really matters is the effectiveness and quality rather than the quantity. I feel although stats make it seem that he is more effective this year, it may not really be the case if they don't amount to anything...

 

[Mr Fourex]

I posted the same thing (added tackles as well) in the Knights post game thread. But people who are arguing that he is not as effective at prop as he is at lock are disregarding the stats because they don't backup their opinion.

Imo, nothing has changed with the way Parker is playing, except the number on his back, and the stats backup my opinion.

Agree 100%

 

[Cult]

What do people make of the point that Vidot off-sets a lot of the forwards hit up numbers by usually being the first or second tackle when we're in the middle of a territorial arm wrestle?

Dudes leg strength is ridiculous. He rarely goes to the ground as well which means a quick play the ball. Having Hodges, McCullough and Granville running from half after them will get us down the field quickly.

 

[Porthoz]

So if he's still playing like a lock, I guess we're only starting with one prop then...

Fair enough he may be playing prop similar to how he plays lock, but I still feel in doing that we've weakened two positions. It means we only have one specialist prop starting that is playing the role of a traditional prop. I also feel although Gillett is doing a fine job at lock, he is still better suited on the fringes rather than through the middle, something Parker excels at. I still feel the forward pack is stronger and more balanced, with two specialist props, Parker at lock, and two fringe second-rowers.

I do respect your opinion though and I can see where your coming from, but this is just my opinion...

Yes, and that's the idea, because with the increased ruck speed of the game, you need your forwards to be mobile and fast. That's the reason Parker is playing prop.

Having said that, we already have McGuire that can fulfil the role, and Glenn hasn't been playing well enough to warrant his starting spot, so I'm happy to see Kennedy start alongside McGuire, Parker back to lock, Thaiday on the right and Gillett on the left, with Glenn on the bench with Oates, Wallace and Hannant.

 

[CaptainHook]

Dudes leg strength is ridiculous. He rarely goes to the ground as well which means a quick play the ball. Having Hodges, McCullough and Granville running from half after them will get us down the field quickly.

100%

Vidot is the buy of the season so far.

 

[broncos4life]

100%

Vidot is the buy of the season so far.

Still laughing at the dragons fans saying he was a shit buy and shit player

 

[KnToad]

he made a pass left to right to hunt on tackle 5 for a kick. the pass bulleted 2metres into the grass and luckily bounced another 8 meters to hunt. dude can't pass fullstop

I wondered if anyone else would mention this - it stuck out like the proverbial when it happened....
I thought to myself at the time "F%&# Me - the guy really, actually cannot pass a football. How do you get to be a first grade footballer without mastering that particular skill????"

 

[KnToad]

100%

Vidot is the buy of the season so far.

Absolutely! How nice is it to have a winger with some size and strength again - like the good old days with Tuqiri and Wendell..

I remember watching him at the Raiders and thinking this kid is gonna be a top player one day.....
He has put on some serious size now too......

 

[Harry Sack]

Still laughing at the dragons fans saying he was a shit buy and shit player

Still laughing at the members on here who didn't believe he would make our 1st grade side.



....no I don't remember who. Hang their heads in shame, whoever they were.

 

[Timmah6991]

Tipping Barba in for a big game. There was a little moment in the match on Friday, albeit a small one. Whilst he was returning a kick return, he actually challenged Mamo on the outside. He didn't do his usually jog into the line, he backed himself to have a crack.

He's back ladies and gentleman. The confidence is back.

 

[rnabokov]

100%

Vidot is the buy of the season so far.

Let me ask again. How many cross field kicks has Vidot got this year, and how many tries has he scored from them?

For mine he is not the buy of the year just for his kick returns. I want to see a winger of Vidot strength and size score plenty of tries from kicks, like Morris say, or any number of other wingers.

I know this is not his fault, and his worth on kick returns is huge, but that is only part of a winger's game. For mine, wingers are there to score tries first and foremost ... to finish.

Kicking to our wingers is one area of our game that is sadly lacking, especially with big athletic wingers in Vidot and Copley. What a waste of strike power!

Maybe Hunt has too much on his plate to kick to our wingers? Well, there was one the other night, but it seems more like the exception than the rule.

Wonder why. Wouldn't have something to do with our 5/8's inability to kick intelligently (or at all) ? Nah, of course not.

 

[Big Pete]

Vidot's strength is his ability to create an early tempo. While he has not received nearly enough ball out wide as he should, I've got no problem with us going to him as often as possible.

Got to say, this let's bash Hoffman in every single thread is tiring. Change the record.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Got to say, this let's bash Hoffman in every single thread is tiring. Change the record.

Pete, he's the weakest link in a side that, were it not for the weaknesses in our 6, would be a contender for the top 4, going by the current form of the competition. Of course he's gonna cop it.

 

[Big Pete]

Then keep it in the Hoffman thread, yeah?

In other news.

The sky is blue.

Nickleback still suck.

And the Warriors are enigmas.

Drone on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and forever about the same topic. Turns you all into dullards honestly.