Round 9 - Penrith Panthers - Pre Game discussion

[Renegade]

Unless your name is Jack Reed, apparently

Dale it's ok mate, l2tackle and you'll be back soon enough.

 

[Porthoz]

Copley has been pretty shit so far so I don't see the big problem. Reed is better defensively and even if he offers less in attack, Bennett would rather concede less points and win a gritty affair than try and have a shootout. Defence wins championships and all that.

It will be interesting to see how kahu performs now that he's back in the 1, maranta while not setting the world on fire in attack was safe as a house at the back.

I don't have an opinion on Molo.

We should beat them provided Soward doesn't have a blinder.

If Copley has been pretty shit so far, what to say of Reed? You only have to check the game threads this season so far, to see what people thought... in fact, had this happened a year ago, this forum would be in uproar and there would be a call to arms!

For most games this season, Copley was better than Reed without a doubt, but him being moved around everywhere in the back line has not helped him solidify his game. Not that I blame Wayne for it, as with the amount of injuries we've suffered at the back, he didn't have that much choice and Copley's versatility ended up working against him.

I understand why WB is doing it, and it's true that defense is paramount, but I believe Copley has much more up side.

Kahu was at least as safe as Maranta at the back and has an attacking arsenal and running game that Maranta can only dream of.

I don't have an opinion on Molo either, and hopefully last game's 7 mins as well as BP's description of him, were an exception!

 

[broncos4life]

If Copley has been pretty shit so far, what to say of Reed? You only have to check the game threads this season so far, to see what people thought... in fact, had this happened a year ago, this forum would be in uproar and there would be a call to arms!

For most games this season, Copley was better than Reed without a doubt, but him being moved around everywhere in the back line has not helped him solidify his game. Not that I blame Wayne for it, as with the amount of injuries we've suffered at the back, he didn't have that much choice and Copley's versatility ended up working against him.

I understand why WB is doing it, and it's true that defense is paramount, but I believe Copley has much more up side.

Kahu was at least as safe as Maranta at the back and has an attacking arsenal and running game that Maranta can only dream of.

I don't have an opinion on Molo either, and hopefully last game's 7 mins as well as BP's description of him, were an exception!

Yeah because Copley's form was fantastic last year....

 

[Harry Sack]

Copley is just the latest player to be called out on his deficiencies IMO. With the players we have in the backline, Bennett could afford to drop him to Qcup.

 

[Huge]

Someone had to go and whinging would have occurred no matter what. Perhaps there is a rotation plan that WB hasn't shared with the Internet ...

 

[Ari Gold]

The Warriors dropped Hurrell last round with Jono Wright still in the team so I guess that's marginally worse.

 

[Morkel]

Copley is just the latest player to be called out on his deficiencies IMO. With the players we have in the backline, Bennett could afford to drop him to Qcup.

And in fairness, at least in Q-Cup he can (hopefully) play in his preferred centre position. There's an argument to say that he could spend a month there for consistency.

 

[Mitch06]

The Warriors dropped Hurrell last round with Jono Wright still in the team so I guess that's marginally worse.

I was baffled when this happened...then I thought maybe he had disciplinary issues, may be the same Copley. Just speculating!

 

[Porthoz]

And in fairness, at least in Q-Cup he can (hopefully) play in his preferred centre position. There's an argument to say that he could spend a month there for consistency.

Copley's preferred position is left centre.

 

[Morkel]

Copley's preferred position is left centre.

Yeah I know. But if Bennett is not totally convinced with his defence (assuming it's that) then he potentially doesn't want to risk someone scoring three tries through him like in Round 8. If he puts Reed there to help the NRL side, and Copley to the wing, it's pointless. So send him somewhere where he can play left centre, unbroken, for a few weeks, get his confidence up and hope he improves, in an environment that doesn't compromise the NRL side's performance.

 

[jarro65]

Copley is chock-full of talent no doubt, but i get the feeling WB feels he needs to work on some things to get him at his best.

A break from NRL and back into ISC will do him the world of good IMO.

 

[CaptainHook]

After being moved around continuously in the backline and having a lesser game, Copley out in favour of Reed or Maranta boggles the mind, especially given Reed has been really bad except one game where he played... wing.
For better or worse, that is Bennett to a T... and Reed is the type of player he likes and won't easily give up on.

Maranta's having a good year and has been in good form so I'd rather he get the nod over Copley whose selection is based on potential. I agree about Reed though but Copley has yet to fire, imo. He hasn't really cemented a wing or centre position despite numerous chances and there's no point fans throwing their toys out of the cot whining about how he's awesome at left centre. This is the NRL - good players need to be able to effectively cover more than one position.

 

[Ari Gold]

I was baffled when this happened...then I thought maybe he had disciplinary issues, may be the same Copley. Just speculating!

McFadden dropped Hurrell as motivation. Said something to the effect of you can be an okay player for your career or you can become a great one, but have a think about it next week.

I feel Bennett is doing the exact same thing. Though it's kinda harder to swallow when you have Jack Reed still in the team. Wonder how Dale responds. I'm hoping it'll be to come back better, but when you're dropped at the expense of Jack Reed, well, I imagine a different response might come more naturally!

 

[broncos4life]

McFadden dropped Hurrell as motivation. Said something to the effect of you can be an okay player for your career or you can become a great one, but have a think about it next week.

I feel Bennett is doing the exact same thing. Though it's kinda harder to swallow when you have Jack Reed still in the team. Wonder how Dale responds. I'm hoping it'll be to come back better, but when you're dropped at the expense of Jack Reed, well, I imagine a different response might come more naturally!

Well if he takes the different response then he's not the player most of us think he can be and it would be better to find out now

 

[Super Freak]

It could go the other way.

He could look at Reed being in the side and think **** this I'm better than him and work his ass off to get back in the side and replace him.. And then we won't have to see Reed again.

That's what I hope.

 

[rnabokov]

I was baffled when this happened...then I thought maybe he had disciplinary issues, may be the same Copley. Just speculating!

I just like this (Anonymous) quote in the Copley-Reed-Maranta context:

"Any new venture goes through the following stages: Enthusiasm, complication, disillusionment, search for the guilty, punishment of the innocent and decoration of those who did nothing".

 

[Mr Fourex]

Copley is just the latest player to be called out on his deficiencies IMO. With the players we have in the backline, Bennett could afford to drop him to Qcup.

Well said Harry.

1. I think Copley is going OK and if anything his defence has impressed me the most. He's hitting hard and driving out there.

2. It seems very much like WB has issued him a challenge / said "go and work on your game", you're not there yet.

3. I think Copley is in Bennett's long term plans for the season.

4. Copley > Reed

 

[bazza]

Copley just needs stability that's all. Playing centre is one of the hardest, if not the hardest position defensively, and it definitely doesn't help his timing, anticipation and read's in defence when he's constantly shifted from right wing to right centre, then all the way to the other side of the field to left wing, and then left centre.

Although Copley's preferred position is left centre, I feel since he's played more at right centre in Hodges' absence, that he finds it easier to adapt defensively as opposed to the left. Copley is definitely our future long term centre, but he has to stop being moved around.

Its easier to move from centre to the wing, than to move from wing to centre. It takes time to adjust defensively, and perhaps QLD Cup can provide that time to regain some confidence, form and timing.