Thaiday goes off-script at hooker

[Big Pete]

What are our other options?

6. Anthony Milford
7. Benji Marshall
9. Ben Hunt
17. Kodi Nikorima

In the short term, I don't mind the ploy (Thaiday at hooker) as a way to keep Hunt fresh. But those acting like anyone can replace McCullough are sorely mistaken.

 

[KnToad]

Haha, it's like a party trick that everyone loves but this time you spilled some of the flaming alcohol on yourself and burned to death.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

second good laugh this place has given me tonight......

been there.....

 

[Horseheadsup]

6. Anthony Milford
7. Benji Marshall
9. Ben Hunt
17. Kodi Nikorima

In the short term, I don't mind the ploy (Thaiday at hooker) as a way to keep Hunt fresh. But those acting like anyone can replace McCullough are sorely mistaken.

Absolutely. Andrew's defence is sorely missed as well.

 

[Sproj]

6. Anthony Milford
7. Benji Marshall
9. Ben Hunt
17. Kodi Nikorima

In the short term, I don't mind the ploy (Thaiday at hooker) as a way to keep Hunt fresh. But those acting like anyone can replace McCullough are sorely mistaken.

I also haven't been one of those saying anyone can replace Macca. I do think we stuffed up in keeping him over Granville and Parcell and was quite vocal about that at the time. However, I don't think Milf's form resurgence is being credited to KNik enough. Having KNik there is allowing Milf to make this his team and he is reveling in it. Put Marshall back in there, it is good in theory but may make Milf go back into his shell right when he is starting to look, dare I say it, shades of Lockyer-esque.

I think we need to trust our current set up and not throw the toys out of the cot on the back of one (admittedly extremely) bad performance. If this happens again next week, go for your life but I wouldn't be surprised if the boys (unfortunately) have their eyes on September already.

 

[Sproj]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

second good laugh this place has given me tonight......

been there.....

Well don't just leave it at that, give some details.

 

[Big Pete]

Who is throwing toys? I said I was fine with the Thaiday option in the short term, but you need experienced playmakers in the role (of hooker), not forwards.

 

[winslow_wong]

I also haven't been one of those saying anyone can replace Macca. I do think we stuffed up in keeping him over Granville and Parcell and was quite vocal about that at the time. However, I don't think Milf's form resurgence is being credited to KNik enough. Having KNik there is allowing Milf to make this his team and he is reveling in it. Put Marshall back in there, it is good in theory but may make Milf go back into his shell right when he is starting to look, dare I say it, shades of Lockyer-esque.

I think we need to trust our current set up and not throw the toys out of the cot on the back of one (admittedly extremely) bad performance. If this happens again next week, go for your life but I wouldn't be surprised if the boys (unfortunately) have their eyes on September already.

I think Marshall has shown in his few games this year he is happy to play 2nd in charge. Where we need him is his long kicks in pressure situations coming out of our own end. Knik just hasn't shown he can step up to take a kick whereas Marshall would do it without hesitation

 

[Sproj]

Who is throwing toys? I said I was fine with the Thaiday option in the short term, but you need experienced playmakers in the role (of hooker), not forwards.

To be fair, while Macca has become better at play-making, it isn't really his strength, defense is and the theory of having a forward on in the early battles to take on that load makes a lot of sense, even after tonight and until Macca returns, it still does.

 

[Sproj]

I think Marshall has shown in his few games this year he is happy to play 2nd in charge. Where we need him is his long kicks in pressure situations coming out of our own end. Knik just hasn't shown he can step up to take a kick whereas Marshall would do it without hesitation

KNik does not have kicking as his strong point I agree but he put in a fantastic kick tonight that lead to a Radradra try due to poor defense, not much more he could have done with that. Additionally, he was behind a pack that wasn't just beaten, it was obliterated.

That said, now Hunt has had a few weeks in the role off the bench, putting him in to start and bringing Marshall back in is not a bad option.

If we do this though, who gets dropped from the forward pack/bench?

 

[Big Pete]

It only makes sense as a short-term option, not as a long term option because it hinders the structure far too much.

 

[winslow_wong]

KNik does not have kicking as his strong point I agree but he put in a fantastic kick tonight that lead to a Radradra try due to poor defense, not much more he could have done with that. Additionally, he was behind a pack that wasn't just beaten, it was obliterated.

That said, now Hunt has had a few weeks in the role off the bench, putting him in to start and bringing Marshall back in is not a bad option.

If we do this though, who gets dropped from the forward pack/bench?

I'm saying drop knik altogether. Persist with the Thaiday hunt hooker combo for this year.

 

[Huge]

Nah, Macca being missing made **** all difference. Hooker is a job anyone can do....it's simple. By anyone of course I mean any fit medium/medium large sized first grader with reasonable passing skills.

 

[Huge]

Macca and playmaker in the same sentence...lol

 

[Big Pete]

Thaiday's performance certainly had an influence, a negative one and it's been coming for awhile. The dummy half has to have some level of organisation and game management, skills an experienced dummy half/playmaker brings to the table, not just a player with 'reasonable' passing skills.

 

[Alec]

Nah, Macca being missing made **** all difference. Hooker is a job anyone can do....it's simple. By anyone of course I mean any fit medium/medium large sized first grader with reasonable passing skills.

Look back at most of the premiership winners since 05 or 06 or whatever. They almost always had a hooker in good form.

05. Farah
06. Berrigan
07. Smith
08. Ballin
09. Smith
11. Ballin
12. Smith
13. Friend
15. Granville
16. Ennis

With the exception of 2 years ('10 and '14), the hookers have been some of the most important players in these sides. Not just anyone can cover that position.

I don't rate McCullough in attack, and thus don't consider him anywhere near a top tier hooker... but he's a lot better compared to chucking Glenn, McGuire, Thaiday etc there who don't exactly offer a lot. I think Hunt could have possibly made a good permanent hooker, but it's too late now and needed time and commitment.

 

[Huge]

Blaming the wrong things and searching for excuses. I know you want to believe Maccas a huge loss but he'd have made little difference. We managed to score 34 points against a side that thrashed us. The poor handling and rotten bounce of the ball coupled with some poor passing AND the highly motivated and skilled big men from Parra all combined to give us an off night. We didn't miss one player, who has never been known for his exceptional playmaking, we had a night we won't repeat.

One other thing, the Parra playmakers were good, they were on and up for it.

This loss will stand us in good stead....to a man they won't want to feel that way again and WB will know what needs saying. We may lose next week against a desperate Cows but we will be in it come finals time.

 

[Big Pete]

This isn't about respecting McCullough, it's about respecting the position. Tonight Thaiday helped set the tone with an awful opening stint that contributed to the massive advantage and confidence boost the Eels got to play with and to be perfectly honest the signs were there the week before.

You can't just throw any player in there who can pass the footy, they have to have some sensibility for the position and that was well and truly on show in one of the Broncos worst ever losses.

This tactic Bennett is using could work in the short term, but as a long term option, you're going to see more team efforts like that.

 

[Broncapz]

I think of all the factors, Thaiday as hooker was not a big reason for the loss. Actually completing a set of 6 after a kick off, barely happened at all. Mead's defense alone cost us an easy 18 points. Boyd needs to stop overthinking his kick returns and just gun it.