The Prop Dilemna and the Way Forward

[Unbreakable]

Is Shillo still available? Certainly wouldn't be against getting him for a year or 2...

Titans.

 

[badyon]

Missing the forest for all those fucking trees, everywhere, those fucking trees.

When we lose - our middle third plays great.

Look at Thaiday's, look at Wallace's and look at fucking Parker's stats from last week. Fucking awesome.

Now let's take a gander at our untouchable dynamic duo in the second row.

Forest - > there's yer fucking trees. As far as you can see...

But we need more props. **** me.

 

[Unbreakable]

Missing the forest for all those fucking trees, everywhere, those fucking trees.

When we lose - our middle third plays great.

Look at Thaiday's, look at Wallace's and look at fucking Parker's stats from last week. Fucking awesome.

Now let's take a gander at our untouchable dynamic duo in the second row.

Forest - > there's yer fucking trees. As far as you can see...

But we need more props. **** me.

U fuken wot m8

That was Wallace's only good game of the year and you're basically just locking him in to be a first grade calibre prop? He's been awful this year excluding the first 2-3 games off the bench and the last 2 games with Blair out, he's hardly reliable. Adam Blair has proven serviceable this year, but he's certainly not elite. Thaiday only has good games when it suits him (Playing for a new contract?.. Look out! Slammin' Sam is back in form!)

We need more props.

 

[Allo]

I suppose it all depends on the rest of the year and the pre-season with how our 2nd tier + 20's graduates go. I feel we miss another 'fast + hard' prop like McGuire, but also that someone should have another 10cm in height and be nearing 110+kg (but a quickish 110). We need a Burgii/Fifita sized guy.

Blair is the glue of the pack and is a handy ball-playing forward. Wallace has gotten much better this year, but he's also not someone that can turn a game around if we need him to. Same with Dodds. Credit to him to come back from injuries but he's not doing a whole heap, especially post-Origin. Wallace has been decent in McGuire's absence, but he still worries me. Slow lateral movement with our 'scramble'-type defence is not a good thing. He's pulled off a couple of great saves with some clutch leg tackles, but he can't and won't make them all. Blair and McGuire being smaller can close those gaps far easier being quicker with their feet.

Also, I'm not seeing any sort of intent from Dodds to do anything apart from trudge up the field and take the tackle. It's mirrored in defence too, in that we're just looking to tackle them as easily as possible instead of trying to hurt them (legally of course) when they get tackled. Probably because we don't have anyone big enough to do so. Glenn's average sized, Gillo's a bit taller but not too much different. Corey's getting too old to be rushing in and bashing people every tackle, Sam does the opposite and hits the defence hard instead and gives himself whiplash.

 

[Huge]

A player like Scot Bolton could be a handy pickup at 28/29 he still has a few years left and is off contract this year ( according to zero tackle). He is the type of experienced prop who can add something off the bench and the right age to let our young guns come through.

Sam Tagatese ( also off contract ) could be a cheapish pick up, maybe WB could get the best out of him but certainly would provide some punch off the bench.

Just on Tagatese, he is already in good form playing very well for the Sharks. He would be an excellent addition and WB would need to do absolutely nothing ,just a good preseason and we would get a great return. I like it !

 

[Morkel]

Just on Tagatese, he is already in good form playing very well for the Sharks. He would be an excellent addition and WB would need to do absolutely nothing ,just a good preseason and we would get a great return. I like it !

No. Way.

 

[Huge]

No. Way.

Fair enough...but why ?

 

[Renegade]

Always thought Tagatese wasn't a bad player. I dunno if I'd sign him but I don't think he's in the no period way period column.

 

[Fozz]

Nothing really outstanding about Tagatese so he'd probably just be a depth signing.

 

[Huge]

Fair enough .... As most would know I watch all the Sharks games and he is playing very well, running hard and committed in his tackling. He is a good established a grader and seasoned with it. The kind of player that would let few down now that he's grown up a bit.

 

[Morkel]

Fair enough...but why ?

Because he offers nothing that our depth currently doesn't. He has talent, that's for sure, but over time he's proven to be lazy, error-prone, and mentally soft. All of the things that are the complete opposite of what our coach values.

 

[Huge]

Because he offers nothing that our depth currently doesn't. He has talent, that's for sure, but over time he's proven to be lazy, error-prone, and mentally soft. All of the things that are the complete opposite of what our coach values.

Good compelling reasons. Yet this year he is none of those things playing a central part in Cronullas great vein of form and possibly one the reasons they will secure a top four position. Oh well, perhaps time will prove your view correct.

 

[Alec]

Cronulla are fluking it hard right now. No way they'll make top 4.

 

[Morkel]

Good compelling reasons. Yet this year he is none of those things playing a central part in Cronullas great vein of form and possibly one the reasons they will secure a top four position. Oh well, perhaps time will prove your view correct.

I don't agree. He's doing what so many over-rated players have done, and that's riding the wave of the effort that proper workhorses are putting in. Players like Gallen are grinding it out, making the metres, and making the opposition's defence backpedal and loosen. TakeItEasy is merely taking advantage of that - which is his job of course - but nothing that most other minimum-wage depth forwards couldn't do if given a similar license.

 

[Dexter]

I don't agree. He's doing what so many over-rated players have done, and that's riding the wave of the effort that proper workhorses are putting in. Players like Gallen are grinding it out, making the metres, and making the opposition's defence backpedal and loosen. TakeItEasy is merely taking advantage of that - which is his job of course - but nothing that most other minimum-wage depth forwards couldn't do if given a similar license.

Isn't that his point of difference though, he is a bench player who can provide impact. I agree with [MENTION=1992]Huge[/MENTION] , he has grown up a little and we are seeing the results or so it seems. When he comes on for the Sharks he bends or breaks the line, provides quick ruck speed and draws penalties.

He is certainly something we don't have on our bench ATM.

 

[jarro65]

I can't see Tagatese providing us with anything more than Gavet won't next season.

 

[big k]

Ok there are no quality Props on the market right now, if we were going to sign a metre eater to play while the likes of Joe O and Molo develop it should have been Shillington. We should not be looking for a makeshift prop or for some discard that might go alright under Bennett.

At the start of the year Bennett said it would take a few years to win a premiership, that is probably still the case and when you consider the age of our front rowers it's very accurate. We have the team that when all the key elements develop to their potential in a year or two we will have a top two side for years to come, even better than the Roosters side that has been running around for the past 3 - 4 seasons. Bennett is building the team for long term success and not a flash in the pan quick premiership.

In Bennett I trust and I have faith that he is building a team that will be devastating and exciting in attack and great at defending. I don't want instant gratification, I want my Broncos back and that is what Bennett is building to.

 

[Huge]

Ok there are no quality Props on the market right now, if we were going to sign a metre eater to play while the likes of Joe O and Molo develop it should have been Shillington. We should not be looking for a makeshift prop or for some discard that might go alright under Bennett.

At the start of the year Bennett said it would take a few years to win a premiership, that is probably still the case and when you consider the age of our front rowers it's very accurate. We have the team that when all the key elements develop to their potential in a year or two we will have a top two side for years to come, even better than the Roosters side that has been running around for the past 3 - 4 seasons. Bennett is building the team for long term success and not a flash in the pan quick premiership.

In Bennett I trust and I have faith that he is building a team that will be devastating and exciting in attack and great at defending. I don't want instant gratification, I want my Broncos back and that is what Bennett is building to.

Don't disagree with that at all. I'm not freaking out over how things are now and into the future. I can also not ignore available players even if acting as a virtual coach, as I'd do if I were a NRL coach I'd certainly at least look over the talent. I'd do that even if I intended to go with what I have presently.