Timmy Smith

[Beale]

Feel great inside knowing we have such a quality backup half (regardless of his previous off field discretions) - He was so close to origin in 05-06, now people have really forgotten about him.

Its a great ploy by whoever organised it and it seems to have been very low key through the media. I've only seen 1 or 2 stories, in which had no speculative crap in it. I even saw an article a while back saying 2010 is the year of the 2nd chances with players like Bird, Carney, Taumata, Laurie, Myles, Seymour all ready for big years. Without no mention of tim smith......He's really gone under the radar and this could be a massive coup.

 

[dukey]

Feel great inside knowing we have such a quality backup half (regardless of his previous off field discretions) - He was so close to origin in 05-06, now people have really forgotten about him.

Its a great ploy by whoever organised it and it seems to have been very low key through the media. I've only seen 1 or 2 stories, in which had no speculative crap in it. I even saw an article a while back saying 2010 is the year of the 2nd chances with players like Bird, Carney, Taumata, Laurie, Myles, Seymour all ready for big years. Without no mention of tim smith......He's really gone under the radar and this could be a massive coup.

I agree. His on field form was incredible, but his off field antics were nowhere near those of Carney. Yet Todd gets all the kudos. I'd love to see Smith do well and force everyone to take notice.

 

[jarro65]

I'm hoping the change of scenery and being closer to his family will have a positive impact on his personality.

If he gets his life together, he'll be a huge bonus for us 8-)

 

[Charmamba]

Even more so when either locky retires mid season or Wallace injures himself again.... :P

 

[Beale]

Just because we have a little depth in a position now lets not wish injuries upon anyone, no matter how good our replacements can be

 

[Charmamba]

Im not wishing. And hopefully the fact he has had an offseason to heal is good for him. But I have a gut feeling he wont be 100% Round 1 but will play anyway and do more damage.

 

[Professor47]

Hunt isnt good enough it seems. we didnt play him in the finals, so when will we? Thurston, **** Yeah!

Pretty stupid to throw a 20 year old in to play halfback in a preliminary final. Huge gamble. Given how the game turned out with the Storm being at their dominant best, I think it's a good thing he wasn't risked and had his confidence destroyed.

Stupid? Perhaps... easy to say in hindsight but the other way was always trying to minimise the damage and scrape a win rather than go for the jugular. You have to go for it sometimes and imagine we did win that game with Hunt @ 7 - it would have put him in a position to take out the GF and create history... anyways... let bygones be bygones I suppose.

Another note on Tim Smith - from what we've seen so far personally I reckon his best asset is his short/tricky kicking game which Locky has sort of laid back from since his FB days so that could come in handy. He gets too frustrated when the game doesn't go his way though.

 

[Coxy]

Hunt isnt good enough it seems. we didnt play him in the finals, so when will we? Thurston, **** Yeah!

Pretty stupid to throw a 20 year old in to play halfback in a preliminary final. Huge gamble. Given how the game turned out with the Storm being at their dominant best, I think it's a good thing he wasn't risked and had his confidence destroyed.

Stupid? Perhaps... easy to say in hindsight but the other way was always trying to minimise the damage and scrape a win rather than go for the jugular. You have to go for it sometimes and imagine we did win that game with Hunt @ 7 - it would have put him in a position to take out the GF and create history... anyways... let bygones be bygones I suppose.

Yeah, that's the counter argument.

What irks me is the assumption by people like pennywisealfie that because he wasn't played that he "mustn't be good enough".

Hell, there were quite a few games in Locky's first couple of seasons where Bennett didn't play him when he would've provided possibly the game breaking impact. You have to be cautious with young players.

 

[Charmamba]

Hunt isnt good enough it seems. we didnt play him in the finals, so when will we? Thurston, **** Yeah!

Pretty stupid to throw a 20 year old in to play halfback in a preliminary final. Huge gamble. Given how the game turned out with the Storm being at their dominant best, I think it's a good thing he wasn't risked and had his confidence destroyed.

Stupid? Perhaps... easy to say in hindsight but the other way was always trying to minimise the damage and scrape a win rather than go for the jugular. You have to go for it sometimes and imagine we did win that game with Hunt @ 7 - it would have put him in a position to take out the GF and create history... anyways... let bygones be bygones I suppose.

Yeah, that's the counter argument.

What irks me is the assumption by people like pennywisealfie that because he wasn't played that he "mustn't be good enough".

Hell, there were quite a few games in Locky's first couple of seasons where Bennett didn't play him when he would've provided possibly the game breaking impact. You have to be cautious with young players.

+1 To many young blokes crash and burn because the world is put on their shoulders to quick in terms of On field.

 

[Professor47]

+1 To many young blokes crash and burn because the world is put on their shoulders to quick in terms of On field.

Yeh - which is the counter argument of my view as mentioned.

The reason I'm on this side of the fence is - take a look at Slater/Inglis/Hayne now compared to their debut and think hypothetically if their debut was last season... not the fact that it would be a shame but playing ability wise. Rack your memory and apart from sheer speed Slater in particular was not a game breaker or even half the player he is now... clearly because they are too raw. They need the NRL experience. Sure - due to the age sometimes they crash and burn but sometimes it puts them in a position to "peak" quite early which gives them a great opportunity to develop into a mature headed footballer by the 26-27 mark rather than 29. (e.g C Smith maybe?)

I say 18 is good enough personally - if you're old enough to gamble and buy drinks in this country and even be charged as an adult... well... face the consequences of your actions IMO.

 

[Foordy]

but being an outside back like the players you mentioned is VERY different to being a halfback and having to lead your team around the park, in a GF qualifier

 

[Professor47]

but being an outside back like the players you mentioned is VERY different to being a halfback and having to lead your team around the park, in a GF qualifier

Touche - but the first two- three seasons AND pre seasons they get... could do wonders.. a risk? yes. - but we all know great players will pull through in the end... Locky/Fittler style... albeit different of course.

This was definitely a big call because it WAS a GF qualifier but going the Locky 7 and TC 6... I mean... really? I just don't understand how the outside backs would have got any quality ball, let alone the wide running back rowers... grafting a 14-8 ish win with that set up didn't make sense to me for two main reasons:

1) Even with full strength 14 points against the Storm in the finals is not given freely - you work hard for it. To achieve this with IH's tactic would have been a huge reliance on luck and the bounce of the ball.
2) Keeping the Storm under 10ish points means you need a great kicking game which is beneficial when you got more kickers in position to keep them guessing. Three kickers (Hunt as the back up) is the way to go... TC doesnt kick. It's just too easy for a team like Melbourne.

I just dont think a loss in the GF qualifier would have 'destroyed' the kid's career. It could have 'made' his career.

 

[schmix]

The reason I'm on this side of the fence is - take a look at Slater/Inglis/Hayne now compared to their debut and think hypothetically if their debut was last season... not the fact that it would be a shame but playing ability wise. Rack your memory and apart from sheer speed Slater in particular was not a game breaker or even half the player he is now... clearly because they are too raw. They need the NRL experience. Sure - due to the age sometimes they crash and burn but sometimes it puts them in a position to "peak" quite early which gives them a great opportunity to develop into a mature headed footballer by the 26-27 mark rather than 29. (e.g C Smith maybe?)

I say 18 is good enough personally - if you're old enough to gamble and buy drinks in this country and even be charged as an adult... well... face the consequences of your actions IMO.

I agree with Foordy re. the different positions, but you also have to remember that not all teenagers are created equal. Some may handle the pressure as though they were born for it, while others need to be brought along much more slowly. Considering we (well, most of us) don't have regular contact with the players, I don't think we can really comment on whether a player is ready or not. It's one area where I think we really have to be willing to accept the decisions of the coaching staff.

 

[BroncoMatt]

The reason I'm on this side of the fence is - take a look at Slater/Inglis/Hayne now compared to their debut and think hypothetically if their debut was last season... not the fact that it would be a shame but playing ability wise. Rack your memory and apart from sheer speed Slater in particular was not a game breaker or even half the player he is now... clearly because they are too raw. They need the NRL experience. Sure - due to the age sometimes they crash and burn but sometimes it puts them in a position to "peak" quite early which gives them a great opportunity to develop into a mature headed footballer by the 26-27 mark rather than 29. (e.g C Smith maybe?)

I say 18 is good enough personally - if you're old enough to gamble and buy drinks in this country and even be charged as an adult... well... face the consequences of your actions IMO.

I agree with Foordy re. the different positions, but you also have to remember that not all teenagers are created equal. Some may handle the pressure as though they were born for it, while others need to be brought along much more slowly. Considering we (well, most of us) don't have regular contact with the players, I don't think we can really comment on whether a player is ready or not. It's one area where I think we really have to be willing to accept the decisions of the coaching staff.

Agreed. There was a young 20 year old half back in 2005, who despite being the rookie of the year (ahead of Greg Inglis) and close to the best number 7 of the season, struggled in a preliminary final as his team got belted. He had trouble coping with the pressures associated with the loss and those pressures mixed with some other issues started to see him run into off field trouble. His on field form suffered in following years and 5 years on he is now trying to resurrect his career.
Tim Smith was the blokes name....

As legendary Norths Coach Bobby Bax once said, " If you throw them in the fire too early, there is a fair chance they'll burn out"

 

[Coxy]

Exactly right schmix and Matt, that's been my point of view all along with B Hunt and others.

I think a few people saw teenage Darren Lockyer take to first grade like a duck to water and become the biggest champion the game has produced in a long time.

However, think also to the same time, in fact, the very same game in which Lockyer debuted. Another talented teenage half with huge potential made his debut as well. He got regular game time but struggled to really snatch the opportunities and cement himself in first grade. Even when Allan Langer retired he was only average and he's best known for some pressure goals kicked during that horror season in 1999 to snatch a draw and a win.

He was given more chances at the start of 2000 but just wasn't up to speed, and in the end precipitated Ben Ikin shifting in from the centres to play five-eighth and let Kevin Walters play halfback.

Ben Walker was his name. He went on to have a very unsuccessful stint with Souths, then disappeared to England and last I heard runs a pub in Esk...

Not every kid makes it. The fact is, at 20 years old, Walker wasn't ready to be thrown into Allan Langer's boots and it killed his career.

 

[Flutterby]

Yep the list of kids thrown in too early that crash and burn is much longer than those that go on to be champions.