Wallace Watch

[Jeba]

I don't buy that Wallace is that great a defender.

He's good in that he absorbs the attack, but he'll rarely dominate a tackle.

He's up there with the best defensive halfbacks in the comp. You cant deny that.

 

[Anonymous person]

I don't buy that Wallace is that great a defender.

He's good in that he absorbs the attack, but he'll rarely dominate a tackle.

He's up there with the best defensive halfbacks in the comp. You cant deny that.

he is, correct. but thats like saying that Dave Taylors up there with the best kicking in general play forwards in the game - its not his job, and its not why he should keep a spot in the forwards if hes not making any ground from hitups.

 

[m1c]

His long kicking is hard to judge. The tactic is to kick it high and long to give our kick chase the time to get down the field. It doesn't look pretty but it is effective.

IMO it's a higher percentage play than trying to get it over their heads or drilling it low and hard to space which often results in the fullback catching it, giving little time for the kick chase to get going. It's a trade off, by giving the ball more air you allow the opposition to take it easily, however you can almost always guarantee the extra time will also allow your kick chase to pin them in their own 20.

Unless you kick early, run it on the last to draw the wingers up or ensure the ball ball bounces short of the defense - ala Soward - it is quite difficult to find the grass these days. Kicking for the corners should be the aim, but with the wingers back on the last tackle this is near impossible.

I agree that Locky should definitely be in charge of most of the long kicking, however Griffin seems to have taken a page out of the Bennett handbook in attempting to reduce Lockyer's touches. The aim being to reduce the quantity and increase the quality.

 

[Ghibli]

The aim being to reduce the quantity and increase the quality.

That's what my Mrs always goes on about to me [icon_wink

 

[Big Pete]

I don't buy that Wallace is that great a defender.

He's good in that he absorbs the attack, but he'll rarely dominate a tackle.

He's up there with the best defensive halfbacks in the comp. You cant deny that.

That's true but I don't think of him as a great defensive halfback like Joey Johns. He just isn't a liability like most halves are these days.

 

[Coxy]

The aim being to reduce the quantity and increase the quality.

That's what my Mrs always goes on about to me [icon_wink

[icon_lol1. [icon_lol1. [eusa_clap.gi

 

[kluppy]

he needs to watch Thurston & Cronk and see how they find the grass more than 50% of their long kicks.

Kick lower.

He dead set kicks them straight to the fullback and winger much like the NSW's halves in the 07 series

lockyer is no better though.......

I can recall at least 5 kicks from Lockyer that found the turf and forced the winger/fullback to chase back and pick it up...so he is doing better. Just.

5 kicks in 17 years...... not bad i guess.......

 

[Coxy]

This season, smart arse :P

 

[john1420]

I was so dissappointed when I read this thread. From the title I thought the NRL was releasing a commemorative Peter Wallace watch, and I need a new watch. My band just broke [icon_drun

 

[kluppy]

This season, smart arse :P

ha ha, yeah i know, couldn't help myself though.

 

[Professor47]

Agree about not earning his 'keep'. Harsh but fair... in saying that not TOO worried about our attack yet. I'm sure we want to see it develop over the next 5 or so weeks and have some form of consistency in about 10 weeks... right?

As for WAAAAAAAAAAAALLACE - as mentioned earlier... make or break year without a doubt.

 

[Mr Wendell]

Wallace is great in defence, maybe does a little to much at times. I'd like to see him move to hooker and we chase another half. Thoughts?

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Mind you, he's in pretty good company of average 2011 halfbacks - Orford and Prince for starters.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Mind you, he's in pretty good company of average 2011 halfbacks - Orford and Prince for starters.

who cares about other teams... The Broncos fans want Wallace to perform to his best and he really hasn't for a long time.

 

[bent]

He will come good, wish they would let him play outside that left side corridor so he could play on what he sees, they have put too much structure on him and hes a five-eighth not a traditional halfback. Wait and see how much we need him next year.

 

[Coxy]

Giving credit where it's due, I'm very impressed with Wallace lately. He's improving week to week. If he can continue that improvement going into Origin, and then maintain that form throughout the rest of this season I may well just lay off him :P

 

[mrslong]

Me too. Lol. Hubby always accuses me of being a wallace hater. The last couple of weeks I've had to swallow my usual hating and say he's playing good. LOL, and i am GLAD he's playing good.

 

[Coxy]

Me too. Lol. Hubby always accuses me of being a wallace hater. The last couple of weeks I've had to swallow my usual hating and say he's playing good. LOL, and i am GLAD he's playing good.

Yep, me too. I'm happy to be considered a Wallace hater. I had totally valid reasons to do so and was not being unfair.

But, he's turning things around nicely so my hate is gone. For now icon_thumbs_u But if this is another short term, 5-6 week "purple patch" and he returns to shit later this year, then watch out!

Short term though, with Wallace's reasonably good form, McCullough going close to 80 minutes, I can't see a spot in the 17 for Ben Hunt. But then, I don't see the point in having Corey Norman on the bench to play 10 minutes either.