Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 11:28 am  

Connor will be in the squad one way or another round one, either because Miller doesn’t make it, or on the bench because of the O’Connor injury. I couldn’t have seen us carrying both of them on the bench.

Agree with what others have said about miller not being the answer to gk. It’s probably up to Jack or Jake to displace something to consistently fix that.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:17 pm  

For me, we need a recognised goal kicker in the 13.
We shouldn't be using bench spots or making interchanges to cover goal kicking.
This could turn out to be a problem for us.

I think Connor should be starting in the centre.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:46 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

For me, we need a recognised goal kicker in the 13.
We shouldn't be using bench spots or making interchanges to cover goal kicking.
This could turn out to be a problem for us.

I think Connor should be starting in the centre.

It's certainly preferable to have your best place kicker on the field from the start but I can see that Arthur might think that is outweighed by having your best combination of talent and structure. It's not the perfect situation but I do think we have a number of strong options in positions where we've been paper thin in recent years. Ultimately a combined of injuries and form will sort things out, but I'd wager that if he plays to anywhere near his best Connor will be a regular starter for the majority of the year.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:15 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

For me, we need a recognised goal kicker in the 13.
We shouldn't be using bench spots or making interchanges to cover goal kicking.
This could turn out to be a problem for us.

I think Connor should be starting in the centre.

I agree that our recognised kicker should be in the 13.
But if Connor was to play centre that means either Newman or Handley misses out which I doubt will happen.
However if last seasons form is anything to go by the person missing out would be Newman.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:30 pm  

I can't see Connor being picked ahead of anyone in the backline come the start of the season if everyone is fit. The above notwithstanding, with Miller being a doubt he might take his spot. Alternatively, he will have to be patient until someone is out of form such as Frawley, Sivo, Newman, Miller.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:41 pm  

I actually think I'd prefer Connor to Miller at FB.
Connor is very good at getting in that pocket and creating the overlap, as he showed for his tries on Boxing Day.
Miller was way too inconsistent last year and made far too many mistakes.
If he misses the first few games and Connor does well, BA will have a difficult decision to make.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 5:31 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

I actually think I'd prefer Connor to Miller at FB.
Connor is very good at getting in that pocket and creating the overlap, as he showed for his tries on Boxing Day.
Miller was way too inconsistent last year and made far too many mistakes.
If he misses the first few games and Connor does well, BA will have a difficult decision to make.

To be fair, Connor is one of the most inconsistent players going! He’ll ned to show more than a decent game in a friendly to nail down a spot

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 5:46 pm  

Ackers and Frawley sharing the hooking role with Connor in the halves?

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 6:58 pm  

christopher wrote:

To be fair, Connor is one of the most inconsistent players going! He’ll ned to show more than a decent game in a friendly to nail down a spot

In fairness we could say exactly the same about Miller and, to an extent, Frawley. Hopefully the increased competition and Arthur's gentle, ahem, criticism gets the best out of all of them.

Re: Small squad numbers : Fri Jan 03, 2025 8:16 pm  

Be good to get Jack Sinfield involved more then that would sort the kicking out for years.
Maybe have a go at hooker while O’Connor is out his coolness under pressure kicking at the wakey game kind of reminded me of someone?