Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 10:21 am  

foz11 wrote:

When all fit the backline should be imo
Wellens
Foster
Shenton
Wheeler
Meli
Pryce
Lomax

No it shouldn't. I never want to see Meli on the wing again. Ever. I'd leave Wheeler on the sidelines and keep Meli at centre until his contract expires rather than see Meli on the wing again. While Foster still needs to work on his defensive positioning - given his relatively small stature (although he's bigger IRL than I thought he would be!) - he is a far, far safer on the wing than Meli is.

Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 10:22 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Erm no. I am going to go back in time and prevent you writing it. Terminator style.

Wheeler is the most naturally talented centre at the club IMO, perhaps the most naturally talented player full stop.

It's a crying shame he can't keep himself fit because he'd be a massive asset to us if he could.

Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 10:27 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Wheeler is the most naturally talented centre at the club IMO, perhaps the most naturally talented player full stop.

It's a crying shame he can't keep himself fit because he'd be a massive asset to us if he could.

I agree, on both counts, although his present injury was something he could not have avoided. I think it's probably his obvious talent which has encouraged the club to keep hold of him even through all his injuries. There may come a day when he finds a way forward physically and then he will be a massive asset for us.

But although he is a great centre, I'd love to see him given time at stand off. He has so many crafty plays and such a good rugby brain, he could really give us an edge there.

Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 11:09 am  

Let's see. One of the most talented kids in our academy with no glaring weaknesses in his game (a run of bad injuries does not constitute proof positive of "injury proneness") vs a good attacking player with severe shortcomings in his defensive game which has cost us one - possibly two - Grand Finals and countless other tries/matches?

How quickly memories fade ...

Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 11:17 am  

I must confess, I haven't seen anything of Wheeler yet to suggest he is a great centre, most of the time I have seen him playing there, he has been fairly anonymous. However, at stand off, in his short spell against Wigoon, he looked like the real deal. Leave Meli at centre, and groom Wheeler and Gaskell as Pryce's replacement, biscuit bones permitting. Hopefully, they would be able to time share the position for at least a part of the season.

Re: Meli/Wheeler : Mon May 16, 2011 12:12 pm  

Personally, I think Wheeler is a much better centre, and player in general. But it is a real possibility that his body is not up to it, i'm happy to give him another 12 months or til the end of this contract, but a superstar who spends 5 out of every 6 games (i may even be being generous there) out of the side helps no one