Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:37 pm  

We have recruited big name backs in the recent past - Blacklock and Sing to name but two. They spend most of their time getting frostbite out on the wing or running the ball out of defence. Spending big bucks on a winger or centre would be a waste of money IMO.

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:41 pm  

Nobeerineasthull wrote:

We have recruited big name backs in the recent past - Blacklock and Sing to name but two. They spend most of their time getting frostbite out on the wing or running the ball out of defence. Spending big bucks on a winger or centre would be a waste of money IMO.

Yup. It's safe to say that you could put Gidley or Jamie Lyon in our centres and they'd look no better than what we've got with our poor service and poor gameplan. Wonder how Jamie Lyon would feel having to scoot from dummy half every game as the only chance to get his hands on the ball.

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:48 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

Yup. It's safe to say that you could put Gidley or Jamie Lyon in our centres and they'd look no better than what we've got with our poor service and poor gameplan. Wonder how Jamie Lyon would feel having to scoot from dummy half every game as the only chance to get his hands on the ball.

I don't understand this point. Surely when good ball from the halves is rarer, the importance of quality at centre to convert these opportunities is more important?

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:15 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

I don't understand this point. Surely when good ball from the halves is rarer, the importance of quality at centre to convert these opportunities is more important?

Or the flip side of that is the point i'm making. Why spend on world class players that aren't involved in the game much.

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:31 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

Or the flip side of that is the point i'm making. Why spend on world class players that aren't involved in the game much.

If you don't think your outside backs, ie points scorers, are going to be involved, why bother taking part at all?

My view before this season started, indeed before we signed Moa, was that we had over invested in the forwards relative to the backs. I appreciate that we needed to rebuild, but we've got rid of Tony, Raynor, Byrne and G Horne in the backs and brought in Tansey. The Raynor one is odd as the alleged offence took place in 2008 but I guess we'll never know the ins and outs. If Long was playing, the three quarters would be getting quality ball and therefore investing one overseas spot in the backs doesn't seem such an outrageous proposition IMO, particularly when the top teams choose an average of 3 each.

I'll give it up now, as I'm in a minority of one, but I still think people listing backlines more or less the same as what we've got now and being happy that they're good enough to match the top teams are loons.

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:19 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

If you don't think your outside backs, ie points scorers, are going to be involved, why bother taking part at all?

My view before this season started, indeed before we signed Moa, was that we had over invested in the forwards relative to the backs. I appreciate that we needed to rebuild, but we've got rid of Tony, Raynor, Byrne and G Horne in the backs and brought in Tansey. The Raynor one is odd as the alleged offence took place in 2008 but I guess we'll never know the ins and outs. If Long was playing, the three quarters would be getting quality ball and therefore investing one overseas spot in the backs doesn't seem such an outrageous proposition IMO, particularly when the top teams choose an average of 3 each.

I'll give it up now, as I'm in a minority of one, but I still think people listing backlines more or less the same as what we've got now and being happy that they're good enough to match the top teams are loons.

Whilst I tend to agree, you also have to take into account that the likes of Briscoe and Hall are still improving so our backline with those 2 players in will be better next season.

The wing situation is an odd one. On the one hand good overall team play can mean that the winger literally just has walk-in trys in which case do you need to spend big? If you dont use your wingers in that way are you better off using wingers that are good at bringing the ball away on kick returns? IMO the centre is far more important than the winger and I dont see Yeaman going anywhere soon, we then have Hall and Briscoe as possibilities for the other centre berth if we can bring 1 or 2 cheapish wingers and Reece looks like a good prospect. Rather than using a quota spot to strengthen the back line outwide I would be using it in the halves.

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:38 pm  

Craig Hall ....will this guy get much better with age? attacking-wise he fits the bill but defensively we have a bit of a problem

i would like to think that he'll learn to improve his defence,and not only that but maybe if he bulks up (naturally with age?) then that will help him to actually hold onto an attacker and complete a tackle more convincingly

i'm not talking about his line positioning - rather his tackling

at the moment he is lanky/skinny/light weight. i've met him on a night out and i reckon i could knock him over

is he always going to be built like a whippet or does anyone think he should/would bulk up over the next couple of seasons?!

Re: Backs 2011 : Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:48 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

I don't understand this point. Surely when good ball from the halves is rarer, the importance of quality at centre to convert these opportunities is more important?

I think the point is even average 3/4's can do OK if they get decent ball. Anyone who thinks amos roberts and pat richards are world beaters is delusional. they just get good ball from their half backs

Re: Backs 2011 : Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:52 am  

Jake the Peg wrote:

I think the point is even average 3/4's can do OK if they get decent ball. Anyone who thinks amos roberts and pat richards are world beaters is delusional. they just get good ball from their half backs

Think that was the point i was making.

Re: Backs 2011 : Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:38 am  

One point I would make is that we have scored 44 tries in the league this season of which the threequarters have scored 24 (~55%), the halves 7 (~15%) and the forwards 13 (~30%). Whilst I agree we could improve our attacking play and score more tries, these figures show that the backs do see a reasonable amount of ball - possibly more than some opinions on here claim.