The Halfback Conundrum

[HarVeeGee13]

Agree, but that said, if a simple 7 who's entire game could be confined to strategic kicking and opportunistic hard running through the middle at 1st receiver, not unlike the role set-up for Crossland at 7, would we not be perhaps the only club who could play Sutton at 7 in that role and have it succeed?

Maybe Sutton is the right halves partner for say, Jack Cogger..

I think if someone like Cogger is in the halves, the other guy needs to be more dynamic, more of a constant threat to break the line, to create something out of nothing. No one’s making Sutton sound like that guy.

 

[Junior]

2025 in my opinion has to be a Hastings/Pryce or Cogger/Pryce, I love Gamble but for us to be striving for top 4 we need another point of attack in our spine and that is Pryce. He is the only player in our halves that has shown that ability, it's worth the risk.
Whoever they choose at 7 (both can do a job but I'd pick a fully fit Hastings over Cogger) we just need to pick and stick. I think we would all agree on that.
After his New Zealand camp I think Crossland is our starting 9, with Brailey and Gamble fighting for 14. Brailey would be my choice, with Crossland still being able to cover injuries if needed.
My 13 is still undecided between Elliott and Croker, I also think that Manuleleua could a longterm 13 option. Got the skill and size.
1. Ponga
6. Pryce
7. Hastings
9. Crossland
13. ?? Elliott?
14. Brailey

 

[KPGreatness]

I think if someone like Cogger is in the halves, the other guy needs to be more dynamic, more of a constant threat to break the line, to create something out of nothing. No one’s making Sutton sound like that guy.

I would say Sutton is quicker than Gamble, Hastings and Cogger, whilst having a better long kicking game than all three of them as well.

His pace and big body could make him a line threat I mean he is like Burton although I’m confident Sutton burns Burton over 100m.

Now if his pace, kicking game and big body is good enough to warrant him a debut now that’s the deciding factor because all of that means nothing if he can’t organise and get those assists.

 

[KPGreatness]

2025 in my opinion has to be a Hastings/Pryce or Cogger/Pryce, I love Gamble but for us to be striving for top 4 we need another point of attack in our spine and that is Pryce. He is the only player in our halves that has shown that ability, it's worth the risk.
Whoever they choose at 7 (both can do a job but I'd pick a fully fit Hastings over Cogger) we just need to pick and stick. I think we would all agree on that.
After his New Zealand camp I think Crossland is our starting 9, with Brailey and Gamble fighting for 14. Brailey would be my choice, with Crossland still being able to cover injuries if needed.
My 13 is still undecided between Elliott and Croker, I also think that Manuleleua could a longterm 13 option. Got the skill and size.
1. Ponga
6. Pryce
7. Hastings
9. Crossland
13. ?? Elliott?
14. Brailey

Cant can also go at 13 and looks really good there to be honest so I’d say Elliot, Croker, Cant and maybe Manuleleua

 

[Junior]

Cant can also go at 13 and looks really good there to be honest so I’d say Elliot, Croker, Cant and maybe Manuleleua

I forgot about Cant being an option, I honestly think Manuleleua has the most potential long term. Being a 6 through the junior ranks and then his body getting too big so had to move to the forward pack. Could be the best ball playing lock in the comp if the club decides to develop him as such. Says he's been playing as a skilful ball playing edge player, but only getting bigger (being 20) he will handle the middle well and be able to transfer his previous skills as a six. Plus if we re-sign KPP I think we will be well stocked for back row options with Elliots future not being certain at the club.
Backrow opts: KPP, Friz, Lucas, Salesa-Leaumoana, McEwen, Cant, Croker, Manulelelua, and Brodie Jones

 

[Les Misérables]

I've been a huge advocate for Pyrce since the moment we signed him. I want to see him play a lot more FG than he did last year. That said, we're heading into 2025 and Pryce is arguably still the same player he was when he arrived. We had a year to develop him and OB refused to play him because Pryce might cost him his job. OB preferred to play Cogger - a dead-end player - instead of blooding someone like Pryce who's ceiling is immeasurable

And because of this, we're heading into 2025 having wasted last season by playing Pryce in reggies which is probably a step below the ESL. Pryce needed to be in FG last year and he wasn't and now we'll pay for it, when this year could've been the year we had Pryce fixed for the 6 position.

 

[KPGreatness]

I forgot about Cant being an option, I honestly think Manuleleua has the most potential long term. Being a 6 through the junior ranks and then his body getting too big so had to move to the forward pack. Could be the best ball playing lock in the comp if the club decides to develop him as such. Says he's been playing as a skilful ball playing edge player, but only getting bigger (being 20) he will handle the middle well and be able to transfer his previous skills as a six. Plus if we re-sign KPP I think we will be well stocked for back row options with Elliots future not being certain at the club.
Backrow opts: KPP, Friz, Lucas, Salesa-Leaumoana, McEwen, Cant, Croker, Manulelelua, and Brodie Jones

Very true, we are stacked with second rowers time to convert some. to be honest standing at 6’4 and 100kgs I think Taj could easily go at second row as well if needed, so that is one position we are probably the most stacked with in the NRL

 

[KPGreatness]

I've been a huge advocate for Pyrce since the moment we signed him. I wanted to see him play a lot more FG than he did last year. That said, we're heading into 2025 and Pryce is arguably still the same player he was when he arrived. We had a year to develop him and OB refused to play him because Pryce might cost him his job. OB preferred to play Cogger - a dead-end player - instead of blooding someone like Pryce who's ceiling is immeasurable

And because of this, we're heading into 2025 having wasted last season by playing Pryce in reggies which is probably a step below the ESL. Pryce needed to be in FG last year and he wasn't and now we'll pay for it, when this year could've been the year we had Pryce fixed for the 6 position.

True but I’d still do it

6. Pryce
7. Cogger
14. Gamble

Cogger purely because he has a better kicking game than Hastings with a lot less attitude and he can steer the team around and let KP, Pryce and the rest take over once in position.

Gamble as 14 as he can come in at 6,7,9 or 13 and brings that fire if needed. Settle that for 10 games and see what happens

 

[Seano]

I hope we're willing to gamble on Pryce * (no pun intended) because I doubt we bore the NRL into playing finals again anytime soon.

AOB needs to get more x-factor into the spine and the side generally. He needs to find more points and the Knights need to be able to beat top 8 sides.

Otherwise, we're kidding ourselves, we're wasting another season of Ponga and another year of developing towards a premiership window while we pretend we were competing for a title with journeyman halves.

* It doesn't have to be Pryce but he seems the most likely candidate AND he's also available for offers so they need to decide on him before other clubs notice, if he's good enough.

 

[jamesgould]

I'd love Pryce to be the answer, but I have to say in his first grade games this year, he looked to offer less attacking flair than Gamble to me.

Didn't see any NSW Cup, so maybe he's shown something there that I haven't seen?

Or hopefully he has picked up enough in 2024 to take the step up. As you say @Les Misérables , he's spent a year playing at a lower standard then when he was in Superleague, so if he hasn't improved defensively or picked up on structures, then that really is a waste of everyone's time.

 

[frankLauda]

From memory it was two full games in FG for Pryce? Then dropped when Gamble came back. He didn’t set the world on fire. Think he had a couple of errors but didn’t look out of place. Scored a try, had a try assist with a kick.

The main thing with Pryce is he offers another running threat that the others don’t have. He can find the line. And that’s what the team needs whether he is partnered with Hastings or Cogger.

I don’t envy the decision AOB has to go with. Gamble is a solid option but I don’t think has a high ceiling. Pryce definitely has an X-factor.

 

[KPGreatness]

I think Pryce gets in on default, out of all our halves he offers the most X-Factor in attack thanks to his footwork and pace, Cogger and Hastings are field generals and Gamble is a energiser.

We NEED another point of attack because as everyone knows take out KP and you take out the Knights

 

[Seano]

Pyrce made the NSW Cup team of the year, he was solid in limited opportunities in first grade, and he at least showed enough to suggest he could make the transition to first grade. If he doesn't make it to first grade (or worse makes it to FG at another club *cough* the Storm *cough*) he wouldn't be the first. But as an attacking player, he has a higher ceiling than Gamble.

We're not getting out of mid-table mediocrity if we don't find Ponga some help in attack.

 

[Good Times]

I think Pryce gets in on default, out of all our halves he offers the most X-Factor in attack thanks to his footwork and pace, Cogger and Hastings are field generals and Gamble is a energiser.

We NEED another point of attack because as everyone knows take out KP and you take out the Knights

No doubt we need more flair in attack. However, there is no getting in by default. No point picking a half who lets in more tries through poor defence than he creates in attack, unless he's worked on those issues during the offseason.

 

[KPGreatness]

No doubt we need more flair in attack. However, there is no getting in by default. No point picking a half who lets in more tries through poor defence than he creates in attack, unless he's worked on those issues during the offseason.

True but even if he was somewhat poor defensively speaking we could just put a good defender next to him to protect him like the roosters did with Radley x Keary and Angus x Keary lead them to 2 premierships since Keary needed a lot of protecting in defence

 

[Frank McWilliams]

We should forget about finishing top 8 and use this season to develop with end of 2025 we will be loosing a few, retirements, contracts ending and we will likely have cash to bid for any talented player that becomes available.
Like to see us use our best 13 and then use the bench to rotate the next best 7-8 to develop a strong squad of 20 or so with 2026 and beyond our aim.
With our current squad I don’t see us making the 8 so development will mean we know what we got and know what we need.

 

[Les Misérables]

I'd love Pryce to be the answer, but I have to say in his first grade games this year, he looked to offer less attacking flair than Gamble to me.

Didn't see any NSW Cup, so maybe he's shown something there that I haven't seen?

Or hopefully he has picked up enough in 2024 to take the step up. As you say @Les Misérables , he's spent a year playing at a lower standard then when he was in Superleague, so if he hasn't improved defensively or picked up on structures, then that really is a waste of everyone's time.

I thought he was average in FG but had limited opportunities. He isn't a forward, he's an X-factor spine player who needs time in FG to become the player we need him to be, which for Pryce is about making good decisions. That's a practice thing.

Imo he won't become that guy in NSW Cup, so it's disappointing he didn't get more time in FG. If he'd played at least dozen or more games at 6 in 2024 we'd have a better idea if the experiment is a waste of time or not. Who knows if he had, we may even be heading into 2025 with Pryce locked in at 6.

But we're in the same position we were before Pryce arrived at the club because OB preferred the safe mediocrity offered by Cogger at 6. Knowing full-well that Cogger was a stopgap option for the club. OB makes selections based on preserving a high percentage outcomes over high value outcomes. Its cowardly imo and we continue to pay the price in all sorts of ways.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

TBF Bellyache makes it borderline mandatory for his spine players to play over 30 games of Cup before they sniff first grade permanently, so surely there must be some developmental benefit to that level of play.

 

[KPGreatness]

I thought he was average in FG but had limited opportunities. He isn't a forward, he's an X-factor spine player who needs time in FG to become the player we need him to be, which for Pryce is about making good decisions. That's a practice thing.

Imo he won't become that guy in NSW Cup, so it's disappointing he didn't get more time in FG. If he'd played at least dozen or more games at 6 in 2024 we'd have a better idea if the experiment is a waste of time or not. Who knows if he had, we may even be heading into 2025 with Pryce locked in at 6.

But we're in the same position we were before Pryce arrived at the club because OB preferred the safe mediocrity offered by Cogger at 6. Knowing full-well that Cogger was a stopgap option for the club. OB makes selections based on preserving a high percentage outcomes over high value outcomes. Its cowardly imo and we continue to pay the price in all sorts of ways.

Gotta agree I remember some time ago when Burton was at Penrith Gould said something about Burton along the lines of “some players are to good for reserve grade and need to play in the NRL to continue their progression” Pryce is that kind of player that will stagnate at the NSW Cup level and needs first grade experience to get better.

He won’t get better in NSW Cup like some people he will stagnate he needs the first class experience to get better

 

[Brad tighe]

Gotta agree I remember some time ago when Burton was at Penrith Gould said something about Burton along the lines of “some players are to good for reserve grade and need to play in the NRL to continue their progression” Pryce is that kind of player that will stagnate at the NSW Cup level and needs first grade experience to get better.

He won’t get better in NSW Cup like some people he will stagnate he needs the first class experience to get better

I’d love to see him put a little bit of size on. Apparently his been impressing and they’ve offered him a new two year deal