2018 halves combination

LEVR said:
Haha it's funny how inevitable this is
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Logic says it's inevitable that the cream will rise to the top, but Brown is the guy who stuck with Wardle, Starling and Sio no matter how much they stunk up the joint, seemingly because he signed them to do a job, and even if they weren't up to it, there was no plan B.
 
Beatell said:
This thread is making me feel like I’m swimming with one arm round and round
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The narrative started out as "lamb is so much better than Watson, Watson no chance". Now it's, "lamb will be in the halves after the first game when Watson inevitably fails". When Watson actually succeeds I wonder where we will end up? Calls for lamb to play utility over griffin perhaps?

Fact of the matter is Gavin Orr out there right now trying to get Lamb a three year deal and first grade spot at another club.
 
If Watson succeeds then I have absolutely no problem with moving Lamb on. Said that from the start

The immediate concern however is that Watson doesn't succeed and we no longer have the option of Lamb at 6, but it seems Brown has quashed that movement, for the time being

So now the discussion is, what we think is most likely to happen. My personal opinion is that Watson will go well as a running 5/8th but we will lack a smooth polish to the end of our sets, something lamb brings in spades. And so Brown will look to have both Watson and Lamb on the field at once.. Geez I wonder how he will achieve that?
 
LEVR said:
If Watson succeeds then I have absolutely no problem with moving Lamb on. Said that from the start

The immediate concern however is that Watson doesn't succeed and we no longer have the option of Lamb at 6, but it seems Brown has quashed that movement, for the time being

So now the discussion is, what we think is most likely to happen. My personal opinion is that Watson will go well as a running 5/8th but we will lack a smooth polish to the end of our sets, something lamb brings in spades. And so Brown will look to have both Watson and Lamb on the field at once.. Geez I wonder how he will achieve that?
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By relegating the incumbent NZ hooker?
 
Pushing for a release and getting it are two different things.

Orr will be in the papers as soon as the ink is dry saying how we are ruining Lamb's career by playing him in Cup, and the head of the RLPA will probably chime in too.

Brown is in win now mode though so I think there is no chance it happens. His point will be, and it's correct, one injury and lamb is in firsts.
 
Newcastle import Connor Watson ready to fight for Knights No. 6

Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph

December 8, 2017 8:48am

CONNOR Watson talks of the voices being inside his head.

But really, they’re everywhere.

Always have been.

“Getting told you’re not a starter,’’ he shrugs, “I’ve been hearing that my whole life.

“Growing up, a lot of kids were better than me. Plenty, too, should’ve played NRL long before I ever got a shot.”

And guess what?

Everyone said as much.

Constantly.

“And those voices,’’ he continues, “the people saying ‘you shouldn’t start’ or ‘no, you can’t do that’, they’ve always stayed inside my head.

“It’s why I’m here.”

Seated now on a bench outside Knights HQ, Watson is talking The Daily Telegraph through a battle which, far from arising this past fortnight following the arrival of Mitchell Pearce, has instead been his since childhood.

For as a kid, Watson was the type of representative footballer who played wing. Or further in only if a gap needed filling.

Just as in his two years with the Roosters, this fella too small at 176cm, and too light at 86kg, has been tattooed indefinitely to that utility role — like the most he could ever hope for was becoming ‘The Next Craig Wing’.

But still, those voices drove him.

Specifically, up the M1 to Newcastle. Where Knights coach Nathan Brown promised not only the No. 6 jersey, but an exciting future alongside young gun Brock Lamb.

But since then, well, you may have heard Pearce has arrived too.

A surprise twist which now sees a host of experts — including eighth Immortal Andrew Johns — suggesting it be Lamb, not Watson, who plays five-eighth.

All of which has the Central Coast product thinking what?

“That’s footy,’’ he shrugs. “I could’ve stayed at the Roosters, playing utility in a strong side.

“But that’s not me.

“I want more.

“Growing up, I was never the best player but I’ve always known this was in me. Still, I had to go prove it.

“It’s where I am again now.”

Ironically, Watson was among the first Pearce phoned when inquiring about the Knights. But as for dubbing him a Hunter saviour?

“Oh, it wasn’t me swayed Pearcey,” he laughs. “It was the club, the coach, the town.

“It’s funny though because that day, a mate phoned to tell me how he was locked in at Manly. Deal done.

“Then 20 minutes later, a text came through ... Mitch asking my thoughts about Newcastle.”

And now, they’re here.

Better, Brown has promised Watson first crack alongside his mate.

“And I know Pearcey will be great for my game,’’ he says.

“Mitch is such a great ballplayer, controls games and creates space for his outside men.

“You saw it last year, the opportunities he created for Luke Keary.

“And I see myself playing a similar role, running off the back of opportunities he creates.

“I know playing six, my game can go to the next level.

“I just need to go prove it.”


https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...6/news-story/9e2f1496eb74b9bb619c31906ad98064
 
Watson should embrace the utility role.
He is in the 17, first picked, every week, if he can genuinely cover all the spine positions.
Kurt Gidley showed you can get picked for NSW and Australia if you can cover injuries to all the key positions - and any coach would love to have a plan B option if any key player went down.
As a utility he is solid gold.
As a 5/8 he was 3rd choice at the Roosters, and it's very debatable if he is 1st choice here.
 
slotmachine said:
Pushing for a release and getting it are two different things.

Orr will be in the papers as soon as the ink is dry saying how we are ruining Lamb's career by playing him in Cup, and the head of the RLPA will probably chime in too.

Brown is in win now mode though so I think there is no chance it happens. His point will be, and it's correct, one injury and lamb is in firsts.
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Bit like how the Cowboys were apparently the bad guys once old man Ponga went to the papers. Happens just about everytime a young player gets a pay increase and a starting role at another club.

The club have every right to keep the player. It's what a contract is for. Just as I would expect Brown to keep Lamb as he is clearly the next cab off the rank should injury or suspension come into play early in the season.

Player managers are a cancer on the game.
 
Billy said:
Logic says it's inevitable that the cream will rise to the top, but Brown is the guy who stuck with Wardle, Starling and Sio no matter how much they stunk up the joint, seemingly because he signed them to do a job, and even if they weren't up to it, there was no plan B.
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Watson so far has shown to himself to be a much higher level player than those 3. Starling is a bit of an anomaly but Sio & Wardle both had justifiable reasons why they kept getting picked. I think this will be a non issue because Watson will be great for us, the onus is on Lamb now to make his form irresistible.

I do have my concerns about our kicking game. We might be lacking a bit of class inside the opposition 20 but I'm sure Brown will be drilling it into both our halves & other options such as Ponga, Levi, Barnett, Sione all pre-season.
 
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