Jack Cogger discussion

God 😭. I think you are against every person on this forum! 😂 Tell you what. He will get another crack, I will watch him more closely in the next trial.
 
Then we should set up a post and vote who everyone thinks should be our 7! I think everyone is in agreement for Sharpe staying in 6.
 
Can't say I was looking at Cogger.
I was looking hard at Sharpe, the middle forwards, trying to spot Schiller but I think he had Harry Potter's invisibility cloak on.
There was plenty of players like Arthur I needed to suss out, so Cogs was not on my radar - but I couldn't take my eyes off Hetherington for some reason - every error he made had me blowing up.
 
Yeah and you need to factor in that in the second half Parra had put in some fringe players on the edges so it becomes easier to dine out. The McEwen try for example is him bursting through a couple of meh tackles rather than particularly great work from Gamble.

Ultimately the purpose of going play on play, one side of the field to the other, is to stretch & fatigue the D line, force more opposing players to come up with tough 1-on-1 efforts, force disorganisation in defensive lines, etc. This was happening when Cogger was on and without some shocking errors eg Hetho’s 19 dropped balls we may have actually blasted them apart in the first half.

At the end of the day the thing that will dictate who gets picked isn’t whether Gamble outplays Cogger individually, but who Ponga and Sharpe play better with. From comments Kalyn has made, it sounds like he feels most comfortable with Cogger, and I feel like the proof is in the pudding somewhat with Kalyn’s end of season form. Also thought Sharpe looked his most lively and threatening playing with Cog.
 
Your points are valid HVG, and I do remember us being in good positions before Hethington lost the ball on multiple occasions.

But as Sheent eluded too his defence can be shocking at times. I will reserve my judgment after the second trial.
 
I don’t know if this makes any sense at all, but if we sign Brown & Fletcher proves to not be up to it as a first grade standard #6, I’m probably playing Brown at 7 on the left edge in the role we gave Hastings/Clune in 2023, with Gamble at 6 on the right. I see Tyson as more of a supporting organiser to your main option in the halves & I probably want his niggle, his big boot and that little bit of individual stuff he brings in attack.

I see Cogger as a pure #7 who’ll build everything he does around facilitating Ponga & Sharpe. I want his short kicking game too which I think is the best at the club (whereas, if we sign Brown, he’s on another level from anyone else we have in that area).

Basically, all I care about is what works best for the players I have hopes for as the long term key players (ie Kalyn, Fletch & hopefully Brown).
 
I thought we looked more structured and threatening in attack when Cogger was on the field. It was him organising the play going left to right. We just kept dropping the ball or passes weren’t hitting the target, maybe because it’s pre season so the timing is out, but that didn’t effect other sides.

There were a couple of occasions where Sharpe ran when he should have passed and passed when he should have run, which should have resulted in tries. But that is expected as he is learning the position. He did play well, though.

Clogger’s defence is terrible though.
 
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Knight #275
 
I know Jacks been ordinary in a few games this year, but I thought he was really good the other night.

I thought he kicked pretty well most of the night, his kicks had good depth on them and found the grass sometimes.

I think he played a key part moving the ball around in the second half and getting it to our edges.

And he was good in defence, stood his ground against Olakuatu and make a terrific try saver at the end of the game which if he hadn't, we probably don't win.
 
So, 27 years old - the most games he's ever played in a season was 17, last year.
He has only rarely been the leading half in a team, and has never really had a run of games where he ran a side.
He has played 12 games this year, and circumstances have meant he has had a run of games where he has been the main playmaker.
At the age when many playmakers hit their best form, he seems to be hitting form and going OK.
I'd say his last few games have been the best in his career.
 
His last few games probably have been his best, but he is not very good and they may turn out to be the best games of his career.
Considering how average he is at everything, he has had an outstanding career to date.
 
His last few games probably have been his best, but he is not very good and they may turn out to be the best games of his career.
Considering how average he is at everything, he has had an outstanding career to date.
Or, like many halves in the past, he might have his best years in his late 20s and early 30s.
 
I really hope he is on the improve and it leads to consistency. I have slammed him in the past, but he seems to be coming good.

He needs to keep it up the whole back end of this year, or he is out of luck for a spot next year.
 
Cogger was signed as a backup halfback and he now is capably fulfilling that role.

The backup halfback plays a vital role when the number 1 halfback is injured. We would not have won the 1997 premiership without Leo Dynevor playing well while he was filling in for Joey whilst he was injured.
 
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Or, like many halves in the past, he might have his best years in his late 20s and early 30s.
Time will tell..............that he massively over achieved as a very average player. He will be playing local league in the next couple of years.
I still hope he plays to his best for the rest of his time at the Knights.
 
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