NRL Round 18 - Raiders V Knights - 4:05pm Sunday 7th July - GIO Stadium Canberra

[Rupert Murdoch]

What would it be, this?

It needs to be this but In Emoji Form.

Always a crack up this episode.

 

[Vagabond89]

Hastings to spell Brailey and Sharpe to come on at 7, if true, it sounds crazy but I'm excited that AOB would even conceive of something like this let alone run with it.

I'm struggling to see a use case for it. Only thing I can think of is that it's the only way to bring Sharpe onto the park without him playing 13 for Elliott who would otherwise spell Brailey.

AOB must want to see what Hastings can do at 9 as much as anything else.. Which is interesting on its own

The use case I can see is assessing Sharpe's future potential as a halfback convert like Hughes. If he has a few good touchs while in the halves, it opens some longer term options.

Weird time in the season for the experiment though.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

There are plenty who think Jackson would be just as good if not better at 9. He’s good at isolating his runners onto smaller defenders, which wins you quick play the balls in yardage, but in the red zone often means you’re scoring a try.

 

[BTP]

The use case I can see is assessing Sharpe's future potential as a halfback convert like Hughes. If he has a few good touchs while in the halves, it opens some longer term options.

Weird time in the season for the experiment though.

A fresh Elliot is better to the side than tired as well. Him going a full 80 can bring in a few mistakes with and without, so spelling him for 10-20min, especially against big Raiders pack would be very beneficial.

 

[SportsFan]

Ponga out I heard? Any confirmation?

 

[Treadly]

I like the trial from a Hastings and shape point of view. If it works, double upside. Is not, no real loss in the long term. Hastings playing to prove he is worth keeping, maybe taking Bradley's minutes. Shape showing his versatility.

Imagine Sharpe goes well, Pryce fits in and goes well. There's good options there and lots of strike power

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Rumour from triple m ponga won’t play

 

[Wagyu Patty]

@Junior_rep anything from the inside? I did think it was a bit early to bring him back.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd]

And there I was hoping Sharpe was at 14 because OB decided he wanted to really mix **** up

 

[slotmachine]

Sharpe will come in and play halfback.

Sounds like it might not happen with KP not quite ready, but it's pleasing the club is trying things to find a halfback long term. Hastings and Cogger ain't it.

 

[mozza]

If it means he’s not gonna play in Origin 3 I’m good with it. We can win this game without him.

 

[jamesgould]

The use case I can see is assessing Sharpe's future potential as a halfback convert like Hughes. If he has a few good touchs while in the halves, it opens some longer term options.

Weird time in the season for the experiment though.

It was just a bench spot and might not even have happened if the game was close or Ponga didn’t make it through 80.

But I agree, it’s a worthwhile experiment giving it a go. And if it did work and Hastings moved to 9, that might kill two birds with one stone (although he showed a reluctance to play in the middle when Wests wanted him to try 13).

 

[Frank McWilliams]

So IF Ponga is out and Sharpe is f/b does that mean Cogger is bench and likely play 7 while Hastings relieves Elliott, I see no other possibility looking at ext bench

 

[JOJO82]

Wait and see what @Junior_rep says.....seems to be the only one with spot on with information.

 

[Les Misérables]

Starting to think @Junior_rep was fed targeted misinformation so they could find out who's been leaking to the online forum

Sharpe to halfback, how could we have fallen for that!

 

[frankLauda]

So IF Ponga is out and Sharpe is f/b does that mean Cogger is bench and likely play 7 while Hastings relieves Elliott, I see no other possibility looking at ext bench

Please no cogger! R Jones for me

 

[EASBay17]

Please no cogger! R Jones for me

He wasnt in the extended squad.
If ponga was never gunna play its some top teir gamesmanship from the club. Brilliant

 

[Vagabond89]

I'm hoping the opposite is true and the Triple M rumours about Ponga being out is just gamesmanship. Putting doubt into the Raiders minds about who is really playing

 

[jamesgould]

So many mind games and 4D chess going on with this game!

 

[MBQLD]

There are plenty who think Jackson would be just as good if not better at 9. He’s good at isolating his runners onto smaller defenders, which wins you quick play the balls in yardage, but in the red zone often means you’re scoring a try.

If it works and he has a handy little kick in behind the defence then that’s worth its weight in gold right there. Ball playing hooker is nothing to complain about