Phoenix Crossland discussion

I'm actually looking forward to Crossland coming off the bench I think he Will become more of a running threat start Brailey getting our forwards going early on then have Crossland using his energy for line speed and running will open up more around the ruck for kp
 
If Brailey isn't going anywhere then he should have to earn the starting spot because to me he hasn't done anything in knights colours that warrant him walking back into the side at the expense of Crossland who has outplayed the guy and IMO is better at most aspects of the game and as good as Brailey in all others ...
Except for a great chase and tackle what else has Brailey done that stands out, in my mind very little .
 
Ethan said:
If Brailey isn't going anywhere then he should have to earn the starting spot because to me he hasn't done anything in knights colours that warrant him walking back into the side at the expense of Crossland who has outplayed the guy and IMO is better at most aspects of the game and as good as Brailey in all others ...
Except for a great chase and tackle what else has Brailey done that stands out, in my mind very little .
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He was voted player of the season on this forum when we made the finals in 2021.
 
Crossland wants to be 9, but it will only happen if Brailey is basically done as a player.
Crossland will be the new Kurt Mann - a bit of lock, a bit of hooker, a bit of halfback, centre if he has to, second row in an emergency.
Unlike Kurt, I'll be happy to see Crossland come on and play big minutes. Kurt always felt like rocks or diamonds and Crossland feels like he'll make something good happen.
 
I can see a game plan where crossland starts at 9 with Brailey coming on to replace Elliot, with Crossland shifting to lock at that point. Keeps Crossland on the field for 80 minutes.
 
Crossland talking about that Ball side that went out of the finals with a loss the week before the GF when they were short priced favourites to win - saying they got cocky I think he said.
That was a hell of a side - guys who had been state reps like
Star Toa NSW Aus and NZ
Bradman Best NSW and Aus
Mitchell Black NSW and Aus,
Harry Croker NSW and Aus,
Crossland NSW,
Jock Madden NSW and Aus,
Cooper Jenkins NSW,
Timanu Alexander Aus,
Jaron Purcell NSW and Aus
Simi Sasagi NZ
- coached by Scott Dureau.
They lost 2 games during the season, but only because Dureau kept trying out players in different positions - most of them played 3 or 4 positions over the year.
Crossland says he didn't win a junior title but says they should have won that one. I agree - 6 years later I still don't know how we lost that one.
 
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I think Crossland is better than Brailey. Better kicking, more sting in defence, has a bit more X-Factor generally. Brailey is boring and injury prone. Maybe his service is better, but I feel like Crosslands was improving game by game. We should run a poll on the site?
 
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Roundtable said:
I think Crossland is better than Brailey. Better kicking, more sting in defence, has a bit more X-Factor generally. Brailey is boring and injury prone. Maybe his service is better, but I feel like Crosslands was improving game by game. We should run a poll on the site?
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I'm the same I haven't seen Brailey play near as good as Crossland did at the second half of the season and people keep saying Brailey's service is better, then we must have been watching different players because Crossland was as good as and better in every aspect of the game.
 
Ethan said:
I'm the same I haven't seen Brailey play near as good as Crossland did at the second half of the season and people keep saying Brailey's service is better, then we must have been watching different players because Crossland was as good as and better in every aspect of the game.
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Brailey's service is top draw... He has that over Crossland (although Crossland is getting heaps better).
 
It’s inarguable that we played by far the best stretch of the AOB era so far with Crossland at hooker. He’s also younger, cheaper, and doesn’t have knees that explode whenever the wind changes direction.

The idea of them splitting the minutes doesn’t really excite me either, the notable hooker combos have a more potent attacking hooker off the bench to blow games open and neither Brailey nor Crossland are that kind of player. Don’t think 2 similar “boring” hookers playing 40 minutes each will be a game changer.
 
I think Crossland would run a lot more if he only had to play 30 or 40 or 50 minutes. He has to save energy if he needs to go for 80 and make 40+ tackles.
Last season he learnt a lot and gained a lot of confidence, so he isn't the guy who played for short minutes and didn't know his role well in 2022. He is the guy with a lot of fitness and energy who knows the hooker role well and can rip in for probably 40 or 50 minutes and bring a lot of impact I think.
 
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mullenmagic said:
It’s inarguable that we played by far the best stretch of the AOB era so far with Crossland at hooker. He’s also younger, cheaper, and doesn’t have knees that explode whenever the wind changes direction.

The idea of them splitting the minutes doesn’t really excite me either, the notable hooker combos have a more potent attacking hooker off the bench to blow games open and neither Brailey nor Crossland are that kind of player. Don’t think 2 similar “boring” hookers playing 40 minutes each will be a game changer.
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Crossland made a number of breaks into the back field toward the end of games last year, imagine if he was fresher?
 
O'Brien has shown he really wants an 80 minute hooker.
He hates to use 1 or even 2 interchanges on hookers.
Canberra have shown you can build your game around a 2 hooker policy and most teams seem to be doing it now.
Even Melbourne are doing it, and they probably gave O'Brien his 80 minute hooker mentality.
Canberra have both of their hookers on the field for long minutes together and often they take turns at dummy half.
I think it's a trend and Brailey and Crossland can do it.
I'd be comfortable with both on the field at the same time. Both defend as well as some of our forwards.
 
Billy said:
O'Brien has shown he really wants an 80 minute hooker.
He hates to use 1 or even 2 interchanges on hookers.
Canberra have shown you can build your game around a 2 hooker policy and most teams seem to be doing it now.
Even Melbourne are doing it, and they probably gave O'Brien his 80 minute hooker mentality.
Canberra have both of their hookers on the field for long minutes together and often they take turns at dummy half.
I think it's a trend and Brailey and Crossland can do it.
I'd be comfortable with both on the field at the same time. Both defend as well as some of our forwards.
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YepI'm happy to see how it plays out Competition for spots is a good thing . I think Brailey is due for a change of luck . And because of what he did last year Crossland is a far more confident player.
I think if he is 14 he could cover a number of positions very well . Brailey will have to hit the ground running because if Crossland gets the 9 he will be hard to displace !
 
If Brailey is not picked I’d be very surprised. If that was the case and he’s playing reserves I would say he would want out and be offloaded to another team. He’s to good to be in cup.
 
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