Phoenix Crossland discussion

jamesgould said:
I find the argument a bit tiresome, it seems like the Crossland stans refuse to accept Brailey has anything positive to contribute whatsoever.

I agree the best discussion is how we use them together.
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Yeah agree. I don't see what the point is in arguing who is the 'better' player. There is a dearth of quality hookers across the NRL, and we have two of them for at least two more years at this stage. Plenty on here were whining 12 months ago when Crossland was re-signed, and now after a good season from him are ready to offload Brailey and lose the quality depth we now find ourselves with. Imagine if Crossland is injured and spends some time on the sidelines. If Brailey is off the team, what's the plan then?
 
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Good Times said:
Yeah agree. I don't see what the point is in arguing who is the 'better' player. There is a dearth of quality hookers across the NRL, and we have two of them for at least two more years at this stage. Plenty on here were whining 12 months ago when Crossland was re-signed, and now after a good season from him are ready to offload Brailey and lose the quality depth we now find ourselves with. Imagine if Crossland is injured and spends some time on the sidelines. If Brailey is off the team, what's the plan then?
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Stop with the sanity! Sanity isn't aloud on fan forums! we must come up with stupid reasonings on how to run our club. Even though we have NO ability in doing so!!

Two quality 9's on the books for two more years!?!? Dreaming!
 
jamesgould said:
I find the argument a bit tiresome, it seems like the Crossland stans refuse to accept Brailey has anything positive to contribute whatsoever.

I agree the best discussion is how we use them together.
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I haven't said that about Brailey as I said before Imo Brailey is a good club man and a good player and I was happy when we signed him but now, I think Crossland is better than him and has more strings to his bow than Brailey will ever have.

From what I've seen of Crossland in interviews he wants that hooker spot bad and is going to fight hard for it.
I know Brails is a hard trainer and fit boy but so is Crossland, personally I hope he gets it. Imo you should have your best out there and I think Crossland is our best.
Now we have let Brown go I would be inclined to keep brails, but Crossland would be no1 hooker. The one thing against Crossland is that Brailey is a hooker and only a hooker where as Crossland has the talent to play in the halves , hooker and lock.
 
Not a Crossland stan at all. They're both middle of the pack hookers from what they've shown so far, neither is irreplaceable. Per my previous comment - one is younger, cheaper, and without the baggage of missing 3 quarters of the games since he arrived.
 
Ethan said:
I haven't said that about Brailey as I said before Imo Brailey is a good club man and a good player and I was happy when we signed him but now, I think Crossland is better than him and has more strings to his bow than Brailey will ever have.

From what I've seen of Crossland in interviews he wants that hooker spot bad and is going to fight hard for it.
I know Brails is a hard trainer and fit boy but so is Crossland, personally I hope he gets it. Imo you should have your best out there and I think Crossland is our best.
Now we have let Brown go I would be inclined to keep brails, but Crossland would be no1 hooker. The one thing against Crossland is that Brailey is a hooker and only a hooker where as Crossland has the talent to play in the halves , hooker and lock.
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But you can’t have an imposing opinion that’s sacrilege. Imo both good players but I feel Crossland has a few more strings to the bow. Kicking game, youth, health. It would be great if both stay fit and push each other, but I fear Brailey is one gust of wind away from another major injury and unlike others I don’t just see the good things he does.
 
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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I wonder if OB has changed his mind about the 1 hooker thing. Clearly having C Smith would influence anyone to play with one dominant hooker but towards the end of last season it looked like he was opening up to playing Phoenix and Nu Brown as part of a game plan.

I agree that it’s way most teams play these days and think we have the personnel to make it work.
 
Happy to have both at 9 & 14, either to start, both bring a great deal to team and think both would benefit from not playing full 80. Crossland is better option than Mann was, Brailey is surely due to play most if not all of season. If required due to injury could see both being on field together. At the moment I think Brailey, if fit, is better option but Crossland has certainly improved and likely to get better with further experience
 
Tired: Debating whether Brailey should be binned off so Crossland can be the full time first choice hooker.

Wired: Considering the benefits which could come from using them as a 1-2 punch.

Inspired: Thinking back to a few years ago when we were always two injuries away from having to field an all-utilities spine, and appreciating that we now have ample genuine specialist back-up in all four spine spots.
 
More than a couple of forum members have named Crossland in the halfback jersey for next week. Given his only a 23 year old, defends, competes and can kick as well as he does it was always in the back of my mind we gave up on him being a halfback a bit too early. I highly doubt he’d ever end up being an elite 7, but also our chances of ever signing one as a free agent are 1/1000 so if Hastings isn’t the guy, he is very likely our next best option. Thoughts?
 
The venn diagram of the things he does well and the things it's most important for a halfback to do well doesn't have the circles touching much.

Cogger will get a run at 7 again before Crossland does.
 
waynesworld said:
More than a couple of forum members have named Crossland in the halfback jersey for next week. Given his only a 23 year old, defends, competes and can kick as well as he does it was always in the back of my mind we gave up on him being a halfback a bit too early. I highly doubt he’d ever end up being an elite 7, but also our chances of ever signing one as a free agent are 1/1000 so if Hastings isn’t the guy, he is very likely our next best option. Thoughts?
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I reckon he is worth a shot. I like him at half . He played well there before. Game vs Manly he kicked them to death
 
He’s a bit older and confident now too. You can’t be a bit of a sheepish kid and hope to direct anyone around the park so you never know! I reckon he’d be in a better spot now to get it done than he was a year ago or more.

Honestly it’s bad when we are going back through the discard pile but stranger things have happened.
 
Crossland always wore the 7 jersey in juniors for Newcastle, NSW etc, but he was partnered with Jock Madden who wore the 6 jersey.
This was very misleading.
Jock was always the organiser, the playmaker, the tactician and the leader.
Pheonix was always the hard worker, the fittest player, the defender, the guy who got the ball to Jock when he needed it.
In short, Jock played the halfback role and was very good at it, and Pheonix played the 5/8 role and was very good at it.
Pheonix could play the role that Gamble plays for us, but he's never shown he can be an organiser or game manager like a Hastings or a Jock Madden.
 
Billy said:
Crossland always wore the 7 jersey in juniors for Newcastle, NSW etc, but he was partnered with Jock Madden who wore the 6 jersey.
This was very misleading.
Jock was always the organiser, the playmaker, the tactician and the leader.
Pheonix was always the hard worker, the fittest player, the defender, the guy who got the ball to Jock when he needed it.
In short, Jock played the halfback role and was very good at it, and Pheonix played the 5/8 role and was very good at it.
Pheonix could play the role that Gamble plays for us, but he's never shown he can be an organiser or game manager like a Hastings or a Jock Madden.
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Which is why I suggested Crossland play 6.

We just have to get him on the park as he makes an immediate difference when he comes on.

If we are going to rotate Crossland and Braliey, then Crossland starts, as his enthusiasm and effort is a great benefit to starting the game and getting on top. Brials can come in and steer the ship to the end.

Those commenting Crossland can't be this or can't be that were also wanting to launch him in to the sun a few seaons back. I was one of those back then but I've recognised he has developed and changed.

Brailey is a competent hooker, but hardly rep quality. I'm not saying Crossland is either, but if I am waying up who I think would have the most positive impact on the field it's Crossland by a mile.
 
I'd have to agree. I've never rated him that highly, apart from him doing a great job covering Brailey last year. However, he's the only one out there trying half the time, the only one that seems fit. He might not be the most skilled but I'd pick him on heart any day.
 
He was our hooker during our best season for a very long time, through that 10 game winning streak we love soo much.

Brailey came in starting this season and we just can't keep doing the same things and expecting results.

Brailey has been ordinary this season so far.

We have to try something, and heart is something this side sorely, and clearly lacks, which is something Crossland has plenty of, even when we are well beaten he is out there showing more heart than the rest combined save for Ponga.
 
mozza said:
Brailey is the least of our problems. He’s been better than expected after such a long lay off.
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Yeah, many were saying it was phoenix not supplying good ball, causing the forwards to not come onto the ball and Brailey was the answer. Now it seems to have flipped.
I think it's neither and we need maximum minutes from both as they are both seeming to actually try.
Why we can't make meters in the same situations as other teams has me mystified
 
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