Brad tighe
Greg Hayward
It’s interesting though his heading to the dragons over us. We mustn’t have been really interested in him at all
The Halfback Conundrum
- Thread starter HarVeeGee13
- Start date
alexwilliams
Anthony Quinn
I'm not surprised if we weren't
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
If we were going to swap him for Jackson there’d be a lot to sort out re: how much each club pays etc, both players agreeing, etc. That’s a lot of moving parts.
Whereas they can just pay some freight to move him to the Dragons and then sign whoever they want to take the spot. In this case that seems to be Matt Lodge, for reasons which I’m sure make sense to them.
Whereas they can just pay some freight to move him to the Dragons and then sign whoever they want to take the spot. In this case that seems to be Matt Lodge, for reasons which I’m sure make sense to them.
frankLauda
Todd Bates
Could we hope Hastings comes good? We are in a similar situation to last year with Hastings, Cogger, Gamble vying for the halves spots. Throw Will Pryce in the mix this year.
I can’t see them going with Phoniex at 7 again? I think they maybe thinking Hastings at lock. The more I think about it for next year, the only 7 worth pursuing is Pezet.
I’m more confident with Cogger, this year. Hastings bit of an unknown. Gamble if he’s stays injury free can do a job at 6. Although he does have brain farts.
It’s a bummer we don’t have “solid” choices in the halves.
I can’t see them going with Phoniex at 7 again? I think they maybe thinking Hastings at lock. The more I think about it for next year, the only 7 worth pursuing is Pezet.
I’m more confident with Cogger, this year. Hastings bit of an unknown. Gamble if he’s stays injury free can do a job at 6. Although he does have brain farts.
It’s a bummer we don’t have “solid” choices in the halves.
Last edited:
Only if he can regain the trust of the playing group. Bloke was tryna fight opposing players almost every game by the time he got dropped for good, he only has himself to blame honestly. Didn't really like him showing no accountability for that and only mentioning that he's now healthy. He said that last season, and went down grabbing his foot on a standard field goal attempt in Rd 1. He's still the best half at the club right now, but he's damaged goods in my opinion (in terms of attitude/injury).
Think we need to learn from last year's issues and stick with a halves combo for the first half of the season, 13 rounds in, if all is good, great, if there is obvious form, and Hastings or Pryce are killing it then swap. let it be a decent start though, of which I'd imagine would be Cogger/Gamble with Brails and Crossy 9 and bench. AOB ball can work well at start of year if they play to that strength and remain injury free.
There should also be natural improvement to the attack. The lack of quality in halves is obviously a huge reason as to why our attack isn't great, it just sucks that a team with Ponga in it is so focused on being "gritty". I'm expecting a huge resurgence in the left side attack, which was pretty non existent last season. Lucas there on the left (surely) just adds more attacking punch to that side. And if Best can stay on the field, that side will be damaging.
Les Misérables
Josh Perry
Im not convinced that picking and sticking is a good strategy when your best half is Tyson Gamble.
If Cogger has a few bad games it may be for reasons he isn't capable of solving. Sometimes removing a player from a bad situation is the best play.
Unfortunately we have the worst halves in the comp and we don't have the luxury of expecting a seasons worth of decent form from any of them, except Gamble.
Good Times
David Mullane
Agree, except that I'd say we have the second-worst rather than the worst halves pairing (Dragons with Flanagan and Ilias)
mozza
Game on broheim
That halves pairing is Brock Lamb and Jalen Feeney levels of ****. Can’t believe people on here wanted Flanagan as our coach.Agree, except that I'd say we have the second-worst rather than the worst halves pairing (Dragons with Flanagan and Ilias)
MontyBrogan
Jeff Doyle
You could have said, and most did, the same thing coming off the 2023 season. Our attack was looking super slick at the back end of the year, Hastings was going to be back healthy and an upgrade on Clune...
And then we were garbage for 3/4 of the year. My biggest worry for next season is that AOB has only shown the ability to coach a team that can score points when he has two in-form wingers capable of playing at the level of potential top try scorers. 2023 had Dom and Greg, 2024 got clicking when we had Sharpe and (fit) Greg. We shouldn't be so reliant on two relatively low value positions.
I hope the attack next season looks good, but the evidence to date of us being able to score points well is based on shaky foundations.
Very fair point. I think we found some of the form we had with the right attack in 2023 with Dom when Sharpe came into the lineup on the right wing. But that wasn't till very late into the season (Rd 22). It was very clear that Gags didn't trust Tuala, but when Sharpe came in that side was unlocked immediately. That's why i think we need Lucas on that left edge - he isn't the same player as Fitz, but has some of the same attributes that made our left edge with Fitz so good in 2023. Good line runner, capable offloader, better at punching holes. That and Best staying on the field. For whatever reason, we just didn't utilize KPP to our fullest and he was basically a decoy runner alot of the time. I just don't think he has the leg drive/speed to make him that damaging of a line runner.
alexwilliams
Anthony Quinn
I really hope Hastings can come good. I thought him and Gamble had a good combination going in 2023. Even before the big winning streak.
alexwilliams
Anthony Quinn
He might (hopefully) mature a bit more now that he's got a kid on the way
Celticman98
Trent Estatheo
Any thoughts on Cassius Tia as a potential long-term 7?
Looked very useful for the Bulldogs flegg side and the Bulldogs have plenty of young halfbacks in their system right now with Sexton, Tia, O'Neill, Woods and Conti.
Looked very useful for the Bulldogs flegg side and the Bulldogs have plenty of young halfbacks in their system right now with Sexton, Tia, O'Neill, Woods and Conti.
He'd be a good target for sure.
In our ranks, juniors wise we have Haami Loza surprising a few on how well he went in Flegg last year and now has a train and trial for 25 season.
An area Blair and Parr need to focus on is organising halves to be recruited in juniors from A.Johns to SG. we have a number of talented running 6's. So be interesting this year if likes of Kuda Hall and Lachlan Hails can step up as good 7's
Celticman98
Trent Estatheo
Now that Jonah has stayed with the Storm, who is everyone's new number 1 target for this position?
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Unfortunately Hastings is looking our best option with Cogger standing by if that doesn’t work out and if not we still have Hastings for 25 and Cogger for 26, hopefully one of our juniors develops quickly over the next two seasons
Brad tighe
Greg Hayward
I’d throw that contract at Tom Duffy from the cows has a lot of upside