Toohey's News

mozza said:
I still think Watson is the best 5/8 we have at the club and I expect he’ll be there permanently by the end of the season.
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I suspect you're right, but at this stage hope that's not how it plays out.

Watson epitomises the qualities and values the Knights were built on and I'm glad he's in out team. We're a stronger side with him in it.

Watson doesn't offer a slick passing game like Ponga and isn't a kicker so having him at 5/8 puts that pressure solely on Pearce.
Ball-in-hand though he's a real threat, I'd like to see him work on his short passing at the line to a support player running an angle.

Lino is a handy backup and his goal kicking is a real asset but he also lacks the X-factor. Need to see more of Crossland to get an idea of where he sits in the pecking order and whether the lives up to the expectations.

Unless someone in the squad has an outstanding season in that position I suspect that we'll be going hard after a top-shelf 5/8 for 2021.
 
From what I've seen of Lino and Mann, Lino has more skill at the 5/8 role.

I expect Mann will get first shot, but would be disappointed if O'Brien didn't give Lino a hot at it before moving Watson there.

Watson has outstanding value as a utility from the bench and we should be keeping him in that role if at all possible.
 
I think Mann showed enough at times to be given a decent crack. Only bonus to Lino is his goalkicking.
 
None of them are anything like a quality 5/8.
Premiership winning sides have great halves.
A fully fit Crossland is already as good as any of those guys and he's 19 years old with about 4 solid years of improvement in front of him hopefully, and Searle just needs to get his defence up to senior standard and he's as good as Lino or Mann.
 
I haven't seen enough of Crossland to say otherwise. Only game I saw last year he seemed to sit back and let Lino do everything except when he combined with Hoy for a try.

Keary's shown it's about technique, not size despite his head knocks. Crossland does seem to have a good physique, hopefully it holds him in good stead when he hits first grade.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if Lino takes that 5/8 spot at some time. I think he is more talented than Mann and has more experience than Crossland ..
Also Brailey will have to be at the top of his game to keep Watson out of the 9 jumper Watson looked good there last season and Brailey could go to 14 and Watson move to what ever injury we had if he needs too .
 
My take is the coach already has a very good idea of what his side looks like, as he should with only 4 weeks to Round 1.He hasn't spent the off-season talking up Mann for no reason.
And he intends to stick with that team. Probably helps he's not going to do dumb stuff like play Ponga at 5/8.
 
slotmachine said:
My take is the coach already has a very good idea of what his side looks like, as he should with only 4 weeks to Round 1.He hasn't spent the off-season talking up Mann for no reason.
And he intends to stick with that team. Probably helps he's not going to do dumb stuff like play Ponga at 5/8.
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Slots, I too am sure the coach knows who is side is at this point, however to be fair Lino has been in the injury group for most of the time the coach has been here.

It will take time to settle who is the best fit for this team and I think Lino will end up playing some time at 5/8 due to injury, fatigue or necessity, then we will all know for certain "whos who in the zoo".

Pre season efforts general count for little when the teams get down to it.
 
It looks like Lino survived that little storm where it was being rumoured he was on the outer. I'm glad he's sticking around, he'll get a proper chance to impress now that he's fit. He wouldn't have barely been able to show O'Brien anything so far, hence Mann getting the jump. If Mann can defend alright, I will be happy to see how he develops though. He was honestly okay when at five-eighth, chimed in occasionally with some kicks & linking passes. He finished the year getting smashed out in the centres & wing which sort of muddied over any of his efforts earlier in the year.
 
Lino is our only halfback, apart from Pearce, who has shown he can lead a side to a win.
We have plenty of options at 5/8, even if they aren't going to play SOO anytime soon, but Lino is the only guy who might jag us a win if Pearce is out for any reason.
I thought he should have played halfback all last year in reserves, because that is his natural position and the only position he is really firstgrade standard.
 
Imo one of our main problems last year was that the 5/8 was changed almost every game.
I hope Obrien picks one and sticks for a decent amount of time.
 
Problem with Lino is at times, his defense looked atrocious and he let in multiple tries. If he fixes that over the course of the off-season (which I am sure O'Brien will teach him) I'm sure he can be afforded an extension but he could probably start in Super League in my opinion too.
 
That was in jest :giggle:. For mine make the eight this year, improve in 2021 to make the top four and from there onwards and upwards.
 
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