Big Bad BJ!!!!!!!

[melon....]

I think what they are saying is that if Origin was selected purely on city v country, then BJ would get picked. Which would be true imo

however, obviously it isn't and the reality is that one game doesn't choose a player. What it shows though is that we clearly aren't giving BJ enough quality ball..................

You wont see quality ball unless Anasta pisses off and Pearce plays under another coach who includes the plays to provide quality ball.

[stsae]

I've been critical of BJ. Then I thought about it and thought I'd wait to see how he'd operate with someone to feed him quality ball. After all he is only a baby and hasn't had much inside him since his debut.

Then he gets picked for City which I thought was very lucky, more due to lack of options than anything.

But with some quality early pill, thanks largely to Pearce, the kid looked like he belongs in that company, the step above club footy. His defense was very strong, he makes quick decisions and usually the right decisions, unlike his centre partner SKiDmark.

Not ready for Origin as yet IMO but as MsTee said on that games form he should be 1st picked.

Also maybe his performance will stop the constant calls for him to move to the back row. I reckon he could handle the back row but like Maubs I dont believe it Would affect his play much and it still may come later in his career. IMO back rowers and centers in the most part can be interchangeable these days. Most play similar roles, Maubs and BJ and Gurrera and Cordner prove this in our side.

Very good to see a kid re-sign for us and in the same week have a rep debut and play a blinder. Let's hope he replicates it this week, maybe if Pearce drifts both sides of the ruck, or if Mortein plays.

[redwhiteblue]

Next thread..

Cordner and Guerra named in Ricky Stuart's NSW backrow...

Guerra's a Queenslander.

[Pass the Ball]

IMO back rowers and centers in the most part can be interchangeable these days. Most play similar roles, Maubs and BJ and Gurrera and Cordner prove this in our side.

This is true only to a point.

The best centres (Inglis/Hodges) are not back rowers..

The best backrowers are not centres either IMO..

[stsae]

This is true only to a point.

The best centres (Inglis/Hodges) are not back rowers..

The best backrowers are not centres either IMO..

Agreed PTB, SKiDmark could never handle the back row either and he's our best centre.

Still blokes like Mannering, Maubs, the Wankos boys can play that role. I think a lot of teams use at least one back rower as an extra centre these days, almost like the old inside centre position. It works a treat with Maubs and who better to stick out in the 3/4s if needed thru injury.

IMO BJ is that type of centre, he will never be a FatHodgo or Inglis or SKiDmark.

Remember the old days when you had a big powerful winger and a smaller nippier winger to compliment him??? Centre seems to be like that now for most teams, a traditional outside back centre type and a wider running back rower with a good offload type.

IMO The Wankos back row are the standard for this style of set up.

[Pass the Ball]

Yep - Most of the Broncos could fill in at any position...Obviously with a few exceptions..

Gould made the comment a few weeks ago which I agree with, that Brisbane all have a similar body shape and strength..

[Bansai Pipeline]

I've been critical of BJ. Then I thought about it and thought I'd wait to see how he'd operate with someone to feed him quality ball. After all he is only a baby and hasn't had much inside him since his debut.

Then he gets picked for City which I thought was very lucky, more due to lack of options than anything.

But with some quality early pill, thanks largely to Pearce, the kid looked like he belongs in that company, the step above club footy. His defense was very strong, he makes quick decisions and usually the right decisions, unlike his centre partner SKiDmark.

Not ready for Origin as yet IMO but as MsTee said on that games form he should be 1st picked.

Also maybe his performance will stop the constant calls for him to move to the back row. I reckon he could handle the back row but like Maubs I dont believe it Would affect his play much and it still may come later in his career. IMO back rowers and centers in the most part can be interchangeable these days. Most play similar roles, Maubs and BJ and Gurrera and Cordner prove this in our side.

Very good to see a kid re-sign for us and in the same week have a rep debut and play a blinder. Let's hope he replicates it this week, maybe if Pearce drifts both sides of the ruck, or if Mortein plays.

I've always had tickets on him, but he's been a huge let down thus far.

I'd be happier than most to see him pull it all together.

I'm tired of him dropping balls and being out paced.

He played well for City though.

Better than he's ever played for Easts.

Not sure if I buy that it's Anasta's fault. It's not like the 5/8's the only way a centre gets their hand on the ball these days.

[player 1]

You wont see quality ball unless Anasta pisses off and Pearce plays under another coach who includes the plays to provide quality ball.

Melon, I respect your opinion, you have made some epic posts over the years.

I agree Anasta is past it, he is offering very little these days. His days at least are numbered. As for Smith, I will qualify what I am about to say with the following:

Whatever it takes to be a premiership winning coach, and Brian's failure to do so in his career has constantly been brought up, in my opinion he did enough in 2010 (with the players at his disposal) to earn that honour. That was the most disgraceful stitch up in GF history. I don't think St Merge actually posted a legitimate try until about the 60th minute, while we had an immaculately legal try disallowed that would have put us ahead 14-6 with conversion (or 14-0, had the Morris foot in row 8 try been pulled up).

So it is very harsh, with all the bad breaks he has had (Joey Johns putting on 18 points in 15 minutes in the Parra-Knights 2001 GF - that team was the best all year), to simply dismiss him as a dismal loser. The guy is better than that.

However, assuming he too is past it as you suggest now, who would you have as coach next year who is available?

BTW, if everyone's wet dream came true and we got Bellamy, do you really think that we (Easts), under his coaching, would get away with one fifth of the strangling, wrestling, ankle-twisting spoiling tactics to slow the ruck that he gets away with at Storm Ltd?

[stsae]

I've always had tickets on him, but he's been a huge let down thus far.

I'd be happier than most to see him pull it all together.

I'm tired of him dropping balls and being out paced.

He played well for City though.

Better than he's ever played for Easts.

Not sure if I buy that it's Anasta's fault. It's not like the 5/8's the only way a centre gets their hand on the ball these days.

I don't disagree Pipe.

But the way we operate Pearce seems to play pretty exclusively to the right side, to Maubs, SKiD and Pezzdispenser. And that's our strongest side in attack.

Maybe we just favor that side more meaning BJ gets less opportunities and when he gets ball he over plays his hand a bit, trying too hard to impress???

I'm not making excuses for the kid, and remember his still just that, I have been as critical as you have. I called him Sa MK2. I'm just trying to look for a reason as to why he could look so good in that City game. And TBH Bwaiff is all I can come up with. Mini also, he's not a ballplayer and we don't benefit from having a variety of attacking options like a lot of other sides do.

I'm just gonna wait for next season to properly judge BJ. And hope Pearce is given licence in the mean time to go to the left more to hook up with BJ, hopefully Smiff saw what we all saw on Sunday.

BJ always showed good potential on the wing for a kid who was always destin to move in closer at some stage. Smiffs major strength is the way he brings kids thru, I'm gonna trust he knows what's happening here with BJ.

Like the whole team, sadly we are in a holding pattern till Bwaiff goes and Baloney arrives IMO. Would've been nice to see BJ in the centers with Carntey feeding him some pill.

Not perfect but its our lot.