Billy Smith a blinder

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Billy needs to rewatch the Raiders game and stop chasing long kicks on his own, or at least not commit himself until the defensive line arrives. Other than that, i agree that he has improved defensively.

I still reckon Billy will be shifted to the wing when Tupou retires. Marky is a class above him.

No, Billy would be a bit wasted on the wing. Mark is progressing really well but is still learning the trade.

[Vasco]

His defensive reads are his biggest strenght. In saying that it would be great to see him get good ball.

[Rooster90]

Billy Smith is an elite centre, he is what Souths want Campbell Graham to be
He just needs to play NRL consistently to prove this.

[Bates]

Billy also has a lovely swerve and great balance at speed.

I'd definitely sponsor him if I owned Ray Ban Sunglasses.

The Gold Aviators would look awesome on him

[Rooster_6]

Will be interesting to see what side Walker plays when he gets back. His NSW Cup game suggested he would be left edge which makes sense with Savala as the primary kicker.

I just think he and Sandon have been unable to build much of a combination.

I expect Walker or Savala will free him up more in the same way that Savala has freed up Toia and that right edge.

[caz]

Billy needs to watch the Raiders game and stop chasing long kicks on his own, or at least not commit himself until the defensive line arrives. Other than that, i agree that he has improved defensively.

I still reckon Billy will be shifted to the wing when Tupou retires. Marky is a class above him.

i think there's was a game where we had a bloke in the bin and he went one out chasing a bomb and the result was the other team scoring. on the other hand he's won two contests, one of which resulted in a try v broncos. needs to choose his moments.

robbo said he sees him as a centre but i've always thought he'd go well on the wing. good in the air, good defender, big and strong enough to take tough carries. and yeah, marky is more creative

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

No, Billy would be a bit wasted on the wing. Mark is progressing really well but is still learning the trade.

Agreed. Billy would be wasted on the wing. He is a left centre, and they are hard to find. And Marky is settled on the the right side now, and Billy is out and out left side. Yet old mate dice suggests Billy will move to left wing, to let Marky transfer from the right side, to the left.

I'm not sure dice even understands there are different sides of the field.

[dice]

i think there's was a game where we had a bloke in the bin and he went one out chasing a bomb and the result was the other team scoring. on the other hand he's won two contests, one of which resulted in a try v broncos. needs to choose his moments.

robbo said he sees him as a centre but i've always thought he'd go well on the wing. good in the air, good defender, big and strong enough to take tough carries. and yeah, marky is more creative

Marky has an impressive in-and-away for his size. He did it again on the weekend. It reminded me of Mark Gasnier making players look foolish.

[dice]

Agreed. Billy would be wasted on the wing. He is a left centre, and they are hard to find. And Marky is settled on the the right side now, and Billy is out and out left side. Yet old mate dice suggests Billy will move to left wing, to let Marky transfer from the right side, to the left.

I'm not sure dice even understands there are different sides of the field.

Spend five minutes watching this and learn something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd4M8N6o4rc

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Spend five minutes watching this and learn something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd4M8N6o4rc

dice you have no idea mate.

[Inflictor]

dice you have no idea mate.

So TOK are you saying Mark can't play on the left? He seems to be ambidextrous. The guy is a freak wherever he plays. Left, right, centre, wing.

Billy is a left centre and doing it very well. But I think Marky will eventually play centre. He needs to be closer to the ball with his skills and he will get better and probably wasted on the wing. Attacking wise Marky is a much better option. Defensively Billy is on top atm.
Big decision on who replaces Toups. Not convinced it will be Rodwell but he's probably the heir from within atm. But wouldn't be surprised if we shop around for 2027. But I also see the merit of having Marky at centre and Billy next to him on the wing. Two big bodies and would be a great defensive left side. It looks a great pairing. Will it happen? I wouldn't discount it completely once Toups retires.

[Rooster_6]

I don't see the rush in pushing Nawaqanitawase into the centres, he'll learn plenty over the next couple of seasons on the wing.

But I agree with you inflictor there is nothing about Nawaqanitawase's game that makes me think he should be locked into one side of the field, he's just a natural footy player and I think he'd thrive no matter what side of the field he's on. I'm kind of hoping we will get a chance to see him at fullback sometime this year (Maybe if Teddy gets a rest) just to watch the absolute chaos and carnage he would cause back there.

[Inflictor]

I don't see the rush in pushing Nawaqanitawase into the centres, he'll learn plenty over the next couple of seasons on the wing.

But I agree with you inflictor there is nothing about Nawaqanitawase's game that makes me think he should be locked into one side of the field, he's just a natural footy player and I think he'd thrive no matter what side of the field he's on. I'm kind of hoping we will get a chance to see him at fullback sometime this year (Maybe if Teddy gets a rest) just to watch the absolute chaos and carnage he would cause back there.

Agree. I was talking more once Toups retires. I would never replace Toups. We have the best 1 to 5 in the comp imo so you wouldn't change that now. But in a couple years Marky could be one of the top 2 or 3 centres in the comp. And I can see a great pairing in a Marky/Billy on the left side should he hopefully extend which has all gone quiet.
Attacking wise at fullback he would no doubt smash. Doing what Teddy does in defence and setting our defensive line well that's a different story.

[The Lip]

Agree. I was talking more once Toups retires. I would never replace Toups. We have the best 1 to 5 in the comp imo so you wouldn't change that now. But in a couple years Marky could be one of the top 2 or 3 centres in the comp. And I can see a great pairing in a Marky/Billy on the left side should he hopefully extend which has all gone quiet.
Attacking wise at fullback he would no doubt smash. Doing what Teddy does in defence and setting our defensive line well that's a different story.

I’m worried Marky Mark will go back to rugby for the 2027 World Cup hosted in Australia - you know they will throw plenty of cash at him to do so.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

So TOK are you saying Mark can't play on the left? He seems to be ambidextrous. The guy is a freak wherever he plays. Left, right, centre, wing.

Billy is a left centre and doing it very well. But I think Marky will eventually play centre. He needs to be closer to the ball with his skills and he will get better and probably wasted on the wing. Attacking wise Marky is a much better option. Defensively Billy is on top atm.
Big decision on who replaces Toups. Not convinced it will be Rodwell but he's probably the heir from within atm. But wouldn't be surprised if we shop around for 2027. But I also see the merit of having Marky at centre and Billy next to him on the wing. Two big bodies and would be a great defensive left side. It looks a great pairing. Will it happen? I wouldn't discount it completely once Toups retires.

No, just that Marky is clearly more at home on the right. He's doing just fine on the right wing, and is in the process of learning the game, so just leave him there. The lovely in and away he has as an example, only works on the right. So move him to the left, and that's gone. And Billy is stringing some games together and looking better every week at left centre. So leave him there.