Lod

[Guest]

Agree he went well. Wasn't happy with signing but last night showed signs he could provide some balance and grunt to our pack.

Not forgetting he missed most of his pre season with shoulder surgery and recovery.
He will only get better with match fitness...

[Darkone]

Love the LOD!!!

He PLOD's along, great as a front rower last night

Oppo's have long memories & respect the LOD

players were havin ago at SBW but NOT THE LOD!!

He's earnt his spot from the get go....

[Guest]

Not sure what you saw but he wasn't playing in the backrow.

But yes he was good.

I do not believe I said he was playing in the backrow last night. I believe I said he's light years ahead of the usual suspects we've "had" in the backrow over the years.

I shall elaborate for you R6. "I believe he's light years ahead of our backrowers from previous years and thus should be starting in our backrow"

Mack daddy style

8. The Midget
9. Friend/Morts
10. JWH
11. Cords
12. LOD
13. SBW

Bottom line though is with the way the game is nowadays, and the fitness of props, there's not a whole big difference between the backrow and front row positions (roving backrowers are one of the only differences compared to your hard yard big man in the middle of the pack). It's why Paul Gallen transitioned to the front row quite easily. LOD in my opinion is an 80 minute player. Start him in the backrow, move him over to the front row throughout the game to give our bigger blokes a rest.

[Guest]

I do not believe I said he was playing in the backrow last night. I believe I said he's light years ahead of the usual suspects we've "had" in the backrow over the years.

I shall elaborate for you R6. "I believe he's light years ahead of our backrowers from previous years and thus should be starting in our backrow"

Mack daddy style

8. The Midget
9. Friend/Morts
10. JWH
11. Cords
12. LOD
13. SBW

Bottom line though is with the way the game is nowadays, and the fitness of props, there's not a whole big difference between the backrow and front row positions (roving backrowers are one of the only differences compared to your hard yard big man in the middle of the pack). It's why Paul Gallen transitioned to the front row quite easily. LOD in my opinion is an 80 minute player. Start him in the backrow, move him over to the front row throughout the game to give our bigger blokes a rest.

Peptides should take the accolades for that transition...

[Guest]

Peptides should take the accolades for that transition...

And that too spanner

[Rooster_6]

I do not believe I said he was playing in the backrow last night. I believe I said he's light years ahead of the usual suspects we've "had" in the backrow over the years.

I shall elaborate for you R6. "I believe he's light years ahead of our backrowers from previous years and thus should be starting in our backrow"

Mack daddy style

8. The Midget
9. Friend/Morts
10. JWH
11. Cords
12. LOD
13. SBW

Bottom line though is with the way the game is nowadays, and the fitness of props, there's not a whole big difference between the backrow and front row positions (roving backrowers are one of the only differences compared to your hard yard big man in the middle of the pack). It's why Paul Gallen transitioned to the front row quite easily. LOD in my opinion is an 80 minute player. Start him in the backrow, move him over to the front row throughout the game to give our bigger blokes a rest.

LOD doesn't have the skills to play in the second row anymore, it's why he's played in the middle of the field for the past 2 years and a bit. There's a massive difference between playing on the fringes and playing in the middle. To play on the fringes you need to be able to run good overs/unders and at the least have passable ball playing skills, you also have to be far more mobile as a forward. As all players do LOD has declined in the back end of his career to the point where he's now exclusively a middle third player. He took his hitups well yesterday & was solid in defence but none of that suggests he's ready to play on the fringes so I'm not sure on what basis you have come to your conclusion.

Also surely the first two rounds were enough proof to put to bed the suggestions that SBW should play in the middle of the field as opposed to on the fringes. Having Sonny make 30+ tackles a game on big props is just a waste, last night he more than helped out with some relieving runs to give his props a break and punched through the line for one exceptional offload. On the fringes is where he's always played and there's a reason for that, it's quite obviously his best position.

[Guest]

I am fairly certain that a lot of rugby league fans have not caught up with the change in the lock forward position over the past decade. To play Sonny Bill Williams in the middle and Luke O'Donnell on the fringes is absolute madness.

[Guest]

LOD doesn't have the skills to play in the second row anymore, it's why he's played in the middle of the field for the past 2 years and a bit. There's a massive difference between playing on the fringes and playing in the middle. To play on the fringes you need to be able to run good overs/unders and at the least have passable ball playing skills, you also have to be far more mobile as a forward. As all players do LOD has declined in the back end of his career to the point where he's now exclusively a middle third player. He took his hitups well yesterday & was solid in defence but none of that suggests he's ready to play on the fringes so I'm not sure on what basis you have come to your conclusion.

Also surely the first two rounds were enough proof to put to bed the suggestions that SBW should play in the middle of the field as opposed to on the fringes. Having Sonny make 30+ tackles a game on big props is just a waste, last night he more than helped out with some relieving runs to give his props a break and punched through the line for one exceptional offload. On the fringes is where he's always played and there's a reason for that, it's quite obviously his best position.

Fully disagree. Have a look at our back row, we've got attacking pieces to play out wide in SBW and Cordner and then you can use Aubusson off the bench if needed (regardless of how inconsistent he can be).

What we need is a workhorse who'll give us consistent tackling and the ability to take the ball up. You claim that in order to play in the backrow (or on the fringes as you state), one must need to be able to run overs/unders and the very least be able to have ball playing skills. Have a look at the Storm's model over the last couple of years. They've always multiple backrowers that can do the above, ball play, hit good lines, ect ect. However? They've always, yes, ALWAYS had a worsehorse in the pack (Dallas Johnson, Todd Lowrie, list goes on). Look at our team this year. Sure, Cordner could be viewed as such, but I'd rather have Cords play as a roving backrower that has the ability to break the line and offload.

There is absolutely no point having Aubusson play lock when he himself isn't known to be a workhorse, I'll put my head down and take the ball up back rower. Aubo runs lines, he's an attacking back rower and nothing more. Would you want SBW going through 40 tackles and having him ineffective in attack? Same with Cords?

We need a bloke who'll hit the ball up, make tackles and do the dirty work without looking spectacular. LOD is the perfect mongrel to have next to JWH.

To say that in order to play in the backrow, you must be a good attacking, quick forward is ridiculous. Look at some of the blokes running around today that are at best, "workers". By your logic, players like Shaun Fensom, Todd Lowrie, Dallas Johnson, Corey Parker, David Stagg, Ashley Harrison are all ineffective backrowers and shouldn't really be classed as "backrowers" simply because they don't really run lines or have any ball playing skills. Hell, Gallen isn't really a ball player either, he's got a solid offload but he's not really known for ball playing ability. This is why a lot of teams play their attacking, ball playing backrowers off the bench. Dave Taylor, Mateo recently, the list goes on. Why? Because they are impact players. Every team needs a workhorse, someone that'll do the hard work. Nathan Hindmarsh made a living off being that guy for years, as did Alan Tongue. Both weren't really "line breaking, ball playing" backrowers.

I myself would rather have two attacking backrowers and a worsehose in my backrow then have a backrow filled with attacking/ball handling backrowers. And before you say that an attacking backrower should be able to get through a workload, wouldn't you rather your best attacking forward do less defensive work and be ready in attack?

For me, I'd rather see:

8. Moa (30-40 minutes, 15-20 tackles, 100+ metres)
9. Friend (50 minutes, 30 tackles)
10. JWH (50-60 minutes, 25-35 tackles, 100+ meters)
11. Cords (50-60 minutes, 20-30 tackles, 80-100 metres, possible line breaks, offloads)
12. LOD (70-80 minutes, 30-40 tackles, 100+ metres)
13. SBW (70-80 minutes, 25 tackles, 100 metres, line breaks, offloads, line break assists)

Then your bench you spread out. Kennedy comes in for Moa, LOD rotates over for JWH when he's off for a spell, bring Maubs in for Cords, Morts in for Friend, and Frank Paul at best, become a 20 minute player (impact, as that's all he's really good for nowadays).

[Guest]

I am fairly certain that a lot of rugby league fans have not caught up with the change in the lock forward position over the past decade. To play Sonny Bill Williams in the middle and Luke O'Donnell on the fringes is absolute madness.

Who said anything about playing Sonny Bill in the middle? please show me lol

Note, I never said anything about Sonny Bill Williams playing in the middle of the field, nor have I said that LOD should be on the fringe (which R6 insinuated).

LOD SHOULD be in the middle of the field, as a backrower/front row combination. A worsehorse. Have your other two second rowers out wide, and your work horse in the middle with the props.

[John Corey]

Very strong tonight in slippery conditions. JWH was outstanding and let from the front, but Moa wasn't far behind him. While we're on forwards, Cordner was really great and Maubs came close to forcing FPN to the bench.

I think Maubs should always come from the bench. It was a mistake to start him against south's. It meant our backrow was way too small against those giants. We need to meet size with size, ala warriors.

[stsae]

Fully disagree. Have a look at our back row, we've got attacking pieces to play out wide in SBW and Cordner and then you can use Aubusson off the bench if needed (regardless of how inconsistent he can be).

What we need is a workhorse who'll give us consistent tackling and the ability to take the ball up. You claim that in order to play in the backrow (or on the fringes as you state), one must need to be able to run overs/unders and the very least be able to have ball playing skills. Have a look at the Storm's model over the last couple of years. They've always multiple backrowers that can do the above, ball play, hit good lines, ect ect. However? They've always, yes, ALWAYS had a worsehorse in the pack (Dallas Johnson, Todd Lowrie, list goes on). Look at our team this year. Sure, Cordner could be viewed as such, but I'd rather have Cords play as a roving backrower that has the ability to break the line and offload.

There is absolutely no point having Aubusson play lock when he himself isn't known to be a workhorse, I'll put my head down and take the ball up back rower. Aubo runs lines, he's an attacking back rower and nothing more. Would you want SBW going through 40 tackles and having him ineffective in attack? Same with Cords?

We need a bloke who'll hit the ball up, make tackles and do the dirty work without looking spectacular. LOD is the perfect mongrel to have next to JWH.

To say that in order to play in the backrow, you must be a good attacking, quick forward is ridiculous. Look at some of the blokes running around today that are at best, "workers". By your logic, players like Shaun Fensom, Todd Lowrie, Dallas Johnson, Corey Parker, David Stagg, Ashley Harrison are all ineffective backrowers and shouldn't really be classed as "backrowers" simply because they don't really run lines or have any ball playing skills. Hell, Gallen isn't really a ball player either, he's got a solid offload but he's not really known for ball playing ability. This is why a lot of teams play their attacking, ball playing backrowers off the bench. Dave Taylor, Mateo recently, the list goes on. Why? Because they are impact players. Every team needs a workhorse, someone that'll do the hard work. Nathan Hindmarsh made a living off being that guy for years, as did Alan Tongue. Both weren't really "line breaking, ball playing" backrowers.

I myself would rather have two attacking backrowers and a worsehose in my backrow then have a backrow filled with attacking/ball handling backrowers. And before you say that an attacking backrower should be able to get through a workload, wouldn't you rather your best attacking forward do less defensive work and be ready in attack?

For me, I'd rather see:

8. Moa (30-40 minutes, 15-20 tackles, 100+ metres)
9. Friend (50 minutes, 30 tackles)
10. JWH (50-60 minutes, 25-35 tackles, 100+ meters)
11. Cords (50-60 minutes, 20-30 tackles, 80-100 metres, possible line breaks, offloads)
12. LOD (70-80 minutes, 30-40 tackles, 100+ metres)
13. SBW (70-80 minutes, 25 tackles, 100 metres, line breaks, offloads, line break assists)

Then your bench you spread out. Kennedy comes in for Moa, LOD rotates over for JWH when he's off for a spell, bring Maubs in for Cords, Morts in for Friend, and Frank Paul at best, become a 20 minute player (impact, as that's all he's really good for nowadays).

Interesting in relation to Melba mate.

They seem to play more an oldskool roving lock, Hinchcliffe ATM I believe, compared to most sides going with the Gallen style prop/lock who played in the middle.

Is there any reason Maubs couldn't fill a similar role for us??? He can play 80 every week, he tackles anything that moves, he has some great footwork, is a smart footballer, is a genuine utility and can put support players away.

IMO we need an 80 min back rower who is willing to do all the dirty work. It takes pressure off having to use Friend for 80 and let's our other back rowers play more an impact role, blokes like Guerra and Cordner and $BW. Of course they can play 80 when needed also. It also frees up pLOD, Tasi, FPN, MK, JWH and Moa to offer more Impact up front.

IMO Maubs is built for the role you were talking about maaaaaaaaaaate.

[Guest]

Interesting in relation to Melba mate.

They seem to play more an oldskool roving lock, Hinchcliffe ATM I believe, compared to most sides going with the Gallen style prop/lock who played in the middle.

Is there any reason Maubs couldn't fill a similar role for us??? He can play 80 every week, he tackles anything that moves, he has some great footwork, is a smart footballer, is a genuine utility and can put support players away.

IMO we need an 80 min back rower who is willing to do all the dirty work. It takes pressure off having to use Friend for 80 and let's our other back rowers play more an impact role, blokes like Guerra and Cordner and $BW. Of course they can play 80 when needed also. It also frees up pLOD, Tasi, FPN, MK, JWH and Moa to offer more Impact up front.

IMO Maubs is built for the role you were talking about maaaaaaaaaaate.

Maaaaaaaaaate I know you love Maubsy, but that's the exact issue I have with him. I just don't rate his work rate to where it should be at this stage in his career. He's played first grade long enough for me to form that opinion, I've never seen Maubs as a 30-40 tackle, 100 metre per game player. Don't get me wrong either, in my comparisons earlier I mentioned players like Fensom, Lowrie, Johnson ect. Those blokes don't run for many metres either, they are mostly tackling machines. That is why I think LOD is a step ahead of any backrower we've had here for the last couple of seasons (minus Myles when he was in the backrow). LOD has the ability to go for 30 plus tackles and 100 metres per game. Maubs? I question that. Maubs is better suited to the edge, outside his centre. He showed last night that his speed in the backrow is lovely especially scorng that try. He's always had good footwork and speed and I think that'd be better suited for us coming off the bench. Maubs is not one to defend in the middle of the field, and with two backrowers who we could utilize out wider in SBW/Cordner (both big boys), for me? I think LOD is better suited to being that workhorse backrower when both SBW/Cords are on the field.

[Guest]

Also you're right, Melb have a different backrow rotation this year. Hinchcliffe is definitely playing more wider, and I think when Procter comes back, he'll be the workhorse of that pack. However previous seasons they have always had a tackling machine in the middle of the field in either Johnson or Lowrie.

My point? You have 3 backrowers out there and in order to use your ball playing/line running second rowers, one must put both out wider next to your centres to isolate size difference (usually attacking an opposing teams smaller backs, or halves). We've got 3 blokes capable of doing that, SBW is proven, Cords could be a very nice roving backrower and Aubs obviously off the bench (though he's not really big enough to use as an isolating backrower). That is why I believe it's better to have those two out wide in attack (WIlliams/Cords), and LOD in the middle of the field as a working second rower.

[stsae]

I don't disagree mate, but I haven't seen Maubs used that way, like Hinchcliffe is, I'd like to see him used that way before I dismiss it as an option. I'd believe his defence in the middle would be fine, he's not as small as people think, if Friendly can defend in the middle Maubs can.

I like him on the right edge in attack. He cops heaps from people, not meaning you, at times for not playing in tight but the reason he played the way he does is he has never been used in tight. Cracks me up when I see people question that part of his game.

Maubs reminds me of a Melba special. If he ever left and played under Waynekerr, Bellyache, Desmond or Madge I reckon he'd be one of those blokes who leaves us and ends up hurting us every time we play against him. He'd also probably end up with a few GF rings before he retires even a rep jumper.

We can agree to disagree it's all good.

I'm just glad he's proven everyone wrong in our two outings so far. Pre season 95% of the wannabe Mack Daddy's had him playing for Pootown.

[Andrew Walker]

Moa was 2GB's man of the match.

He's really surprised the hell out of me so far.

Sam Moa is a real goer Loved his hit ups last night