tell me

[milanja]

Given that nobody has named a worse 9 yet, do we assume there isn’t one? Surely parra or tigers must have worse.

[PeeGee]

Given that nobody has named a worse 9 yet, do we assume there isn’t one? Surely parra or tigers must have worse.

Can we scan the reserve grade teams ,, maybe then ...

[eddie]

I've been concerned about Jake's attacking game for a while now.
Cronk needs better service or we are gonna waste him.

[RoosterRooster]

My wife said he looks like a garden gnome.
Definitely plays like one.

[Easts75]

With this team all we need is a 9 who can fire a fast pass from the ground to the first receiver. Find the 6 or 7 on the last tackle and occasionally scoot when required. Friend can do none of these. It's past a joke that TR has not recognised this and try to use him in a different manner. Some will argue about rotation etc with the bench but coaches these days are like robots with their use of the bench. Until TR figures out Friend is a slug and perhaps only 50min a game from him might benefit the team Friend will continue to serve up this crap

[Weigold]

Friend acknowledged in the pre season that his attacking form had been down in the last couple of years. He said he had been working with Jason Taylor to improve it. Sadly his attacking form has not improved and won't while making 50 odd tackles a game. Seriously he is gassed after 20 minutes each week. Needs to get fitter/faster, tackle less and run more. Isaac Luke schooled him last night on how to upset the opposition defensive patterns.

[eddie]

I see Friend at newcastle.
Then reality rears its ugly head again.

[Vasco]

Here's hoping Friend follows the same path as Pearce.

Question is, who is the marquee out there that could replace him?

[The Axe]

Most selfish player at easts since Bwaiff anasta.

simply wont come off.

who will join me on the roof of the sfs next game as Co sniper?

[Easts75]

Watch the try Pearce set up against the Dragons today with an inside ball. That gap was created by the long bullet pass from Slade Griffin which didn't allow the inside boys to get there in defense. I just would love a 9 that provides fast crisp service, doesn't have to be a marquee player....**** me the Sharks 9 goes better than Friend and he'd be lucky to be on 200k

[theGman]

Gman why would they want Friend?

Only because Jake is from up that way @ the Gold Coast. Maybe some other mob might take him?

[eddie]

. Maybe some other mob might take him?

What about Rip Taylors mob ?

[Yak]

Watch the try Pearce set up against the Dragons today with an inside ball. That gap was created by the long bullet pass from Slade Griffin which didn't allow the inside boys to get there in defense. I just would love a 9 that provides fast crisp service, doesn't have to be a marquee player....**** me the Sharks 9 goes better than Friend and he'd be lucky to be on 200k

That try was created by some incredibly poor defence from the A defender and marker. The had plenty of time to get across they just switched off and didn’t tie in at all. James Graham puts good pressure on Pearce from the inside and would expect the inside trail to be covered by the A defender. Whoever that was will get an absolute rocket up him in video this week.

In saying that Griffin does give good service. But it isn’t actually very fast. He passes in two movements and it takes a fraction of a second longer than most dummy halfs off the ground. But he does have create accuracy and shape.

And just on Friend’s defence, anyone who thinks his defence isn’t exceptional is off their head. His tackle efficiency is at 98% for the year. That is the best for a hooker along with McInnes and McCullough and Friend leads the comp for total tackles. So whinge about his running game (and even passing at a pinch) but why would you try and strengthen your argument by having a go at his defence. Grass is definitely greener in the mind on that one cos you won’t find better no matter who you replace him with.

[eddie]

And just on Friend’s defence, anyone who thinks his defence isn’t exceptional is off their head. His tackle efficiency is at 98% for the year. That is the best for a hooker along with McInnes and McCullough and Friend leads the comp for total tackles. So whinge about his running game (and even passing at a pinch) but why would you try and strengthen your argument by having a go at his defence. Grass is definitely greener in the mind on that one cos you won’t find better no matter who you replace him with.

Friends defence is great, bloody oath.
But does it make up for what he is costing us in attack?, which seems to be getting worse.
I'd at least try relieving him of the captaincy, see if that helps.

[rented tracksuit]

Isn’t it always said that defence wins games?