Hutchison and Keary to start next year - Soward

[night_shadow]

On NRL.com, Jamie Soward expects Drew Hutchison and Keary to start in the halves next year.

He said that Walker still has a lot to work on with his game.

What are people's thoughts here?

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/22/...card-roosters/

[Mickie Lane]

Thats his opinion, he might be right he might be wrong.

[Rooster1908]

Actually think hes right . A big bodied Hutch would suit Luke game . He takes the line on and would take the pressure of Luke. Sam needs at least another year to build up size and learn to tackle to NRL standards.Hutch was awesome for us this year and expect he may Keep Sam on the bench or in reserves for at least the start of 22

[King Salvo]

Will Keary be ready round 1 though - Injured in round 3 this season

[Davo]

I would play Watson at 6 before Hutch. Quick, can draw and pass but importantly can heads up. Hutch was a great stop gap but he’s to slow in the halves.

[Steakface]

Someone during the season labelled Hutch "Anasta 2.0" and i'm inclined to agree.

Can do the fundamentals of half work well, but always looks like he is in quicksand.

Although Hutch is not a bad choice per se, the potential of the side won't become fully unlocked until Hutch is no longer behind one of the steering wheels.

Is it possible Hutch could evolve into a ball playing second rower. I personally think he has the potential to do well there.

Lam is a tough one. I've been barracking for him and supporting him and hoping he comes good. I've now resigned myself to the fact that I don't think he will. Not a bad player . . . just not good enough to be doing the job he is doing.

[ism22]

On NRL.com, Jamie Soward expects Drew Hutchison and Keary to start in the halves next year.

He said that Walker still has a lot to work on with his game.

What are people's thoughts here?

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/22/...card-roosters/

My interpretation is that he's saying...
- Walker is the future, there's no doubt about that. Also we'll win another premiership within 3 years (with a fully developed Walker in the halves).
- BUT... he's still very small and has errors in his game that (in his view as a pro analyst), aren't 1st grade errors.
- For now Hutcho's gonna start because he's a lot bigger and is currently the more developed player.

Who knows? For all we know he's been carrying a shoulder injury (hence reduced minutes), that'll be fine next year, he'll put on ~10kg during the offseason and people will stop bagging his defence.

IMO we've just gotta wait and see. I think Walker's our long-term half (whereas Hutcho / Lam / Watson are not). I hope he's ready sooner rather than later but do think he deserves the time to get his injury right, do some proper strength training (so that it doesn't injure him or make him imbalanced) and ease into his game. If that means Hutcho (who's been playing some great footy) will start in round 1 then so be it.

[QWERTY]

On NRL.com, Jamie Soward expects Drew Hutchison and Keary to start in the halves next year.

He said that Walker still has a lot to work on with his game.

What are people's thoughts here?

https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/22/...card-roosters/

He’s right
No doubt Walker will be massive in the future for us, but he’s 19 (20 next year) and at the back end of this season it showed.
With Watson returning to the club and Lam around as well it will be very interesting to see what Robbo does next year

[QWERTY]

Someone during the season labelled Hutch "Anasta 2.0" and i'm inclined to agree.

Can do the fundamentals of half work well, but always looks like he is in quicksand.

Although Hutch is not a bad choice per se, the potential of the side won't become fully unlocked until Hutch is no longer behind one of the steering wheels.

Is it possible Hutch could evolve into a ball playing second rower. I personally think he has the potential to do well there.

Lam is a tough one. I've been barracking for him and supporting him and hoping he comes good. I've now resigned myself to the fact that I don't think he will. Not a bad player . . . just not good enough to be doing the job he is doing.

With Keary back Hutch will probably be better

[Easts75]

With (if) a fully fit squad fark it's hard to get excited about Hutch actually being a first choice half

[night_shadow]

My interpretation is that he's saying...
- Walker is the future, there's no doubt about that. Also we'll win another premiership within 3 years (with a fully developed Walker in the halves).
- BUT... he's still very small and has errors in his game that (in his view as a pro analyst), aren't 1st grade errors.
- For now Hutcho's gonna start because he's a lot bigger and is currently the more developed player.

Who knows? For all we know he's been carrying a shoulder injury (hence reduced minutes), that'll be fine next year, he'll put on ~10kg during the offseason and people will stop bagging his defence.

IMO we've just gotta wait and see. I think Walker's our long-term half (whereas Hutcho / Lam / Watson are not). I hope he's ready sooner rather than later but do think he deserves the time to get his injury right, do some proper strength training (so that it doesn't injure him or make him imbalanced) and ease into his game. If that means Hutcho (who's been playing some great footy) will start in round 1 then so be it.

I actually think he's quite a good low tackler. His defence improved throughout the year.

[Tommy Smith]

I think Hutch is quite clearly well ahead of Walker in Robbo's pecking order atm.

He's much bigger and stronger defensively.

[Rooster1908]

I would play Watson at 6 before Hutch. Quick, can draw and pass but importantly can heads up. Hutch was a great stop gap but he’s to slow in the halves.

Different game these days I know but Freddy was a slug and went alright

[Johnny Tobin]

It's not impossible. We will have to wait and see. Anyway, TIT.

[milanja]

If walker ain’t playing regular first grade next year, I expect the new qld franchise will be very happy to sign him up in November 2022.