Brandon Smith signs with the Roosters to play Hooker

[zac]

if walker plays at 7 it doesn't mean he's a better player than keary. time will tell how they play together but it doesn't matter what numbers they have on their back

[Thirteen]

Hutchinson over walker lol
Hutchinson had game time before 2021 an as the season went on walker was looking better, full preseason ahead an full team on the paddock Hutchinson will be the new lam looking elsewhere for a permanent roll! Walker is the future and keary is the leader

Robbo wasn’t laughing our loud when he picked Hutch ahead of Walker late in the season.

[Thirteen]

Not sure a player can dictate where they will play - be times where he could play at prop , backrow or lock though depending on the game, bench, injuries and suspensions etc.

Of course Mate. But Smith has openly commented that he wants to play nine. I’m sure in his negotiations this was made clear but I’m sure he also realises that he will need to adapt to the teams needs.

[Bondicigar]

Robbo wasn’t laughing our loud when he picked Hutch ahead of Walker late in the season.

I think once robbo felt the mountain had become to high to climb he chose to preserve Walker rather then risk serious injury and knock his confidence around..

[Mark Harris]

I think Robbo picked Hutch because we needed our best kicker in the team. 2021 teams with the best kickers finished the best - Cleary, Reynolds, Moses, Cherry-Evans.....We lost our best (Keary) early and never really recovered. The news rules seemed to favour teams with the better kickers. I reckon Sam will be working on his kicking more than anything over the summer.

[OMR]

I think Robbo picked Hutch because we needed our best kicker in the team. 2021 teams with the best kickers finished the best - Cleary, Reynolds, Moses, Cherry-Evans.....We lost our best (Keary) early and never really recovered. The news rules seemed to favour teams with the better kickers. I reckon Sam will be working on his kicking more than anything over the summer.

That’s something Cronk has mentioned regularly, and I hope he’s been working with Walker on that aspect of his game.

[ism22]

if walker plays at 7 it doesn't mean he's a better player than keary. time will tell how they play together but it doesn't matter what numbers they have on their back

After what Robbo said about Keary essentially being expected to replace Cronk, I think it would be viewed as a demotion.

Not saying I agree that HB is the 'boss half', but IMO that was Robbo's 2021 messaging and he made a big deal about it before Keary's injury.

Side note, I think Joey's the one who made a big deal outta 'the HB [owning] the result' because in all his teams, the result centred around Joey Johns having a cracker. Aside from that, I think 6/7 are just numbers and it was a pretty self-centred comment that came back to bite every NSW halfback ever since (pretty much), when it's not really their fault our team s*cked compared with a valid golden generation of QLD immortals (I mean #9 arguably owned the results... the one wearing a maroon jersey).

IMO the truth in the matter is that Johns' #7 was more like Jordan's #23 than anything (although basketball numbers are even more meaningless than 6's and 7's). Joey always took it as a talisman and it meant 'Johns is here' rather than 'all #7's take the lead role and own results like an immortal'.

As for his remark, I find it comparable to John Howard's classic 'THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN' remark. A lot of people were reminding him that the people had spoken when he lost his seat). IMO such remarks are best avoided (and forgotten - as they are pretty meaningless).

[Johnny Brass]

That’s something Cronk has mentioned regularly, and I hope he’s been working with Walker on that aspect of his game.

Walker doesn't seem to be going to have a very long kick on him but he has an uncanny knack for short kicks in finding space a bit similar to Alfie Langer.
Both Keary and Walker will be terrific together in attack but defensively they will be targets and long kicking game won't be a strong point.

[Snapn1]

Robbo wasn’t laughing our loud when he picked Hutch ahead of Walker late in the season.

Only due to injury of the shoulder not his ability to play half! Walker is just better

[Seventy Five]

Walker doesn't seem to be going to have a very long kick on him but he has an uncanny knack for short kicks in finding space a bit similar to Alfie Langer.
Both Keary and Walker will be terrific together in attack but defensively they will be targets and long kicking game won't be a strong point.

Agree, kicking in general play might be a chink in our armour again, especially against the better teams.. Our forwards have been great at countering poor field position with great go forward, similarly Toops and Teddy have been incredible at establishing early momentum when bringing it out of our own end.

Unfortunately our defence no longer allows us to play off the back foot for prolonged periods of time like it once did and compounded the effects of not having a long kicker last season. Not sure if Sammy V has any sort of kicking game but its something I would like to see him work on. Same goes for the Cheese who can also kick a bit (kicked the first 20/40 last season, just needs to develop it a bit more.

Massive advantage having an eyes up dummy half who can kick especially when your other kickers aren't particularly long.

[ChookMaster]

Agree, kicking in general play might be a chink in our armour again, especially against the better teams.. Our forwards have been great at countering poor field position with great go forward, similarly Toops and Teddy have been incredible at establishing early momentum when bringing it out of our own end.

Unfortunately our defence no longer allows us to play off the back foot for prolonged periods of time like it once did and compounded the effects of not having a long kicker last season. Not sure if Sammy V has any sort of kicking game but its something I would like to see him work on. Same goes for the Cheese who can also kick a bit (kicked the first 20/40 last season, just needs to develop it a bit more.

Massive advantage having an eyes up dummy half who can kick especially when your other kickers aren't particularly long.

Agree.

We haven’t had a good kicking hooker since forever almost it seems

[King Salvo]

Agree.

We haven’t had a good kicking hooker since forever almost it seems

I don't think Robbo likes a running or kicking dummy half. Friend was very much under utilised in these two areas and one has to wonder how Smith will be used as a dummy half. Will he have to pass the ball only to either of the halves or be allowed to run and or kick the ball at times?.

[King Salvo]

Walker doesn't seem to be going to have a very long kick on him but he has an uncanny knack for short kicks in finding space a bit similar to Alfie Langer.
Both Keary and Walker will be terrific together in attack but defensively they will be targets and long kicking game won't be a strong point.

Neither Walker nor Keary have long kicking games one has to say which is an issue - Keary has been the second kicker mostly and in 2021 Walker as well. Players can add yardage to their kicking games - improving your leg speed is the key by a range of different exercises ( resistance training/short sprints/improving flexibility and stretching etc).

The Chooks used to employ Ex Sydney Swans players in kicking roles- not sure if they still do.

I know Cleary went down to Melbourne in a recent pre-season (2020 ) and had kicking improvement sessions with a few of the Mighty Richmond AFL players and improved his kicking game quite significantly since he became the main kicker.

2021 Cleary's Average kicking metres per game - 548.50 and 2020 - 494.80 metres

Against fast moving defences you may also need to kick early and long to turn their players around especially their forwards.

Your defence also need to be on the same page as a few tackles can be wasted before the opposition forwards get back on side to participate in hitting the ball up.

Also opposition wingers and fullbacks may also drop back anticipating and early kick and you can run the ball creating overlaps as a result of one less defender.


Average kicking metres per game for Chooks 2013-2021

2021 -Walker - 117.5 metres - Hutch's - 279 metres

2020 -Keary -177.2 metres- Flanagan - 257.7 metres

2019 - Cronk - 308.4 metres- Keary - 238 metres

2018 - Cronk - 345.7 Metres - Keary - 107.10

2017- Pearce - 357.2 Metres - Keary - 100.9 Metres

2016 - Pearce - 344.3 Metres - assorted kickers but none listed

2015 -Pearce - 256.8 Metres - Maloney - 178.4 metres

2014 -Pearce - 259.8 metres - Maloney - 186.6 metres

2013 - Pearce - 290 metres - Maloney - 229.8 metres

[The Brain]

Once upon a time Cronk couldn't kick a ball for shit...just saying will be part of Walkers development.. for him its about developing the power.

[mattyh]

pearcey had a good long kick.