Long time reader and first time blogger
In the 11 years now ive followed parramatta day in and day out, only once in those 11 years we have allowed a junior/ reserve grader to don the number 7 role on their debut game, when Jeremy Smith and Marcus Perenara (Remember them?) played for parramatta back in 2006. In fact the last time someone debuted as the half was daniel mortimer when he played the number 6 role back in 2009.
Im also guessing that we have the debuted the lowest number of halves out of any team in the comp in that time period
Its an amazing stat considering the number of makeshift duds we've paid a good chunk of the salary cap on for our creativity in the field (foran, kelly, roberts and sandow to name a few) and the number of halves we've let go without a game of first grade under their belt, that have gone on to do great things like Maloney and Hodkinson
Me personally, the stat says alot about Parra and our fear of not taking massive risks.
Although debuting a half is big risk it comes with great rewards Ryley Jacks has been killing it for melbourne while Martin, Clearly, Elgey and Taylor have quickly established themselves as bright halves in the NRL.
Fogarty and Dargan may not be at a top tier level to see them make their debut soon but personally id love to see them get a run and maybe shock a few unplanned opponents
But history surely wont repeat itself, will it??
Replies
But in the years since we haven'theld on to the right playersfor every kris keating Dan Mortimer weve kept we've lost a james maloney trent hodkinson.
I still have faith in Gutho but wpuld be open to trying a rookie if needed
It's the risk vs reward scenario. I personally believe there was more reward than risk to starting Dargan at half but I'm not the coach. That's his job.....but if it backfires (and it did) expect heckling from mugs like me.
Davis is back playing for Wenty Fat, and how far do you want to go back Tafoua and Tupou a decade?
You can name any club and ill tell you the stars they let go
Dragons - Jack Bird
Manly - Hargraves
Tigers - Austin
Bulldogs - Thurston ect ect ect
I'm not sure our halves have been that bad. Norman is in the top 3 or 4 halves in the comp and Gutho has been close to our best player.
I can't see any changes without injury. Maybe Fog or Dargan could come onto the bench and give Prichard a break at hooker, but then again their defence is probably not up to defending in the middle.
Personally I'd like to see Nelson get a crack at hooker. Some say he isn't in the top 25, but who takes the spot vacated by De-Gois.
Hi mate, welcome aboard, Fog aint 1st grade level, he would be the worst half in the comp if he came in, and Dargan aint ready.
I love risks but thats not a risk, that would be a stop gap measure, neither have the ability to grab the spot long term.
Weve always struggled with halves, talent identification has been poor in the past but most guys we let go never make it afterwards.
Thanks Mate,
Debuting a half is definately not for a long term option for parramatta, we arent the knights where we immediately need a young gun to change the course of our team. I do think however from what the last couple weeks have taught us is that debuting a half in periods like this where norman has been injured early in the season is a low risk option for just one or two games. I actually wrote this blog because i had been disappointed with how Norman played on the weekend, it was clear to me that norman was definitely still injured and needed another week off as his performance was extremely limited in the flair we know he is capable of. Debuting fogarty or dargan against cronulla would of been a pretty decisive option IMO, they wouldnt of planned during the week to see a unknown in the halves and it could of added the extra spark we lacked throughout the 80 minutes.
It would of been much better than what jeff robson provided us against the titans, extremely disappointing performance from him IMO that shows maybe sometimes its better to take the riskier option.
Anyway this is just my opinion doesnt really account for much, but yeah debuting a half wouldnt be a long term thing it would be more experimental... which sometimes you need to construct a top footy team
Im pretty sure humble debuted at fullback when Hayne went to play Origin, memory is abit fuzzy atm with that particular fact thought.
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