I've been pretty consistent for a long time that I want neither Norman or Sandow to partner Foran next year, and I've also been saying for a while that I think Mitch Cornish is a player who I think will fit with Foran perfectly and who I believe has plenty of ceiling to perhaps establish himself as a quality half. Not saying he's there yet, but when I hear names like Chad Townsend get thrown up I think Cornish has more potential.
Cornish has been killing it for Mounties - they are dominating NSW Cup and Cornish seems to be getting better every week.
If you want to see as good a number seven performance, as you'd ever possibly see at that level, then watch this from last week's game against the Bulldogs.
http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/05/12/highlights_mounties_.html
With Williams out Cornish gets the chance to see if he can replicate that form at NRL level which he's only done spasmodically to date. However, even on what he's shown at NRL to date I think he's demonstrated that he could be the ideal foil for Foran, as he's a genuine playmaker who can put outside runners through holes.
I'll be watching the Raiders match with interest, and I really hope our recruitment team do so as well.
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He has to leave Canberra surely. Behind Austin, Sezer and Williams - all on-contract. I was talking to Shueb's brother at the game who is a Raider's supporter and asked him his opinion of Cornish and he said that while he was talented he was worried he didn't have the motor to play NRL. I think that's something that can be worked on, especially as he's young. What is far more difficult to teach is a player who can think quick enough to pick the right pass from multiple supports and we have not had a player capable of doing that for, well, I can't even remember...
Interestingly, he rated the younger Lachlan Croker the much better prospect.
I don't think he's going to be that cheap. Halves talent is rapidly dwindling.
I'll also keep an eye on him, if we can get him on the cheap, it's a no brained. Far superior to Luke Kelly and has potential to be a solid 7. It's just whether he can do it consistently. I rate him better than Sam Williams.
Halves that dominate NSW or Queensland Cup have a pretty decent strike rate of working their way up and making it in the NRL. DCE was dominating Qld Cup before he came up, Maloney excelled at NSW Cup level, Townsend dominated before he came up. My belief on NSW Cup is that there's not a great deal between your fringe NRL players and NSW Cup in positions like wing, centre, second row, but it's the creative positions where there is a gulf and where the better teams shine.
Williams has always been an under-rated player and I think he'll keep getting better too. Raiders are just plain ridiculously stocked for halves at the moment.
Mammojo if your forwards are poor you will never have a dominate halfback. We need to get that right quickly, and if reports are correct, that Pauli is not going to be re-signed it will prove that we have rocks in the head!
There was a very vague rumour earlier in the year we were looking at a Canberra half/hooker and I got excited because I rate Cornish. As y'all know I'm all about balance in the halves and I think Foran will work best with a genuine primary playmaker and Cornish fits that bill better than anyone off-contract in my opinion. So to answer your question, no I don't; it's just me playing recruitment officer.
Ashley Taylor is contracted until end 2016, signed a 3 year $300K per year contract mid 2013 - why would Unca Wayne dispose of him early?
PLUS it was not all that long ago the Raiders were saying they intended to hang onto Cornish at all costs.
Bit pie in the sky for me atm.
Too inconsistent at Canberra. Seems like most on 1EE are interested because they expect he'll come cheap. Probably will but there's a reason for that.
Consensus here seems to be Sandow won't take us to a GF. Are we seriously expecting the 3rd/4th stringer at the Raiders to be an upgrade on what we have?
If we're serious about ditching Sandow then we should be looking at the best available half on the market for 2016. That has to be Hodkinson. Kicks goals, defensively sound, good kicking game, has played in GF, SOO winner, Eels junior. What more do you want?
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