Resolving the Dylan Brown Conundrum is tricky. Pending a swap deal or someone better coming in at six, there is always the KISS principle.
That is, keep it real simple. Strip his game and role back to the bare bones - run hard, chase hard, tackle hard. That's it. No extras are necessary.
Just run Dylan run.
Anything on top is a bonus but not neccesary. He doesn't even need to kick or be a playmaker per se. He barely kicks anyway these days. In a sense, the whole team needs to go back to basics and the fundamentals, and worry less about cohesion and clunkiness challenges.
His head seems still to be everywhere. Why not just forget about all the extras and balls in the air? Forget about how much he's on - the million dollar man - and the fact he will be on the richest NRL contract in history in seven months time. Forget about him needing to "step up" in Moses' absence, or be a talker and communicator, a senior playmaker, or even a wannabe game manager or leader of men. Forget about trying any trick shots. Just focus on the right now, play by play. Get him focused on a simple role.
By nature, his auto-pilot mode is as a running. roving cover defender anwyay.
In a sense, he would become a no-frills six or lock. Perhaps, even coming off the bench to help out in the middle if Ryles wanted to promote someone else to six - Josh Lynn, Walker, another signing or whomever.
If Walker is more involved in directing the ruck and its playmaking perhaps he could make better use of Dylan Brown's simplified role feeding him, freeing him up.
Next year Dylan can woo the Knights and see what comes out of that box of chocolates. But now's now.
As long as the team is on board, and one with it, they can use all the poo thrown their way as motivation. To prove the bastards wrong. Run Dylan Run. Lets Trot.
Replies
Totally agree HOE, Matty johns mentioned on a podcast recently DB trying to finesse himself around the park - imo DB is not type of player, although his ball playing has improved it doesn't come naturally to him . I think lock is the idea position, he can take advantage and target lazy middle forwards with footwork, Ryles should get him closer to the ruck he could cause some damage. DB is predominantly a left sided player - Iongi can play both sides do the field and it's a naturally gifted player he would be out of place in the 5/8 jersey. DB can focus on running, Hopgood, Dylan walker , Jr and Matto can all ball play and I'd argue all the them mentioned can do a decent job. Hopgood especially need to balance his efforts in defence as this is affecting his attack
LOL - BD as lock on $1.3m a season. Then Yeo should be on $2m
Forget about the position or the number on a players back
Its about what suits the team in this moment in time
I agree, have him running 15 to 20 times a game. It is his strength. Each run goes, more confidence he gains. Simple instructions, let Hawkins run everything, Brown if he sees something call for it. If Hawkins is down on 4th tackle then come in for 5th play option but other than that just run and play eyes up.
Walker to 6, Brown a roving centre someone else wing probably Lomax.
Would this be a bad idea?
Lomax basically plays wing anyway, despite wearing 4. Penisini back to the right with Lomax for me. Who cares which one attacks/defends at centre or wing. Dylan centre on the left with whoever plays 6 getting him early ball.
Penisini could be a Brian To'o style winger. A battering ram out of back field. He should be taking some of those hit ups from Lomax's workload.
Some will say Penisini is too slow on wing in attack. I can't recall To'o scoring too many long distance tries. Mostly just on the end of a backline play within the attacking 20.
Roving centre how bout a half that connects with the other half and plays both sides of the ruck.
Throw in Longi this is a good looking backline. Best we've had in a long while. I would like to see the princess bashing it up on the wing, can't see it happening though.
How bout we get Dylan a quick ruck so he's not continually running against set defenses.
Thats the issue here you don't think teams don't know DBs strengths.
What we should be asking ourselves is why do we want to make DB run one off of set plays and stacked defenses and why can't we create ruck speed to put it in DBs favour when he does run.
I don't know why anybody doesn't speak about that.JR spoke about it after week 1 he mentioned things need to happen before you see DB more effective.
Sterlo and Moses mentioned it in a podcast eyes up fast rucks are where it's at for running halves not slow set structured left and right garbage.
Its like because everyone pretty much attacks the same way halves for the most part get pigeon holed.
How bout we try something different instead of rolling out the samething.
The problem for Dylan in last 12 - 18 months has been having little threat to opposition teams outside him so often. Very average edge forwards and centre/winger. Sivo helped a bit when he wasn't suspended or injured, as teams had to also be wary of his strong finishing ability from close range, not just Dylan's running threat.
With little to be concerned about outside of Dylan, opposition defences have easily been able to double tag on Dylan.
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