It's no secret that the best and most successful teams in the comp have the best and MOST SETTLED spine, or play makers in position.
It's also no secret that here at the eels we have had more spine combinations than pauly pauly has had shafts.
For me, the most important thing to get right in 2019 is a settled spine. No chopping and changing. We need to settle on a combination and stick with it no matter what, barring serious injury and even then we need to have very good and consistent, regular depth.
I really hope that we sign Isaac Luke as I believe the most important aspect of having a good spine is a supreme rake. It all starts with him.
Mahoney is on the up and has NRL experience. Paired with Luke, this kid could be mentored very well.
Our halves are our main concern.
I'm thinking that Moses is due another season. Norman has been here for years and hasn't strung together more than 5-6 top shelf games in a row in any season. He needs to go regardless of his talent.
Moses only came here mid last season. Given a better and bigger forward pack I'm thinking he may just come good. He needs a superior and experienced halves partner. I can't help but think how Blake Green, James Maloney or even Hodgkinson could have paired up with him.
Fullback should be Hayne if he is here. I'd prefer he wasn't, but that's just me.
Gutherson should play nothing but wing or centre and be relieved of his captaincy to allow him to concentrate on his game.
One thing is certain. If we start changing around spine players early in the season we are in for yet another shitcunt of a year.
Your thoughts?
Replies
Our spine next year would make a Jelly fish blush.
I'm with you, we need someone to replace Dozy. He is supposed to be the senior in the halves pairing, but he too often just goes missing. He should be the one stepping up and taking control of the game.
Hayne is definitely our best option for fullback, the more he can be involved the better.
7. Brown
But nobody wants Norman so we will have him 1 more year we wont be paying him 900k to play cup.
Maybe go with that halves pairing and Norman at 1.
If he cannot be offloaded for next year, then he has to be told he will only play NRL IF, he performs, first sign of not performing then ISP is your future here, and If that means MM becomes the primary half, and that is the 7 spot that he said is his best spot, then the same can be put to him - both off contract end of 19 so they need to show what they can do to be signed anywhere.
Agree Norman needs to go BUT he's owed to much money. Mitch Moses has heaps of potential with a good forward pack and a better halves partner. Hayne on the wing for mine and Gutherson in the centre with no captaincy.
This is a problem BA has created, he has persisted with Norman even though he has had his off field problems and poor performances on the field but is now trying to offload him with apparently no takers, so we, for 1, are stuck with a half that hasn't performed and knows he isn't wanted. It looks like we are going to have the same halves pairing that failed to deliver for BA this season under the guidance of BA again next season.
Secondly, BA couldn't settle on a fullback, using French, Hayne, Gutherson, Norman and then Hayne again, if Hayne is here next season he has to be fullback, end of story.
I do not trust BA to get our spine right, what hope do we have with a coach who can't see what is right in front of him.
We really need a steady 7 with a good kicking game, no more flash in the pan type players, we have been down that road too many times for no result, Sandow, Norman and Moses all show flashes of brilliance from time to time but are way too inconsistent and are bad game managers. We need someone like a Blake Green, Chad Townsend, Adam Reynolds type player, nothing flash just a good kicking game, good game management with a cool head and consistent.
Moses needs to move into five eight and bring in a structured half back with a good kicking game and a good view of being able to take the right play on. Norman would either be OK at fullback or if we can piss him off even better.
All im saying is the top 2 teams this year have an all white spine...
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