My real focus here is Mitchell Moses who I think will challenge (not necessarilly win over Nathan Cleary as the top half in the game this season). Some discussion was entered in by Wiz of him being paid say 900/950 and him giving performances to equate to such a salary.....Wiz was complimentary as well as wary, so its not about his judgement, just a discussion.
Wether Moses is over paid at 900 or 950 is semantic to me given where he sits as one of the best halves in the comp.
When you consider that Ben Hunt and the young half at Titans were paid over 1m, Townsend at Cowboys is a different type of half but I would suggest well paid at 8/900. Cherry Evans 1.2m, Cleary same Keary 1m? and God only knows what was Cronk was really on..... all add up to Wiz comments being put into a perspective of Moses not being overpaid. 5/8's or the right ones will become the crucial component ....... Dyllan Brown is a good player regardless of his stats, wether he is the 5/8 to compliment Moses is still out there.....you could argue (and I will be rubbished for this) that Jordan Rankin could be a more complimentary 5/8 by virtue of solid defence and being a genuine playmaker that actually could add value to Moses running game. In saying that I am no way advocating losing Dyllan Brown, my question with Dyllan at this point is finding the right spot for him for the benefit of the team. It was apparent last season that BA wanted him as a link rather than a playmaker, his individual running game is probably as good as anyone outside of Moses, In some circumstances I could see Dyllan in the centres giving a playmaker a double running option, say Penisi and Dyllan centres with Waqa on the wing. All these things become variables with injuries to Moses, Brown or Gutherson as Simmonsson is a natural replacement for Guth.
My feeling at this point is that if Moses or Dyllan are injured that Rankin is the right replacement (his preseason is up there with anyone along with his competition for such a role in JA).
In Reserve Grade last year when Rankin and JA played together, Rankin was undoubtedly the dominant half, JA can only take a first grade spot if he can reverse that over Rankin and be the dominant half in NSW Cup.
Watching NSW Cup this year with the depth we have in the forwards and halves will be a very interesting sidelight for all us looking forward to this season. A season we genuinely can win.
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It should be noted that Rankin has yet to get a top 30 spot.......but he is in the trials for this weekend,
Pretty much agree with all of that David . But only time will tell .but something in me just says i just cant see JA being a permanent 1st grader now or in the future hey .just my humble opinion
I had the same opinion Bobby but 60's assures me he has come on in leaps and bounds.
I gave him a hard time last year, so to be fair I am happy to sit back and see how he goes, of course the thrust of what I am saying is that I think Rankin should be Ist Reserve for either of the halves spot if injury occurs.
I saw the same with JR v JA.
JR will never top JA in the pecking order. That has already been established.
The NSW Cup game he played prior to getting the 1st grade call up for his second stint was woeful. Truly, one of the worst performances I have seen. No vendetta against the kid, just facts of the perfomance. JR was clearly the better option, but no. I have no doubt the next 4 weeks after that Will Smith was asking his manager to get him another club. Kudos to JR for staying and being the NSW Cup rock while watching a lessor playing getting promoted.
The thing i cannot stand, is people i speak to these days talk up Burton, Wighton, Luai even say Walker is phenomenal. Yet Moses is frowned upon and laughed at when i mention he is a top 5 Halfback, even people saying if he is chosen for NSW in Origin they will never watch it again.
Just makes me think is it he plays for Parramatta? is it he was Immature as a junior and forever rubbed people the wrong way? or both? cause i tell you one thing, Reece Walsh is looked at as a superstar and a wonderful kid, yet off the field already has had some issues. Moses has yet to have a single off the field issue, only thing i can think of is how he handles leaving Wests and that is not an issue really but to some can be seen that way.
I am over it, i love Moses, he can be hot and cold at times but less and less each year, he has developed more and more each year. He is a top 5 Halfback and should have the respect of one.
LB, I reckon you hit the nail on the head with him being immature as a youngster. He also had huge wraps/expectations put on him at the Tigers that he didn't live up to at that club (who would - they are genuine shit) and he has had a tendency to carry on like a bit of a bitch sometimes on the paddock. The fact that he is such a great kid/clean skin off the park might work against him a bit too.
I was never a big fan but last year, in my eyes, he took a gigantic step forward. He played like he was 5 years older and consistently showed the calmness/poise that had been missing. It was like the boy suddeny became a man.
For mine he is the second best half in the game. He's one of the main reasons we are a genuine title threat imo.
He has become more and more of a natural leader Kram, 2018 was an eye opener to him, round 1 got sin binned and was for being immature on the field calling out the ref and emotions getting better of him.
Fast forward to 2021 he does not carry on, if he has an average game it is not due to lack of effort, his kicking game has become one of the best in the competition, look at the two teams in the GF what did both those teams have? a Halfback with a terrific kicking game. Is he up to Cleary standard? probably not but he doesn't have to be, he has to be a top 5 Half and that is it, the rest will work itself out. He is still young in footy terms so can continue to grow more.
he's better than top 5 I think LB, that said I think this year he has to fight with Cherry Evans to be Cleary's back up at Australia level and I think clearly 2 in origin terms.
Only issue is the likes Luai and WIghton and DCE will have noses in front. Yes first two are 6's but they would rather that paired with Munster you can see it, Luai is a golden boy in rep circles (rightfully so) and so is Wighton.
Agree Kram
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