I broke my heart to see Jacob Loko limp off again. Firstly, because he was the only player causing Manly any trouble but obviously because he's had so much trouble with injuries, it was terrible to see him coming from the field in that manner again.
Obviously its good news that he hasn't properly done his knee again, but one thing I've said consistently is that while he is playing out in the centres, he will be consistently subjected to the kind of tackles that are going to put pressure on his knees.
Playing out wide like that, the opposition will generally want to do one and thats push him over the sideline. Jacob's pet play is to get on his opposite's outside and use his fend and strength to push past him. Unlike most centres, who will simply get tackled, Loko will more often than not be able to hold his feet and so what you've got is a game of physics that I absolutely 100 per cent believe will lead him to be injured again and again - defender pushing to the sideline, Loko propping on his leg to put all his weight into the other direction combined with the dynamic of moving forward at great speed.
As a second rower, Jacob won't be running laterally as much, and its going to be far better for a guy who has had two knee reconstructions to be running straight lines.
Unfortunately, as damaging as Jacob is in attack as a centre, he just isn't a natural communicator in defence and we want to start prioritising fixing up our fringe defence, if we're ever going to be competitive again. You can fix some defensive flaws, particularly technique - but you will always struggle to fix those who's defense issues are size, communication or bravery. Jacob's issue is communication and we've got a few other players plagued by the other thee core fundamental defensive deficiencies.
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If we going to be a second rower, we'd still need to use his best attributes. The way Luke Lewis was used in Origin one could work very well for Loko, playing out wide with lots of ball and just working over the defenders. His dummy half running actually really helps us and I wouldn't want that aspect of his game to be shut out completely. I actually like him as a centre but his potential as a wide running back rower is huge
we will also have kelepi there. just need to get a workhorse back rower to work with them.
Yeah Loko will be a better 2nd rower, at present he is just an average center that can do some damage...
He will adapt to the defense he will have to do... I just fear he could become lazy like Tony Williams.
To be fair in the centres he's been one of our best this year. Was leading the league for tackle busts and a few weeks ago and averages 100metres plus, even with his defensive deficiencies.
But what also seems the case is that, if Loko was more a traditional centre, those tackle busts and meters gained statistics would be coupled to a whole bag full of tries. Think something like Gasnier in his prime or Inglis at centre. That type of centre converts a tackle bust into open field running. But with Loko, he busts tackles like a second rower busts tackles, shrugging players off and drawing others in to cover. For a second rower that works just fine, because by drawing several others in to complete the tackle the opposition line is often short on one side. Good halves can spot that and swing the ball that way for a break or try. This is why backs often say the forwards layed a platform.
Given the above, it makes sense to convert Loko to 2nd row. But as I said, we need to be sure we're not avoiding the elephant in the room, which in this case is that purely as a centre Loko is under-performing. His stats are a bit deceiving, is what I am suggesting. That is, they're good stats for a 2nd rower but he is playing centre. So will he perform at 2nd row? Well, we need to be sure that he is playing the role you want a second rower to play. And his record of playing the role you want a particular position to play is not that great. I hope that chain of reasoning makes some sense.
I would like to see him start in the centres and then second row early next year with a few better players around him.
Whether or not he's ready now for the back-row, it's hard to know.
But he was always slated with an eventual move in the long-term to the back-row.
One that I think could suit him well.
Of course, like any player, there's the little things that you'd work on to improve his overall game as a back-rower but aside from that, it's a transition that I think can be a successful one.
Then again, as has been mentioned, you obviously run the risk of Loko's damaging ball-running skills being nullified by laziness or other factors.
It'd certainly be the best move for the side moving forward, and with the arrival of Hoppa next year who is likely to play in the centres, back-row is somewhere Loko may have to become adjusted to quicker than usual.
Centre vs Backrower.
Centre = Stands one in from the wing.
Backrower = Stands 2 in from the wing.
In the modern game there really isn't too much difference. But I do agree that Loko should go to the back row. He's a damaging runner and likes the tough stuff. Being more direct with backrowers lines he will be more effective too.
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