Moses looks great when the team has momentum and he runs yet his decision making and leading the team is still very poor.  He wants to be an organising halfback but is clearly a running 5/8.  However I still think he has the potential to be a great halfback due to his age and new found commitment as seen by cancelling his off season holiday and stepping up his training.  As seen with JT, Cronk and even Pearce they all got better with age and experience when they realised how to manage a game and not try to score or win on every play and Moses is still to learn this.  The perfect example was Cronk in the grand final and JT when clearly injured in an origin a few years ago yet both remained on the field and managed the game and led without needing their hands on the ball.

Moses kicking game is still bomb and hope if anywhere from the halfway line to 30m out, then when 10m out he will always grubber.  We have 2 massive wingers who have good catching skills yet when in opposition 20 we always seem to end up in front of the post on 5th tackle.  When is the last time we saw our wingers really compete for a high ball close to the line.  By positioning ourselves midfield on the 5th it rules out our best chance to isolate winger with 1 on 1 kick to the corner.  Moses needs to think beyond the current tackle and plan the set where we want to be on the 5th if we haven't scored. 

Cronk has spoken about how he plans where on the field he wants to be as did JT when previously interviewed. Matty johns also summed it up very well when on NRL 360 last year.   I would love to see BA reach out to Matty Johns or Fittler to mentor Moses in this regard or get specialist halves coach such as kimmorley in to help.

A perfect example of Moses lack of ability to manage or adjust the game plan tonight was when we continually hit Lane every time in the first half and that is fine if setting up to go wide but the pass out the back never came.  Moses wasn't always throwing the pass to Lane however as leader of the teams attack he should be advising Smith or others to go behind Lane after a few attempts if not doing it himself.  The top halfbacks don't only come up with the big plays but help plan the attack by advising and directing others. He should have identified Souths defenders were jamming up and a pass out the back would give Jennings who was playing very well space with the beast Sivo outside him.  

Although we won and Moses played well i really hope BA gets someone in to help Moses and Brown when he returns.  If not I would like to see Moses make his own enquires and find someone to mentor him and make him better.  Fittler has already spoken of the respect he has for Moses so maybe he should reach out there.  If not maybe Sterling could have a few chats with him and share his knowledge, but my preference is Matty Johns.  He has helped some of the best halves in the game but more importantly helped in sides with winning cultures.   Johns could teach Moses the tactics he is he lacking to go with his skill set he currently has however John could also help BA as an antacking coach to unleash our attacking potential and get our big wingers more involved.  

As for Moses kicking game I think if he finds himself in better field positions such as opening a large open side on the 5th he has the instincts to get a good kick to the corners close to the line for our wingers to compete or if defence are ready for that kick towards the post. I remember in earlier games in the season he kicked high and towards the posts with results yet since then has rarely been able to open the field up for that kick option. 

 

 

 

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  • Hahah imagine having to tell Moses he is now a 5/8 and give him the 6 jersey and Brown the 7. Good luck with that

    • This reply was deleted.
      • Poppa, a few sides are moving back to a dominant half role instead of the left and right and I expect it to return to that model due to lack of genuine halves.

    • I think they can work together for a year or 2.  Let Moses run the show if he wants and Brown pick his chances as he gets experience.  Moses wants to run the show so he has to prove he can over the next year and half while brown finds his feet in first grade.  If good enough Moses will earn his next contract but without better game management or switching to 5/8 it will not happen.

      The best thing about Moses and Brown combo is Browns kicking game.  It takes pressure of Moses and presents defences with 2 clear kick options they need to defend.  With Will smith or even Salmon we lack that 2nd kicker to take pressure off Moses.  Similar to how Penrith have bought through Cleary with Maloney, Cleary hasn't had to do much other than have solid kicking game as Maloney is the key attacking weapon despite commentators trying to convince everyone Cleary is the leader of Penrith and future of blues.

      • This reply was deleted.
        • Michael,The coach mentioned on T.V. last night that Nathan Brown would be back next week and Dylan a couple of weeks later. You would not know as you had your head buried in the sand.

    • Mr Pork, Moses would not care where he plays as long as he gets the money he is asking

  • Moses does not have the ability to see one or two plays ahead of him. This leads to some very poor options on his part as seen tonight. He will always be a rocks and diamonds player. Still not sure we should re-sign him. The good stuff tonight was let down by his dumb plays. 

    • I agree, his field goals attempts with only minutes left were another example of inability to look forward.  The game was wrapped up but with such a close race from 5th to 13th for and against is crucial.  We should have played for a try instead of giving 7 tackle set twice.  You often see the better sides play their 5 tackles and get tackled on the last in the corner if unable to score a try in those instances.   Another example of where Moses could learn more about game awareness.

    • We’ll re-sign him. Sandow 2.0

      • What are you on idiot. Sandow 2? Youve got shit for brains.

        • See you here in a couple years and we’ll see moron

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