By David Riccio From: The Sunday Telegraph July 04, 2010
IT'S not every day you receive free advice from one of the greatest players of the modern era.
But that's exactly what legendary Bulldogs halfback Steve Mortimer has offered besieged Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson.
Ahead of the Eels' must-win clash with the Warriors in New Zealand on Sunday, the former Canterbury captain has urged Anderson to move nephew and young Eels star Daniel Mortimer back to five-eighth.
Turvey's call emerged as statistics obtained by The Sunday Telegraph show how much Daniel's move to the No 7 jumper has hurt his own game.
In nine matches at halfback, Mortimer has produced on average less tackle busts, less line-breaks, less try assists and less metres from his kicks compared to his 18 games at five-eighth last season.
He has also made more tackles this year.
Steve said he feared a combination of the "structured" Parramatta playing style and Mortimer's inexperience in the No 7 jumper was stifling his attacking flair.
"With Daniel in his second year, he's certainly going to have a lot more opposition attention for starters," Mortimer said.
"And then I guess there's the question: is he a five-eighth or a halfback? All I know is that at the moment he's playing in a structured attack and I don't know if that suits him best.
"Daniel reminds me more of Terry Lamb [former Bulldogs five-eighth], a great anticipator of play who can be there to back-up and support.
"I've been watching the Parramatta attack and it seems very structured.
"They have the halfback on the left and the five-eighth on the right. To me that is structured and if that's going to win games, then fine. But if you've got raw talent there that coaches can enhance, it should be encouraged."
Mortimer added that a return to five-eighth would re-ignite Daniel's attacking prowess - and Parramatta's winning form.
'This is his uncle speaking now, but I do believe that some players have special skills which you can't coach," Mortimer said.
"You're blessed with it.
"And I just see so many opportunities for a little grubber through or a little kick and I actually see that more in rugby league today with the 10-metre rule than in my day.
"With Daniel's terrific skill, I think that can be a real attacking weapon for the Eels.
"But when it comes to playmaking, he's still got to get used to that."
Fiercely competitive and mature beyond his years, Mortimer is determined to lead the Eels out of the doldrums.
And his uncle has backed him to fight his way back into top form.
Replies
Morts needs to go to 14. He is just an ideal interchange hooker. There is no pressure and he can get some confidence back before we even think about letting him near the halves again.
Only Parra fans will remember, but Turvey was indeed pushing for the majority of last season when Morts was the new 'it boy' of the competition to be our number 7. Turvey on numerous occasions stated that Ando should immediately put Morts in the number 7 as it is his 'natural position'.
What a tool. I agee also Morts to 14.
As for the here and now, I agree with Turvey - get him out of that chief playmaking role, instruct him to play a roving role as he did last season and pray to God that we sign Cooper Cronk.
If we can't get ourselves a proper, experienced halfback for next year we are completely fucked! If not Cronk, then Monaghan. If not Monaghan then Orford or Kimmorley. Failing all of that, we'll need to call Sterlo out of retirement!
He doesn't have the experience/ability to guide us around the park at the moment, saying that we currently don't have anyone who is able to do so. Morts to 14 would bring a little spark into the side at the right time of games, but obviously we are going to need a lot more than that.
We are in a pit atm, we all know we have the talent to get out of it, this same squad of players has defeated Manly, Melbourne and Souths this season. It is possible, but if we lose again this week we are going to have to pull off Miracle Run Part 2 to be any chance at the comp.
On the halback for 2011 news, Cronk would be perfect, but there are far to many 'if's' and 'but's' in that deal to make me anymore than slightly confident.
I think the more likely scenario is us now picking up Orford for one season. Kimmorley won't play against the Doggies, he loves the club to much and if he was to go to another club it would most probably be back to the Sharkies as he only really had a problem with Sticky, plus he still lives in the Shire.
Will Orford help us? Possibly, but realistically it would be nothing more than a stop-gap solution to our halves problems. I can't see him helping Humble and Mortimer learn any new tricks that they wouldn't have already learned off Johns.
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