I mentioned a week or so ago about moving on from one of our two big paid Props. Now, i believe it could be time we move Gutho on completely. Now some will say you can put him at Centre or at 6, to that i say we are better off trying to medically retiring him and using the money to fix other areas of our team. His legs are gone, he cannot play at a high, demanding level of Fullback he cannot last a full season. Moving him to Centre also is not overly ideal either with his movement and defence. I understand he is great out the back for morale and also try savers like tonight, but it will get to a point where next year if we want a head start in moving forward and winning quicker again, maybe bite the bullet, medically retire, use the money elsewhere and have Talagi and Lomax battle it out for Fullback spot. Talagi did play well there when replacing Gutho, he showed flashes of what he can do there, granted some poor plays too but attacking wise he showed he has the speed, ball playing and workrate to make it. He is only 19 and though many say he is rubbish, he is a kid and will get much better the more he plays, on the Wing doesn't suit him compared to Fullback. Lomax on other hand it might be Fullback doesn't suit him but willing to give him a go and Talagi moves to Centre.
The issue with our team at the moment is energy and speed. Our current back 5 of Gutherson, Sivo, Penisini, Russell and Talagi do not have any speedsters. Added is two ageing backs (Gutho, Sivo) a low on confidence Centre (Penisini), low ceiling back who is nothing more than depth (Russell) and a kid who has played hardly any Wing in his career (Talagi) it is all over the place. Now, Lomax will give us energy, not overly pacey but is faster than most we have at the moment. His kick chase adds a new dimension to our attack. Rumours circulating Iro has signed, even the Cronulla fan forums are mentioning it. Now is it true? No idea as it could be the case or completely made up. But, for blog purposes, say it is true, what does that do to our attack? Well firstly, it would add another strong metre eater to our back 5. Something sorely lacking for our halves and forwards, getting momentum from first 2-3 tackles. Lomax and Iro both provide strong carries. Question also is where will Iro fit? Centre or Wing? To me i say doesn't really matter. If you put Iro on Lomax's side you can swap them mid game as a part of the attack. Predictability of this squad starts to dwindle, finally. That leaves the speedy winger on the other side. I love Ethyn Martin, he has shown in NSW Cup he is up to that level, but injury has cost him valuable game time. I hope he gets at least a game late this year to prepare next year as his is the type of speed we need on the other Wing. Likes of Richie Penisini is a talent but not a speedy Winger, we need speed. Hope Martin is back this week coming as he needs game time badly to develop and impress.
Then comes the Fullback role, which i am saying should be between Talagi and Lomax. Whoever loses goes back to Centre. Now, i will cop it for this but i do not care it is my opinion, all you are crazy if you think Talagi is not talented. Look at this, a kid playing FG at 18/19, in a position he had never played before in Fullback, a position he is still learning runs for 200+ metres and scores 2 tries against Brisbane? Yet that is a shit player? He is 19, been stuffed around development wise but being forced into transforming into a Fullback, one of if not the most physically demanding spot on the field, had never played open age football before while playing a position that is foreign to him. Then plays Centre in FG, plays well considering, then to 6 where he struggled understandably, then played 1 and played well now playing Wing and though he had bad errors he still scored two good tries. The kids has talent and the fact he has done as well as he has had is a testament to how talented he is. Playing FG now will do him a lot of good, having a full pre-season at Fullback will help too, as well putting on some KG's. His development was stuffed and poorly handled, but he kept going. Would i go with Lomax or Talagi at 1? I would go with Talagi, shoot me if you do not like it but he is the future. Is $400k a bit rich? Sure, but the club has mismanaged his development, debuting him early and putting him at Fullback which upped his demands. Should have been at Centre and gradually transformed into a Fullback.
But a back 5 of
1. Talagi
2. Martin
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Iro
That is an automatic improvement on this year. Then having Russell, Tago, R.Penisini, AMS backing up and another signing also. Gutho staying though hampers this, as one of Martin or Talagi misses out due to accommodating Gutho.
Gutho is valuable mentally with his knowledge of the rules, his quick thinking in defence and Talagi will not cover that, even if he does it will be years before that. But physically we are lacking more and that needs to be sorted, his money can be used elsewhere to strengthen this team moving forward, even buying more depth in the backs too and another Halfback in lower grades.
Replies
LB agree with you in princable but Talagi needs to go back to reserve grade to learn how to defende and catch as he will lose more games than help us if he dosen't learn defence which is half of the game a big portion being 50% . As for retiring Gutho who do you make captain, Moses no way if you watch yesterdays game Moses going off at the ref would had us penalised if not for Gutherson so at this point I think Guth needs to be kept as captain in another position. Fullback, I'd be giving Lomax first crack, good under the high ball in attack and defence, good carries in kick returns, can defend and knows who to follow when in attack for offloads. Just my opinion but Talagi has a lot of growing and learning to do and that needs to vbe in reserve grade.
Shane, that is another thing the club have not forshadowed either with having Gutho and Paulo both as captains but both same age roughly. I agree, Moses i feel would not make a good captain due to his temprement at times with refs and players. Let him focus on the game. If you had to name one, i think Hopgood could be an option, if not the only option at this stage. If you keep Gutho for his last year, the new coach needs to dismiss Paulo of his co-captaincy and name someone new as vice-captain to take over. In terms of juniors, Charlie Guymer was a captain in SG Ball and i also think he was captain in Flegg too from time to time. He is captain material but has not even debuted yet.
Unless we make a signing where they can be a captain, Hopgood would be the only option to be fair. Even then not sure if he would either want it or make a good captain. By default, you may need to go with Moses.
I think you cannot go wrong with either Lomax or Talagi at Fullback, the other at Centre. Lomax's kick chase as well can be utilised still at Fullback. He could be a Edwards type Fullback that makes metres and appears on a side to offer ball playing but wont be like Gutho as in a second Five-Eighth. Where is Talagi i feel can be that second Five-Eighth type Fullback.
I have no issues with Talagi heading back to NSW Cup for the rest of this year and just playing Fullback.
Agree there LB about Paulo but I believe he needs moving on completely, takes up too much coin, offers nothing and we could pick up 2 for the same price and get lucky with 2 good players or even 1 which is better than 1 that offers nothing. Hopgood may end up a good captain but feel it is to early and would be better to let him grow a bit first. Can't see a genuine leader so that is why Id keep Guth as sole captain but in a different position as we need more from the back and Gutho is slowing down. I'd be incline to put Gutho at 6 and Brown at center as he plays more like a center than a 6.
Do you understand you won't get back the 900k or whatever Junior is being paid.
If he went on th open market he may get 500k, which leaves us with the ability to find another 500k player or 2 x 250 etc......
Agree Talagi/Lomax should battle it out for the fullback spot next year. However, with the season over this year, Gutho should go to 5/8 and give Talagi some experience at fullback. Daren Lockyer made a successful transition to no.6 as well. Gutho could do the same.
I've said it on here before and I'll say it again, Dyl. Brown should shift to centre. He goes missing in too many games as 5/8 and lacks the creativity in the halves. His strengths are his defence and running game, more suited for a centre where he would do more damage. Simply look at Crichton for the Dogs. He could easily be their best no.6 or fullback for that team, but what he does in the centres is more important for the team. And look what Lomax is doing for dragons at wing.
Talagi lol. One of the slowest backs in the NRL haha. How can he play fb . Lol
Zip please go and watch how talagi made Bradman Best look like Usain Bolt. Nothing against you mate but the hype around blaze is just wrong
100% Chief . He has a good side step about him... can't catch and runs like a forward. Recon RCG would keep up with him
I think he'll end up a ball playing lock CE
One thing that the club needs to address is contract negotiations being played out in the media. We need to make players and their agents aware that if there is any sort of leak pertaining to this situation offers will be immediately withdrawn. This is something that has been really disappointing with the Talagi situation and is crippling the club. It doesn't matter who the player is or how talented they may or may not be. If we want to fix our culture this is part of it.
What may cripple the club more is withdrawing contract offers and losing players. I know what you mean but also they do it as they have leverage. Though the Talagi talk ended as soon as BA was sacked oddly enough, the talk from Hooper was the Talagi camp was in other words not too phases with BA. So i reckon he has already re-signed.
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