Gareth Ellis NRL debut : Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:00 pm  

see http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_le ... ost-6.html

see http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_le ... ost-6.html

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:23 pm  

I guess Ellis must be a quick learner then if he's been able to rectify all the alleged weaknesses and shortcomings he had ( according to his coach)when he arrived from the UK.
Good luck to him I hope he succeeds over there.

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:30 pm  

Just shows how poor the NRL must be when a player who can't do "the basics" gets into the team.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:13 am  

Nice bit of over exagerating there you two

All Sheens said was that he has had to teach him the basics in reading defensive structures that he would have assumed a 27 year old International would have know already. He has always stated that Ellis would start though. He's thier star signing this off season and has really impressed in the trials.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:14 am  

The coach is right, Ellis took a few wrong options on defence during the World Cup, something that he will be coached out of in Oz. Front on there's not many better tacklers in the game, teach him some decision making and you've got a world class player IMO.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:44 am  

Matt23 wrote:

The coach is right, Ellis took a few wrong options on defence during the World Cup, something that he will be coached out of in Oz. Front on there's not many better tacklers in the game, teach him some decision making and you've got a world class player IMO.

I'd like to see his attacking skills improve while he's over there. He never did enough with the ball at Leeds IMO.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:02 am  

Matt23 wrote:

The coach is right, Ellis took a few wrong options on defence during the World Cup, something that he will be coached out of in Oz. Front on there's not many better tacklers in the game, teach him some decision making and you've got a world class player IMO.

Spot on. Just because Ellis was a hard worker at Leeds and made some big hits doesn't make him a great defender. Look at his proportion of missed tackles - only marginally better than McGuire last season. Not sure if this reflects poorly on Ellis or well on McGuire though

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:03 am  

McGuire's defence is underrated.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:05 am  

Matt23 wrote:

McGuire's defence is underrated.

I agree. Statistically it is more than twice as good as Long and Briers for example. I can't think of many occasions when he has been at fault for opposition scores.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:08 am  

bit odd with the two refs isnt it?!