Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sat Aug 24, 2024 9:43 am  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

I cannot see the value in Ackers - what does he do that Johnson can't do?

Great team performance - Arthur has started to instill some steel into that team.

Whilst we haven’t seen the best of Ackers and he has been a disappoint so far, but he is a tried and proven class player, Johnson is not and never will be he same level, JOC is younger than Johnson and just getting better snd better.

Think Ackers is a bit if the Lee Crooks in the transfer deal, and didn’t really want to come here, But crooks was player of the year in his second season at Leeds

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:04 pm  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

I cannot see the value in Ackers - what does he do that Johnson can't do?

Tackle. Johnson also looks too small.

Johnson hasn't taken his chances well this season IMO. If a player comes on fresh from the bench they shouldn't be going to sleep at marker when we're defending our line.

Ackers looked a lot more promising at the start of the season, I wonder if he's carrying a niggling injury or two (hence why he was starting from the bench some games back?).

By the way, kudos to Momirovski for his pass for Fusitu'a's try, Sky were raving about it. Shame about the one he threw into touch earlier though.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:18 pm  

The biggest conundrum for me is Cameron Smith. We look better with O'Connor at 13. He might be small, but he's such a natural rugby player, and he can spell Ackers at hooker from there as well. TNW plays more like an NRL 13 - an extra power player in the middle.

I'm just struggling to see where Cameron fits. He works hard, but he's the opposite of dynamic, sometimes looks like he's running in a foot of mud, and his playmaking is just so slow. He doesn't seem to fit at all with the way Arthur is trying to get the team going. Maybe an off season working on a different role will help, but he's looked really poor this year, under both Smith and Arthur.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sat Aug 24, 2024 2:54 pm  

I think a good pre season under Arthur will be the making of Cam Smith. If he gain half a yard of speed by getting a bit leaner, it could really take his game to the next level. Also having a couple a prop or 2 that can help reduce the amount of tackles he has to make would also help

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:22 pm  

It wouldn’t surprise me if Cam Smith is carrying and injury. Pace has never been his strong point but the latter part of this season he’s been so off. Last season he also had a bit of a step at the line that allowed him to break some tackles, that also seems to have gone. Could be the captaincy weighing heavy but who knows.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sun Aug 25, 2024 10:54 am  

Ref cam smith, he looks jaded. Should imagine a close Season break might do him good. Hopefully return rejuvenated, don’t know what to make if Newman at the moment. Drifts in and out of games, not really playing well.doesn’t look particularly happy. Looking at miller who goes looking for work whilst coming up with the odd stupid mistake is playing well. Seems to be really enjoying himself.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sun Aug 25, 2024 12:59 pm  

Millers tackle bust stats are ridiculous. 193, next closest is Dufty on 151.

Miller also leads the carry count in the League again with Dufty second.

Just on Cam Smith he’s way out in front of the tackle count in the league, personally i think he’s suffering from having to do too much work to cover the fact we haven’t got a proper pack.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sun Aug 25, 2024 1:47 pm  

christopher wrote:

Millers tackle bust stats are ridiculous. 193, next closest is Dufty on 151.

Miller also leads the carry count in the League again with Dufty second.

Just on Cam Smith he’s way out in front of the tackle count in the league, personally i think he’s suffering from having to do too much work to cover the fact we haven’t got a proper pack.

That doesn’t shock me on Miller, his effort has been really good all year but he’s one whose application has vastly improved under Arthur.

On Smith that’s fair. I read something recently that suggested he will far exceed the time allowance for players next year. Also doesn’t help that his direct competition for the 13 shirt in O’Connor is playing out of his skin atm. More than Willing to see how Smith pans out after an Arthur off-season.

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sun Aug 25, 2024 3:01 pm  

Barrie’s Glass Eye wrote:

That doesn’t shock me on Miller, his effort has been really good all year but he’s one whose application has vastly improved under Arthur.

On Smith that’s fair. I read something recently that suggested he will far exceed the time allowance for players next year. Also doesn’t help that his direct competition for the 13 shirt in O’Connor is playing out of his skin atm. More than Willing to see how Smith pans out after an Arthur off-season.

Arthur will work it all out. Def a role for Can Smith…..

Re: Round 23 | Cats at Home : Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:20 pm  

I would play Smith at prop and not at LF.