Team Reshuffle : Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:53 am  

The spread of injuires we have isn't just a bummer because of who we've lost, but because it rather restricts the ability to put right the glaring weaknesses of last Saturday (and more recent performances). Here's my thoughts: Orr looked a bit jaded last week, but we are a much weaker side without him, nobody else can control the side like him, Gale looks great as a running halfback when Orr is controlling things, but when Orr is off the field he struggles to control the team on his own. Dorn has spluttered for most of the season and can't control a team anyway, so my preference would have been to start with Orr and Gale and drop Dorn, but now we're likely to see the weaker combination of Gale and Dorn. Randall was another one who looked jaded, but is a major driver behind the way we play, with both him and Orr gone we have a serious problem. Kaye seems like a reasonable player to me, but he's not shown the ability that Randall has. In the forwards Ward is solid, but isn't too much of a loss as long as Hecks can stay fit, Temata is a big loss, the unsung hero of our pack; he defends well and gives us go forward. Haggy is fine as an impact prop, but periodic blockbusting runs are one thing, consistent go forward is what we really need. I'd like to see Mbu brought back in, one thing he gives us is effort, and we can ask him to play prop even though that's not his real position. Our Aussie signings this season are fine defensively, typical generic NRL second-rows, but haven't given us a lot going forward. So I'd like to see Clubb start at loose forward, and just play as a strong running back-row, I think this would mitigate his occassional defensive lapses, but would use his speed and physicality to their potential. In the centres Howell has been our best performer, especially in attack, so it's sod's law he's cracked an eye socket. Gafa has been a pale imitation of last season's player, his defence against Bradford was awful, so I'd like to see him moved back to wing. Purdo needs to stay in the centre, where he can hopefully shore things up defensively, and then I'd like to see Melling brought into the other centre where his creativity can be given a bit more air. Wells to fullback, he's the best fullback at the club so not a hard choice. The changes in the centre mean changes on the wing, originally I'd have dropped Sharp, he needs to stop panicking in the tackle and offloading rather than taking the tackle. However, that was based on Howell and Purdo in the centres, not Melling and Purdo, so as it is I'd have Gafa and Sharp on the wings, with Melling and Purdo inside them. Basically we've got to make the most of a situation where our main playmaker (Orr), our form centre (Howell), our main hooker (Randall), and one of our main go forward players (Temata) are injured.

The spread of injuires we have isn't just a bummer because of who we've lost, but because it rather restricts the ability to put right the glaring weaknesses of last Saturday (and more recent performances). Here's my thoughts: Orr looked a bit jaded last week, but we are a much weaker side without him, nobody else can control the side like him, Gale looks great as a running halfback when Orr is controlling things, but when Orr is off the field he struggles to control the team on his own. Dorn has spluttered for most of the season and can't control a team anyway, so my preference would have been to start with Orr and Gale and drop Dorn, but now we're likely to see the weaker combination of Gale and Dorn. Randall was another one who looked jaded, but is a major driver behind the way we play, with both him and Orr gone we have a serious problem. Kaye seems like a reasonable player to me, but he's not shown the ability that Randall has. In the forwards Ward is solid, but isn't too much of a loss as long as Hecks can stay fit, Temata is a big loss, the unsung hero of our pack; he defends well and gives us go forward. Haggy is fine as an impact prop, but periodic blockbusting runs are one thing, consistent go forward is what we really need. I'd like to see Mbu brought back in, one thing he gives us is effort, and we can ask him to play prop even though that's not his real position. Our Aussie signings this season are fine defensively, typical generic NRL second-rows, but haven't given us a lot going forward. So I'd like to see Clubb start at loose forward, and just play as a strong running back-row, I think this would mitigate his occassional defensive lapses, but would use his speed and physicality to their potential. In the centres Howell has been our best performer, especially in attack, so it's sod's law he's cracked an eye socket. Gafa has been a pale imitation of last season's player, his defence against Bradford was awful, so I'd like to see him moved back to wing. Purdo needs to stay in the centre, where he can hopefully shore things up defensively, and then I'd like to see Melling brought into the other centre where his creativity can be given a bit more air. Wells to fullback, he's the best fullback at the club so not a hard choice. The changes in the centre mean changes on the wing, originally I'd have dropped Sharp, he needs to stop panicking in the tackle and offloading rather than taking the tackle. However, that was based on Howell and Purdo in the centres, not Melling and Purdo, so as it is I'd have Gafa and Sharp on the wings, with Melling and Purdo inside them. Basically we've got to make the most of a situation where our main playmaker (Orr), our form centre (Howell), our main hooker (Randall), and one of our main go forward players (Temata) are injured.

: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:41 am  

Some good anaylsis there - definitely agree we have gone well beyond the point where Joe Mbu should have been back in the team - he surely must play this weekend!

Not sure I agree with Melling in the centre, or that Wells is the best full back at the club. Melling has played centre in the past and hasn't exactly set the world on fire, that said he is a better player now.

Purdham could play stand off, which may give us better organisation. It would also allow him to defend out wide to sure up this area (preferably down our right hand side).

Another option at halfback is to put Randall there. Under normal circumstances I reckon he could do a good job for us, the problem is I don't think he is running at anything like full fitness.

No way would I drop Sharp, he was one of the few players to come out of last Saturday with some credit. I'd also give Lamont Bryan the centre spot.

My team (assuming no more injures!):

FB: Melling
W: Wells
C: Bryan
C: Clubb
W: Sharp
SO: Purdham
SH: Dorn
P: Heckenberg
H: Randall
P: McCarthy-Scarsbrook
SR:Golden
SR: Mbu
L: Williamson

Subs:
Haggerty
Williams
Esders
Gale

Not selected:
Gafa
Kaye
May
Gardner
O'Callaghan
Graves
Skee

Injured:
Howell
Orr
Temata
Robinson
Ward

: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:07 am  

Just realised, Randall isn't injurred (misread the report).

I'd go with:

FB: Wells
W: Sharp
C: Melling
C: Purdham
W: Gafa

SH: Gale
SO: Dorn

P: Hecks
H: Randall
P: LMS
SR: Williamson
SR: Golden
LF: Clubb

Bench:
Haggy
Mbu
Bryan
Kaye

Appreciate comments about Wells vs Melling at fullback, I think Melling is more creative, but a bit more eratic, Wells is more solid there.

Bryan appears to be developing into a back-row player, the effort he put in last Saturay shouldn't disguise some of the positional problems he's shown in the backs.

I think we should persist with Purdo in the centres simply because it stabilises out defensive weakness there. And would like to see Clubb at LF because it neutralises some of his positional/judgemental weakness in defence, but gives more reign to his powerful running game, something we've missed in the forwards.

: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:10 am  

KF- am I missing something here?

Your analysis suggests Randall is injured (again).

BTW- everyone has had a go at Gafa and Wells for their performance last week, but if you watched Martin (erm) Offiah's bit on Sky last Sunday, it looked to me like Danny Orr missed a few tackles (then again he probably wasn't fit anyway).

: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:23 am  

Dan Stains woz God wrote:

KF- am I missing something here?

Your analysis suggests Randall is injured (again).

BTW- everyone has had a go at Gafa and Wells for their performance last week, but if you watched Martin (erm) Offiah's bit on Sky last Sunday, it looked to me like Danny Orr missed a few tackles (then again he probably wasn't fit anyway).

I made a mistake with Randall, I think he's fit. Orr is a halfback, we shouldn't really be relying on him to be making those tackles, we shouldn't be playing him at hooker either, it doesn't make any sense. Gafa has been poor for a while now, and Sharp looks nervous lot too. I don't think Wells is a real problem, but he's better at fullback than wing.

: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:24 am  

Dan Stains woz God wrote:

BTW- everyone has had a go at Gafa and Wells for their performance last week, but if you watched Martin (erm) Offiah's bit on Sky last Sunday, it looked to me like Danny Orr missed a few tackles (then again he probably wasn't fit anyway).

Yes he did, but he was left isolated trying to tackle Nero, who takes some stopping. Gafa seemed to be missing for most of the Bulls' breaks, apart from coming on the scene too late and then just arm-waving/pointing at Melling. What we don't know is whether Gafa was getting himself out of position or if he was defending where the coach told him to.

(I think that a factor last week was that McNamara took the risk of playing Platt at right centre, thus freeing up Menzies to do what he does best, playing as a running forward. BTW, it's notable that all 3 of our tries were scored against the Platt/Sherriffe wing.)

: Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:08 am  

Good thread.

I think the key for me is that we organise ourselves differently in defence and attack. With ball in hand, I'd like to see Gale at FR, Dorn/Purdham at SR, with Melling as full-back chiming into the line. Key to making breaks is moving away from our flat attack and getting Gale/Dorn/Purdham running onto the ball and then putting it in the hands of Melling/Clubb/Sharp. For that reason, I would attack with:

Melling - Wells, Clubb, Sharp, Gafa - Dorn, Gale

The trouble, however, is that these players are better defending in different positions. So, Wells (safer under the high ball, fewer errors, better tackler) would switch with Melling (great kick returner) when the oppo have the ball. Sharp, too, would have to move out to the wing. Dorn has been hidden reasonably successfully at left centre where Howell has protected him at 3 in. In the absence of Howell, I'd have Gafa 3 in (a worry) and Williamson/Golden 4 in from the left.

IMO, Clubb must defend at centre (or come into the middle 4 defenders). He doesn't move up in defence and leaves gaps when defending 3 or 4 in. That would leave Gale 3 in on the right, Purdham 4 in.

Forwards:

Heckenberg, Randall, LMS - Bryan, Williamson, Purdham: Skee, Esders/Mbu, Golden, Haggerty

: Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:47 pm  

How awful is Dorn at full back? Maybe worth a punt? We can't have him playing in the halves anymore.

: Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:00 pm  

Luke Dorn can certainly do a job at full back.

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:19 am  

Dave Lister wrote:

How awful is Dorn at full back? Maybe worth a punt? We can't have him playing in the halves anymore.

The thing is we have two players in Wells and Melling who can play there very well, Wells defensively the better of the two (and the most solid), Melling the more creative if we're looking for an attacking fullback. It would be a risk to mess with one position we are actually fairly strong in just to find a spot for an out of sorts standoff, if we had real options he should be dropped.