Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:48 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Barba's defence was terrible but we are talking about entertainment and Barba on his day was ridiculous. Field is lighning quick but he'll have a long way to go to match peak Barba - I hope for the sake of the league he does. I'm going to try not to scoff at the Field comparison just yet and I'll certainly reserve judgement on whether he can defend

On the French comparison - he was great in 2020 and scored 17 tries. In his MoS season Barba scored 31 and probably another 25/30 assists - he was unplayable. Unless you wanted to run at him.

I have no argument with the fact that he scored some amazing tries. He was also amongst (if not the) worst defensive fullback I've ever seen. Utterly appalling at times. In his MOS season he covered that with his attack but in his final season he most certainly didn't! I'd say that was one of the biggest falls from grace I've seen recently in rugby, beaten only by Zak at Cas. Mind you Zak was one game whereas Barba stunk for a good part of that season. To be fair he did give me a good laugh as I watched player after player run over the top of him so it wasn't all bad

Scoff away. That's your right. Be sure I'll bring this up again at the end of the season though

More tries or not French everyday of the week and twice on Sundays over Barba. I wouldn't want Barba near our team and I'm not just saying that for effect.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:54 pm  

Are people really suggesting that French is a better full back than Ben Barba was? I wonder what game people watch sometimes and if they cherry and white specs stay on 24/7 365 days a year.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:08 pm  

There's been quite a few posts since I posted so I won't try and quote them all.

However...

Barba was unplayable Feb- June 18, literally on another level. His head was turned after Magic weekend that year when his agent told him of NRL interest and he stopped playing after that. He won MOS that year based on 4 months of excellence. Let's see what Field does...

Secondly I loved Holbrook and its true that we had a better attack under him. However I am way more confident in the big games under Woolf. He has only lost one knockout game in 2 seasons and gave a very good Roosters team a good game in the WCC, we could easily have won that game.

Holbrook lost the 2019 CC Final in a game where we were heavy favourites and also lost the Play off semi-final in 2018. I honestly think we would've lost the 2020 GF under Holbrook. We would've got frustated and chanced our arm. Wigan defended outstanding that night and Finals should be low scoring games anyway. We completed well and chances were at a premium.

We now have the big-game mentality that makes me confident in every big game that we play. I didn't have that confidence under Holbrook and as good as that 2019 team was we were fortunate to play Salford in the GF who didn't really turn up.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:12 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Are people really suggesting that French is a better full back than Ben Barba was? I wonder what game people watch sometimes and if they cherry and white specs stay on 24/7 365 days a year.

Hats off for being honest. Lets not forget also that despite all the troubles he had, he was also instrumental in Cronulla winning the NRL GF in 2016, his try scoring record and assists was ridiculous that season. French and Field are only here because they can't get a starting spot in the NRL. Barba was proven in the NRL. His defence was awful but attack wise he was on another level.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:13 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Are people really suggesting that French is a better full back than Ben Barba was? I wonder what game people watch sometimes and if they cherry and white specs stay on 24/7 365 days a year.

People aren't. I am. I wouldn't have Barba near my team. Feel free to disagree.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:13 pm  

Stu M wrote:

There's been quite a few posts since I posted so I won't try and quote them all.

However...

Barba was unplayable Feb- June 18, literally on another level. His head was turned after Magic weekend that year when his agent told him of NRL interest and he stopped playing after that. He won MOS that year based on 4 months of excellence. Let's see what Field does...

Secondly I loved Holbrook and its true that we had a better attack under him. However I am way more confident in the big games under Woolf. He has only lost one knockout game in 2 seasons and gave a very good Roosters team a good game in the WCC, we could easily have won that game.

Holbrook lost the 2019 CC Final in a game where we were heavy favourites and also lost the Play off semi-final in 2018. I honestly think we would've lost the 2020 GF under Holbrook. We would've got frustated and chanced our arm. Wigan defended outstanding that night and Finals should be low scoring games anyway. We completed well and chances were at a premium.

We now have the big-game mentality that makes me confident in every big game that we play. I didn't have that confidence under Holbrook and as good as that 2019 team was we were fortunate to play Salford in the GF who didn't really turn up.

Big game mentality is something we had under Wane. I wasn't particularly a fan of our style but in a big game I would put my life on us winning regardless of the team we had out. Under Lam I think we won 1/7.

The way that Peet has been talking about the changes at the club, I am hoping that comes back but we won't know until we're in one.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:16 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Hats off for being honest. Lets not forget also that despite all the troubles he had, he was also instrumental in Cronulla winning the NRL GF in 2016, his try scoring record and assists was ridiculous that season. French and Field are only here because they can't get a starting spot in the NRL. Barba was proven in the NRL. His defence was awful but attack wise he was on another level.

His defence was awful but, perhaps more importantly, his attitude was awful. Why do you think his career went the way it did? Why was he at Saints in the first place and why didn't Cronulla keep him?

Fantastic attack, no doubt. Absolutely awful in every other respect.

I suppose you pays your money and takes your choice.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:16 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

People aren't. I am. I wouldn't have Barba near my team. Feel free to disagree.

To be fair I understand your point and believe it has merit. I'm not yet sure that there is any universe where Jai Field would be selected before Ben Barba but maybe I'll change my mind.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:18 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Hats off for being honest. Lets not forget also that despite all the troubles he had, he was also instrumental in Cronulla winning the NRL GF in 2016, his try scoring record and assists was ridiculous that season. French and Field are only here because they can't get a starting spot in the NRL. Barba was proven in the NRL. His defence was awful but attack wise he was on another level.

How come it's only being honest if it agrees with your point of view. You may not agree with, or even like, what I'm saying but I can absolutely assure you it's honest.

Re: Forward watch : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:20 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

How come it's only being honest if it agrees with your point of view. You may not agree with, or even like, what I'm saying but I can absolutely assure you it's honest.

.
Ok thats a fair point. I just meant that he/she hasn't allowed cherry and white bias to influence his/her post.