: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:16 am  

bexandy-FC wrote:

If Byrne plays like this week in, week out then Tony will and should be on the bench. Apart from that one mistake he caught everything and stopped everything. Watching him set himself for a one on one tackle you could see he was confident. I like Tony but he makes me nervous.

Byrne or Motu should never be on the bench unless they are the only fit players. One plays and one doesn't, we have other priorities for the bench.

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:30 am  

I can't speak for those already posted on this thread but so many fans have labeled Todd as average and a waste of a quota place. I'm so pleased to see him getting the support he deserves. A quality player IMO and ex NZ test caps to his name.
He would be my first choice fullback as I think it's his best and favoured position. At least on a par with Motu who still doesn't fit with my idea of a fullback. I'm in the 'defensive ball catching' camp rather than the 'second stand off' camp. Incidently I believe stand off would better suit Motu but I'm not looking to spark a Byrne v Tony row. I had enough of the Briscoe one. Just my observations.

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:46 am  

Darkside Dave wrote:

I can't speak for those already posted on this thread but so many fans have labeled Todd as average and a waste of a quota place. I'm so pleased to see him getting the support he deserves. A quality player IMO and ex NZ test caps to his name.
He would be my first choice fullback as I think it's his best and favoured position. At least on a par with Motu who still doesn't fit with my idea of a fullback. I'm in the 'defensive ball catching' camp rather than the 'second stand off' camp. Incidently I believe stand off would better suit Motu but I'm not looking to spark a Byrne v Tony row. I had enough of the Briscoe one. Just my observations.

agree with you mate.

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:54 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Byrne or Motu should never be on the bench unless they are the only fit players. One plays and one doesn't, we have other priorities for the bench.

Think Tony could be a bench player because he could be used instead of houghton in an impact hooker role as well as being cover for the backs.

I agree though that we shouldn't use a sub place primarily for an outside back

[Kosh]

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:08 pm  

Darkside Dave wrote:

I can't speak for those already posted on this thread but so many fans have labeled Todd as average and a waste of a quota place. I'm so pleased to see him getting the support he deserves. A quality player IMO and ex NZ test caps to his name.
He would be my first choice fullback as I think it's his best and favoured position. At least on a par with Motu who still doesn't fit with my idea of a fullback. I'm in the 'defensive ball catching' camp rather than the 'second stand off' camp. Incidently I believe stand off would better suit Motu but I'm not looking to spark a Byrne v Tony row. I had enough of the Briscoe one. Just my observations.

Except that on the odd occasion that he's played there he's been largely pants.

I don't class Tony as a 'pivot' FB anyway. For me he's an attacking fullback whose main strength is his kick returns. He makes good yardage and always gets a quick PTB, which is tremendously important for us as we otherwise struggle to clear our line and make progress up the field. That's really my only reason for preferring Tony to a more defensive FB like Byrne.

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:42 pm  

Kosh wrote:

Except that on the odd occasion that he's played there he's been largely pants.

I don't class Tony as a 'pivot' FB anyway. For me he's an attacking fullback whose main strength is his kick returns. He makes good yardage and always gets a quick PTB, which is tremendously important for us as we otherwise struggle to clear our line and make progress up the field. That's really my only reason for preferring Tony to a more defensive FB like Byrne.

Totally agree with everything there. (including prefering Tony at FB)

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:37 pm  

Darkside Dave wrote:

I can't speak for those already posted on this thread but so many fans have labeled Todd as average and a waste of a quota place. I'm so pleased to see him getting the support he deserves. A quality player IMO and ex NZ test caps to his name.
.

Byrne is Australian. I'm pretty sure he has no NZ test caps unless he bought them from Ebay

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:49 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

Totally agree with everything there. (including prefering Tony at FB)

tbh tony is a forwards dream the amount of carrys he makes for the team ,both him and bryne are great squad players able to play a number of roles in the team ,i like whiting at centre as well such a smart player reads the game so well, and as an eye for the unexspected which results in somthing positive for the team so many times,carnt help thinking todd is a bit of a waste of a quota spot though ,for me we had a specialist FB now we have too very good utility players ,but lets not get into that one

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:08 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

Byrne is Australian. I'm pretty sure he has no NZ test caps unless he bought them from Ebay

haha