It won't let me quote your post about Handley Tad.
Basically, Rohan has said a few times in interviews that Handley is keen to play FB and the club believes he has the attributes to develop there. The same has been said by Craig Harrison and John Bastian.
IMO he should only be at FB when needs absolute must.
I've no issue with Handley been given the chance to show he can play fullback if thats where he feels he wants to play. But these last few games have shown he is not a fullback and should be back on the wing.
We're a professional sports team. We cannot seriously be in a situation where a player says "I fancy a shot at playing there" and he gets to play there, in first team games, with comp points at stake.
It happened a few times in the NRL. There was a fad a few years ago with a bunch of threequarters clamouring to play full back - presumably for the higher prestige and salaries. Most sank without trace, even talented players like Val Holmes. Mitchell is now a very good full back, but I'd argue he could have been seen as one of the greatest centres of all time had he stayed there, rather than 'just' being a very good fullback. Bottom line is that the skillset is very different to the rest of the threequarters - just because someone is quick, strong etc doesn't mean they can play fullback.
YosemiteSam wrote:We're a professional sports team. We cannot seriously be in a situation where a player says "I fancy a shot at playing there" and he gets to play there, in first team games, with comp points at stake.
I dont think he would have been given the chance if we had a fully fit squad, as was the case at the start of the season
leedsbarmyarmy wrote:I dont think he would have been given the chance if we had a fully fit squad, as was the case at the start of the season
I agree but also handley played quite a bit of preseason and trained there most of it. Craig Harrison went as far as to say he will be in the 1 shirt in the longer term.
If it was up to me one player I do think could make a good attacking FB is Newman given the opportunity.
Joined: Nov 04 2013 Posts: 982 Location: Central Scotland
Do the players not speak frankly to each other?
If Handley has fancied himself at FB, surely during a game / training / getting changed / heading to their cars / having a coffee at some point, someone (I'd be looking at someone who seems fairly 'straight' and who says things as they are) would say something like "Ash, I get the FB thing and wanting to be more directly involved and creating things more than just finishing them... But, you are 27 now and have been getting selected at wing for years, where people are positive and complimentary about your efforts and skills over the years. Can you, hand on heart, say you have played better the last 6 weeks at FB as you were typically playing on the wing...?"
I'd be doing it, if I had a colleague on my team whose role change was meaning me and everyone else having to pick up extra slack to cover their inadequacies. Especially if the role they were doing before was one actually, they were decent and reliable in. They must be around each other 4-5 hours a day, 5 times a week, and no-one at any point has said such a thing to him..?
There is a clear lack of leadership in the group. I could only imagine someone like Donaldson or Cam Smith being the type to maybe say something like that. Myler might have been more likely in the past, but seems to have regressed and stepped back from doing that since his marriage ended.
Joined: Feb 26 2002 Posts: 9574 Location: anywhere, literally...
If in conversation with GH, RS says he wants to give Handley the 1 shirt next year, GH should be pulling the trigger. That would be the final evidence, the crowning turd in the waterpipe, that RS does not know how to set a team up to win in this country.
I don't see it happening.
It's not how much talent you've got, it's what you do with it that counts.
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