Our instinctive shift is to the left so we got it out to DFJ repeatedly. We didn't move it right often enough to get a feel for Blackmore in my opinion. On DFJ, his willingness to take up the ball is relentless. Perhaps I'm being unkind but I'd sometimes question just how effective that is, but he's got work ethic for sure!
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 31965 Location: The Corridor of Uncertainty
I thought the looped passes to DFJ didn't really work in the first half as the cover had no problem shifting across. Trying a block play would've created more space for him as it always puts a defender in a bit of doubt whether to cover the player on the short pass or not.
Blackmore is a big lad and will be useful on the kick returns judging by his size. He doesn't look the most agile or quickest though. If I were in the opposition I'd be putting kicks in behind him for wingers to run onto.
DFJ is a busy player and did a lot of carries and got some good quick PTBs. Would like to see him backing up more in the middle.
Think we're going to need reinforcements on the wing to cover for injury and loss of form
"If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them," - Wayne Bennett.
I totally understand how the backs need to help out the forwards. I just feel a little cold about the ineffectual little scoot (like every single Elliott Kear carry). Probably after being spoilt by Vaikona, Vainikolo and other monsters over the years, the sight of DFJ buzzing around like a rabbit and making 6 centimetres seems meh.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 31965 Location: The Corridor of Uncertainty
We were spoilt with Vaikona and Vainikolo that's for sure. So much is expected from wings nowadays. You need to be athletic enough to dive in at the corner and to be safe under a high cross-kick so being quite tall is useful. You need to be big enough to help your forwards out with the ball in hand on kick returns and/or elusive enough to make ground and get a quick PTB.
Getting someone that ticks all those boxes at our level is nigh on impossible. We could do with a bit more depth though.
"If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them," - Wayne Bennett.
Bullseye wrote:We were spoilt with Vaikona and Vainikolo that's for sure. So much is expected from wings nowadays. You need to be athletic enough to dive in at the corner and to be safe under a high cross-kick so being quite tall is useful. You need to be big enough to help your forwards out with the ball in hand on kick returns and/or elusive enough to make ground and get a quick PTB.
Getting someone that ticks all those boxes at our level is nigh on impossible. We could do with a bit more depth though.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 31965 Location: The Corridor of Uncertainty
It was good to see Lawford play well yesterday I thought he stood up well in defence after being tested out early on and with ball in hand he looked good - the try he scored was impressive. There were few mistakes but for the first pre season game I thought it was good stuff. It'll be useful to have genuine competition for places at halfback next year.
"If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them," - Wayne Bennett.
Decent performance against a team likely to be in the top 2 of L1.
Some pleasing signs, Walkers try, nice to see good back up play. Been a massive issue for me has our support play (or lack of) last couple of years. Nice try from Lawford too which will only give the kid more confidence. Plenty to work on with much tougher tests to come.
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