Rogues Gallery wrote:I know he's well liked and respected by a lot of the younger players, has a very good attitude at training and is a good organiser/talker.
Does that make him good enough, probably not, but until we get someone better, then hell do for me.
There are two other Aussies I would release before him for next season (Smith and Phelps)
Seems to pretty much sum him up, a model pro.
Personally, I feel he'll do much better as a centre with Roberts outside him.
Think back to the last few seasons and how flat Calderwood always was compared to his centre. While I would be the first to say Calders didn't get enough ball, it doesn't help if a winger is to flat.
Watch Roberts. He generally stands a yard or so further back from his centre, allowing the centre a bigger window of opportunity to decide what to do with the ball and also means he can cut in if required with a reduced risk of collision or obstruction.
Bailey's trademark offload at Cronulla was exactly like the Gidley-Gardner combination of whereby Bailey would aim to get on the outside shoulder of the opposing centre. If the wing man doesn't commit, he will try to fend and go. If the winger does commit, he will flick the ball back one handed to his winger, having made the gap.
I seem to recall a couple of these on Saturday, one of which put Roberts on a 20 metre break from inside our own half. If he can do that in our opponents 20 or 30 then the fullback won't get across and it's try time.
A bit long winded I know but what I'm trying to say in basic terms is that after just one game there are inklings that he and Roberts will work well together. This isn't necessarily because Bailey has suddenly become a better centre but because a winger of Roberts' quality can help to bring out the best in Bailey. This is similar to a class centre in Gidley bringing out the best in Gardner.
). He was blowing out of his behind after 16 minutes last time out and it simply isn't good enough, particularly when we have other obvious options.
