NEWS Versatile Bird no lock to stay centre

[Huge]

I don't deny that I do it every now and then. Difference with me is, I’ll own up to it..

No, you're no different. You would like to think you are but I've always owned my failings. In fact, if could be bothered I'd be able to find several examples but **** trying to prove that to some random. Guilty as charged you are.

 

[Wolfie]

We will have to wait and see how it goes when he gets there. I dont think its going to be an issue tbh even though it is a different time from when the likes of Hanley played there. He is a good footballer at the end of the day.

 

[big k]

I'm torn with regards to Bird at lock. Only because we now hove alot of foward depth and Oates already wants to move into the pack.

If Bird plays at lock he'll be more of a roaming 13 that can ball play and kick. Not a bad thing, we don't always havee to pigeon hole positions in how they should play.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

We won last week because of our power game. We stuck it to them, the supposed best in the business, that's how we won. That's how we were able to have a bit of room in attack, how we were able to fatigue them so TPJ could barge over, and Roberts could step through them. We had numbers in the tackles, we wrestled them around to slow down their PTB's, and we got up in their faces to chop them down before they had momentum. That's all the work of our forwards.

Without all of the forwards contributing, we'll simply be overpowered, like we were against the Dragons. No amount of passes at the line, late footwork, inside balls, and tricky plays will matter if we're getting smashed the moment we catch the ball. For those things to work, we need space, we need momentum, and 5 forwards vs 6 isn't going to give us that.

I totally agree we need to match these teams in the middle and earn it, that was why I emphasised "IF TPJ or lodge can match them". We wouldn't have 5 forwards in the game, we'd have 8-9. The bench plays a role and would continue to do so.

We didn't beat them with a power game btw. We played aggressive in the middle, totally different. McGuire (our smallest forward) was the only one who made more or got even close to 150 metres. That's less then power game forwards average.

I'm not saying it will 100% work. I'm not saying it is better then what we currently have. I'm not even suggesting it is birds best position (an aggressive centre (eg Inglis in origin) can have even more impact in a game offensively and defensively). What I am thinking though is, if we try to be the storm or the cowboys we will do well, but we will always be 2nd or 3rd best at it. Bennett will have to weigh up at some point later on in the season whether we need something different to what the rest of the comp is offering to bring home a trophy or whether we keep playing it safe with what we know works. I know it's not a similar positional switch but hodges continuing to get picked over hunt in 2006 was a similar situation in regards to a decision that gave us a point of difference and was outside what every other team was using in that position. Then again, so was Thaiday to hooker lol so who knows...

 

[Number6]

Why does lock have to make that many tackles or so many hit ups. One of broncs issues is too much one up stuff or wasting tackles with a late set forward run. Move the ball a little more but i think Bird could be damaging with runs from dummy half or linking with another ball runner (with odd dummy where sees a hole) more than classic hit ups.

As for defence if does 25 instead of 35 not the end of the world. Use speed of centres and wingers to harass in defence from marker when keeping teams pinned down. Or my preferred option of playing 3 props first 20 to soak up early work with a guy like TPJ told you have 20 go hard then you’ll have a long break to recover for your next stint at 50min mark and then bring Bird in fresh to run riot on tired and shell shocked defence.

 

[Unbreakable]

Apparently Bird & Isaako played a bit of footy together in the Sharks U20's, would make sense if when Kahu returns we rekindle that partnership on the left hand side.

Left: Isaako & Bird
Right: Roberts & Kahu

Obviously, Oates on the bench or in the forwards.

 

[Sanjit Joseph]

Apparently Bird & Isaako played a bit of footy together in the Sharks U20's, would make sense if when Kahu returns we rekindle that partnership on the left hand side.

Left: Isaako & Bird
Right: Roberts & Kahu

Obviously, Oates on the bench or in the forwards.

I heard somewhere that they moved isakko next to Roberts because he can keep up with Roberts. Kahu was to slow to work with Roberts. I read that somewhere. Not so sure where though

 

[Jason Simmons]

I heard somewhere that they moved isakko next to Roberts because he can keep up with Roberts. Kahu was to slow to work with Roberts. I read that somewhere. Not so sure where though

Whoever said that was obviously entirely un-aware of team selections, so I wouldn’t be taking their word as gospel, particularly given Kahu has played alongside Roberts for the last two seasons...

Isaako was playing right wing, because Kahu was selected at left centre...

 

[HarryAllan7]

Versatile Bird no 'LOCK' to play centre.

They're trying to tell us something...

 

[Jason Simmons]

Versatile Bird no 'LOCK' to play centre.

They're trying to tell us something...

Subtle and clever lot, aren’t they?

:mmmmdoughnut:

 

[mieko]

I'd like to see bird 5/8, milf to half and Kodi on the bench. Opa in the centres too. Still think he could be freddy like at 5/8.

 

[1910]

Apparently Bird & Isaako played a bit of footy together in the Sharks U20's, would make sense if when Kahu returns we rekindle that partnership on the left hand side.

Left: Isaako & Bird
Right: Roberts & Kahu

Obviously, Oates on the bench or in the forwards.

Bird only played 20's for the Dragons. 37 games, 15 tries. 13-14.

Bennett said yesterday in the press conference that he signed him, went to his house and got him as a 16 year old.

 

[Morkel]

I heard somewhere that they moved isakko next to Roberts because he can keep up with Roberts. Kahu was to slow to work with Roberts. I read that somewhere. Not so sure where though

Bird only played 20's for the Dragons. 37 games, 15 tries. 13-14.

Bennett said yesterday in the press conference that he signed him, went to his house and got him as a 16 year old.

 

[Aldo]

Does anyone know what Bird thinks is his best position? I know he has said that he'll play anywhere but not sure I've seen anything from him as to what position he sees himself as.

 

[Unbreakable]

Does anyone know what Bird thinks is his best position? I know he has said that he'll play anywhere but not sure I've seen anything from him as to what position he sees himself as.

Five-Eighth from memory.

 

[Sproj]

He could play pretty much anywhere but from the Broncs, he is very much needed at left centre.

 

[BroncsFan]

Bird only played 20's for the Dragons. 37 games, 15 tries. 13-14.

Bennett said yesterday in the press conference that he signed him, went to his house and got him as a 16 year old.

Completely forgot that Bennett would've been coach of drags when Bird was coming through... good insight and probably why Bennett was so keen to get him

 

[Thelmus]

That is one thing as about bennet. He seems to find a quality player in every team he coaches, from the fringes. From England we got saviello, st George got him bird, and back in the day when he coached Qld, there were a number of southern based rep players that came home. It's one of the less publicised aspects of his club coaching.