Broncos need to bank on Wallace

[Coxy]

At the risk of having this thread immediately locked and myself banned, the issue of Wallace's form is now being written about in the media. As usual, at least 8 weeks behind my expert knowledge, but still, good to see Karl is on the ball finally.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5906057139

IT'S often said great players make those around them look good.

Which begs the question, can Peter Wallace really play, or has being Darren Lockyer's sidekick the past few seasons made him look better than he actually is?

Over the next few weeks we might find out, because the Broncos desperately need their No. 7 to make a stand.

With Lockyer sidelined because of a painful rib cartilage injury, which could fell him for the remainder of the regular season, Broncos' hopes of maintaining their proud record of 18 straight finals appearances suddenly hangs in the balance.

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Likely rookie of the year Matt Gillett was pitch-forked into the five-eighth role last week against Parramatta. For mine, it wasn't a gamble that paid off.

Gillett is a fine young player and potential superstar, but burdening him with a decision-making role was too much, too soon.

By switching Gillett, the Broncos also weakened a strength, which has been Gillett's hard running and skilful exploits on the fringes.

There was nothing wrong with Gillett's efforts at pivot. They were upbeat and at times he looked like he might bust the Eels open.

But the change of role seemed to have messed with his head a bit.

He went away from what he has done so well, challenging defenders and offering second phase play. Instead he was looking to throw spiral passes and ball play before the line.

Without Lockyer, there was something frantic about the Broncos. They were ripping in, but there wasn't the same control in their play.

With Lockyer they have a great ability to build pressure on the opposition. They construct sets rather than just running them down.

Against Parramatta that wasn't the case. You got the feeling if Brisbane were going to run down the Eels, it was going to be through an act of individual brilliance from Israel Folau or Sam Thaiday, rather than anything developed from the playbook.

If I was Ivan Henjak I'd return Gillett to the back row – and this time, not just hand Corey Norman the No. 6, but actually get him to play in it.

The kid has obviously got some talent. While the early season boom was probably over the top, you get the feeling he is the kind of player who relishes the challenge of being chucked in the deep end.

Then I'd be sitting down with Wallace and asking him to take command of the ship.

When he was signed from Penrith in 2008 there was a buzz about Wallace.

It didn't take him long to get up and running at his new club and suddenly he was being hailed as the Broncos' first genuine No. 7 since the retirement of club legend Allan Langer.

It's questionable whether Wallace has really kicked on.

He has played in two State of Origin series for NSW and been dropped both times – some would argue harshly, but dropped all the same. Injury also hasn't been kind and he wouldn't be the first player to lose confidence because of a fear his own body would not hold up under fire.

Wallace hasn't exactly played poorly this season, defending stoutly and producing the odd impressive touch.

He recently suggested his game hasn't gone backwards in 2010. But it has not flourished, either.

No doubt he is looking to get involved, but too often he has been guilty of pushing a pass, or taking on the line simply for the sake of it.

 

[tkday]

Lock this thread and ban Coxy please. It's been done to death.

 

[Bannermania]

stfu tkday. This isn't irrelevant discussion, Coxy has added no opinion, he's simply put up an article from the Courier Mail indicating that Wallace's struggles aren't going unnoticed.

This would've never happened with Tim Smith

 

[Coxy]

:roll: Anyway, my point in posting this is that one of the "defences" people were making for Wallace was that the league journos were all positive about Wallace, saying how good he was going...so I must be wrong.

Well, look, the so-called experts agree with me.

 

[Meat77]

stfu tkday. This isn't irrelevant discussion, Coxy has added no opinion, he's simply put up an article from the Courier Mail indicating that Wallace's struggles aren't going unnoticed.

This would've never happened with Tim Smith

Dude Tim Smith got dropped from the Sharks a few weeks ago so I doubt he would have been any better than Wallace is going

 

[Bannermania]

stfu tkday. This isn't irrelevant discussion, Coxy has added no opinion, he's simply put up an article from the Courier Mail indicating that Wallace's struggles aren't going unnoticed.

This would've never happened with Tim Smith

Dude Tim Smith got dropped from the Sharks a few weeks ago so I doubt he would have been any better than Wallace is going

He played a good game on Friday though.

 

[Flutterby]

If you want to discuss Tim Smith, start a new thread. And don't let any discussion re Wallace get out of hand again.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Lock this thread and ban Coxy please. It's been done to death.

lolz, you're really into banning aren't you. buddy.

 

[Bannermania]

If you want to discuss Tim Smith, start a new thread. And don't let any discussion re Wallace get out of hand again.

:roll: hardly a discussion about Tim Smith..christ. I'd be more pissed off about someone calling for someone else to be banned for no friggin' reason

 

[Flutterby]

Seriously! Did anyone get a warning or a ban for this? No. It was a gentle reminder before it becomes an off-topic discussion, so just calm down.

 

[Huge]

I can't help but think that Wally has been playing with an injury this season. I cannot blame him for the teams overall performance and will always believe he is a good quality first grader. I'm not blind to his failings at times and can see he has a need to improve but, at the risk of upsetting some, Henjaks boys appear directionless at times. Like there is no game plan or that the simple easy to follow plan is not used. That is, win the battle in the centre first then go for the big flashy plays later. We do not seem to do the boring stuff well. St George does.

I was watching Wallace at penrith and he has ability but it seems as though he is hampered by an injury that probably needs an off season to fix. I could be wrong but I don't he's lost ability just that he cannot show his best at the moment. Would be great if he exploded in these last few games but I think some hard basic stuff will get us into the semis.

 

[Coxy]

At the risk of sounding incredibly harsh, the only injury I think could be impacting Wallace's performances this year is a brain injury. His issue is more with taking wrong options rather than not being physically capable. Perhaps, yes, it's a physical injury that's playing on his mind - is it his ankle? He broke it pretty badly at the end of last year and maybe that makes him tentative to take on the line?

But if that's the case, IMO he should eliminate that from his game until he is confident to run it full tilt again. If that's the case then he should be focussing on organising his troops to hit the gaps and give them good ball. He's capable of doing it.

Karl deKroo I think has a point though. Wallace simply hasn't grown as a player. He's not really any better now than he was at Penrith. While Lockyer's there, that's fine. What he offers the team is enough. But when Locky's not there we need more from our first choice halfback.

It's definitely a challenge for Wallace to stand up and deliver that if not this season (it'd be harsh to expect someone to go from 50% to 100% in a couple of weeks) then next year. Hopefully a full offseason will help him work on aspects of his game that need it.

 

[Porthoz]

This is and always will be a matter of a half full vs. a half empty glass...

At the risk of being repetitive, and without questioning Coxy's incredible knowledge, I dare say that the main reason Wallace isn't performing as well as he could, is because of the service he gets from dummy half.

Claiming he's a senior player, because he has 100 first grade games is not really fair either. Directing such a young team is no small taks for any halfback, much less a 24 y/o who has played 95% of his games either at the start of his career or next to Darren Lockyer!

Having said that, I agree that Wallace needs to take more responsibility and probably has been comfy in Locky's shadow. But then again, only Thurston is capable of standing out next to the master!

 

[Bucking Beads]

I tend to agree that Wallace has not been helped this season by the poor service he has recieved from Dummy half. At the end of last year the service was no better and Wallace performed, I think he is just stuck in a rut. One big performance and he might think he can do it. Probably lacking in confidence also. I can;t see how though he was playing awesome before he snapped his ankle.

 

[Coxy]

I tend to agree that Wallace has not been helped this season by the poor service he has recieved from Dummy half. At the end of last year the service was no better and Wallace performed, I think he is just stuck in a rut. One big performance and he might think he can do it. Probably lacking in confidence also. I can;t see how though he was playing awesome before he snapped his ankle.

Some players really struggle mentally with injuries. Even subconsciously. As I said earlier in this thread, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt on that, and hope a good strong offseason training and trials helps him restore that confidence.

Regardless what happens the rest of this year, next year is make or break.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I tend to agree that Wallace has not been helped this season by the poor service he has recieved from Dummy half. At the end of last year the service was no better and Wallace performed, I think he is just stuck in a rut. One big performance and he might think he can do it. Probably lacking in confidence also. I can;t see how though he was playing awesome before he snapped his ankle.

Some players really struggle mentally with injuries. Even subconsciously. As I said earlier in this thread, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt on that, and hope a good strong offseason training and trials helps him restore that confidence.

Regardless what happens the rest of this year, next year is make or break.

Next year is make or break for Wallace, and McCullough IMO. Both are the two keys to our future without Lockyer IMO.

 

[lynx000]

Coxy, do you think that it maybe a confidence issue? That he needs to spend some time with Phil Jauncey?

 

[Coxy]

Coxy, do you think that it maybe a confidence issue? That he needs to spend some time with Phil Jauncey?

Ha, given I'm not one who talks to Wallace on a daily basis as a member of the coaching staff it'd be tough for me to answer that question [icon_wink However, I would hope the coaching staff have considered that possibility with him and if they thought it was the problem have sat him down with Phil.