Dale Copley

[Dexter]

Interesting reading the varied opinion on Copley last week. I thought he was at the least very solid including under the high ball while others thought he was sod ordinary and looked shaky at the back.

He is shaping as one of those players who really divides opinion probably because he rarely does anything brilliant or creates something individually.

Personally I think the club has brought him along nicely after a dubious start albeit at a very young age. He's still young and IMO will develop further and go a long way possibly to Origin level.

 

[Steve]

He was pretty good last week but he's the only player that I hold my breath for when he carts the footy back or stands under the high ball. He seems to be a quintessential confidence player. Definitely needs more exposure to the top grade so he can develop his confidence and skills. With Yow Yeh down it's a really good opportunity for him.

 

[The Brizz]

Made an atrocious decision to come in way too far for one try and didn't even get a hand on a bomb he had plenty of time to get to, I think the guy is absolutely useless as a winger, looks much more comfortable as a centre which is his natural position but we have better options than him there anyway.

 

[lynx000]

He is not flashy like some of our other young backs, eg Gagai, Yow Yeh, but I like him and I think he is developing nicely. I see him more in a Chris Johns/Michael De Vere role in the future. If he has a flashy centre partner, it makes for a good balance.

 

[ethos]

While he looks a little out of his depth at times, I still think he's got a big future and is worth persevering with for sure.

I remember how timid Boyd looked when he first came into the top grade.. now look where is and the way he plays - reckon Copley can travel a similar path.

 

[vertigo]

Good thing is he doesn't crumble after a mistake, he does whatever he can to make up for it.

 

[Ari Gold]

IMO Dale Copley is a Rugby League journeyman in waiting, and whether he plays 1 or 100 more games he will still be a Rugby League nobody. The best he will ever be is a steady player who can 'do a job'. Dependable but expendable is the limit to his potential.

 

[Charmamba]

Copely will be star, Just need to be patient with him.

 

[Big Pete]

Dale's in a strange stage of his career where physically he isn't up to playing centre but isn't naturally a winger so he struggles to position himself correctly.

I've watched a lot of Dale in the 20's and he's definitely got a lot of class about him and reads the play better than most, much like Boyd could at a young age. Unfortunately for Copley, he's had a difficult time with injury and I believe his last two seasons have ended with him rehabing one injury or another. If he can make it this year with a full clean bill of health, have a big off-season I believe we have ourselves an awesome back-up for when Hodges inevitably breaks down.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Copley is still very young and has been in and out of the first grade side. He has also been played out of position most games. Give him a little bit of time and I think we will have a very good player on our hands..

 

[Alec]

I don't think he'll stick around with us for long. I mean, yeah, he seems to be our first reserve back, but I think Gagai will (and should) jump over him in the rotation, and eventually he'll look somewhere else.

 

[elyod138]

I'd take him at the Cowboys.

I still think he's on track to be a very good NRL centre in the future.

 

[pennywisealfie]

I don't see much in him tbh.

 

[m1c]

Happy to reserve judgement until we see him given an extended run in the top grade in his preferred position.

 

[Jeba]

Made an atrocious decision to come in way too far for one try and didn't even get a hand on a bomb he had plenty of time to get to, I think the guy is absolutely useless as a winger, looks much more comfortable as a centre which is his natural position but we have better options than him there anyway.

Are you talking about the Fai Fai Loa try? If you are, we were massively short on his side and Hodges and Lockyer had come in as well. If Copley stays out the Cowboys would've scored off the short pass. Most times in that sort of situation the winger isn't at fault IMO.

 

[Dexter]

Totally agree Jeb.

I have noticed also that teams are playing the attacking wing that bit deeper the last few weeks on the second man plays making the defending winger hesitate as he follows his inside men and then realises he can't shut down.

There were quite a few no look or rushed passes which found the man on the weekend because of this.

 

[Dexter]

Thought I'd bump this, always good to see what ppl really thought at an earlier time.

 

[Huge]

Good idea Dexter...kind of makes it difficult to praise him for his excellent effort last night if a poster was saying he was a nuffy !!

I really like the maturity of some posters when they write that they'd like to see him over a distance before making some absolute decision on his potential. The Broncos tend to have a big proportion of the team under 22/23 y/old so it's no surprise when inexperience and impulsiveness creep in. My old Mum(84) watches the Broncs religiously (she uses the net too but I'm keeping BHQ secret from her !!) and she ,surprisingly is a pretty fair judge. In her opinion the Broncs over the last month or so have been going okay just playing without any luck...and I agree with her on that at least.

Copley has the right stuff and bulk ticker. I like his effort and think he inspires a few around him,definite NRL standard. Hope he hangs around and ,believe it or not,I think in the future he will play a Tonie Carrol role.