Fight for Fullback

[Big Pete]

The point is not exaggerated pete, our 1 should be doing that every game and more than once a game not twice in a season.

I agree he should based on the second half of last season and I believe he will now that we have an experienced half like Prince feeding him good ball as opposed to the likes of Wallace & Norman feeding him flat balls with little to no room.

I was responding to the phrase, 'something Hoff couldn't manage'. Images don't lie and I'd dare say that example was far more difficult and important than Norman's.

You are the one making exaggerations by posting a clip of Hoffman scoring off a break.

:001_unsure: How is that an exaggeration? Where did I say he was a great supporting fullback?

I'll concede I implied he had the ability to support in him, because well, look at the video. To say he can't manage it is off base and frankly adds nothing to the discussion.

 

[big_D]

Norman is fcken a turd sandwich. I rather Hoffman at the back even though he has the ball skills of a Ellen Degeneres

 

[Dexter]

I agree he should based on the second half of last season and I believe he will now that we have an experienced half like Prince feeding him good ball as opposed to the likes of Wallace & Norman feeding him flat balls with little to no room.

I was responding to the phrase, 'something Hoff couldn't manage'. Images don't lie and I'd dare say that example was far more difficult and important than Norman's.



:001_unsure: How is that an exaggeration? Where did I say he was a great supporting fullback?

I'll concede I implied he had the ability to support in him, because well, look at the video. To say he can't manage it is off base and frankly adds nothing to the discussion.

Well I think you are being a little to literal, but I'll amend that to read he can't manage it often enough to a make a difference to our season.

 

[Big Pete]

The only argument I can honestly see for Norman is that 'he's not Hoffman'.

His passing game in the halves has left a lot to be desired, his stints at fullback have always ended as busts & he certainly hasn't reached the heights of Hoffman which either way you slice it says a lot about him.

If we're going for alternatives, I'd almost have Norman at the bottom of the pile. Capewell is the only person preventing that from happening.

 

[broncos4life]

Norman is fcken a turd sandwich. I rather Hoffman at the back even though he has the ball skills of a Ellen Degeneres

Hey Elia! What's this alias number 50 now? So does big D stand for big Dane??? Only you could know how truly big he is hey mate?

 

[Bronco bob]

I think that this year is do or die for griffin. I am starting to realise that this could be a lot do with the coach and even could be his fault. I had nothing but praise for him the first 2 years but I think we are all unhappy with his performance as a coach last year. If he puts Hoffman at 1 and over the first 6 weeks our attack looks as bad as it last year and he doesn't make any changes then he needs to go. Think about it, we have the players to win a comp but he is not playing them in the right way. We just made the 8 last year with the most players provided to SOS,
which in its self is ridiculous and by the looks of that last trial, nothing has changed.

 

[Bronco bob]

By the way my thoughts on the fullback, give the hoff 5 weeks, if he doesn't regain form then put him in the centers. I would be happy with anyone that can pass. It is clear as day that with inadequate halves we need a fullback that can pass. The best FB's in the comp are all the third half

 

[Porthoz]

I could do the video thing too, as 8 of the 10 Norman tries last season were from support play, which in itself would be enough to justify me calling his support play excellent.
Same thing goes for passing, even if Norman does hog the ball too much, as well as timing his runs... you will seldom see Norman running into the defense as soon as he gets the ball, while Hoffman pretty much always gets smashed as soon as he gets the ball. Your video example shows this as well, he had barely any time to pass the ball before he got hit.

Norman's problem for mine, is that he's too nonchalant and lacks the necessary vision to be a halve at the moment, but I think he can do the job at the back, especially if Hook can coach some sense of urgency into his defense.

Check out the highlights of Rnds 5, 7, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23 and the final against the Cowboys to see what I mean with Norman's attacking ability, at least compared to Hoffman's!

 

[Mr Fourex]

Norman's problem for mine, is that he's too nonchalant and lacks the necessary vision to be a halve at the moment, but I think he can do the job at the back, especially if Hook can coach some sense of urgency into his defense.

That's one reason why he worries me at fullback ......

 

[Porthoz]

And that's definitely a valid concern, which is why I hope Hook and Kearney can inject (pun intended) some sense of urgency into his defense.

Having said that, I think our attack is much more of a worry than our defense, which is why I prefer a weaker defensively Norman, than a clueless Hoffman in attack. Besides, I think Hoffman could even thrive as centre in Reed's spot, if the latter doesn't improve quickly.

 

[noisetheory]

its norman for me. but i'm happy to give hoffman the benefit of the doubt to show what hes got in the real season. having said that i want norman in halves with prince. if the halves are to be prince+wallace, then norman goes to fullback. there is no way i'd have norman left out of the side altogether. and thats not because i think he's fantastic.. i just think he can offer something to the team which the other guys cant. he does have skill. he does have the ability to break tackles. he just needs someone to show him the way.

however. back to being happy for hoffman to start at 1. reason being we have a real half in prince. if hoffman is still BS at timing a run/sweeping play with prince directing traffic then he has to go.

actually now im just getting annoyed at hoffman thinking about it. feck we need someone with urgency. someone who will inject themselves. someone who will take the game on. hoffman runs it back like he's trying to avoid getting hurt.

watch everything norman did in the first 30 mins of the game against the dogs last year. and how good our attack looked.

for the record i dont think norman is that great. i just think he's a better option than hoffman.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hodges. You might be weakening one position, but think if the massive advantages. Instead of Hodges only popping up on the right hand side of the field he could attack from both sides. Imagine how dangerous he could be from the back seeing everything in front of him. Of Hoffman doesn't work out early it has to be done.

 

[Big Pete]

I could do the video thing too, as 8 of the 10 Norman tries last season were from support play, which in itself would be enough to justify me calling his support play excellent.

Pull the other one.

Those tries arrived because he was in his spot at five eigth, not because he was roaming around field like a fullback. Only one try resulted from his support play from fullback.

Same thing goes for passing, even if Norman does hog the ball too much, as well as timing his runs... you will seldom see Norman running into the defense as soon as he gets the ball, while Hoffman pretty much always gets smashed as soon as he gets the ball.

You don't think these two incidents are related?

Hoffman barely has any room because the halves telegraph the play so much.

 

[noisetheory]

Hoffman barely has any room because the halves telegraph the play so much.

this is why i am happy for hoffman to get first gig and see how things go with a real half in Prince. if he's still shizen well the problem is 100% hoffman.

 

[Coxy]

Sheesh. Arguing who is worse out of Hoffman and Norman. It's like arguing whether you'd prefer syphilis or gonorrhea.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Sheesh. Arguing who is worse out of Hoffman and Norman. It's like arguing whether you'd prefer syphilis or gonorrhea.

Very true. It shows how bad of state our squad is at the moment. We are in desperate need of some players to step up or to sign some players.

 

[Porthoz]

Pull the other one.

Those tries arrived because he was in his spot at five eigth, not because he was roaming around field like a fullback. Only one try resulted from his support play from fullback.



You don't think these two incidents are related?

Hoffman barely has any room because the halves telegraph the play so much.

Surely you jest! :ohmy:

Those are typical fullback tries, and I'm not only talking about the Slaters or Barbas of this world. Any decent fullback would have either scored those tries or would've been thereabouts. Hoffman was nowhere near those plays!
Besides, how many five-eights do you see scoring tries like that on a regular basis?

Funny how when Norman or Hodges played the position, they had no trouble with the telegraphed passes.
Kid yourself as much as you want, but Hoffman has the worst run timing in the world. He's the one that telegraphs the play. Actually, let me correct that... he mails it per registered post!

 

[Big Pete]

Those are typical fullback tries, and I'm not only talking about the Slaters or Barbas of this world. Any decent fullback would have either scored those tries or would've been thereabouts. Hoffman was nowhere near those plays!
Besides, how many five-eights do you see scoring tries like that on a regular basis?

What, accepting a miracle offload 5m away when you're about to set up another play? Running through from first receiver against some terrible Dragons defence? Collecting a kick off the posts?

Those happen every week, I honestly don't know how they amaze you at all or how those tries make him an excellent fullback support runner.

Funny how when Norman or Hodges played the position, they had no trouble with the telegraphed passes.

Norman had issues come the Sea Eagles game and Hodges played what? 20 minutes when the game was all over.