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Message: [QUOTE="Porthoz, post: 2432083, member: 2221"] Well, that was a true Jekyll and Hyde performance… :rash: Quite happy with the backline, except for Norman, who is clearly needing to re-evaluate his game, and allow his natural ability and instinct to lead his footy. Obviously, Hodgo stood really tall, and stuck head and shoulders above the rest, but Hoffman, Beale, Reed and Copley were very good as well, although the latter two didn’t look good in the Naiqama try. That left edge still needs work. I liked how Wallace guided the team around, especially since he had to cope with Norman’s lack of punch (he has such an awesome long kicking game, yet rarely uses it), and he definitely came back from an ordinary performance against the Storm. The problem was the forward pack once Hannant and Macca went off. That was horrible defending in the ruck, especially from Hunt, Gillett and Thaiday. The Boyd line break for Buderus 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] try and the Fa’aoso try are not acceptable at U20’s level, much less in first grade! I completely agree that one of the factors that's been buggering us, is the weird interchange rotation of late. Yesterday was as good an example as you’ll get! I cannot understand how having a proven defender in Dodds on the bench, and seeing how we were being carved up the middle after Macca and Hannant went off, he wasn't used until the last 7 minutes of the game. Macca can play 80 minutes, he has proven it, and it’s time to conclude the Hunt at Hooker experiment. Nothing against young Ben, as he works his butt off, but he gets found out pretty quick against a good dummy half in the opposing team. As a rule of thumb, I would say Parker is an 80 minute player, Glenn is an 80 minute player, Hannant, Gillett, Thaiday, Te’o and McGuire are 60 minute players. Civo is a 40 minute player at most, and if he can regain his form, he should start with Hannant, leave the field for McGuire after 20 mins, and come back for a final stint replacing Hannant. If we start using Parker at prop next season (which I think we should), he’ll be good for 60 minutes as well, and will form an awesome rotation with Hannant and McGuire. Gillett can then go to lock and as rnabokov said, be used in a similar way as Glenn Stewart is used at Manly. Thaiday and Glenn can then keep terrorising the fringes, where they are most effective. We have plenty of good forwards waiting for a chance, so we’ll still have the likes of Hala, Lui, Dodds, Gibbs, etc… to fill a bench with plenty of impact. Norman has retreated in his shell a bit, which is not really surprising in his first season wearing Locky’s shoes, I mean… Who wouldn’t? Like Gillett, I suspect the wraps they’ve been getting may have gone to their head, and they just forgot that it’s the 1%’s who separate the greats from the middle of the pack. The ego remark is way over the top IMO, Norman is young, as is Gillett, and although their talent is visible to everyone, they don’t quite have the psychological balance necessary to cope with being at the top of a very tough sport. I trust Hook will get them back on track though. Having said all that, let’s not forget we’re still second on the ladder after a really crappy May, which is very encouraging for the business end of the season. The form of some players will come back, and hopefully we’ll have a healthy squad with all players firing up at the end of the season. Holy crap, I didn't realise I typed that much! :duh: [/QUOTE]

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