Tweet
Its not about numbers - the numbers and stats you've been given are a reaction to your hyperbole and prestamping his papers before he even played (you said picking him last week meant we could write off 2018 as well! 
). He had a good game against the Lions, but obviously tougher tests to come.
How about you assess his game on merits? Maybe criticise him when he's poor and possibly even praise some good play?
For instance, I didnt think Towers should have come back. Has all the attributes to succeed but is pretty soft and makes horrific decisions under pressure. He's done enough to get picked again, (we didnt learn anything about his decision making under pressure against the lions) but he had a good game in a different role.
It isnt that hard.
Either way we dont want to become Tigers or the Demons where he send out the veterans to pasture at the first sign theyre slowing down as they can teach and direct the next generation of players. We already have a young team. Mcveigh isnt the player he was a few years ago, but like Smith and Grundy have more to offer than just stats.
). He had a good game against the Lions, but obviously tougher tests to come. How about you assess his game on merits? Maybe criticise him when he's poor and possibly even praise some good play?
For instance, I didnt think Towers should have come back. Has all the attributes to succeed but is pretty soft and makes horrific decisions under pressure. He's done enough to get picked again, (we didnt learn anything about his decision making under pressure against the lions) but he had a good game in a different role.
It isnt that hard.
Either way we dont want to become Tigers or the Demons where he send out the veterans to pasture at the first sign theyre slowing down as they can teach and direct the next generation of players. We already have a young team. Mcveigh isnt the player he was a few years ago, but like Smith and Grundy have more to offer than just stats.
We shouldn't jump to put the veterans out to pasture, but we have to strike the right balance and not wait too long either. There have been plenty of threads about what a pity it was to lose players like Biggs and Membrey for lack of opportunity. We can't hold back the careers of talented young players either, or they will be out the door and then the vets will retire and the young guns will have gone to other clubs.
Although Longmire doesn't give away a lot in his press conferences, he does say enough that shows he is aware of the necessity to find this right balance. Most of the veterans that have come under scrutiny play in the backline, which is an area that needs fixing. We are fortunate to have a fair number of young players coming through as alternatives to what we've been going with the past few years. It's hard to say the direction we should go in right now, but the next few weeks should paint a clearer picture.
Marsh has just about solidified his spot in the backline, although may come under pressure when Rampe returns. I think he's shown he's more than good enough to play at senior level. Aliir and Newman are the other 2 that should find their way into the side on a regular basis. Some room will have to be made.
I don't get the unabashed and unwarranted love for Gary on this site. For a number 6 draft pick he hasn't delivered what we hoped for. And before I get shot down with howls of protest yes I know he has been injured and I admire him coming back from them , but compare his career stats with perennial whipping boy Dean Towers. 
Comment