The best and worst defensive centres in the NRL

[MadMarcus]

@Zimbalist is right. Matai got blasted here plenty of times when he was younger and took time to develop into the beast he became.

In this thread he is called out for missing the most tackles in the team (some loser called Brett Stewart was second on that list), and our very own @Ryan (who most probably agree is generally a pretty good judge) laments that we gave up Travis Burns for him...

https://silvertails.net/threads/manly-missed-tackle-percentages.8901/

I think there were worse threads but this is the first I could find.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking that Kelly will end up anything like Matai, who as we all know now went on to become a superstar, but it’s not as crazy a thought as you think @BOZO.

 

[BOZO]

@Zimbalist is right. Matai got blasted here plenty of times when he was younger and took time to develop into the beast he became.

In this thread he is called out for missing the most tackles in the team (some loser called Brett Stewart was second on that list), and our very own @Ryan (who most probably agree is generally a pretty good judge) laments that we gave up Travis Burns for him...

https://silvertails.net/threads/manly-missed-tackle-percentages.8901/

I think there were worse threads but this is the first I could find.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking that Kelly will end up anything like Matai, who as we all know now went on to become a superstar, but it’s not as crazy a thought as you think @BOZO.

Every one has their right to blast mediocre NRL performers . They are not net ball teen age girls . If they are old enough play in the NRL then they are old enough to be criticized for mediocre performance .
You are right that anything is possible but I cant see Kelly being a superior player as he does not posses superior size, strength and speed to be a superior centre in the modern game .

 

[mave]

Any where you look at it Kelly has been a liability in defence .

Has Kelly "let in" 22 tries in 20 matches ?

 

[HoldenV8]

It’s that pure speed that makes Roberts such an attacking threat and half the reason why some people are excited by what Wright could become. Roberts ability to make something out of nothing like what walker can do is what makes him elite.

And that is a big worrying trend coming into the NRL. Following on from cricket with the popularity of T20 over the one-day game as show of attacking prowess (why do you think they call it the Big Bash League.....), rugby league players seem to be increasingly judged on how good they are in attack with little to no thought on just how bad their defence is.

As more and more U/20 graduates make it to the NRL its a big reason why we're getting more and more games with scores that resemble basketball games. And it worries me going forward, especially in international football because for as long as I can remember Australia has dominated mostly because our defence has been better than everyone else's attack. The way we are heading.....we are starting to move away from what has made us so successful and its becoming like England. Great attack, crap defence.

It worries me that players like Jake Trbojevic who are top class defenders are becoming less and less important and fewer and further between in favour of flashy attacking players who couldn't defend to save their lives.

 

[BOZO]

Has Kelly "let in" 22 tries in 20 matches ?

Was Kelly a liability in defence . That's the bottom line question and the answer is " Yes "

 

[manlyfan76]

Geezus some "Manly fans" on here know more about nth Sydney that our very own @Ryan.

I wasnt aware they still existed.

 

[HoldenV8]

Geezus some "Manly fans" on here know more about nth Sydney that our very own @Ryan.

I wasnt aware they still existed.

Only in NSW Cup and/or anytime some consortium with Greg Florimo involved tries to start a new club or buy an existing one.

North Sydney have been irrelevant since 1947 😉

 

[mave]

Was Kelly a liability in defence . That's the bottom line question and the answer is " Yes "

I agree with you that Kelly had defensive issues, and contributed to his side of the field being a liability in 2017.

It would be great if you could man up and either acknowledge that he didn't let in 22 tries in 20 games, or at a minimum, stopped using that blatant falsehood as a way to keep bashing the young bloke.

 

[BOZO]

I agree with you that Kelly had defensive issues, and contributed to his side of the field being a liability in 2017.

It would be great if you could man up and either acknowledge that he didn't let in 22 tries in 20 games, or at a minimum, stopped using that blatant falsehood as a way to keep bashing the young bloke.

I always man up and I always say it the way I see it .
I may have been wrong to misinterpret the 22 tries in 20 games but it was clear as "dogs balls" for all to see his defensive issues

 

[mave]

Excellent....hopefully with some better inside defenders (ie: anyone other than Green), and another off season under his belt, Kelly can improve his decision making and have less "try causes " for 2018.

 

[BOZO]

Excellent....hopefully with some better inside defenders (ie: anyone other than Green), and another off season under his belt, Kelly can improve his decision making and have less "try causes " for 2018.

Hopefully for the sake of our team he does improve .

 

[Spartan Eagle]

Kelly had major defensive frailties last season which led to many tries. I'm not sure if it was 22 but it felt like it. I understand that he is a rookie but it's just not good enough. I'm hopeful that he improves dramatically. I really do. if he's the next matai I wouldn't be more happier for the kid and the club. Until then he needs to take any constructive criticism on the chin like every other player.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Maybe we can have a mediocre Manly supporters forum . What do you think ?

Could be a good idea, would you be the foundation member ?

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

I hope you're keeping well hydrated bozo, you'll get heatstroke continually flogging that dead horse over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over in this heat

 

[BOZO]

Could be a good idea, would you be the foundation member ?

Good comeback mate . I have no answer for that one . Too good for me there .

 

[BOZO]

I hope you're keeping well hydrated bozo, you'll get heatstroke continually flogging that dead horse over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over in this heat

Mate I bet you would be happy if I did drop dead lol ,but I have been through a lot and I am a fighter , a survivor . I have that Manly never say die fighting spirit in me

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Mate I bet you would be happy if I did drop dead lol ,but I have been through a lot and I am a fighter , a survivor . I have that Manly never say die fighting spirit in me

Lol interesting comment, couldn't be further from the truth

On behalf of the majority of the forum though, I think your point on Kelly has been duly noted in the mountain of posts on the issue hammering the same point over and over mate

 

[BOZO]

Lol interesting comment, couldn't be further from the truth

On behalf of the majority of the forum though, I think your point on Kelly has been duly noted in the mountain of posts on the issue hammering the same point over and over mate

All good mate I will try to shut the fck up

 

[Woodsie]

Kelly had major defensive frailties last season which led to many tries. I'm not sure if it was 22 but it felt like it. I understand that he is a rookie but it's just not good enough. I'm hopeful that he improves dramatically. I really do. if he's the next matai I wouldn't be more happier for the kid and the club. Until then he needs to take any constructive criticism on the chin like every other player.

There is a huge difference between constructive criticism and that disrespectful, obnoxious, disgraceful and unrelenting abuse that Bozo heaps on a young Manly player who's only crime I can see is that he is not as good as he wishes him to be.

 

[smithy]

And that is a big worrying trend coming into the NRL. Following on from cricket with the popularity of T20 over the one-day game as show of attacking prowess (why do you think they call it the Big Bash League.....), rugby league players seem to be increasingly judged on how good they are in attack with little to no thought on just how bad their defence is.

As more and more U/20 graduates make it to the NRL its a big reason why we're getting more and more games with scores that resemble basketball games. And it worries me going forward, especially in international football because for as long as I can remember Australia has dominated mostly because our defence has been better than everyone else's attack. The way we are heading.....we are starting to move away from what has made us so successful and its becoming like England. Great attack, crap defence.

It worries me that players like Jake Trbojevic who are top class defenders are becoming less and less important and fewer and further between in favour of flashy attacking players who couldn't defend to save their lives.

Holden, from my perspective it’s completely the opposite of everything you have said. The game has become more defensive, the wrestle and ruck control as well as defensive structures have made the game far less open and much less like “big bash cricket” than ever before. The few stats I have seen show a decrease in tries scored and points over the last few years. As teams struggle to break down these structured defences, players with x-factor, as a result become more important.

In regards the international game, did you watch the World Cup? The final was 6-0. Hardly a concern with either teams defence and further illustrates the defensive nature of the game. Not only that but Australia conceded only 3 tries across its six games having played England twice, NZ, Samoa and Fiji hardly pushovers.

I’m not sure how players like Jakey are becoming less important he has proven his wares and now represents both Australia and NSW.

To be honest Tommy Turbos defence is still very much a work in progress and I dare say wouldn’t rank him up with the top fullbacks. But he has that x-factor and none of us would swap him for anyone.