Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:30 am  

I've been thinking about this over the past couple of days

Everyone keeps going on about 'Addy isn't a half back, he's a back rower', but he plays far more in the halves than anywhere else. I don't have stats to back this up, but I'm guessing he must have played at least 80% of the time in the halves over the past couple of seasons. It's not just this season!

Is it now time to 'go with the flow' as it were? Use this coming close season to get him onto a diet regime that sheds a good few pounds, so he's slimmed down? Maybe work on his speed, rather than concentrating on strength as a back rower would? And just accept that he's now, to all intents and purposes, a fully fledged half back - and push him into that role permanently.

It's obvious that Lowes really likes him in the halves - so why not just 'go for it'?

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:46 am  

Personally, still think he is a back-rower who can do a job at HB. Despite a great performance on Sunday, he still made errors that showed he isn't a natural HB. In closer games, they could cost us.

Think there were two instances where he just ran across the line and didn't know what to do. He got bundled into touch on one of them. Where as when Mullaney did it, he either scored, or produced a great ball for the runner. Just little things that make a big difference in close games.

That said i would rather have Addy ahead of Siejka everyday of the week.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:57 am  

paulwalker71 wrote:

I've been thinking about this over the past couple of days

Everyone keeps going on about 'Addy isn't a half back, he's a back rower', but he plays far more in the halves than anywhere else. I don't have stats to back this up, but I'm guessing he must have played at least 80% of the time in the halves over the past couple of seasons. It's not just this season!

Is it now time to 'go with the flow' as it were? Use this coming close season to get him onto a diet regime that sheds a good few pounds, so he's slimmed down? Maybe work on his speed, rather than concentrating on strength as a back rower would? And just accept that he's now, to all intents and purposes, a fully fledged half back - and push him into that role permanently.

It's obvious that Lowes really likes him in the halves - so why not just 'go for it'?

I've been thinking exactly the same thing recently.

I'd say yes, because it's already happening for the rest of this year IMO - he won't be budged from half back.

I fully agree that it should be done properly with the methods you mention. And tbh Pitts shouldn't be moved from loose forward where his defence outperforms Addy's anyway.

He could be that steady organising half back like Sinfield, Ridyard or Campese.

I would be satisfied going into next season with Addy, Brook, Gaskell and Mullaney as half options.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:28 am  

That's weird. I was going to start a tread on the same topic although it would have been more of a statement than a question.

Addy has improved with every game at scrum half and I think that he's picked up more MOM's in the last few weeks than anybody else.

- He's better at Scrum half than loose forward
- He's probably the best scrum half that we have at the club at the moment
- In Addy we have a scrum half that can play like a half but run the ball and tackle like a forward.
- He is constantly looking for work and never goes hiding
- He isn't injury prone like every other half we currently have. Continuity is important.

He may not have the speed or be as elusive as Gaskell or Mullaney but he more than makes up for it in determination.

I think that the club have been fully vindicated in their decision not to rush out to sign a half back and i'd even go as far to say that if they can't find a replacement scrum half who is of a proven high calibre then Addy could well be our starting scrum half next year too.

Please note - I am not related to Addy nor am I in a physical relationship with him. I've just been impressed with his performances of late.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:51 am  

In the last 3 games - only games with stats available - Addy has made 63 tackles with 5 misses (Sheffield 10-1, Wakefield 26-2, Salford 27-2) now that is great in my books, and especially for someone playing in the halves, and is certainly an improvement on his stats from seasons gone by at loose forward. I accept defence stats can be taken with a pinch of salt but I hope this is an area he keeps up.

Let's not forget we are all still giddy from Sunday and he has had mixed performances this year but there are definitely signs for the future.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:12 pm  

If he's going to remain there, he needs to work on a few things namely his handspeed, decision making and long passing.
I'm not saying he doesn't have a good rugby brain, but he seems slow at times to make a decision and follow through on it

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:20 pm  

I'd still like to see him get a chance at loose forward with a decent scrum half (Mullaney?) and Gaskell at 6. I think that could be an exciting team to watch.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:37 pm  

In a few words...no, no, no, no, NO! New SH for next season please. Preferably an older, experienced player to grab us by the rag and show us which way's forward and with a smart kicking game. Addy at LF or SR

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:54 pm  

I think Jimmy had the right idea, we are looking for more of an organisational SH to organise the line and keep a cool head when times are tough. Leave the running to the nutters we have at 1 (Mullaney) and 6 (Gaskell).

Much as he has had a great season, Addy is not the answer to this problem. He is prone to an error under pressure, his kicking game is average and he doesn't quite have the leadership skills to manage the team - hence why we have seen Purtell thrown in alongside him to do the shouting.

The search for the next Paul Deacon continues.

Re: Should Danny Addy become a full time half back? : Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:46 pm  

Drust wrote:

I think Jimmy had the right idea, we are looking for more of an organisational SH to organise the line and keep a cool head when times are tough. Leave the running to the nutters ...

Disagree. If your 7 isn't pecking at the oppositions heads, and liable to dart forward, step players and cause mayhem, then he is a much less potent weapon. You'd only go with such a 7 if you didn't have a proper one. A 7 known to have no real attacking skills is just a waste of a space.

People have on occasions suggested that Siejka may play the way he does just cos he's under orders from Jimmy. Are they serious? Your scrum half has the moves, but is commanded never to use them? What on earth would be the point of that? I call bulllshiiit!