Re: Dec Patton : Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:26 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

Jesus H Christ, thank God you're nowhere near our recruitment team.

Whilst I'm not a Patton fan he is by far a better option than any of these. I actually thought prior to Saints and the Easter period that he had generally been doing what was required from him. If anything he has moved away from that limited role and errors and costly penalties have increased.

Let's be clear he isn't the Messiah but if people think Anthony Thackeray is a better option then we may as well pack in now.

Totally agree with you...

Re: Dec Patton : Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:27 pm  

morrisseyisawire wrote:

Bottom line is the British game isn't producing decent half backs anymore, and the ones that do emerge (Patton, Richardson recently, Myler, Robinson a little further back) seem.to hit a plateau quickly and fail to kick on.

It doesn't seem to happpen in other positions, or at least not to the same extent. Maybe it's coaching, absence of an apprenticeship via reserve team football or the ludicrous werewolf-esque face fuzz that seems so popular among the playmaker fraternity.

George Williams is the most natural British half we have seen for a while, and he has spent the last 18 months going backwards; be interesting to see how we goes in the NRL.

This has been the case for a while now, we went from Gregory, Edwards, Goulding, to Long, Briers and that was it.

For a while people used to say, it's because the British game is obsessed with producing athletes, and young lads with talent who aren't the fastest or most physical don't get a look in. But the reality is those lads would get smashed, and the same happens in Australia too. The Aussies and Kiwis produce a lot of good halfbacks but they are all superb athletes too. Owen Craigie was a ballplaying talent who lacked on the physical side and he ended up seen as a bit of a joke figure.

Re: Dec Patton : Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:51 pm  

I think it can be traced back to 1993 and the rule changes which changed the emphasis to ruck control rather than out and out creative ability. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-ev ... zqw8y.html The nature of the game completely changed. 1993 gang tackling and unlimited interchange led to the 10 metre rule and with it the emphasis on controlling the speed of the play-the-ball as defences struggled to get back onside and attacking teams tried to take advantage or win a penalty from under pressure referees. In the past decade, wrestling has become endemic as defenders firstly began "dancing" with the ball carrier to hold him on his feet and attacks countered with the "surrender" tackle, in which the ball carrier tried to get to the ground as soon as contact is made in order to effect a fast play the ball. "The defenders and ball carrier are conducting a private war, with the defensive unit specifically holding," Broughton said. "Attack counters this with the surrender tackle and this is then countered by the grapple, crusher and chicken wing – all to punish the defender for diving at the ground." Backs had more time.

I think it can be traced back to 1993 and the rule changes which changed the emphasis to ruck control rather than out and out creative ability. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-ev ... zqw8y.html The nature of the game completely changed. 1993 gang tackling and unlimited interchange led to the 10 metre rule and with it the emphasis on controlling the speed of the play-the-ball as defences struggled to get back onside and attacking teams tried to take advantage or win a penalty from under pressure referees. In the past decade, wrestling has become endemic as defenders firstly began "dancing" with the ball carrier to hold him on his feet and attacks countered with the "surrender" tackle, in which the ball carrier tried to get to the ground as soon as contact is made in order to effect a fast play the ball. "The defenders and ball carrier are conducting a private war, with the defensive unit specifically holding," Broughton said. "Attack counters this with the surrender tackle and this is then countered by the grapple, crusher and chicken wing – all to punish the defender for diving at the ground." Backs had more time.

Re: Dec Patton : Sun Apr 28, 2019 5:33 pm  

I think his kicking game is coming on - at least two tries scored from them today.

Re: Dec Patton : Sun Apr 28, 2019 5:51 pm  

Robwire wrote:

I think his kicking game is coming on - at least two tries scored from them today.

Yet his defence continues to be shocking. Also when there was a break on and he was in the clear he hadn’t a clue what do do and instead got smashed!

Don’t worry he will have been good at banging the winning drum no doubt!

Re: Dec Patton : Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:12 pm  

Yeah, he’s not quite got that instinct to make a where a split second can make the difference.

He can put a decent tackle in. And I was impressed when he tried to rush round the scrum last week, even if it didn’t come off.

There’s areas of his game to work on. But we’re comfortably in second with him. Whether I’m still happy at the business end, we’ll see.

Re: Dec Patton : Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:07 pm  

Robwire wrote:

Yeah, he’s not quite got that instinct to make a where a split second can make the difference.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. Some would argue that this is exactly what you want from a pro RL halfback playing for, arguably, one of the top 3 teams in northern hemisphere rugby league. The RL half back instinct. If you don't have that you shouldn't really be in that position. We are "making do" with Patton. I'm pretty sure those who don't rate Patton will be completely vindicated when he is moved on to a lesser club, as he sure as hell won't be moving on to a Wigan or Saints or NRL as a halfback when he finishes with us.

Re: Dec Patton : Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:46 pm  

Robwire wrote:

Yeah, he’s not quite got that instinct to make a where a split second can make the difference.

He can put a decent tackle in. And I was impressed when he tried to rush round the scrum last week, even if it didn’t come off.

There’s areas of his game to work on. But we’re comfortably in second with him. Whether I’m still happy at the business end, we’ll see.

I know there are a fair few out there that are not Kevin Brown fans, I don't suppose I am. However come the business end of the season I really hope he is involved instead of Patton. Browns defence is a million miles better and he actually has a clue with ball in hand. Would immediately improve the side.

Re: Dec Patton : Tue Apr 30, 2019 1:01 pm  

bbfc00 wrote:

I know there are a fair few out there that are not Kevin Brown fans, I don't suppose I am. However come the business end of the season I really hope he is involved instead of Patton. Browns defence is a million miles better and he actually has a clue with ball in hand. Would immediately improve the side.

Started running again apparently. Don't think he is too far off.

Re: Dec Patton : Tue Apr 30, 2019 1:49 pm  

I'm a bit concerned that Brown and Austin could end up getting in each others way given the similarity in style (if not execution).