What are we going to do if we miss out on B.Smith ? (reportedly close to signing with Titans)

[Alan79]

This is where JMK has to decide if he wants to stay in the NRL or become an outcast like many others.

JMK, over the off season should've been at University. The University of how to become a great hooker. Study the best in the game, Cameron Smith's game, study how to decide which options to take and when, study the ins and out's of the hooker role.

JMK has one year to stamp his name on the position at the Dogs. He doesn't have much pressure under him coming through so I expect him to step up dramatically. The ball is in his court, it's make or break year for him and if he can't take it to the next level with the great support coaches the club has introduced then he can't complain he hasn't been given a great opportunity.

I think he can step up but let's see what he has learnt and what he has done to become a better hooker and be able call it his craft.

I still think that some astute coaching will see JMK improve a lot. His decision making should be a bit better after a few years of practice. He's got the ability to be a strong dummy half runner, but thats largely been something he doesn't show that often. Hopefully Barrett gives him free reign to do it more often while also creating a better gameplan that lets him make decisions a bit more easily. I think the best hookers tend to have an idea whats on before they get to the play the ball. It's too late to look around for where the defence is weak and your playmakers are by the time you are picking up the ball. Last year was arguably the best season that Koroisau has had, so I'll hope that Barrett played some part in that and he does so for JMK too.

I don't see us getting an upgrade here for this season, so it's up to JMK to improve and make the position his own.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I must be the only person who isn't a fan of Brandon Smith.
I'd rather we sign a specialist hooker, for example, Harry Grant, Josh Hodgson, Damien Cook. I know we won't sign any of these
but this is the type of hooker I hope we do sign.
I'd even rather a young promising hooker without many games rather than Brandon Smith.

Can I respectfully suggest that you take the time to closely watch the games where BSmith plays hooker, for example for the Kiwis and the Maori. For example last years Indigenous game where he scored 2 tries, had another disallowed, and set up 2 more, all of them starting with his vision at dummy half. Look at the short passing game to put Bromwichs into gaps, the long spiral passes to get his backs outside the opposition, the cut out pass off the ground, both left and right. He was the difference in that game, the reason why the Maori won. Don’t watch the game just watch what he does, there is a lot in his game that you miss if you don’t watch closely.

Like the other hookers you name he has a disparate skill set for playing hooker, Cook has fullback skills that go with his skills as hooker, Hodgson has 5/8 like skills that he brings to the hooker position and BSmith, like Grant, brings powerful small forward play to the hooker position.

Don‘t let the fact that he is a quality forward detract from the fact that he has all of skills necessary to be a quality hooker. Just like Cook‘s speed compliments his abilities at hooker, BSmith‘s small forward skills compliment his abilities to play hooker.

Go Dogs

 

[Ripley]

Can I respectfully suggest that you take the time to closely watch the games where BSmith plays hooker, for example for the Kiwis and the Maori. For example last years Indigenous game where he scored 2 tries, had another disallowed, and set up 2 more, all of them starting with his vision at dummy half. Look at the short passing game to put Bromwichs into gaps, the long spiral passes to get his backs outside the opposition, the cut out pass off the ground, both left and right. He was the difference in that game, the reason why the Maori won. Don’t watch the game just watch what he does, there is a lot in his game that you miss if you don’t watch closely.

Like the other hookers you name he has a disparate skill set for playing hooker, Cook has fullback skills that go with his skills as hooker, Hodgson has 5/8 like skills that he brings to the hooker position and BSmith, like Grant, brings powerful small forward play to the hooker position.

Don‘t let the fact that he is a quality forward detract from the fact that he has all of skills necessary to be a quality hooker. Just like Cook‘s speed compliments his abilities at hooker, BSmith‘s small forward skills compliment his abilities to play hooker.

Go Dogs

Yeah he’s had a couple of good games at hooker for the Kiwi’s and Maori’s, and the times he’s played NRL filling in for Smith he’s been very underwhelming. In fact the games mid last year could even be described as shockers.

But let’s accept he’s a #9 that can do everything that you describe, and more. The issue is still he’s a better back rower. So what happens when you buy him to play #9 on spine money, and you don’t get the performances he puts out every week in a position better suited to him?

You’re paying for a hooker and getting a back rower. You’ll never make him the Cheese you know at #9. Bellamy knows this and Bellamy is right.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Yeah he’s had a couple of good games at hooker for the Kiwi’s and Maori’s, and the times he’s played NRL filling in for Smith he’s been very underwhelming. In fact the games mid last year could even be described as shockers.

But let’s accept he’s a #9 that can do everything that you describe, and more. The issue is still he’s a better back rower. So what happens when you buy him to play #9 on spine money, and you don’t get the performances he puts out every week in a position better suited to him?

You’re paying for a hooker and getting a back rower. You’ll never make him the Cheese you know at #9. Bellamy knows this and Bellamy is right.

Obviously CSmith and BSmith play totally different styles of game at hooker. After the ~100 years that CSmith has been at Melbourne they have become attached to the way he makes the rest of the team play. BSmith is undoubtedly a totally different hooker and when he plays in a team that isn’t indoctrinated into the CSmith game he excels and is the catalyst that wins games. The fact that he can get the Kiwis and Maori playing to his style of hooker, in a very short period of time, is proof that the same would happen given enough time at Melbourne or another team.

Plainly Bellamy was also right in choosing to keep BSmith as back up hooker, over Grant that he loaned out to the Tigers, so he must think he goes OK.

Go Dogs

 

[Cujo]

Can I respectfully suggest that you take the time to closely watch the games where BSmith plays hooker, for example for the Kiwis and the Maori. For example last years Indigenous game where he scored 2 tries, had another disallowed, and set up 2 more, all of them starting with his vision at dummy half. Look at the short passing game to put Bromwichs into gaps, the long spiral passes to get his backs outside the opposition, the cut out pass off the ground, both left and right. He was the difference in that game, the reason why the Maori won. Don’t watch the game just watch what he does, there is a lot in his game that you miss if you don’t watch closely.

Like the other hookers you name he has a disparate skill set for playing hooker, Cook has fullback skills that go with his skills as hooker, Hodgson has 5/8 like skills that he brings to the hooker position and BSmith, like Grant, brings powerful small forward play to the hooker position.

Don‘t let the fact that he is a quality forward detract from the fact that he has all of skills necessary to be a quality hooker. Just like Cook‘s speed compliments his abilities at hooker, BSmith‘s small forward skills compliment his abilities to play hooker.

Go Dogs

Yep great summary!

 

[Ripley]

Obviously CSmith and BSmith play totally different styles of game at hooker. After the ~100 years that CSmith has been at Melbourne they have become attached to the way he makes the rest of the team play. BSmith is undoubtedly a totally different hooker and when he plays in a team that isn’t indoctrinated into the CSmith game he excels and is the catalyst that wins games. The fact that he can get the Kiwis and Maori playing to his style of hooker, in a very short period of time, is proof that the same would happen given enough time at Melbourne or another team.

Plainly Bellamy was also right in choosing to keep BSmith as back up hooker, over Grant that he loaned out to the Tigers, so he must think he goes OK.

Go Dogs

Maybe.

And he’s still a better back rower. So you do pay more money to make him a lesser player?

Whoever pays that money is gonna end up moving him to the back row sooner or later to get the performances they thought they were paying for but didn’t get.

 

[Stinger]

On the field or the bar tab?

In the garage

 

[TwinTurbo]

Maybe.
And he’s still a better back rower. So you do pay more money to make him a lesser player?
Whoever pays that money is gonna end up moving him to the back row sooner or later to get the performances they thought they were paying for but didn’t get.

There is always a "maybe" with any player, but based on what I have seen of BSmith playing at hooker it's not much of a maybe, more like a definitely.

Go Dogs

 

[Kempsey Dog]

@2:20 B.Smith try assist straight up the middle. Dominic Young is a unit for a young fella aswell

 

[D0GMATIC]

Play Dietz IMO. He will do just fine. At a fraction of the price too.

 

[bradyk]

Play Dietz IMO. He will do just fine. At a fraction of the price too.

We need to see a lot more. B. Smith is a top hooker.

 

[MitchNewton]

Play Dietz IMO. He will do just fine. At a fraction of the price too.

Let’s no get carried away with a 20min performance against Newtown Jets. Let’s see how he’s going after about 6 rounds in reserves.

 

[D0GMATIC]

Let’s no get carried away with a 20min performance against Newtown Jets. Let’s see how he’s going after about 6 rounds in reserves.

It is easy to get carried away after the last few seasons I’ll admit..But he seems a lot quicker than the other 2 options who have had time to show something and haven’t. The fact that we signed within the last few weeks may suggeat Baz also sees something in Dietz that we are lacking.

 

[Mackdoggies]

 

[Mackdoggies]

Looking at his highlights what we saw last night is his textbook style of play. Very similar to cook. Glimpses of brilliance so far but like cook could take it to next level with 1-2 years in full time squad. He was trapped behind the roosters group of superstars so make sense he never cracked 1st grade.

 

[Spoonman84]

I think we have to pump the brakes on Dietz to some extent. He’s bounced around 3 clubs now and is 25 years old. What has kept him from cracking NRL up until this point?

I know people will bring up Cook and they could be right. He might be one of those players that has just slipped through the cracks and has been unlucky never to get a opportunity. On the other hand there could be things that we haven’t seen yet that are holding him back.

Give him the starting hooker job in reggies and let’s see him bang down the door. Let’s see what possible flaws show up before crowning him our savour at hooker.

 

[Mackdoggies]

I think we have to pump the brakes on Dietz to some extent. He’s bounced around 3 clubs now and is 25 years old. What has kept him from cracking NRL up until this point?

I know people will bring up Cook and they could be right. He might be one of those players that has just slipped through the cracks and has been unlucky never to get a opportunity. On the other hand there could be things that we haven’t seen yet that are holding him back.

Give him the starting hooker job in reggies and let’s see him bang down the door. Let’s see what possible flaws show up before crowning him our savour at hooker.

Almost all that time has been at North Sydney behind the Roosters squad of Jake Friend, verrills, butcher.

 

[B-Train]

B.Smith looks much slimmer and more explosive. If he finds that extra bit of pace and athleticism this season, his value will only increase.

Grant might miss the first few weeks of the season, so Smith will have more time to shine in his preferred position.

 

[Spoonman84]

Almost all that time has been at North Sydney behind the Roosters squad of Jake Friend, verrills, butcher.

No he hasn’t he played his junior football at Cronulla and spent time at South’s too. He had huge wraps in the under 20’s at the Sharks so I wonder why he has bounced around that many clubs?

 

[Caveman]

Highlights suggest he'll take a bit of pressure of the halves, also looks like he always puts 8n 100% and can be a little slippery to get hold of. Eyes up footy with good vision will make the team less predictable. Plenty of talking organising, defence looks OK.

Don't know how he goes for brain fades, mistakes etc. Only one way to find out.