Mr Invisible
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- Apr 26, 2008
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http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...s/news-story/2725217c7cac8bcf9bcc283d174b7506
IT’S deja vu for the Dogs.
If this whole Matt Frawley halves scenario feels familiar — it should. Des Hasler and his Bulldogs were right here a little less than 24 months ago.
It even had the same players with Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye caught in the middle.
But instead of Frawley, it was Trent Hodkinson proving three’s a crowd.
Take a trip back to 2015 and you’ll recall Hasler once again trying o fit three halves into his top 17.
“Hodkinson is your typical halfback — calm, controlled and well organised,” former Bulldogs skipper Mick Ennis told foxsports.com.au.
“Since (Hodkinson left) the Dogs’ attack has, at times, looked clunky and struggled.
Ultimately with Hodkinson off-contract, the-then NSW Origin half was not re-signed and would accept a handsome offer from Newcastle.
Hasler backed Mbye and Reynolds as his scrumbase pairing last year but their attack came under fire from critics and seemingly threatened Hasler’s job as a result.
“When you’re talking about the halves pairing — Mbye and Reynolds are very similar,” Ennis explained.
“Now Frawley’s in the mix, Reynolds’ football is the best it’s been for 18 months now he’s got a genuine half inside him organising and using his kicking game.
“It allows Josh to roam and be that natural five-eighth that got Canterbury to two grand finals.”
It doesn’t take a mathematician to tell you three doesn’t go into two. So how do the Bulldogs fix their halves headache?
Ennis has a simple solution to the Dogs toothless attack — again disjointed in their 22-12 defeat of lowly Newcastle.
After an injury to Brad Abbey saw Brett Morris move to fullback, Mbye the centres and Frawley into the halves, there’s no doubt in Ennis’ mind that “Frawley has to be the number seven.”
But where does that leave Mbye - earning $600,000 in 2018 and more in coming seasons.
Ennis believes the livewire can find a home at hooker.
“I’ve been very vocal in saying they don’t get enough creativity and attack out of (Michael) Lichaa in dummy half,” he explained.
“Mbye at dummy half would be the best fit for the Dogs at the moment.”
The 23-year-old has only filled that position once at NRL level but it was in the 2014 grand final, when Ennis himself was sidelined with a lower leg injury.
With speed and a left foot kick, Mbye would add another point of attack the club hasn’t had.
Ennis also said he’d like to see Craig Garvey or Zac Woolford get an opportunity on the bench so Mbye could play a Mr Fix-It role if needed.
“He’s a 90 kilo body and very good defensively. I think he’d handle (the defence) well,” Ennis said.
“If you carry a Garvey or Woolford on the bench, if something happens to someone in the side, you put Garvey into nine and Moses has that versatility.
“He can play half, centre or even fullback. Moses then becomes your utility if an injury happens because he’s capable of playing so many positions.
“It could add another dimension to the Dogs we’re not seeing at the moment.”
IT’S deja vu for the Dogs.
If this whole Matt Frawley halves scenario feels familiar — it should. Des Hasler and his Bulldogs were right here a little less than 24 months ago.
It even had the same players with Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye caught in the middle.
But instead of Frawley, it was Trent Hodkinson proving three’s a crowd.
Take a trip back to 2015 and you’ll recall Hasler once again trying o fit three halves into his top 17.
“Hodkinson is your typical halfback — calm, controlled and well organised,” former Bulldogs skipper Mick Ennis told foxsports.com.au.
“Since (Hodkinson left) the Dogs’ attack has, at times, looked clunky and struggled.
Ultimately with Hodkinson off-contract, the-then NSW Origin half was not re-signed and would accept a handsome offer from Newcastle.
Hasler backed Mbye and Reynolds as his scrumbase pairing last year but their attack came under fire from critics and seemingly threatened Hasler’s job as a result.
“When you’re talking about the halves pairing — Mbye and Reynolds are very similar,” Ennis explained.
“Now Frawley’s in the mix, Reynolds’ football is the best it’s been for 18 months now he’s got a genuine half inside him organising and using his kicking game.
“It allows Josh to roam and be that natural five-eighth that got Canterbury to two grand finals.”
It doesn’t take a mathematician to tell you three doesn’t go into two. So how do the Bulldogs fix their halves headache?
Ennis has a simple solution to the Dogs toothless attack — again disjointed in their 22-12 defeat of lowly Newcastle.
After an injury to Brad Abbey saw Brett Morris move to fullback, Mbye the centres and Frawley into the halves, there’s no doubt in Ennis’ mind that “Frawley has to be the number seven.”
But where does that leave Mbye - earning $600,000 in 2018 and more in coming seasons.
Ennis believes the livewire can find a home at hooker.
“I’ve been very vocal in saying they don’t get enough creativity and attack out of (Michael) Lichaa in dummy half,” he explained.
“Mbye at dummy half would be the best fit for the Dogs at the moment.”
The 23-year-old has only filled that position once at NRL level but it was in the 2014 grand final, when Ennis himself was sidelined with a lower leg injury.
With speed and a left foot kick, Mbye would add another point of attack the club hasn’t had.
Ennis also said he’d like to see Craig Garvey or Zac Woolford get an opportunity on the bench so Mbye could play a Mr Fix-It role if needed.
“He’s a 90 kilo body and very good defensively. I think he’d handle (the defence) well,” Ennis said.
“If you carry a Garvey or Woolford on the bench, if something happens to someone in the side, you put Garvey into nine and Moses has that versatility.
“He can play half, centre or even fullback. Moses then becomes your utility if an injury happens because he’s capable of playing so many positions.
“It could add another dimension to the Dogs we’re not seeing at the moment.”
