Big Nick
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NEW Bulldogs recruit Frank Pritchard knows how the drum goes.
On his good days, the ball-playing back-rower nicknamed "Frank the Tank" can tear a game apart single-handedly as one of the NRL's most destructive forwards.
On his bad days, Pritchard has a tendency to go MIA, leading to tags such as "space cadet" and "overrated".
"I think it's fair. That's just something I've got to pick up and fix," Pritchard said.
"I want to be more dominant on the field on more of a consistent basis. I've still got more to learn in the game.
"I've got to become a stronger player and use that as motivation. I've just got to be switched on every game."
The move from Penrith to the Bulldogs could be just what the doctor ordered for one of the NRL's most enigmatic characters.
A happy-go-lucky figure away from rugby league, Pritchard spent most of last year dodging reporters after earning himself somewhat of a reputation as a loose cannon rent-a-quote. On the field, he can easily turn destroyer in the right frame of mind.
But it's the Kiwi forward's mental toughness that is most often called into question, with periods in matches where he appears to go missing.
Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore is hoping the hard-edged culture at Canterbury might just be the key to whacking that wandering aspect out of Pritchard's game.
The Dogs intend to use Pritchard as a left-edge strike weapon, with captain Andrew Ryan to move in tighter, closer to the centre of the ruck.
"Frankie can provide that bit of grunt and a bit of an X-factor on the edge - a bloke who can rip the game apart from time to time," Moore said. "He's certainly a big signing for us and I intend to get the best out of him.
"That's where he's best suited, on an edge, and we probably lacked that little bit of grunt there this year.
"We didn't have a lot of impact with size and speed on the edges and he's certainly the sort of bloke who could do that for us."
Canterbury want more minutes out of Pritchard, who was occasionally hooked at the Panthers for lacklustre performances. Paired with returning Bulldog Greg Eastwood in the Canterbury back-row, the duo will add a dangerous, ball-playing dynamic to the Dogs' edges.
Retired Bulldogs captain Peter Tunks tipped coach Moore to turn Pritchard into the NRL's No. 1 back-rower.
"Consistency has been a problem for Frank in the past but when he's on his game I think he's the most damaging back-rower in rugby league," Tunks said.
"I think under Kevin Moore, Frank can stamp himself as exactly that."
James Hooper
From: The Daily Telegraph
November 19, 2010 12:00AM
On his good days, the ball-playing back-rower nicknamed "Frank the Tank" can tear a game apart single-handedly as one of the NRL's most destructive forwards.
On his bad days, Pritchard has a tendency to go MIA, leading to tags such as "space cadet" and "overrated".
"I think it's fair. That's just something I've got to pick up and fix," Pritchard said.
"I want to be more dominant on the field on more of a consistent basis. I've still got more to learn in the game.
"I've got to become a stronger player and use that as motivation. I've just got to be switched on every game."
The move from Penrith to the Bulldogs could be just what the doctor ordered for one of the NRL's most enigmatic characters.
A happy-go-lucky figure away from rugby league, Pritchard spent most of last year dodging reporters after earning himself somewhat of a reputation as a loose cannon rent-a-quote. On the field, he can easily turn destroyer in the right frame of mind.
But it's the Kiwi forward's mental toughness that is most often called into question, with periods in matches where he appears to go missing.
Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore is hoping the hard-edged culture at Canterbury might just be the key to whacking that wandering aspect out of Pritchard's game.
The Dogs intend to use Pritchard as a left-edge strike weapon, with captain Andrew Ryan to move in tighter, closer to the centre of the ruck.
"Frankie can provide that bit of grunt and a bit of an X-factor on the edge - a bloke who can rip the game apart from time to time," Moore said. "He's certainly a big signing for us and I intend to get the best out of him.
"That's where he's best suited, on an edge, and we probably lacked that little bit of grunt there this year.
"We didn't have a lot of impact with size and speed on the edges and he's certainly the sort of bloke who could do that for us."
Canterbury want more minutes out of Pritchard, who was occasionally hooked at the Panthers for lacklustre performances. Paired with returning Bulldog Greg Eastwood in the Canterbury back-row, the duo will add a dangerous, ball-playing dynamic to the Dogs' edges.
Retired Bulldogs captain Peter Tunks tipped coach Moore to turn Pritchard into the NRL's No. 1 back-rower.
"Consistency has been a problem for Frank in the past but when he's on his game I think he's the most damaging back-rower in rugby league," Tunks said.
"I think under Kevin Moore, Frank can stamp himself as exactly that."
James Hooper
From: The Daily Telegraph
November 19, 2010 12:00AM
