News Mitch Woods impressing in pre season

[Bullfrog2]

I like Tia's game management,.. Woods is apparently 80kgs and 5 feet 10... say he grew another 2 inches and bulked up to 85kgs + maybe he could transition to fullback down the road...

Yeah Santa Claus is real as well, word on the street is woods demanded top 30 this year even though he is not ready, the club has moved heaven an earth to get him in there. Why would he want to play fullback, really?

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

Big difference from Flegg to first grade though.

All I'll say is let us hope Sexy stays fit because i think I know who the fill in would be and not likely it's Tia.
CC may have to try and blood him in f.g at some stage this season but would likely ease him into it.
Dunno what that looks like probably off the bench but straight into the 7 debuting I don't see it myself.
If he blitzed Cup from early on then maybe that scenario is a chance.

True - there is a big difference!!
But I just think he does classy stuff. Love the way he squares the attack.
Plus he's a good size, strong build.
Look at him between Burto & Lipoi... no shrinking violet.

 

[DFLWatto]

I think "improved dramatically" is far fetched.
He improved on previous seasons, ill give him that, but i wouldn't consider him anywhere near the top 10 5/8ths in the comp. Except for his kicking.

To be fair...even the broken Adam Reynolds produced more notable running breaks than Burto last year and he'd be lucky to have played half the season.

I'm just going to assume you don't watch the games or are just so biased you won't allow anything good to be said about burto.
Far fetched? Give me a break.

 

[Lynchpin]

Except for his kicking.

Nope. Sorry. His kicking game is an intrinsic part of his game as a leading 5/8th, and in that particular facet, he's one of the best (arguably, THE best).
He is arguably our most important player - the least replaceable in our team, and that includes Crichton and Kikau.

He improved on previous seasons, ill give him that...

Well gee, that really big of you.

...but i wouldn't consider him anywhere near the top 10 5/8ths in the comp.

Not "anywhere near the top 10?" Really?
You gotta have some real hate goggles on to see things that way.

You would have Luai and Munster as the elite. [1 & 2].
Dearden and Keary a peg below, but close-ish [3 & 4].
Then, possibly Mam (albeit based on 2023, not 2024) and Cody Walker, maybe (again, based on pre-2024 performances). [Let's say a conceded 5 & 6 there...maybe]

Burton would easily be in the next echelon (and very probably superior to Mam & Walker based on their 2024 contributions).
I'd have amongst that group, Burton, Trindall, Galvan (but only on one year so far), maybe Brooks (on most recent year only), and Dylan Brown (but , again, living off past years). [that's 7-11]. I'd have him at the top of that list (actually, probably at #5 if based only on 2024), but even if you wanted to death-ride his performances, and discount his kicking game - which is stupid - and say #11, that's hardly "[not] anywhere near the top 10".

Next level (or levels, really) down you might have:
Gamble & Cogger (Knights); Strange (Canberra); Metcalf, Martin, & Harris-Tavita (Warriors); Campbell, Brimson, Boyd, & Weaver (Titans); and "the legend" - in his own lunchtime - Kyle Flanagan (Dargons). Some competent players in there; some not so competents too.
You would be 'outta ya Fookin mind' to want to swap Burton for any of them.

 

[Aristidiz]

I really hope we see Woods ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order of halves this year.

He needs to prove to Ciraldo that his defensive ability in at NRL level though.

 

[Bullfrog2]

I really hope we see Woods ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order of halves this year.

He needs to prove to Ciraldo that his defensive ability in at NRL level though.

No chance,Hutch will be next man up unfortunately, a lot of people here will cringe.
There’s no way woods plays this season.

 

[Phalangist]

No chance,Hutch will be next man up unfortunately, a lot of people here will cringe.
There’s no way woods plays this season.

Sadly I think you are right

 

[Bulldog1966]

Yeh no chance re Woods, seems like slowly but surely with the kid.

 

[Lynchpin]

I really hope we see Woods ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order of halves this year.

He needs to prove to Ciraldo that his defensive ability in at NRL level though.

That depends. If a half that is not Sexton or Burton were needed right now, chances are Hutch might be next man up.

But, at some stage throughout the season, Woods (or someone else) might become ready and ease himself ahead of Hutch in the pecking order.

*Fingers Crossed* that Woods is not needed yet, but he develops strongly throughout the season and eventually demands selection as our NRL halfback.

 

[Micko]

I’m very confident Woods will debut this year.

 

[Marki]

I'm just going to assume you don't watch the games or are just so biased you won't allow anything good to be said about burto.
Far fetched? Give me a break.

I watch a fair bit of footy and usually watch replays of all our games to see what worked or more importantly, where we went wrong. I probably do more video than our players themselves.

Heres my list of 5/8ths better than Burton at this point in time:

Luai, Mam, Dearden, Munster, Galvin, Brooks, Keary (although now retired), Trindall and if you consider AJ Brimson a 5/8th id have him ahead of Burton too.

Burton to me is still very much inconsistent with his good games. I have him in the same category as Dylan Brown, although i reckon Brown has had more exceptional games at 5/8th than Burton.

He has a long way to go to be in the same league as the guys above and in particular the top 6.

He does have a good kick in him though.....

 

[Marki]

Nope. Sorry. His kicking game is an intrinsic part of his game as a leading 5/8th, and in that particular facet, he's one of the best (arguably, THE best).
He is arguably our most important player - the least replaceable in our team, and that includes Crichton and Kikau.

Well gee, that really big of you.

Not "anywhere near the top 10?" Really?
You gotta have some real hate goggles on to see things that way.

You would have Luai and Munster as the elite. [1 & 2].
Dearden and Keary a peg below, but close-ish [3 & 4].
Then, possibly Mam (albeit based on 2023, not 2024) and Cody Walker, maybe (again, based on pre-2024 performances). [Let's say a conceded 5 & 6 there...maybe]

Burton would easily be in the next echelon (and very probably superior to Mam & Walker based on their 2024 contributions).
I'd have amongst that group, Burton, Trindall, Galvan (but only on one year so far), maybe Brooks (on most recent year only), and Dylan Brown (but , again, living off past years). [that's 7-11]. I'd have him at the top of that list (actually, probably at #5 if based only on 2024), but even if you wanted to death-ride his performances, and discount his kicking game - which is stupid - and say #11, that's hardly "[not] anywhere near the top 10".

Next level (or levels, really) down you might have:
Gamble & Cogger (Knights); Strange (Canberra); Metcalf, Martin, & Harris-Tavita (Warriors); Campbell, Brimson, Boyd, & Weaver (Titans); and "the legend" - in his own lunchtime - Kyle Flanagan (Dargons). Some competent players in there; some not so competents too.
You would be 'outta ya Fookin mind' to want to swap Burton for any of them.

Glad you brought up that list.
Ok i probably used the wrong words in "nowhere near the top 10". I should have said "not in the top 10" or "nowhere near the top 3". Which is a sufficient slap in the face to those who think too highly of him.

I dont underestimate the importance of his kicking game, but seriously, he can do that from other positions.

As a playmaker, he is tasked with creating chances for his teammates, not just kick them out of trouble or give them kick chases.

Until he improves his running and passing game in the 5/8th role, he'll never be considered elite in that spot. Just another kicker.

He is integral to our team but that's cause we chose to not chase elite halves and now have to rely heavily on his kicking game to stay competitive. All eggs in the one basket so to speak.....

 

[albatross]

Glad you brought up that list.
Ok i probably used the wrong words in "nowhere near the top 10". I should have said "not in the top 10" or "nowhere near the top 3". Which is a sufficient slap in the face to those who think too highly of him.

I dont underestimate the importance of his kicking game, but seriously, he can do that from other positions.

As a playmaker, he is tasked with creating chances for his teammates, not just kick them out of trouble or give them kick chases.

Until he improves his running and passing game in the 5/8th role, he'll never be considered elite in that spot. Just another kicker.

He is integral to our team but that's cause we chose to not chase elite halves and now have to rely heavily on his kicking game to stay competitive. All eggs in the one basket so to speak.....

It would be nice if somone could unlock our attack. A more dominant pack might help Burto's running game but his passing isn't flash and it's predictable too. He's got no options so gets no time. Here's hoping for a big improvement - same with Mahoney at dummy half.

 

[MoNkEy]

When I saw Mitch feature heavily in the 2025 jersey launch, I got the idea that he must have been a reasonable chance of getting a start this year.

I was probably wrong, though (I usually am).

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

When I saw Mitch feature heavily in the 2025 jersey launch, I got the idea that he must have been a reasonable chance of getting a start this year.

I was probably wrong, though (I usually am).

They are doing everything under the sun to please him because they know he isn’t ready. I’ve never seen a kid that hasn’t even played Cup yet be so front and centre of a lot of pre season promos.

 

[Doggies2015]

They are doing everything under the sun to please him because they know he isn’t ready. I’ve never seen a kid that hasn’t even played Cup yet be so front and centre of a lot of pre season promos.

He’s top 30. That’s why he features in many of the promos as he’s there full time

 

[Cappuccino]

He’s top 30. That’s why he features in many of the promos as he’s there full time

It's all part of the deal to keep him for the 4 year term or whatever it was.
Every other club and code who wanted him would have to had promised to fast track him. Nature of the contract beast.

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

He’s top 30. That’s why he features in many of the promos as he’s there full time

yeah he isn’t top 30 because he’s going to contribute on the field

 

[Old Man JB]

Yeh no chance re Woods, seems like slowly but surely with the kid.

As it should be.

 

[DFLWatto]

I think it's important we manage the expectations of the kid without rushing him, happy to wait to make sure hes ready but also don't wanna lose him.