News One big missing piece of the puzzle for Canterbury Bulldogs, Andrew Johns says

[c-b-b]

Pretty obvious we need a 7 and pretty obvious if you put Clearly into almost any team they get close to the 8.

 

[justdogs]

I think Joey was talking about next season regarding what he said about Cleary and making the 8. That's the impression I got when I watched the video this was taken from a few days ago.

Yes you spot on

 

[Psycho Doggie]

If we were in with a legit shot at the title in 2022, he might have a point. Most fans are hoping we can somehow get above the bottom four, all would be thrilled if we made the 8. The plan is to be in contention for the top 4 in a few seasons, with a nucleus of players who have good combinations.

We have a number of young halves next season. One is a future star, and we can't say that we've seen or know what the ceiling of some of the others are.

Joey wants everyone to believe that you can't win without a Joey style organising half.

 

[Alan79]

As obvious as it is, Barrett and the club didn't. Spent all the cap on pricey forwards and wingers. TPJ especially. While a great player, he's a luxury we couldn't afford while not having a recognized 7, 9 and FB on a one year contract.

Probably the only halfback on offer this year that was rep quality was Adam Reynolds. Given that he was it in regards to high quality 7's we were always going to struggle to be the ones to pay the price for him. Brisbane seemingly offloaded Lodge (paying freight) TPJ and Milford to fit him in. Their pack and backline already had more quality than ours. They're reputedly gambling on an injury prone centre transitioning into a 5/8. They'll be heavily invested in a 30+ yo who has shown signs that injury could become a huge factor in the coming years and an untested half that might also be at the start of a series of injuries.

I do wish we'd managed to pick up a classy 9 and 7 with loads of experience and leadership abilities but on the positive side looking objectively.
1-5 recruits. Dufty, Naden, JAC all attacking threats.
Halves recruit. Burton. Incredible prospect for the future. At worst he's got a huge boot that will ensure we shouldn't be defending from poor field position if our forwards struggle. Not sure who we rely on for short range attacking kicks, But with a 1-5 of Dufty, Cotric, Naden, Schoup and JAC going through the hands will be pretty potent anyway. Allen and Okunbor aren't bad depth either on their day.
Hooker- Remains to be seen if this will hurt us. JMK didn't play enough to show if he's greatly improved, but we've picked up Josh Cook and Debrosyev (if I recall the name right) who reputedly both ooze potential. BBO and Topine both did ok there this year too.
Forwards- TPJ, Asiata are the major pick ups there, with another highly touted youngster whos name evades me right now (possibly along the lines of Makatoa). So we're potentially going to see moderate improvement in the forwards.

So on the whole we've improved a lot in the backs, hopefully a lot in the halves, potentially a lot at dummy half and moderately in the forwards. A great halfback would have been some icing on the cake, but I'm happy as a pig in shit with our recruitment for next season. We may or may not factor into the finals race, but I think we'll be closer to 50/50 win loss ratio than this year with the new additions if the team has luck with injuries and referees. Johns as a former halfback is entirely biased about needing an organising halfback to be successful. It's definitely very handy, but quality accross the park will trump a star 7 anyday of the week.

 

[El Padrino]

Wow... this is news to me, how come no one told the bulldogs administration of this???

 

[Howie B]

Probably the only halfback on offer this year that was rep quality was Adam Reynolds. Given that he was it in regards to high quality 7's we were always going to struggle to be the ones to pay the price for him. Brisbane seemingly offloaded Lodge (paying freight) TPJ and Milford to fit him in. Their pack and backline already had more quality than ours. They're reputedly gambling on an injury prone centre transitioning into a 5/8. They'll be heavily invested in a 30+ yo who has shown signs that injury could become a huge factor in the coming years and an untested half that might also be at the start of a series of injuries.

I do wish we'd managed to pick up a classy 9 and 7 with loads of experience and leadership abilities but on the positive side looking objectively.
1-5 recruits. Dufty, Naden, JAC all attacking threats.
Halves recruit. Burton. Incredible prospect for the future. At worst he's got a huge boot that will ensure we shouldn't be defending from poor field position if our forwards struggle. Not sure who we rely on for short range attacking kicks, But with a 1-5 of Dufty, Cotric, Naden, Schoup and JAC going through the hands will be pretty potent anyway. Allen and Okunbor aren't bad depth either on their day.
Hooker- Remains to be seen if this will hurt us. JMK didn't play enough to show if he's greatly improved, but we've picked up Josh Cook and Debrosyev (if I recall the name right) who reputedly both ooze potential. BBO and Topine both did ok there this year too.
Forwards- TPJ, Asiata are the major pick ups there, with another highly touted youngster whos name evades me right now (possibly along the lines of Makatoa). So we're potentially going to see moderate improvement in the forwards.

So on the whole we've improved a lot in the backs, hopefully a lot in the halves, potentially a lot at dummy half and moderately in the forwards. A great halfback would have been some icing on the cake, but I'm happy as a pig in shit with our recruitment for next season. We may or may not factor into the finals race, but I think we'll be closer to 50/50 win loss ratio than this year with the new additions if the team has luck with injuries and referees. Johns as a former halfback is entirely biased about needing an organising halfback to be successful. It's definitely very handy, but quality accross the park will trump a star 7 anyday of the week.

The problem with our squad is that we have Flanno and Wakeham on a combined $700k approx for the halfback position. That makes it hard to recruit someone top line.

Until we move some players on we will struggle for a top 7 and 9 next year.

But I have faith in Gus. There is no way the 29 we have signed for next year will be with us in Round 1 next year. I reckon 8 or 9 will be given permission to negotiate elsewhere. That doesn’t mean they will all go but I would be stunned if at least a few didn’t

 

[B-Train]

Pretty much every team not in the top four needs a new halfback. There are less and less good halves available these days. Which is why signing Burton was so important.

I'm happy to let Burton be the dominant half and partner him with Averillo/Wakeham/BBO rather than sign someone for the sake of it that wouldn't be a huge upgrade on those guys anyway..

 

[chisdog]

As obvious as it is, Barrett and the club didn't. Spent all the cap on pricey forwards and wingers. TPJ especially. While a great player, he's a luxury we couldn't afford while not having a recognized 7, 9 and FB on a one year contract.

Who was available though? Reynolds? $1 a season is OK if you are a step away from a premiership but when you are on the bottom, probably better to spend it on someone a little younger & a little cheaper.

 

[dogbone]

Pretty much every team not in the top four needs a new halfback. There are less and less good halves available these days. Which is why signing Burton was so important.

I'm happy to let Burton be the dominant half and partner him with Averillo/Wakeham/BBO rather than sign someone for the sake of it that wouldn't be a huge upgrade on those guys anyway..

There are only 4 good genuine halves, and it took Hughes a long time to get to where he is now. The only other potential is Keary but he will at least have the luxury of a quality fullback, a good hooker and another good halves partner in Walker/Lam/Hutchison...

I think that's our biggest problem. Burton is a great talent. Could even be the next Fittler but for us to be successful we need to fill at least 2 of the other 3 spine positions with genuine quality.

 

[DinkumDog]

I'm always hopeful that Andrew Johns will write an article about something that he specialized in.

You have tried the Joey Johns Meal at McDonalds, right Al? No burger, no fries, just coke and ice .

 

[kmr07]

A. Johns was a great player, one of the best I have ever watched... but he is a terrible analyst

Jesus Christ could have been our halfback this year and we would not have made the finals

our go forward was terrible with the likes of Thompson and Hetherington often suspended, Napa, Ogden and Atoni passengers, Seumanufagai a depth player only, the likes of Britt and Waddell not FG standard, Patolo a debutant etc.

our dummy half play was terrible --> JMK is a utility and injured, Katoa was not only not FG standard but he is not a hooker, Deitz a hail Mary we have released, BBO a young inexperienced half brought in, Topine a young converted back rowers etc.

even if Christ was running around in our already hallowed no. 7 jersey, we would not have had a FG standard halves partner for him (Flanagan is not of FG standard, Averillo is an outside back, the klepto prince and Wakeham not of FG standard and Lewis has been released, BBO and Rajab too young etc.

RFM injured, Jackson past it, Elliot an idiot, our outside backs ineffectual, our conditioning was terrible, our discipline worse, our defence was disjointed and often uninterested, DWZ released, Barrett poor in his mentorship etc.

we were never making the finals this year

We actually lost 7 games by 12 points or less. Our go forward was pretty poor but I think the biggest issue was the finish to our sets. Our end of sets were really poor, especially in the opposition 20m. We rarely built pressure, repeat sets etc, and would typically run 4 one out hit ups and then a poor chip on the last. If we just had that halfback who could direct play and kick decently we may have won a few more games. For example, against the raiders when we lost by 2.. the game was in the bag until the last 15 mins but we had no one to stand up and close it out. Probably still wouldn’t have made the finals, but it did take only 22 points to finish in 8th spot this season (previously been 28 points for 8th spot)

 

[Moedogg]

Joey John's is comfortable sitting back and receiving a cheque to give his expert opinion...... You tell him to put his opinions to test and become a coach and he'll say no thanks.

 

[Real1]

Joey John's is comfortable sitting back and receiving a cheque to give his expert opinion...... You tell him to put his opinions to test and become a coach and he'll say no thanks.

that doesnt mean he isnt a good analysist, he does coach as a halves coach.. some people just dont want the stress and i respect him for openly saying he wouldnt handle it well.

 

[Howie B]

We actually lost 7 games by 12 points or less. Our go forward was pretty poor but I think the biggest issue was the finish to our sets. Our end of sets were really poor, especially in the opposition 20m. We rarely built pressure, repeat sets etc, and would typically run 4 one out hit ups and then a poor chip on the last. If we just had that halfback who could direct play and kick decently we may have won a few more games. For example, against the raiders when we lost by 2.. the game was in the bag until the last 15 mins but we had no one to stand up and close it out. Probably still wouldn’t have made the finals, but it did take only 22 points to finish in 8th spot this season (previously been 28 points for 8th spot)

The end of our sets were diabolical. We could hardly force a drop out and our bombs were not great.

Then to top it off when we put up a good bomb we seemed scared to challenge it.

I was mortified with how bad Flanno was on the last. With his limited running game and long kicking game then last tackle options near the opposition line should be his bread and butter. It would give him some leeway in respect to his other deficiencies because last tackle options are so important. But he sucked in that area as well

 

[HippDogg]

Haven’t we bought Asiata to play halfback [emoji848][emoji848]

 

[GoTheDoggies]

Why is Johns desperately trying to offload Pearce from the Knights?

 

[Kempsey Dog]

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says that despite only winning three games this year, the Canterbury Bulldogs were only one change from making the top eight.

The Bulldogs collected their first wooden spoon since 2008, ending what is now their fifth season in a row without finals football.
"If you parachute Nathan Cleary into that team this year, they make the eight," Johns told Wide World of Sports.

"Their attack was terrible, their defence, on occasions, was awful - but moving forward, I think they've bought some really class players.

"They just need to work out who's their No.7. You can have the biggest and best boat in the world but (if) you haven't got a captain steering the ship, it's not a good boat.

Johns said Jake Averillo was better suited to a role further out in the backline, and he raised doubt over Kyle Flanagan.

Averillo will likely start the 2022 season in the No.7 jersey, with new recruit Matt Burton at five-eighth.

But the Newcastle legend is concerned the pair may be too similar.

"Centres or five-eighth is his spot," Johns said of Averillo.

"I don't think Burton is the halfback. Such a specialised position."


The Bulldogs will welcome in an avalanche of talent over this off-season, with Burton being joined by Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Brent Naden and Tevita Pangai junior.

"They've got the talent there, they've got a hard-working forward pack and get some real strike out wide next year," Johns said.

"They've just got to find that halfback."

Joey just wants us to take Pearce off the Knights

 

[gibbo2]

Joey John's is comfortable sitting back and receiving a cheque to give his expert opinion...... You tell him to put his opinions to test and become a coach and he'll say no thanks.

Can’t blame him. Imagine getting paid to watch footy with no stress or accountability . Hard choice tbh . Not!!!!!!

 

[gibbo2]

He is dead right. Averillo is not the answer at half back. Finally an expert who has come out and said what we all believe

 

[Bulldogsteve]

He is dead right. Averillo is not the answer at half back. Finally an expert who has come out and said what we all believe

neither was Hughes at 2 previous clubs, he needs time thats all.