Playing our Players out of their natural positions

[Ant2611]

Hi everyone this is my first post, even though I have been a member for a long long time and have read EVERY post and comments from everyone for years, it has kept me entertained for many many hours. I love the banter and all the differing opinions, There is one common thread amongst us all " we love the Canterbury BullDogs." Even Journos who wouldnt admit it but they do too (maybe for different reasons than you or I) But I digress, There is one subject that has put me over the edge and I cannot be quite anymore. I know a lot will not agree but that’s life and that's what's being a forum member all about. As a passionate Bulldogs fan since 1964 (I was 10 yrs old) I even held member badge and card number 308 for many years, no longer a member as I live in Ballina and don’t get to Sydney that often, I do get to Brisbane and the Gold Coast games each year though. I digress again. We collectively as passionate bulldog Fans generally go in the same direction with most opinions for instants we all agree that HASBEEN has had his day a long time ago and Mr. Dean Pay is going in the right direction, and we all agree that we all are getting very excited about the upcoming year. As a member of a few bulldogs fan sites I need to say what I feel on Kieran Foran. First of all I wish him and the all boys all the very best and I hope (as Ted Glossip said before the 1980 grand final) go out and enjoy your selves. Now for my gripe: or opinion or whatever you want to call it

I see so many people on all the dogs forums trying to convince themselves and everyone else that Kieran Foran is a half back HE IS NOT. He played all his junior football as a 5/8, came to grade as a 5/8, played for Manly as A 5/8, won a premiership as a 5/8, WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THAT GRAND FINAL AS A 5/8, plays for New Zealand As a 5/8, he has stated that his favourite position is 5/8, and I’m sure he was brought to Canterbury to play 5/8, everyone has been rubbishing Hasbeen for years for playing people out of position , We even let Josh Reynolds go so there would be room for Kieran, we all know that Josh is a better hooker, but .... Hasbeen again, what do I hear people saying oh there is no difference playing half or 5/8 or hooker, now- a-days well I'm telling you there is. Except on occasions one stands left of ruck and one stands right, K.Foran is a specialist 5/8 with number 6 on his back, as for 7 we have a few options and I'm sure Mr Pay will pick the best that he can with the players available, I have my opinion on that but I'm not coach. So get it right: K .Foran is not a half back HE IS dare I say it A 5/8 Chew on and discuss that !!!!!!

 

[Natboy]

Good first post mate.
It’s definitely a problem as it is with our lock & fullback positions too.
Maybe that’s why Pay wants Cogger early.
We do seem to have an abundance of 5/8ths & a lack of controlling halfbacks don’t we

 

[belmore_utd]

Pretty certain Frawley will be given 1st crack at the no.7 for the above reasons

 

[Doggies2035]

Pretty certain Frawley will be given 1st crack at the no.7 for the above reasons

I hope not i would rather josh Cleeland try something new

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Don't agree. Foran can play both roles but has always played more like a 7 without constantly being on the ball. Look back at his Manly days, he was the one that guided the team around he park, he got them through their sets, he kept everything running smoothly. Then during attacking plays he was the halfback with Stewart playing 5/8 on his outside, go back and look at all the replays if you don't remember. Foran goes and DCE falls apart and never fully recovers until Blake Green comes along and plays that role for DCE again.

It simply comes down to the fact the we need a halfback and Foran is the best suited to that role. We don't have the luxury of having him chime in whenever he sees fit, we need him on the ball at first receiver using his vision to target the defence and move us around the park.

 

[speedy2460]

Good post Ant2611. I think you summed it up very nicely. He is a 5/8 through and through. He plays like a 5/8.
Foran does not have to be first receiver, and I believe it better if he is not. It can cramp a 5/8 as he doesnt always have room to move.
He is much better served if the dummy half makes the 7 the first receiver and them onto the 6. By the time the 6 gets the ball, there is more opportunities to do things.

 

[Mitch Connor]

Mate, 5/8 and Half are basically left and right at this club.

 

[bcmf]

Don't agree. Foran can play both roles but has always played more like a 7 without constantly being on the ball. Look back at his Manly days, he was the one that guided the team around he park, he got them through their sets, he kept everything running smoothly. Then during attacking plays he was the halfback with Stewart playing 5/8 on his outside, go back and look at all the replays if you don't remember. Foran goes and DCE falls apart and never fully recovers until Blake Green comes along and plays that role for DCE again.

It simply comes down to the fact the we need a halfback and Foran is the best suited to that role. We don't have the luxury of having him chime in whenever he sees fit, we need him on the ball at first receiver using his vision to target the defence and move us around the park.

True.

Watch him play, and you’ll see he is out and out leader. He is a worker both in the josh Reynolds sense but also behind the scenes (getting the pieces in place), and generally playing the “chess game”, which is something josh and Moses could not do.

 

[Dingo]

I think Foran would be a very capable Halfback

 

[Alan79]

Congratulations on leaving the ranks of the lurkers (readers that don't post) Ant.

If Lichaa distributes the ball like he did last year and in previous years, then our halfback will be wearing 8 or 10 and we'll play with a 5/8 on either side in 6 or 7 that have to wait for a prop to give them ball. Lichaa has shown in a few games that he can run it well from dummy half, but his first instinct is to throw a short pass to whichever prop is closest to him unfortunately.

I Hope Pay is working hard on breaking Lichaa out of this habit. We'll be a better football team if he can accomplish that one thing. I'm happy to wait and see how our playing style changes under a new coach. Haslers best days as a coach were when he could use decoy running with big boppers to create space which made it easier for halves to get by with a simple running and passing game. I'm not sure if Hasler instructed Lichaa to pop those short balls to forwards even late in the tackle count or whether that is just a Lichaa thing. But whoever gets the nod to start the season in the halves alongside Foran, they will have more freedom to create if they get earlier ball in my opinion.

 

[Khan00]

Good post and to the point.
I agree with you, he's a classic 5/8 and if there was text book on how to play the traditional role it'd have to be written by Foran.

In saying that, he is that good of a half IMO he can play both roles comfortably whether presently or back in the day!

I think you will find that because the roles have changed a fair bit since your time (with respect) and the circumstances that lay around the position itself due to ol mate Des, he will probably slot into 7 but still play a lot of 6 when the opportunity arises and have maybe cleeland playing his game whilst foz runs the show.

Still believe Foran is 1 of the best behind Thurston as a half imo.

 

[Freakzilla]

At Manly they played left and right. The jersey number was of no imprtance. If anything Foran was more of a halfback than DCE. DCE is at his best running the ball. Watch games instead of looking at jersey numbers.

 

[speedy2460]

I dont blame Lichaa for passing to forwards. They should not be there. They need to be back and running onto the ball, not a first receiver.

 

[Sandra's Bollocks]

If he can combine regularly with his halves partner then we can be dangerous. But if not, then pretty much what Mitch said above. It wont really matter in that case what number he wears.

In Pay we Pray. Lol

 

[KiwiDog7]

Foran can wear number 10 and will still play like a halfback


Even at international level he’s guiding the team and Johnson running around like a headless chook

 

[Raikkonen]

Mate, 5/8 and Half are basically left and right at this club.

Was also the case when he was at Manly

 

[bradtalo]

Hi everyone this is my first post, even though I have been a member for a long long time and have read EVERY post and comments from everyone for years, it has kept me entertained for many many hours. I love the banter and all the differing opinions, There is one common thread amongst us all " we love the Canterbury BullDogs." Even Journos who wouldnt admit it but they do too (maybe for different reasons than you or I) But I digress, There is one subject that has put me over the edge and I cannot be quite anymore. I know a lot will not agree but that’s life and that's what's being a forum member all about. As a passionate Bulldogs fan since 1964 (I was 10 yrs old) I even held member badge and card number 308 for many years, no longer a member as I live in Ballina and don’t get to Sydney that often, I do get to Brisbane and the Gold Coast games each year though. I digress again. We collectively as passionate bulldog Fans generally go in the same direction with most opinions for instants we all agree that HASBEEN has had his day a long time ago and Mr. Dean Pay is going in the right direction, and we all agree that we all are getting very excited about the upcoming year. As a member of a few bulldogs fan sites I need to say what I feel on Kieran Foran. First of all I wish him and the all boys all the very best and I hope (as Ted Glossip said before the 1980 grand final) go out and enjoy your selves. Now for my gripe: or opinion or whatever you want to call it

I see so many people on all the dogs forums trying to convince themselves and everyone else that Kieran Foran is a half back HE IS NOT. He played all his junior football as a 5/8, came to grade as a 5/8, played for Manly as A 5/8, won a premiership as a 5/8, WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THAT GRAND FINAL AS A 5/8, plays for New Zealand As a 5/8, he has stated that his favourite position is 5/8, and I’m sure he was brought to Canterbury to play 5/8, everyone has been rubbishing Hasbeen for years for playing people out of position , We even let Josh Reynolds go so there would be room for Kieran, we all know that Josh is a better hooker, but .... Hasbeen again, what do I hear people saying oh there is no difference playing half or 5/8 or hooker, now- a-days well I'm telling you there is. Except on occasions one stands left of ruck and one stands right, K.Foran is a specialist 5/8 with number 6 on his back, as for 7 we have a few options and I'm sure Mr Pay will pick the best that he can with the players available, I have my opinion on that but I'm not coach. So get it right: K .Foran is not a half back HE IS dare I say it A 5/8 Chew on and discuss that !!!!!!

I'd love to see Cleeland at 7 first receiver and Foran at 5/8. They would kill it. Frawley is a good back up for either and then we also have Brown. We also have Benji's bro and Lewis. Cogger next year also. Competition for starting spots will keep whoever is playing with Foran on their toes.

 

[EXPLORER]

Hi everyone this is my first post, even though I have been a member for a long long time and have read EVERY post and comments from everyone for years, it has kept me entertained for many many hours. I love the banter and all the differing opinions, There is one common thread amongst us all " we love the Canterbury BullDogs." Even Journos who wouldnt admit it but they do too (maybe for different reasons than you or I) But I digress, There is one subject that has put me over the edge and I cannot be quite anymore. I know a lot will not agree but that’s life and that's what's being a forum member all about. As a passionate Bulldogs fan since 1964 (I was 10 yrs old) I even held member badge and card number 308 for many years, no longer a member as I live in Ballina and don’t get to Sydney that often, I do get to Brisbane and the Gold Coast games each year though. I digress again. We collectively as passionate bulldog Fans generally go in the same direction with most opinions for instants we all agree that HASBEEN has had his day a long time ago and Mr. Dean Pay is going in the right direction, and we all agree that we all are getting very excited about the upcoming year. As a member of a few bulldogs fan sites I need to say what I feel on Kieran Foran. First of all I wish him and the all boys all the very best and I hope (as Ted Glossip said before the 1980 grand final) go out and enjoy your selves. Now for my gripe: or opinion or whatever you want to call it

I see so many people on all the dogs forums trying to convince themselves and everyone else that Kieran Foran is a half back HE IS NOT. He played all his junior football as a 5/8, came to grade as a 5/8, played for Manly as A 5/8, won a premiership as a 5/8, WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THAT GRAND FINAL AS A 5/8, plays for New Zealand As a 5/8, he has stated that his favourite position is 5/8, and I’m sure he was brought to Canterbury to play 5/8, everyone has been rubbishing Hasbeen for years for playing people out of position , We even let Josh Reynolds go so there would be room for Kieran, we all know that Josh is a better hooker, but .... Hasbeen again, what do I hear people saying oh there is no difference playing half or 5/8 or hooker, now- a-days well I'm telling you there is. Except on occasions one stands left of ruck and one stands right, K.Foran is a specialist 5/8 with number 6 on his back, as for 7 we have a few options and I'm sure Mr Pay will pick the best that he can with the players available, I have my opinion on that but I'm not coach. So get it right: K .Foran is not a half back HE IS dare I say it A 5/8 Chew on and discuss that !!!!!!

Welcome mate

 

[Ant2611]

Welcome mate

Thanks Papa

 

[Ant2611]

Good first post mate.
It’s definitely a problem as it is with our lock & fullback positions too.
Maybe that’s why Pay wants Cogger early.
We do seem to have an abundance of 5/8ths & a lack of controlling halfbacks don’t we

Thanks Natboy