What are your thoughts on Mitchell Woods?

[4Runner]

Tag team pool cleaners

....at Victoria Nichols house

 

[SPEARTAKVIDREFS]

Galvin can kick.

 

[Brendan7]

Why would you want your half to do the majority of the kicking? If they were the best kicker in the team then yes. But you said you wanted Taafe playing halfback. Answer me seriously, would you take a Taafe kicking game over Burton kicking game? If there ever was a long kicking game worse than Kyle Flanagan’s then Taafe is your man

You pick your best genuine halfback, key word being genuine there. It's not hard that's either O'Sullivan or it's Woods, the latter is likely to be unavailable. iI want the 7 to organise that's the main job, everything else is whatever. We won't win a thing if we go with two runners at 7, with Burton turning up 1 week in 5 at most as a 5/8.

 

[Brendan7]

I think I tried to explain but you didn’t understand. Let me make it really simple.

All players can learn to do things that they haven’t done before with the right coaching. You can’t pigeon hole players like Galvin because we don’t know his potential.

The game has gone past this mindset that certain players have set roles. Most clubs pick their best 17 and find spots for them.

Do you understand?

Yet every other side contending has a genuine 7, funny that actually. Don't blame me when this idea doesn't work long term ie contending. It may work for a week or two, but it won't against other actual contenders. It is going to be 10 times worse when we don't have a hooker to be a second half, come off it Hayward is a bench player at best lets be real there, and a fullback who well if he's not the worst one he's very close to it. I shudder to think what Walsh and co will do to us, or Penrith or Melbourne. So we are exactly the same position as last year and that's AT BEST. Being stagnant is the worst idea in footy, give me us coming 6th-8th if we give Woods 15-20 games. That's 20 games maybe a final or two experience going into 2027 where it's likely Brisbane may not be there at least (reynolds retires after this season)

 

[TwinTurbo]

Yet every other side contending has a genuine 7, funny that actually. Don't blame me when this idea doesn't work long term ie contending. It may work for a week or two, but it won't against other actual contenders. It is going to be 10 times worse when we don't have a hooker to be a second half, come off it Hayward is a bench player at best lets be real there, and a fullback who well if he's not the worst one he's very close to it. I shudder to think what Walsh and co will do to us, or Penrith or Melbourne. So we are exactly the same position as last year and that's AT BEST. Being stagnant is the worst idea in footy, give me us coming 6th-8th if we give Woods 15-20 games. That's 20 games maybe a final or two experience going into 2027 where it's likely Brisbane may not be there at least (reynolds retires after this season)

Melbourne don't have "a genuine 7", Hughes is a fullback playing 1/2. Munster is a fullback playing 5/8, their only proven NRL fullback retired, so they have an inexperienced Fa'alogo for this season.

Grant, playing @ dummy half, is their organiser, a task that some people assign to a 7, and yet it seems to work for Melbourne. Before Grant they had CSmith, another dummy half organiser. Melbourne, since Cronk left, haven't really had an organising 7 for the last 9 seasons.

In the 2025 season Melbourne had had the same spine for 6 seasons, that's about as "stagnant" as you can get.


Team Work

 

[Brendan7]

Melbourne don't have "a genuine 7", Hughes is a fullback playing 1/2. Munster is a fullback playing 5/8, their only proven NRL fullback retired, so they have an inexperienced Fa'alogo for this season.

Grant, playing @ dummy half, is their organiser, a task that some people assign to a 7, and yet it seems to work for Melbourne. Before Grant they had CSmith, another dummy half organiser. Melbourne, since Cronk left, haven't really had an organising 7 for the last 9 seasons.

In the 2025 season Melbourne had had the same spine for 6 seasons, that's about as "stagnant" as you can get.


Team Work

Which would be fine if we had Grant...we have a utility trying to put some tape on his head trying to be a hooker at 9. I do like how our spine was poor to average (depending on where you sit) last year come on it was, but our idea is to make it somehow worse and expect better results.

Melbourne can be 'stagnant' they are in the top 4 and in grand finals enough with it. It was only a great Penrith side and a Walsh masterclass from being back to back premiers.

We aren't winning with this spine anyway. Hopefully after this year we have realised we actually need a fullback and a good hooker. If that means you sell a backrower you do. Think we come around 6th to 8th and that's fine so long as we have given Woods 10 plus games experience and ideally a final or two.

 

[Micko]

Yet every other side contending has a genuine 7, funny that actually. Don't blame me when this idea doesn't work long term ie contending. It may work for a week or two, but it won't against other actual contenders. It is going to be 10 times worse when we don't have a hooker to be a second half, come off it Hayward is a bench player at best lets be real there, and a fullback who well if he's not the worst one he's very close to it. I shudder to think what Walsh and co will do to us, or Penrith or Melbourne. So we are exactly the same position as last year and that's AT BEST. Being stagnant is the worst idea in footy, give me us coming 6th-8th if we give Woods 15-20 games. That's 20 games maybe a final or two experience going into 2027 where it's likely Brisbane may not be there at least (reynolds retires after this season)

Are you retarded?

 

[Micko]

Which would be fine if we had Grant...we have a utility trying to put some tape on his head trying to be a hooker at 9. I do like how our spine was poor to average (depending on where you sit) last year come on it was, but our idea is to make it somehow worse and expect better results.

Melbourne can be 'stagnant' they are in the top 4 and in grand finals enough with it. It was only a great Penrith side and a Walsh masterclass from being back to back premiers.

We aren't winning with this spine anyway. Hopefully after this year we have realised we actually need a fullback and a good hooker. If that means you sell a backrower you do. Think we come around 6th to 8th and that's fine so long as we have given Woods 10 plus games experience and ideally a final or two.

You will look very stupid when we play well this year. Your bias against our players is hurting any poor argument you have

 

[TwinTurbo]

Which would be fine if we had Grant...we have a utility trying to put some tape on his head trying to be a hooker at 9. I do like how our spine was poor to average (depending on where you sit) last year come on it was, but our idea is to make it somehow worse and expect better results.

Melbourne can be 'stagnant' they are in the top 4 and in grand finals enough with it. It was only a great Penrith side and a Walsh masterclass from being back to back premiers.

We aren't winning with this spine anyway. Hopefully after this year we have realised we actually need a fullback and a good hooker. If that means you sell a backrower you do. Think we come around 6th to 8th and that's fine so long as we have given Woods 10 plus games experience and ideally a final or two.

But that's not what you posted, which was "every other side contending has a genuine 7".

Which is demonstrably not true, unless you think Melbourne aren't a contender.


Team Work

 

[Micko]

But that's not what you posted, which was "every other side contending has a genuine 7".

Which is demonstrably not true, unless you think Melbourne aren't a contender.


Team Work

It’s not really worth the debate.

 

[kmr07]

But that's not what you posted, which was "every other side contending has a genuine 7".

Which is demonstrably not true, unless you think Melbourne aren't a contender.


Team Work

This guy is the master of going off topic. One minute he’s saying he wants a halfback to do all the kicking, then when asked why the “best kicker” in the team can’t do the kicking he starts going on about the halfback being an organizer

 

[Brendan7]

You will look very stupid when we play well this year. Your bias against our players is hurting any poor argument you have

I'm realistic. You don't win with 1 decent spine player, that's absolutely impossible. Just have a look at the 3 sides that are likely in the top 4 in Brisbane, Roosters and Melbourne. All have a very common theme, A grade talent in the spine, the roosters literally went out and got the best hooker that was available in Robson. An average spine can get you to the 8, in a poor year it MIGHT get you into the 4 (heaven the Sharks have done that somehow with that side). It's not winning though.

I'm generous calling Galvin that one A grade spine player too, it's only if he stays at 6 as he could be utterly elite there. We aren't winning without Woods coming on at 7 and getting significant upgrades at hooker and fullback. It's why I'd bite the bullet and as soon as Woods is fit he plays 7, until then O'Sullivan fills in as the backup.

There is a big difference between making the 8 and contending, I have no doubt we'll make the 8 in some capacity, but we are still a fair bit behind the 3 sides mentioned. I do have the Raiders falling this year personally that's one position that is open, Fogarty is just a massive loss.

 

[Micko]

I'm realistic. You don't win with 1 decent spine player, that's absolutely impossible. Just have a look at the 3 sides that are likely in the top 4 in Brisbane, Roosters and Melbourne. All have a very common theme, A grade talent in the spine, the roosters literally went out and got the best hooker that was available in Robson. An average spine can get you to the 8, in a poor year it MIGHT get you into the 4 (heaven the Sharks have done that somehow with that side). It's not winning though.

I'm generous calling Galvin that one A grade spine player too, it's only if he stays at 6 as he could be utterly elite there. We aren't winning without Woods coming on at 7 and getting significant upgrades at hooker and fullback. It's why I'd bite the bullet and as soon as Woods is fit he plays 7, until then O'Sullivan fills in as the backup.

There is a big difference between making the 8 and contending, I have no doubt we'll make the 8 in some capacity, but we are still a fair bit behind the 3 sides mentioned. I do have the Raiders falling this year personally that's one position that is open, Fogarty is just a massive loss.

We will be top four and contending for the premiership. Unless injuries destroy our forwards.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I'm realistic. You don't win with 1 decent spine player, that's absolutely impossible. Just have a look at the 3 sides that are likely in the top 4 in Brisbane, Roosters and Melbourne. All have a very common theme, A grade talent in the spine, the roosters literally went out and got the best hooker that was available in Robson. An average spine can get you to the 8, in a poor year it MIGHT get you into the 4 (heaven the Sharks have done that somehow with that side). It's not winning though.

Let's start with Brisbane;
Hookers Walters, Moser & Paix I would not call any off them "A grade talent"
1/2, Reynolds and Hunt, 2 x 36 year olds, if they stay fit then they are quality, but at their age it's rolling the dice big time
5/8, Mam and Rogers, Mam runs fast, that's it, he doesn't even qualify as speed hump in defence and he's a huge liability off the field
Fullback, Walsh to me is their only definite "A Grade talent" that is likely to play a lot

Moving on to the Chooks;
Hookers, Robson and Loelu, Robson is quality in defence, he's durable, hardly ever injured, service is good but not at all creative, he is the incumbent NSW SOO hooker but likely to be replaced by BBrailey. Not that I place much credence on it but Robson didn't rate in Top 10 hookers by Zero Tackle
1/2 DCE at 37 years old or is it Walker? DCE is a divisive prick, rubs a lot of players the wrong way, Manly weren't too fussed about losing him for a reason.
5/8 Elliott or Walker, the Chooks chased DCE HARD, so they can't rate Walker that highly, neither are A Grade, big deficiencies especially in defence
Fullback, Tedesco and Ramsay, the 2025 Teddy was quality but the 2024 version was not so much, at 33 he had a tough run early on, many injuries that will catch up to him at some point.

Lastly Melbourne;
They spend half of their Cap on their spine, always have, so understandably it's always quality, but that leaves the rest of their team deficient in a lot of areas. Fa'ologo another fast runner but deficient under the high ball and defence organisation is not his forte

In summary, I think some people on TK suffer from "the grass is greener" syndrome, an average player that plays for someone else is always better than our player..


Term Work

 

[CCC]

so what do you say replace the 5/8 every year and disrupt game play or grow and learn?

no just this year....

 

[CCC]

You and I don't disagree very often, but this is one of those rare occasions.

Our coaching staff (plus Gould) believe that Woods plainly isn't ready, physically or mentally for week in week out NRL level intensity. I am also of the view that his level of play is not consistent enough to make it through the 80 minutes of NRL requirements for a 1/2. Even in NSW Cup that may be due to physical of mental reasons. But it's not just late in the game, he drifts in and out of the contest, maybe he is saving himself because he knows he can't last the full 80 mins at full intensity. From memory Woods had 3 x NSW Cup games last season (NZ, Canbra and StGeorge). The first 2 games showed that he plainly wasn't ready, but the last round against St George he went OK.

One decent NSW Cup game is not enough to support exposure to the huge lift in performance that is required of an NRL 1/2. If he is promoted before he is physically or mentally ready, he will get injured, physically tired and/or mentally fatigued which will lead to mistakes and a possible loss of confidence.

None of the above should be taken as criticism of Woods, my view is he just needs time to develop.


Team Work

I would shift Burton to wherever we see his future now, put Galvin in his best position (6) and start with SOS and slowly interchange (with 6 reserves this year) with Woods throughout the year, starting with a few minutes at the end of games and slowly building up.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I would shift Burton to wherever we see his future now, put Galvin in his best position (6) and start with SOS and slowly interchange (with 6 reserves this year) with Woods throughout the year, starting with a few minutes at the end of games and slowly building up.

Are you really suggesting that O'Sullivan is better than Galvin and Burton. Seriously this is SOS's 8th year playing NRL with 6 different teams, surely that answers the question. Don't get me wrong he's a decent NRL back up 1/2, better than what we have had in the recent past, but he has suffered from reoccurring injuries which limited his playing time. His record is his record.


Team Work

 

[oatleydogsfan]

Which would be fine if we had Grant...we have a utility trying to put some tape on his head trying to be a hooker at 9. I do like how our spine was poor to average (depending on where you sit) last year come on it was, but our idea is to make it somehow worse and expect better results.

Melbourne can be 'stagnant' they are in the top 4 and in grand finals enough with it. It was only a great Penrith side and a Walsh masterclass from being back to back premiers.

We aren't winning with this spine anyway. Hopefully after this year we have realised we actually need a fullback and a good hooker. If that means you sell a backrower you do. Think we come around 6th to 8th and that's fine so long as we have given Woods 10 plus games experience and ideally a final or two.

Bailey Hayward imo is a very good footy player with lots of improvement in him. I hope whatever position he plays, he stays in the 17
Id like to see Gordon Chan kum tong and Hayward rotate at hooker, atleast for some games anyway and see how that works. The only problem with that is 1 bench spot taken

 

[TheAlmightyJish]

Bailey Hayward imo is a very good footy player with lots of improvement in him. I hope whatever position he plays, he stays in the 17
Id like to see Gordon Chan kum tong and Hayward rotate at hooker, atleast for some games anyway and see how that works. The only problem with that is 1 bench spot taken

I am extremely high on Hayward as a player and see him as a future leader at the club. I am very confident he will become a great #9.

 

[Micko]

Bailey Hayward imo is a very good footy player with lots of improvement in him. I hope whatever position he plays, he stays in the 17
Id like to see Gordon Chan kum tong and Hayward rotate at hooker, atleast for some games anyway and see how that works. The only problem with that is 1 bench spot taken

He could have a huge future. His effort areas are above most and he knows when to run and when to pass. I’m confident he will surprise a lot of people.