Carney must play in halves for Roosters
Roar Guru By Alan Nicolea, 11 Feb 2010 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Brian Smith, NRL, Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, Todd Carney
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Brian Smith’s pedigree as a first grade coach is to be respected, but his decision to shift Todd Carney into the fullback role this season is a risk not worth taking, especially when you have one of the most solid custodians in Sam Perrett at your disposal.
With three good halves fighting for starting positions at the Bondi-Junction club, Smith has been forced to make one of the more surprising positional switches in NRL history.
Instead of opting to move current five-eighth Braith Anasta to Lock, Smith has opted to move Carney into a position the former Canberra Raiders star has no experience in.
And to shift one of the most solid fullbacks in the game in Perrett out of position is certainly asking for trouble against the majority of NRL teams this season, let alone the premiership candidates.
Disregarding the fact that Perrett has established himself as one of the prime yardage gainers in the NRL at No.1, the 24 year old simply isn’t as effective on the wing due to a lack of height and explosive speed.
Although his try scoring rate playing on the flanks for New Zealand is clinical,(9 tries in 13 Tests), Perrett is a liability in the air , in particular against taller wingers such as Israel Folau, Antonio Winterstein, Taniela Tuiaki and Manu Vatuvei.
Perrett is much more adept defusing a bomb in the middle of the park, and thus has become one of the more reliable fullbacks in the game at the moment.
One only has to look at how far Perrett has come in Anthony Minichiello’s absence to see how much he prefers playing at fullback for the Roosters.
Indeed, Perrett himself will only grow in stature whilst being on the end of the great ball playing service Mitchell Pearce and Carney can offer in the halves.
During his four year reign at the Raiders, Carney was often touted as a future Origin and Kangaroos player thanks to his complete passing, running and kicking game.
Barely into his twenties, Carney had solidified himself as one of the most influential halves in the NRL, known for his ability to constantly produce clinical cut-out passes and kick a 40/20.
Not to mention the 23 year old is also a fine drop goal exponent, winning numerous matches while playing for the Green Machine off his own boot.
Were it not for his off field misdemeanours, it would have only been a matter of time before Carney found himself wearing the Sky Blue for NSW and the Green and Gold for the Kangaroos.
While it may take a few matches for Carney to develop a strong partnership with Pearce, coach Smith needs to realise this combination will pay much more dividends in the future – more than a move to fullback ever will.
With both Pearce and Carney still under 24 years of age, time is on Smith’s side to nurture a halves combination with the potential to dominate the NRL and lead the Roosters to some much needed on field success.
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- Brian Smith, NRL, Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, Todd Carney
February 12th 2010 @ 7:32pm
Scott Woodward said | February 12th 2010 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
Alan
Jared would start but he is nursing a shoulder and not expected to play for the first few games. They want him for his aggression as Tom Symonds, Boyd Cordner and Anthony Cherrington are very promising but not as forward as Jared or as tough.
February 13th 2010 @ 7:13am
alan nicolea said | February 13th 2010 @ 7:13am | Report comment
Scott
Indeed he is nursing a shoulder injury and i hope he recovers well. The Rooster are going to need his best form if they are to climb the ladder. I hope Anthony Cherrington also has a big year. He has enormous potential but off field dramas have plagued his on field success.
February 13th 2010 @ 10:33am
ScottWoodward.me said | February 13th 2010 @ 10:33am | Report comment
alan
As we know you cannot eat potential.
My biggest concern with the forwards is a lack of experience and intellect, and that is a major reason why Anasta would be useful in the forwards.
If you look at each player you will see that they are either very green, a hot head or just play dumb footy like playing the ball incorrectly and giving silly penalties away.
To me these things are coachable and I will watch with interest what improvements are made under Brian Smith.
February 13th 2010 @ 12:48pm
M1tch said | February 13th 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Phil Graham has been a low profile signing, he will be super for roosters
February 13th 2010 @ 1:15pm
ScottWoodward.me said | February 13th 2010 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
He does offer pace but he cant tackle a weet Bix.
February 13th 2010 @ 1:16pm
M1tch said | February 13th 2010 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
hahaha, yeh true but tend to think he will add to the chooks, their backs were woeful last year
February 13th 2010 @ 5:24pm
Mick from Giralang said | February 13th 2010 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Graham played a lot at fullback for the Silvertails and did well— I think you’re a bit tough on his defensive prowess, Scott. Agree with M1tch that he’s an astute buy.
February 13th 2010 @ 6:10pm
MyGeneration said | February 13th 2010 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
If by Silvertails you mean the Mighty Seags, when did Phil Graham ever play for Manly?
February 13th 2010 @ 9:14pm
Mick from Giralang said | February 13th 2010 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
D’oh.. confused him with Robinson, also an ex-Raider.
I promise not to forget my meds again.
February 13th 2010 @ 9:31pm
Mick from Giralang said | February 13th 2010 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
I should add, if Phil stays fit, he’ll be a great acquisition for the Roosters. Plenty of Raiders fans were sorry to see him go.
February 13th 2010 @ 4:39pm
ScottWoodward.me said | February 13th 2010 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Hey Fittler plumped for 2 big 2nd rowers for centres last year and they could not tackle laterally. I am hopeful that Shaun Kenny-Dowall will develop into a class center as he is brilliant in open field play.
February 17th 2010 @ 11:09am
PaulSal said | February 17th 2010 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Freddy had to play Aub and Symonds in the centres as there was no one else – ie how Ben Jones ended up there. Anasata is not a lock, his primary skills set are long kicking, R to L long passing and short passing to an angled run. He does not run direct like a forward nor tackle like one. He played lock at the dogs and went ok when younger, but that was behind a terrific pack, when he was younger and more confident and aggressive. Does Braith really want to play lock? I don’t think so. To this, not a typical B Smuth lock anyway. Has to play 6, therefore where does Carney go? There are plenty of good fullbacks that play like a 2nd 5/8 provided they have the hands and passing skills. Mimi is a ball runner, as is Perrett. Belcher, Lockyer are classics. Slater has great hands (for a ball runner) B Hodgson played 6 earlier, as did K Gidley. The only way to get the 3 most creative players in effective postiions is Pearce and Anasta in their traditional halves and Carney at fullback. Anasta won’t play lock under Smith because he is not a lock. Phil Graham could be the a sensational buy if he stays fit. Is an effective slide defender, which suits Smith again.