How much is Michael Jennings worth?
Roar Guru By planko, 18 Jan 2013 planko is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Ivan Cleary, Michael Jennings, NRL, Penrith Panthers, Rugby League
Michael Jennings makes a break for the Panthers. AAP Imgae/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
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Ivan Cleary is absolutely correct in saying Michael Jennings is not worth $650,000. Simply put, no centre is worth that much.
I am waiting for the chorus of Roarers hounding me about Souths and Greg Inglis. But he is not a $650,000 as a centre, he’s a fullback well worth that and then some.
In modern rugby league, unless you are truly sensational, big dollars are not coming your way unless you are a number 1, 6 or 7. One could debate this is not new.
Most of the greats were forwards with an ability to offload or played 1, 6 or 7. Cameron Smith is a modern exception but in another team or era he would have played in the halves.
Getting back to Jennings, the Panthers have cleared the decks for their coach to be able to get ‘his team’.
I am not saying Jennings will not perform, but you need to understand something about the coach at Penrith. Cleary was no exceptional talent, he was a toiler. He put in a 100% every week. He was a Jason Taylor or a Greg Florimo, not an Andrew Johns or Bob Fulton.
This does not mean he dislikes players with natural ability, he just would not understand players that don’t give a 100% all the time.
Jennings would need hot wind and ego stroking. Cleary does not offer this and Phil Gould would laugh it.
Still, I think Jennings will thrive with the change. Some players need one to re-ignite their passion and career.
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- Explore:
- Ivan Cleary, Michael Jennings, NRL, Penrith Panthers, Rugby League
January 18th 2013 @ 7:13pm
Gus Paella said | January 18th 2013 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
Sad news about JM. Comiserations. Oikee you are driving me crazy haha You are deluded but very entertaining. Keep it up mate!
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January 20th 2013 @ 3:13am
Johnno said | January 20th 2013 @ 3:13am | Report comment
Micheal Jennigs will be a good buy for the roosters. He has good acceleration, and scores some good tries.
January 27th 2013 @ 8:38pm
dubbo teacher said | January 27th 2013 @ 8:38pm | Report comment
Jennings might do ok at the roosters, couldn’t be any less impressive than he’s been at Penrith. On week in week out form he’s worth 300k max. He can’t create, can’t jump high to take bombs, can’t take pressure off his forwards by taking it up off his own line, is an ordinary defender. He is explosive, ie he has acceleration and a bit of a swerve. He is a finisher of opportunities created by others.
It reflects well on Cleary that he has got rid of him.
If centres are so important btw how did Melbourne win the comp with theirs?
As a Parra fan I was actually happy when Kearney was appointed coach. He was a real tough player, as hard as they come, and had just come from Melbourne.
YET he pays top $ to Sandow???!!! I can’t believe his lack of judgement … and that others involved allowed that money to go on a trumped up nobody like Sandow…
How can decision makers out there think the likes of Jennings and Sandow are worth 550-650k??
Into that category of flushing money down the toilet you’d have to put Dave Taylor btw. I only hope Mal chooses him in the Qld squad.
Seriously I’d rather have Mitch Allgood in my squad, no to mention the likes of Finucane, Teo or any number of up and coming backrowers.
As for Hayne, well if he can’t tackle there’s no way he’d handle 5/8. The defensive workload there would kill his career. The great thing about fullback is that not much defence is required. True, the tackles you need to make are very often try savers but I’d rather he be there for Parra than 5/8 where backrowers would be running his way like Pitt St at peak hour.
January 27th 2013 @ 9:18pm
dubbo teacher said | January 27th 2013 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
January 27th 2013 @ 9:30pm
dubbo teacher said | January 27th 2013 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
Ivan Cleary has proved himself to be a good – potentially great – coach. He can repeat his success at the Warriors with the right 2 or 3 key players. At the Warriors the big two were Wiki and Price. He is trying to rebuild a side at Penrith where the local homegrown heroes perhaps began to get stale.
It last worked for Penrith when the key players imported were Chris Mortimer and Kelly. Two hard men who knew how to win comps.
January 28th 2013 @ 9:33am
Pot Stirrer said | January 28th 2013 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Theres a big factor i think your missing in a few of your analyzis of Jennings and hayne. They were both playing in teams for the last 2 years that have performed very ordinary. If jennings was playing at the dogs last year and hayne was playing FB for the storm they would have had sensational seasons and being lauded as superstars of the game. Its hard to fly like an eagle when your surrounded by turkeys as they say. Its seems almost like if Hayne doesnt make 50 tackles kick 3 40/20′s scor 3 100 mtr trys hes lacing motivation. Id love to see hayne leave the eels and go to a team where hes not the scape goat for every loss and other players can create oppurtunitys for him for a change.