Carter sings new Waratahs deal

A correction. Barnes had 18 tackle attempts not 28. Thanks to the keen-eyed Onceinawhile.

Sorry Bruce don't wish to intrude, but how is Barnes @ 50% with 28 tackles and 9 misses?

Whaler, I will have to work out how to flag more clearly when I am being sarcastic. You certainly have a clear idea of what you are looking for in a centre; "we might as well buy Anthony Watmough if that is all we need, big tackles and a few strong runs". Instead we want "a quick 12 /13 who is light on their feet can burn people with pace, put a step on etc etc". After four rounds we can look at the stats from rugbystats.com.au to compare "poor old Tommy .. flaffing around" with the "quick 12/13[s]" who are so prevalent in the Australian franchises. Let's get the irrelevant Watmough characteristics out of the way first. On tackles - as if anyone cares about defence - Carter has made 28 and missed 4, a missed percentage of 14.3%. Then we have Cross 13, 2, 15.4%; Mortlock 23, 5, 17.9%; Tatupu 14, 3, 21.4%; Faingaa 22, 6, 27.3%; Beale 16, 5, 31.3%; Lealifano 17, 6, 35.3%; Inman 13, 5, 38.5%; Turinui 13, 5, 38.5%; and Barnes 28, 9, 50% Would that be the same Barnes who was "'HOWLING' at Carter on Saturday night [after} he orchestrated a great hole for Carter to hit"? Mister 50% himself. Carter has made 27 runs for a total gain of 181 metres. Let's compare that to the light-footed ones who "can burn people with pace": Turinui 12 (157m); Lealifano 17 (125m); Cross (2 games) 10 (112m); Mortlock 18 (104m); Tatupu (2 games) 9 (81m); Beale 12 (73m); Inman (2 games) 11 (72m); Barnes 9 (55m); and Faingaa 11 (46m) Carter is credited with 26 ruck and maul involvements. Then come: Lealifano 18; Mortlock 16; Turinui 13; Inman 11; Beale 10; Faingaa 9: Cross 8; Barnes 8; and Tatupu 5. Carter is credited with 4 off-loads. Faingaa had 2; Barnes, Turinui, Mortlock and Tatupu had one each. The rest didn't trouble the scorer. But it is on penalties and turnovers where Carter goes missing. He hasn't been penalised and he has had no turnovers. Among the more notable performers on these measures of excellence are Beale penalised 3 times and turning the ball over 5 times; Barnes, Lealifano and Mortlock all recorded 3 of each; Cross had 3 turnovers in two games; Turinui 3 turnovers; and Fangaa and Inman one of each. Whaler, we all had a good chuckle at your witticism: "When everyone was getting injured before and on the end of year tour, Dingo Deans was virtually pulling blokes out of the pub, before calling on Tom Carter". And haven't some of those picked ahead of him really kicked on since and justified the selectors' faith in them.

Mate is that true??? Does not suprise..

Exactly Bruce........ a Pass Mark .........that is the issue most of us have with Carter .....a pass mark is about as good as it gets. He is a solid number 12 that's it, he will more than likely get a pass mark for the rest of the season for most games. We need a gun centre not a "pass mark" mate ! Perhpas go and have a look at your analysis made up of "75 big tackle" "76 tackle" "strong run" blah blah blah .......we might as well buy Anthony Watmough if that is all we need, big tackles and a few strong runs ........Mate we want a quick 12 /13 who is light on their feet can burn people with pace, put a step on etc etc ........

Justin says of the Barnes/ Carter mixup: "It was one of the worst misreads of a gap you will ever see. It was pretty funny in the end and Barnes did his nana a treat (its about all he did all night actually)." You're the only one I've seen, Justin, who's commented on Barnes's extremely limited participation in the game. But what of the universally ridiculed Carter? These are my minute-by-minute notes of his involvements excluding things like support play at breakdown or assistance in tackles: 1 claimed ball after Sharks fumbled kickoff reception 5 got 2m over advantage line and threw around the corner pass 6 pressured Sharks kicker who kicked out on full 8 received pass when double-teamed, got 1m over adv line 15 strong tackle 19 took ball forward slowly, threw forward pass 22 miscommunication with Barnes, spilled poor pass 36 inside pass from Burgess, ruled knock on but deflection by Sharks player 39 try after strong carry through defenders 42 tackle 51 strong run forward, stumbled, regained feet and gained more metres, led to try next phase 54 tackle 56 drove 5m over adv line 63 great kick chase and sacked ball receiver 66 gained 5m over adv line 75 big tackle 76 tackle So he committed two significant errors. In the 19th minute he took the ball forward, then slowed and looked for support which took a long time to arrive. Then in the 22nd minute he missed an opportunity to exploit an inside gap. Against this he scored a try; created another; made more metres over the advantage line with defenders hanging off him than any other back and almost any forward; had a long kick chase and sacked the ball receiver; and didn't miss a tackle all night. I think that should be worth at least a pass mark.

Thanks, Bill. As I get older I am tending to indulge myself more. I try not to waste the opportunity to have a stir. You are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of our country. "Jazz & Blues festivals around. ... fine food, good wine, beautiful rivers, magnificent waterfalls". Can't ask for much more.

Brilliant!

Whaler - It happened right in front of me. It was one of the worst misreads of a gap you will ever see. It was pretty funny in the end and Barnes did his nana a treat (its about all he did all night actually).

Ah Bruce your such a card. I just bet you're the life of the party. Just wait a sec 'til I get the straw from between ma teef & nail that there spitoon. Ahhh that's better. I haven't always lived in Bellingen you know. Despite coming across as somewhat slow compared to your very clever & witty self, I actually moved here from the big smoke by choice, much like many other locals who enjoy the climate, safety, community spirit and wonderful nature of Bellingen. Which the locals call Bello as'n it's a ways too hard to spell. By the way, I'd be careful not to store too much confidence in Wikipedia. It has been known to mislead lazy researchers. Instead drive into town and enjoy one of the best Jazz & Blues festivals around. Come and see & enjoy the wonderful International The Global Festival, fine food, good wine, beautiful rivers, magnficent waterfalls and learn by experiencing it for yourself. Even you may learn a thing or two. “Was he one of the form 13’s in the Shute?” Was I too subtle for you then? I was suggesting .... well never mind you obviously already know. Yes I do watch the Shute on ABC & sadly way too often it's the boys in the yellow & blue bumble bees jerseys playing who ever else, and I'm always willing the other team on. Now if you'll 'scuse me I think I can hear the whiskey still boiling.

Did anyone else see Barnes "HOWLING" at Carter on Saturday night, he orchestrated a great hole for Carter to hit and poor old Tommy was flaffing around. Barnes coudn't beleive it ........thought if Carter coudn't do anything else he could hit holes at pace ......When everyone was getting injured before and on the end of year tour, Dingo Deans was virtually pulling blokes out of the pub, before calling on Tom Carter..............................

Bruce, not that I'm looking for a "you were right Brett", but a month in I'd be interested to hear how you think Carter has gone at outside centre so far?? Just going back to our discussion (and my concerns) prior to the season commencement..

Blinky Bill provides us with a very erudite analysis of Tom Carter's failings, but then spoils the impression that he might actually know what he is talking about by posing the question, "Was he one of the form 13’s in the Shute?" Are you still on the pedal radio up there, Bill? Don't you get ABC TV in Bellingen? You must do, because I always observe when travelling on the Pacific Highway through your area that more than one of the motels still proudly display signs that they have "Colour TV". How about that? Talk about a tourist attractor! According to Wikipedia, "In the 1830s, Bellingen was literally a backwater ..." Since then nothing much has changed. Bellingen sits on the Bellinger River. The discrepancy has been pointed out to the locals but they just sit on the river bank watching twigs float past. In answer to your query, Bill, Tom Carter's form in the Shute Shield at 13 has not been particularly noteworthy; possibly because for quite a few years he has dominated that competition at 12. He also played in that position in last year's Grand Final winning the Man of the Match award.

Not bad at crash ball. BUT.........needs more leg drive on contact and could add a few more tricks to his bag such as spinning in the tackle and occassionally maybe a change of angle. Wouldn't that be nice? He's still too predictable but he is improving in his passing. Still hard for me to accept that he's the best we have at 13, even with Horne working his way back. Was he one of the form 13's in the Shute?

Based on the most common criticism, I assume he passes for a singer more than he passes for a rugby player but doesn't carry a tune as well as a ball... ;)

Can't pass, can't catch. But you have to admit, he does a great crash ball...doesn't he???

i cant understand it, last year they wanted to pay out his contract, now they sign him again for 2 years

You have got to be kidding. Here NSW had the perfect opportunity to get rid of some dead wood but instead they sign him up for another two seasons. Unbelievable.

Okay everybody hide. I can hear Bruce coming down the corridor.

Now you can have a crack at the 2 NSW A centres, both 20 awesome players, Tim Bennetts and Cam Mitchell Wrong decision NSW