I am not convinced that Mitchell Pearce should have been chosen as a starting player for Friday’s Broncos vs Roosters grand final qualifier at Suncorp.
Of course, I am aware he is co-captain of the Sydney Roosters but does that mean Pearce should be an automatic pick for a game in which the loser heads off on holidays?
Pearce ripped a hamstring in a premiership game against Brisbane five weeks ago. This was a serious injury and there must be a major risk of him breaking down again, but coach Trent Robinson has rolled the dice, nodding for Pearce, with Jackson Hastings named on the interchange bench.
Hastings has done a terrific job in Pearce’s absence, showing that he is right up to the level of top-grade football, and the accompanying pressure of finals football seems to be oxygen for the highly gifted 19-year-old.
The Roosters have not missed Pearce for a moment, and have had a better backline flow with the kid giving slick service to James Maloney and others.
Channel Nine commentator and analyst Phil Gould keeps pointing out that Hastings is very clever on last-tackle options and doesn’t bomb-bomb-bomb blindly, taking the guesswork out of play for opposing fullbacks.
Pearce has been guilty of such repetitive plays in many big games, including State of Origin, and the Broncos will gratefully receive such free possession and territory if Pearce does not come up with more variety in his last-tackle plays.
Bombs have their place – and the Roosters have some brilliant chasers and catchers – but I would prefer to see Pearce run the ball more, or send through some dangerous grubbers for the likes of Michael Jennings and Blake Ferguson to swoop on.
Coach’s instructions or not, Pearce is way too predictable.
If Hastings had been named as a starter, Brisbane would not have known what was coming next. With Pearce back at No.7, the Broncos will know exactly what is happening and will react accordingly.
Regular readers of my columns should know by now that I am not the greatest fan of Pearce. I have not been happy to have him as the NSW half because he can play and serve the teams he represents a heck of a lot better.
It’s not personal, I just like to see wholesale variety in halfbacks, a level of unpredictability and uncertainty that arises whenever they handle the football. You always get that with the other three halves who are still ‘alive’ in the NRL finals.
Can you say or predict, for certain, what Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk or Ben Hunt are going to do on any last-tackle option? Not on your life.
Pearce is a good player but lacks the spontaneity of this trio. You pretty much get the feeling that he is going to do something – and he does.
Hastings? Well, he’s relatively new in town and instinctively plays what is in front of him. Predictable? No. He hasn’t been in the top grade long enough for any opposition to know what he’s up to next.
He should have been retained for this huge game for momentum reasons along with the fact that choosing an injury-weakened, and possibly rusty Pearce, is an unnecessary gamble.
Roosters fans, fellow Roarers, anyone, are welcome to take umbrage at my thoughts, but I noticed that a recent newspaper poll had more than 50 per cent of readers feeling that Hastings should have retained the No.7 gig, at least for this week.
One can take or leave polls of any kind, but the majority who voted for the up-and-coming Roosters halfback feel he’s the best chance the club has of getting past Brisbane and snaring a grand final berth.
Coach Robinson and company could sink or swim in 2015 on the strength of the roulette gamble on No.7. No more bets…
rrw1985
Roar Rookie
Hey Muzz did you catch the game? Enjoy the next few years mate, your purple patch is over!
Dr Yes
Guest
Moylan/Hastings? Egads, not that old approach again. Moylan's fullback for his club - might play him there, wing or bench. But you wouldn't start either at Origin half for a few years. We ran every permutation of green halves / "latest tyros" for about 5 or 6 years from 2005-2011. Think we burnt through 30 halves combinations, to a dead-end, doing damage by throwing them into the fire before they were up to it. How about we wait unitl the halves are about 40% through their careers before getting first consideration. Fittler, Lockyer, Cronk, DCE, Stuart & Daley all met this condition on SOO halves debut - with success. DCE & Cronk were blooded on the bench for a few years beforehand. Cronk debuted at 29, believe it or not, and Lockyer at 27 (having previously played fullback). Daley played his first series at half in 1992 aged 23, after a couple of premierships and a couple of years in the centres (very similar to Fittler, though Fittler was older). The following debuted before this - with failure: Johns (2.5 years into career, because Stuart was barred due to Super League; NSW lost the series 3-0 to Fatty's Nobodies), Thurston (2.5 years in; lost that series), Sterling (2.5 years in; lost series); Lamb (2.5 years in; lost series); Lewis (2.5 year in; lost series before Origin concept - fair enough, teams were biased; but he met the criteria at SOO1, which he won); Pearce (at 19 - crazily unfair on him). Notable exception to the rule: Alfie Langer, playing in a gun team with Lewis directing play. Bit of a pattern? You know it makes sense.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
Yeah that may be the case, I'd probably say they are both but if they have to be one or the other your probably right. In that case, Hodgo is better than any outside back that the roosters have.
Ron Swanson
Guest
Great call Tim, agree 110% what I don't get about Pearce is the fact of the 4 halfbacks left he has the turn of foot & pace to leave that trio for dead but he seems to play around structures and looks as though he shackles himself at times. I think for a No.7 he clearly lacks the vision to be considered a top shelf No.7. Hastings looks a beauty, Gus nailed it 3-4 weeks back when he said this kid should be taking the last tackle kick options ahead of Maloney, who is also guilty of inept aerial bombs. The opposition can block the Roosters chaser's on most occasion's & neither Maloney or Pearce are very accurate compared to Hastings. Case in point the perfect kick he placed for SKD's try last weekend. Moving forward I'd back a Moylan/Hastings halves pairing for NSW with the Chooks centre's the NSW pair, bonus being a good club combo with Jackson. Long term Dugan is not the answer at fullback - lacks creativity, would be better off on the wing, that creative spark would be Tedesco. No.9 is an issue as Qld have half a team of quality No.9's. Rein, Peats, McInnes don't raise excitement levels but Liicha could be the answer. I just hope Laurie makes some tough call's & doesn't go with the same recycled has been's, such as Pearce. In Klemmer, Woods, Tamou & Fifita they have the fire power up front with age on their side.
Rodge
Guest
I guess we'll have to wait and see. Personally I think it won't matter who the chooks pick, the broncs will win in a canter.
pete bloor
Guest
Is the fullback an outside back though? I thought he was now part of the "spine" grouping
pete bloor
Guest
Not really it implies he takes less wrong options. If quality was binary between perfect and flawed, and we then accept that no one I perfect then basically my out of shape guy in my IT department that hates sport would be equivalent to Jonathan Thurston as a decision making half.
Dr Yes
Guest
Tim, I agree that Hastings has had a few very good games for a youngster and Pearce might not be 100% fit. But. 3 try-assists in 4 games doesn't make Hastings the preferred man. When has a 19 year old half steered to a premiership? I think never. DCE was 22 (full season at halfback), Craig Wing was 22 (makeshift half beside Freddy, 90-odd games under his belt), Johns was 23, Stuart was 22 (2 full seasons in 7), JT jagged a spot on the bench in 04, aged 21 (because Price was ruled out). Pearce captained the schoolboys, debuted in NRL at 18, State of Origin at 19, reached GF at 21. These stats back our instinct - it takes time for a halfback to grow. Heck, if the great JT couldn't do it, isn't it an unreasonable ask of Hastings? And disagree about "better backline flow": it doesn't look that way to my eye; plus the whole team's been building to it's best over the latter half of the year, so skill and enthusiasm were high beforehand. They won 9 games straight before Pearce was ruled out. Then had big wins over Souths and Dogs - but both were poor (Kasiano and Pritchard aside). Against the Storm, they kicked poorly, gifting 7-tackle 20m restarts. Enough to cost them the game. Plus seemed to miss direction, with too much one-up barging and less passing/running flair. Your comparison is apt in that Hastings is a replica for where Pearce was at 18/19. Worst thing for Pearce was early over-hype and being thrown to the wolves in Origin before he'd built skills and strength for a few years. Thankfully, Hastings has had a couple of years to develop and learn the Roosters play. Next year will be a challenge, but here's hoping for the future.
Samtwocan
Guest
I'm sure if it was Wayne Bennet coaching the roosters he would pick Pearce .
Muzz
Guest
The Wyong Roos are doing just fine. Thanks all the same boys.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
i love hodgo but he is not better than RTS currently
Bronco Juggernaut
Guest
Hodges is a better player than any one of the Roosters outside backs.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
he was ruled out day before the game last week, he has trained all week. Robbo was saying that last week he could of pushed it. this week he doesn't have to because he is right to go.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
3 trys 14 try assists 14 line break assists 8 trys 7 try assists 8 line break assists me personally i prefer a centre that can pass.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
Hodgo easily has better numbers than jennings this year. dominated him in 2 out of 3 origins aswell.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
mate go ask pearce if he wants that pressure, i'd be prepared to bet everything i own that he is desperate to play regardless of the 'pressure' that goes with it. It is obviously a negative to play 5 weeks without your first choice half. But if they win would you then keep hastings for the final? would you give him a run in reggies this week although i'm not sure their second grade is still in the comp. is he playing grade footy then? So your main point is Hastings is better suited to handling the pressure of the biggest match of the season against the second best team at their home ground which is probably up there with one of the most intimidating places to play with 50,000 screaming qlders? I'm sorry but this is sheer lunacy. There is no decision here at all. if he is fit he plays if he is only at 90% he doesn't. They didn't rush him back last week. the injury is a 4-6 week lay off. he has missed 5 weeks. so i'd guess he feels 100% and although it's not ideal him not playing footy the last month it is absolute madness not to pick him and as you said "heap all that pressure" on hastings. if hastings starts and they are down by 2 tries or more bythe time he goes off and pearce is fit, then that will go down as the worst coaching decision of 2015
Barick
Guest
lol Nuzz, jatz cracker!, Johns was inanely talking the sharks up all last week tipping to win, and his obstruction call last week in the cows guppies game was hilarious where Feki tackled Feldt without the ball from behind on the Morgan O'Neil breakaway try. I think Johns has been popping Wally's pills ...
Barick
Guest
Which ever way TPM all we are saying is that it not the best way to go into a preliminary final ...
Muzz
Guest
Robbo has only used 3 of the 4 bench players on a number of times this season. Last week he finally gave Mcilwrick a run with 6 minutes remaining in the game. So if Pearce does go down(tough wood)Hastings slots straight in. The forwards have the capacity to play bigger minutes if required. Napa played the opening 35 minutes straight against the dogs. The Roosters also lost JWH and Pearce quite early when these 2 teams last met.
G
Guest
Ken oath