With teams starting their pre-season for 2016 it is an opportunity to take an early look at each club’s halves combinations. Who will shine? Who will struggle?
Part 1 looks at the established pairings, with the new combinations and the clubs that still have some big decisions to make covered in Part 2.
North Queensland Cowboys: Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan
Strengths: An all State of Origin pairing with the world’s best player. Thurston’s game management is second to none and both are capable of taking on the line or putting on a match-winning play.
Weaknesses: Er… the only question mark is depth. With both starting halves certain for Origin the leap down to Ray Thompson and Rory Kostjasyn is a big one.
The verdict: The gold standard and the pairing to beat.
Brisbane Broncos: Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford
Strengths: Young, enthusiastic and talented. Hunt has learnt to control a game and Milford can bust a game open in a matter of seconds. Premier coaching from Wayne Bennett and Allan Langer along with a year forming their combination adds to the potency of the pair.
Weaknesses: An over-reliance on Hunt’s kicking is a concern. And how will Hunt respond to his grand final disappointment?
The verdict: More experienced than last year, but just as talented. Watch out!
Melbourne Storm: Cooper Cronk and Blake Green
Strengths: Cronk is the role model for consistency and few match his ability to control a game. Green brought the two things the Storm have lacked in a halves partner for Cronk, reliability and consistent effort. Add Craig Bellamy’s structured play and you know this pair will produce week in, week out.
Weaknesses: Can Green produce another high-quality year? Does Cronk still have the pace to bust the line? Storm fans will say yes. The rest will watch with interest.
The verdict: While structure and consistency are the Storm’s hallmarks, is there enough spark in this duo to dominate?
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary
Strengths: Reynolds is a quality player and this was never more evident when he was out in 2015. His short kicking game in particular is top class. Keary is undoubtedly talented and his passion outstrips his frame.
Weaknesses: Keary showed in 2015 he is still learning to control a game. More comfortable free running than organising, this pushes the pressure back onto Reynolds.
The verdict: Time for Keary to find another level, or the Bunnies are one Reynolds injury away from also-rans… again.
St George-Illawarra Dragons: Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop
Strengths: Experience. Both are international representatives and have years of NRL behind them. Widdop is a quality organiser and Marshall’s maturity has seen his mistake rate decline over the years.
Weaknesses: Marshall’s mistake rate is proportional to his level of spontaneity. This pairing struggled to find points in 2015 and this is the challenge again for next season.
The verdict: Coach Paul McGregor must find a way to unleash some Marshall magic, otherwise 2016 will be a repeat of 2015.
Penrith Panthers: Peter Wallace and Jamie Soward
Strengths: Another experienced pairing. Wallace is as tough as old boots and knows how to run a game. Soward has a top-shelf kicking game and showed greater maturity last season in Wallace’s absence.
Weaknesses: Wallace was never the quickest and recent injuries can’t help. Soward’s reluctance to take on the line is now par for the course.
The verdict: Old heads, but on very tired legs.
Wests Tigers: Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses
Strengths: The talent is there and both now have a full year of NRL under their belts. Fast, enthusiastic and fearless with ball in hand.
Weaknesses: 2015 was tough and the question is if it taught them or broke them. Moses struggled fitting his freewheeling style into coach Jason Taylor’s structure and the lads need a big off-season of tackling practice.
The verdict: It’s time for potential to become weekly performance.
So there we have it. What’s your take on the established halves combinations? And stay tuned for Part 2 to explore the new combinations and possibilities.
bronxfan
Guest
have a read of this http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/broncos-recruitment-chief-peter-nolan-reveals-why-queensland-produces-better-halves-than-nsw/story-fn2mcuj6-1227552288945
3 Hats
Guest
Very Generous King Cowboy, I think if you pick, Pearce and Farrah, Queensland win 3 NIL mate. Now if we Pick Adam Reynolds, Blake Austin and anyone else at Hooker other than Farrah, then NSW win 2-1.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Matty I think the big problem is that you guys keep picking Mitch at number 7. Then you have Daley making calls like that he will pick Robbie out of NSW Cup. I could understand that line of thinking if you guys had won 9 out of the last 10 series but Mitch and Robbie will get picked again this year and you guys will lose 2-1!
Matthew Tomczyk
Roar Pro
With the Broncos, Cowboys and Melbourne having combinations that are so good, the question becomes, why is Queensland so good at producing them? And why hasn't NSW produced a decent half pairing for such a long time?
Matthew Tomczyk
Roar Pro
That would be a funny comment...if rugby league players weren't walking into national union teams so often.
Hop
Guest
Agreed, Milford was clearly the best on ground to me and I wanted the cows to win. I thought though in the final 5 minutes Feldt made the 3 telling plays (the ball strip, the try and the kickoff) which was match changing as much as Thurston sealing it !
Kingcowboy
Guest
Geez Brian, I thought RTS want ok in the tests, you are a hard marker mate.
Brian
Guest
Kahu was playing better last season than Hodges, and that's hard for me to admit as a lifetime Hodges fan. He played very well for NZ as well, was a shining light in an otherwise, with the exception of Nightingale, pathetic backline. Kodi Niko is another that's been improving tenfold, he even overshadowed Luke a few times v England, which is no mean feat.
peeeko
Guest
thank you for your valuable contribution
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
You may need some Rugby Union players to go forward, mate. Anything else is going backwards for sure!
SpongeBob
Guest
Adam Reynolds is due a good year. He's really failed to perform to his peak ability IMO. One good uninjured year could see him playing Origin and be a key going into finals. Milford. He was utterly hopeless for the first few months, and made huge leads and bounds towards the end of the season. What will 2016 bring? Dragons, Panthers. Both decent halves, albeit rather standard. If the team goes well they will go well, if their teams get flogged they're not going to turn the game around. Tigers. Well, give it another year has been muttered for a number of seasons now. Still plenty of time but you wonder how many years of success they're foregoing based on some potential future players. Although this is almost the least of the Tigers issues really.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thanks matth. I suspect Part 2 will spark more discussion as there is more speculation about combinations.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I agree that it's hard for any half to shine behind a pack going backwards. What's your feelings towards the Tiges pack for 2016, Tigerboy?
Reggie13
Roar Rookie
You are on the money with your analysis. The Broncs and Cows clearly have the advantage. I think Cody Walker will be pushing for a run this year if injury or poor form hit the Rabbitohs pairing. They were both disappointing last year. Reynolds gets the benefit of the doubt with his injury plagued year.
Reggie13
Roar Rookie
Never has a half been as protected as much as Brooks. Since when do players get 3 or 4 years to acclimatise to first grade? It's a joke. And how he got rookie of the year in front of Alex Johnston was also laughable. Hunt played reserve hooker with very limited minutes. Once he had No. 7 on his back he immediately performed. Massive pressure on Brooks and Moses this year. Deservedly so.
Gaz
Roar Rookie
Kahu is a natural and can easily go on with it and become a superstar of the game. Don't know why Bennet has earmarked Copely to replace Hodges - he makes Humpty Dumpty look look me Spiderman when it comes to holding on to the ball. He simply cannot catch, pass or carry the thing without dropping it. Perhaps a lesson on catching ball at the local daycare centre may get the desired result. Otherwise, like Rickety Stuart 2016 may be his last in the NRL.
matth
Guest
Can't find a single thing to disagree with in this article. Well done. Look forward to Part 2.
Tigerboy
Guest
I am really tired of the criticism directed at Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses. Firstly Moses turned 21 last week and Brooks turns 21 in December. If your memory is that bad, do your best and look at the history of Broncos half Ben Hunt, absolute champion in under 20s, and then it took him about 3 years to get up to speed in first grade. And Brooks and Moses certainly don't have the pack of forwards that Hunt has had to protect him. Any set of halves are only as good as the pack of forwards in front. Losing Farah as soon as possible might also be a step in the right direction.
Dracula
Guest
Anthony Milford was probably the real Clive Churchill medalist in 2015.
Kingcowboy
Guest
MIlford is going to be a massive show for the Daly M's in 2016. It is scary how good this kid can become if he keeps getting better at the rate he did last year. The only weakness I see with the Donkeys is the centers but I see Kahu moving there but Jack Reed needs to go IMO.