Hi Hunter. I know you’re busy training but just a quick word before the game.
By the way, how’s the cold wet English weather treating you? I imagine being away from your wife and new born baby is rough, and we all know English food on the road is stodgy and dodgy at best. No wonder the empire fell apart heh!
Just out of curiosity, how are you feeling about the Scotland game? My guess is if you’re honest you know it wasn’t your best game. And there’s a lot of calls from the Roar community to have you replaced, which understandably may be getting you down.
You certainly didn’t lack effort or intensity, but do you think you may have been too gung ho? You see while those two attributes are great characteristics for an athlete, so is accuracy. And unless effort and intensity are accurately directed, they can become detrimental to performance. Almost a two steps forward and three steps back for a net loss, which seemed to be the general appraisal of your efforts last Sunday.
That overzealous clean out past the ruck that wiped off Tom Wright’s try, the grubber that didn’t pierce the line, the lost ball in possession and the missed ‘missile’ tackle on Stuart Hogg overshadowed your great defence, Ali Price tackle and pilfer.
You have of course heard of the saying “less is more”. Might I suggest respectfully that you look to tone your intensity down about 10 per cent to increase your accuracy by 30 per cent or more.
Back on March 22 this year, the Canberra Times ran an article on you after you scored two tries against the Western Force. I’ll remind you what was said. I hope they quoted you accurately.
“Sonny and (former New Zealand No.12 Ma’a) Nonu; them together as a combination was pretty deadly, both liked to run hard and I’m just trying to be like them and hopefully achieve some of that.”
“Coming in fresh at the Reds it was the basics first and Thorny’s advice in the first trial game was to ‘run hard, hit hard’.
“Now I can find a bit of balance there … and I am getting better and better with my communication.”
So being a man proud of your Samoan heritage, and having heroes like Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams, and with that advice from Brad Thorn, I can understand why you play the way you do. And having an Instagram follow from Sonny Bill would be any young athlete’s dream.
But Hunter, two of the key words in your last quote are ‘balance’ and ‘communication’. And those two attributes, as well as intensity and accuracy will be greatly needed against England this Saturday.
Just for comparison Tim Horan, one of Australia’s greatest players who played No 12 like you, was not a crash ball warrior like your Samoan idols, yet achieved great success and longevity in the game because of his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability. He had a magnificent step off both feet and had electrifying pace.
If you would like a reminder, here’s a clip of his exploits: Tim Horan – The Linebreaker.
So Hunter, I’d like you to consider something. At 5 feet 8 inches and 90 kgs, you’re not Ma’a Nonu nor SBW. And rather than being a smaller guy trying to play as a bigger guy, why not play to your strengths and do your core skills well instead of trying to overplay your hand and be a wrecking ball like Big Kev, which again you’re not.
Enough of what you’re not. Here’s what you are in my observation: a dedicated, committed, hard-running and hard-tackling centre who can step, run good lines like your back of the lineout run against the French for AK to score, and kick off both feet with growing skill.
And you want to do well for the country, your team, your Australian and Samoan family and your new baby. I get it. You want them to be proud of you as you’ve come a long way.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
You’ve got Manu Tuilagi running at you on Saturday. And at over 6 feet and 110kgs, that’s a size and weight mismatch. But what you lack in size you make up for in heart. And Dave Rennie would have told you that defence wins matches. So your major job for the Game 1’d say is to contain Manu.
However if you fly at him like you did Stuart Hogg, even the smallest miscalculation could mean a no arms tackle to the head and a Red Card which would put your team under immense pressure. Hence my request to take it down a notch and hit with accuracy and intensity.
Yes let him know you mean business, but aim to stop him and the ball rather than cut him in two heh bro?
By all means bring your strong game but bring your smart game too for your sake and the team. Run around brick walls rather than into them.
Only grubber if the gap is there. Kick over the defence rather than through it and let the ball do the work, especially if it’s wet. Run angles, set up for inside passes off James O’Connor and swap places with Len to mix it up. You’d do much better running through Henry Slade than Manu.
All the best for Saturday Hunter. Whatever happens, enjoy yourself and let others be the star. Just do the basics well and cement your place in the team and you will make those who believe in you proud.
There is still so much time ahead of you. Remember baby steps forward are better than big steps backwards. Go well mate.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Well said in turn TM. I really have concluded that going to Japan was one stop too far for the Wallabies this year. It just gets worse from there. It sounds easy to lift for one last game but when the minds have run out of steam it is hard. With Wales in so much strife with injuries the game could turn out a few surprises. There will be a few blokes happy to get home, although I feel for any of them that now face further quarantine on return.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Thanks TM. Rugby is a sport, not a business. The players should always be the central consideration, at every level. The day we lose respect for the players is the day we lose respect for the game. So many have because the administrations allow it to happen, providing no vision for the game and its players.
Tigermark
Roar Rookie
Good advice WB..keep it simple..If a forward has to spend 2 weeks in camp to get with the system could be it's too complex.
Tigermark
Roar Rookie
I find your response very insightful and free of much of the vitriole that gets directed at players ..keep it up Muglair
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Thank you Tiger I hate to be a negative Nellie and I'd like to preface this with well wishes for the Wallabies boys tonight. However, the advice you are giving Hunter us something that has been leveled at him for 2 years. Which bit doesn't he understand? Do the coaches not drill this into him every week? Is he incapable of learning? Why do the coaching staff tolerate it week after week after week? (Not just Hunter, mind you). What is wrong in the set up? I am no expert but I have seen this fron Hunter since his debut. He 2ants to win the game every time he gets the ball. It doesn't work how do you get through to someone like that? Why is he still on thebawallaboes? He's an om defender but he causes more problems than he solves. Why is he there? Ronnie knows more about it than me and must see something that I definitely can't.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree with you also Phil. Unfortunately they had an arrogant Coach who made it about himself. JOC, QC and KB needed a Coach that taught them the Wallabies values and could nurture them. Instead they rebelled as the Coach made them feel isolated, they could have transformed the Wallabies into a team that others feared.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I agree that mentality wise Horan was in a different league, he was a fierce competitor and very unselfish. but attribute wise they are similar. I feel like we missed our chance of JOC becoming a really outstanding 12. I don’t love Horan as a commentator and selector but man he was probably our greatest 12.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree Phil… Plus he was arrogant because of being immature, just like QC and KB! That is why I hope he proves all the doubters wrong including myself. But Horan was a far more rounded and selfless player, just my own personal opinion though.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Paisami plays like he doesn’t really understand the game. He premeditates a lot of his plays and he picks the wrong play for the wrong time. He works best as a decoy in attack or as a hit it up kind of guy. But do we really want a Test centre that can only hit it up for fear he’ll otherwise make a bad decision?
Phil
Roar Rookie
Go back to JOCs early days and he had all the attributes that made Horan special. Speed, acceleration, footwork, front on and cover defence, passing and kicking game. His game against SBW (Force v Crusaders) was a good example of what he brought at 12. He needed more time there but because of his own selfish issues and because of selectors he didn’t settle into the position. A great shame.
GJ
Roar Rookie
Good luck to him and a nice piece but my money is on him sticking to form and folding under pressure.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
He is not the best number 12 yet! He has genuine talent but needs to understand his role within the team, he is not bringing those around him into play like he should. Hopefully this game he pulls back and brings others into play. I am genuinely wishing him the best, now it is up to him!
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Richard Loe had retired by then, but he was a thug and an embarrassment. Only positive was that the All Blacks would not allow that again, he should have been kicked out well before he finished.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Totally agree mate, he needs to stick to or given clear instructions on a very, very simple game plan. Run hard and make tackles, that’s it, nothing more. One grubber kick, cut out pass or racing out of the line and he’s off. If any player needs a simplified game plan, it’s him.
Panther
Roar Rookie
Good insertion. Enjoyed the clip. A reminder of just how good we were. Go the Wallabies v England !
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Always BF, the day I give up on them will be a sad day.* As a Waratahs fan, it is killing me. Since Gibson took over, we have been inept, but not a lot worse than every other Australian province. Jack Gibson: You can't win with dumb players. * Mind you I think this is what kills me, I won't give up on the Waratahs and Wallabies but the off field administration has given up on me.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice one Tiger, good piece mate. The brief for Hunter should be very simple, * Run hard * make your tackles and hold the line, don’t race out and try make the big shot, do that then Marcus Smith will run amok * no passing beyond Ikitau * no grubber kicks at all
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Different times savant… You can say that about players every 10-20 years. Times change, but can you honestly say that JOC is better than Horan? I know who I would pick over the other any day of the week.
Aiden
Guest
All good advice. But he’s so lacking in smart decision making I’d settle for him making tackles and simply trucking the ball up. Let it get recycled and then start again.
wigeye
Guest
I still fell sorry for the smack in the nose whey scored a try aka Richard loe or am I getting muddled with Paul coroza sounds like