Long term - Is Moltzens future at club in doubt?

[willow]

We seem to be in the position now of having a few very promising juniors coming through with very limited room for them, Moltzen, Ayshford and Lui included. Moltzen is the more fortunate of the bunch, being able to cover a few different spots, but I do wonder whether - and do hope - we'll be able to hang onto all of them.

I was most impressed with Moltzen last year, but I think the fact that there's a continuing debate about where he'll play and for how long proves that he doesn't yet have a definite, permanent spot in the squad.

That's the thing, Moltzen does have a permanent spot in the team, it's just some people on here seem to try and raise doubt everytime a new player is signed. Sheens rates Moltzen bigtime. Benji reckons he's Origin material and has all the skills and talent. He won't be going anywhere for awhile.

[weststigers]

I think Tuqiri would provide the most value on the wing to be honest. He can act like an extra forward when we are getting out of our 20 and he is dangerous in broken field. He is also a great finisher. Having not played fullback for a while he would need to adjust and I think coming into Round 4/5 the team doesn't need this hassle. Although I reckon Moltz is electric at 7, unless Mullaney or Lazarus make the step up to 1st grade, he will probably be in the No.1 with Lui in the 7 and Taumata keeping pressure on him for his spot.

All in all, whatever side is put on the field it looks pretty strong. Our depth has already been tested on the wings and I'd still be confident of winning our first 4 on paper.

1. Moltzen
2. Brown
3. Ayshford
4. Lawrence
5. Ryan
6. Marshall
7. Lui

Depth
- Tuiaki
- Tuqiri
- Daniela
- Taumata
- Mullaney
- Pritchard
- Lazarus

I'm sure I'm missing some, but you could easily make 2 competitive backlines out of that group of players.

[tiger jim]

For mine Tuiaki might not get back to full speed ever with that ankle, i hope he does but i think it is going to be hard. And we do need our wingers going flat out he may end up a back rower,and besides he has thoughts of becoming an all black . I would not worry too much about Moltzen he is a class act he will play and put in 100 percent where the coach wants him , and goodness sake lets all support our team and most of all our coach TIM SHEENS ITS SHOW TIME

[G. Strombolli]

We seem to be in the position now of having a few very promising juniors coming through with very limited room for them, Moltzen, Ayshford and Lui included. Moltzen is the more fortunate of the bunch, being able to cover a few different spots, but I do wonder whether - and do hope - we'll be able to hang onto all of them.

I was most impressed with Moltzen last year, but I think the fact that there's a continuing debate about where he'll play and for how long proves that he doesn't yet have a definite, permanent spot in the squad.

That's the thing, Moltzen does have a permanent spot in the team, it's just some people on here seem to try and raise doubt everytime a new player is signed. Sheens rates Moltzen bigtime. Benji reckons he's Origin material and has all the skills and talent. He won't be going anywhere for awhile.

I'm assuming by permament spot you mean fullback? I do think he has a place in the team in a general sense as it doesn't sound like anybody wants to lose him. I'd be very disappointed if he left - he's become one of my favourite players to watch. But it also seems like Sheens is going to make him into a fullback, whether Moltzen or anybody else likes it or not. As we've seen in the past, Sheens' engineering of a player doesn't always work.

[red dogg]

if lote is available for round 6, and we are fives wins from five, everyone is fit.. and we are playing some amazing footy, do we drop someone to fit lote in the side????

[Balmain Tiger]

if lote is available for round 6, and we are fives wins from five, everyone is fit.. and we are playing some amazing footy, do we drop someone to fit lote in the side????

well im guessing on the wings we would have ryan and the replacement being brown or pritchard....but if they are going red hot i would think that the winger not so hot winger would go to the bench and tuqiri take that wing.

[Buckets of blood]

A winger shouldnt take a bench spot, a real utility should be there.
Thats the thing with bringing in a player months after the season commences...someone will be browned off

[Balmain Tiger]

A winger shouldnt take a bench spot, a real utility should be there.
Thats the thing with bringing in a player months after the season commences...someone will be browned off

any pun intended?

[hammertime]

I don't think we can afford to experiment again this year.. that's what we have been doing for the past 4 years.

1. Moltzen (even though he is our best half back). But best fullback option too.
2. Tuqiri
3. Ashford
4. Lawrence
5. Tui (Beau until Tui recovers)
6. Benji
7. Lui
14. Taumata/Fitzy

...or there is potential to swap Tuqiri/Ashford
With that amount of talent/experience in the back line, it will give Lui time to find his feet. He can be just as good there as Moltzen has been. I watched every NYC game this year and he was more often than not the best on the field.

If it doesn't work, swap it early with Moltz to half, Brown/Lote to fullback, Ryan to wing, Lui back to NYC.

[The Tooth]

Sheens certainly has some decisions to make, but its not all doom and gloom. Depth is good!

Moltzen has too much versatitily to be lost by the club. I'm more concerned with what happens with Lazarus in the short term and Mullaney in 2011. Not sure Taumata will want to play more then a season of state cup either.

Wing is the starting point for Lote. We have him for 3 years. There should be no rush or even any consideration to change his position at this stage. I'd certainly be looking for him to play wing all 2010. I'd be happy if Sheens came out and said thats where he'll play for the length of his contract. I'm glad everyone is starting to conform to this plan for the short term atleast.

Lui gets his opportunity with hopefully 4 or more games at halfback before Lote takes the field. We can be fairly confident that Moltzen will hold his own at fullback. Assuming Lui or Moltzen are having problems then Sheens can look at moving them around.

At the least I think Sheens has to give Lui an opportunity to pove himself. It seems like a fair and balanced way to start the year. This is all Sheens can focus on at the moment. Look at the alternatives when and if he has to.

I'd like to see moltzen play halfback but I can see this lineup has better balance and something I'm now going to throw my support behind. They'll all be judged come kick off.
At full fitness and potential this is something to be very positive about remembering nothing is locked in for the entire season.

1. Moltzen
2. Tuiaki
3. Lawrence
4. Ayshford
5. Tuquiri
6. Marshall
7. Lui

[TIGER]

Seems to me Sheens is more concerned at finding a permanent fullback rather than a halfback. Hodgo and Prince really left massive holes in this side and they still haven't been filled, hopefully this season those two positions are locked in.
Whoever plays 7 this season needs to be a player that is going to be there 3 or 4 years down the track. I can't see Lui as our permanent long term no 7.

[Hbom]

Seems to me Sheens is more concerned at finding a permanent fullback rather than a halfback. Hodgo and Prince really left massive holes in this side and they still haven't been filled, hopefully this season those two positions are locked in.
Whoever plays 7 this season needs to be a player that is going to be there 3 or 4 years down the track. I can't see Lui as our permanent long term no 7.

I know it is your opinion, but how exactly can you make that call when he is still eligible for the under 20's this year?

[Buckets of blood]

So much impatience on here now.

People need to remember that the 20's used to be the equivalent of the old jersey flegg grade...players went from that to reserves andf then to firsts. While no doubt this current crop of 20's players are way more talented and more mature, given the extra focus on the 20s comp...some players just take longer than a handfull of top grade games to develop....it can be a work in progress over several seasons.

[TIGER]

Seems to me Sheens is more concerned at finding a permanent fullback rather than a halfback. Hodgo and Prince really left massive holes in this side and they still haven't been filled, hopefully this season those two positions are locked in.
Whoever plays 7 this season needs to be a player that is going to be there 3 or 4 years down the track. I can't see Lui as our permanent long term no 7.

I know it is your opinion, but how exactly can you make that call when he is still eligible for the under 20's this year?

Because we need a half that can tackle now not in 3 years time. I'm saying the player that wears 7 this season needs to be the same one who is still wearing it 3 or 4 years from now for this club to consistently make the semis. To me Lui isn't ready yet Moltzen is, lets stick with him there. Halfbacks are harder to find and more important than fullbacks. I think if we stick with Moltzen and Benji in the halves this team will be a force for the next few years.

[Hbom]

Seems to me Sheens is more concerned at finding a permanent fullback rather than a halfback. Hodgo and Prince really left massive holes in this side and they still haven't been filled, hopefully this season those two positions are locked in.
Whoever plays 7 this season needs to be a player that is going to be there 3 or 4 years down the track. I can't see Lui as our permanent long term no 7.

I know it is your opinion, but how exactly can you make that call when he is still eligible for the under 20's this year?

Because we need a half that can tackle now not in 3 years time. I'm saying the player that wears 7 this season needs to be the same one who is still wearing it 3 or 4 years from now for this club to consistently make the semis. To me Lui isn't ready yet Moltzen is, lets stick with him there. Halfbacks are harder to find and more important than fullbacks. I think if we stick with Moltzen and Benji in the halves this team will be a force for the next few years.

Fair enough. I have Moltzen as the better half as of the end of last season, but I think Lui has remarkable potential. As for his defence, it remains to be seen how quickly it will improve. Who would have thought Lawrence would change from turn-style to brick wall in the space of about a year?

I think Moltzen could develop into a superb full-back, and with a player of Lui's potential in the club, I would really like to see both of them in the same side.

[Cos_Borg]

I think Lui is our long term #7 and Moltzen will be there till he is ready. Being able to move to fullback once TT has retired sounds like the go.