Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:13 am  

Always grated on me, why we never use Stevie Ward as a ball handling 13, instead of a crash, bang, wallop second rower. I remember watching him play 6 in the academy, thinking he'd be a great wide running loose. One thing I do blame Mac for is ruining a classy player, using him as nothing more than a tackling machine.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:04 pm  

Swoggy Loiner wrote:

Always grated on me, why we never use Stevie Ward as a ball handling 13, instead of a crash, bang, wallop second rower. I remember watching him play 6 in the academy, thinking he'd be a great wide running loose. One thing I do blame Mac for is ruining a classy player, using him as nothing more than a tackling machine.

Totally agree. Ward does seem to be one of those players that is more injury prone but playing him as a crash and bash type just makes this worse and stops him being involved where he can be more effective.

This is where the Merrin conversation gets interesting. For me he is a 13 but some disagree, fine. But with ward and cuthbo as well we potentially have an abundance of 13 options.

I think ward will play 2nd row, Merrin 13 and cuthbo bench to cover 13 and prop as needed.

Will be interesting to see what Furner does.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:20 pm  

Swoggy Loiner wrote:

Always grated on me, why we never use Stevie Ward as a ball handling 13, instead of a crash, bang, wallop second rower. I remember watching him play 6 in the academy, thinking he'd be a great wide running loose.

I think the answer is down to his build. To be an effective, ball-handling back rower he needs to get his nose through the line. For all the crash bang wallop, he's too small to do this on a regular basis. Similar to Bateman in some respects.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Sun Nov 18, 2018 5:24 pm  

Ward should model his game on Boyd Cordiner. He's a similar size.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:09 am  

Cordner runs at gaps. He doesn't always get through them, but he very definitely doesn't aim at big forwards. He also stays out wide, and often targets the area where the opposing halfback defends. Smaller players like that still have a valuable role, but they have to use their head.

I'm not convinced we'll see Furner look for a 'ball handler' at loose forward - more likely Merrin will play the third prop role that's the mainstay in the NRL. Of our existing forwards Cuthbertson's more suited than Ward to do something similar if Merrin plays as a standrad prop.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:51 pm  

Heard this interview with Trent Merrin on BBC radio Leeds and its worth a listen as he seems very positive about joining the Rhinos https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06xfhmp Merrin seems like he's going to be our new leader going forward IMO based on both his reputation and role at both St George/Illawarra & Penrith. He certainly seems like a guy that wants to bring the players closer together and create that special bond that any successful side needs in its side. Merrin hasn't laced a boot for the club yet and I certainly wouldn't wish to upset Kallum who is our current captain, but would anyone be surprised if he was named our club captain moving forward? I'm feeling very optimistic about having Merrin at the Rhinos (Kiss of death for him there then)

Heard this interview with Trent Merrin on BBC radio Leeds and its worth a listen as he seems very positive about joining the Rhinos https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06xfhmp Merrin seems like he's going to be our new leader going forward IMO based on both his reputation and role at both St George/Illawarra & Penrith. He certainly seems like a guy that wants to bring the players closer together and create that special bond that any successful side needs in its side. Merrin hasn't laced a boot for the club yet and I certainly wouldn't wish to upset Kallum who is our current captain, but would anyone be surprised if he was named our club captain moving forward? I'm feeling very optimistic about having Merrin at the Rhinos (Kiss of death for him there then)

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 am  

I think the captaincy will (and probably should) stay with Watkins. As we have seen at Leeds for many a year, you don't necessarily need to have the name of captain to be a leader within the group- see JP, Senior etc.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:19 am  

Thought Myler had been named club captain or was that just for one game?

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:03 am  

chapylad wrote:

Thought Myler had been named club captain or was that just for one game?

Just for Boxing Day I think.

Re: IN 2019 | Trent Merrin - Penrith Panthers : Wed Jan 09, 2019 10:35 am  

Does Trent Merrin have the potential to become our best loose forward in the Super League era? (considering Sir Kevin Sinfield as a stand off)