Whilst in the grand scheme of things I agree with you, it's easy to get caught up in the emotion etc, but where King is concerned, it isn't just one game is it really ? To be fair, in the circa 30 games of SL he's played, defensively he's looked a shambles for the large part.

No, I also agree to an extent with what you say, I am just struggling to see how a player of that class can be so poor...

Coach, players, weather etc.. its still the same guy with the same talent!!

I am no coach so i am interested to see what people think is the actual problem and subsequent answer??

I personally think his defence is as good as it was in Oz, but his forward play is a shadow if what i have seen in the past. (melborne, NSW etc)

the 'over paid on-holiday aussie' reply will not be considered.

I don't know either mate, it's something I've thought about too, the 'fall from grace' of it all. Normally there's an injury or something. I reckon the answers you'll get will be something like,

1. He was in a very good Melbourne side, with players like Cronk who gave him quality 'gain line' ball.

2. He's a winger, not a centre.

3. It's just a different game, some folk just can't adapt to SL, the attacking intent of it all, players who are used to structure can't adapt to the more fluent SL. There's plenty of David Kidwells who's performaces on both sides of the world would be staggeringly different.

4. He misses Neighbours. (Don't we all. RIP Toadie.)

Penny wasn't faultless, if that's what you're trying to say?


King was average in his first year, and he looked very poor tonight, I hope there's improvement but I really can't see where it's going to come from, is he suddenly going to produce some dazzling footwork? Some freak-like strength where he can bulldoze over from 10 yards with ease? Is he going to start producing magic offloads for his winger? To be honest, the answer looks likely to be no, and his defence has been poor, too.

I'd like to see King paired with Reardon (when fit) on the left side, but if he continues like tonight, then he'd have to play outside Johnson.

I know it's unthinkable, and it is right now in reality after one game, but why is it always King+1, it's either King outisde Johnson, Johnson outside King, etc.

King is slow as fook, insanely slow, to put him on the wing is madness, in effect your only option is a kick for the corner.

If he doesn't buck his ideas up, i'd consider :

Penny outside Johnson.
Johnson outside Bridge.
Penny outisde Bridge.

Throw Reardon into the equation when he's fit.

I thought Penny was culpable in some respects tonight, but this whole find a place for King thing gets to me. If he continues to underperform ship him out too, give him a week or two in the reserves. Dropping players shouldn't just apply to kids recently promoted from the 21's, it should be across the board.

We shouldn't be hiding the bloke out on the wing, he came as our strike centre, if he's not the best option, don't play him, but he shouldn't take somebody elses opportunity because you have to accomadate him somehow.

To be honest JWP, I don't have a fooking clue, maybe I just don't want to see a player earning so much out of the side.


If (and that's a big if) everybody is fit in the backs, I'd probably like to see Reardon outside of Johnson on the left.

As much as I love Kev's attitude, I think we need much better on the left if we're to improve defensively. Reardon, despite being only average, I'd feel much more assured with on the wing.

Looking at our side now keeps reminding me of Bradford, big pack but some slow backs and half backs. For me, somebody like Bridge has to play somewhere, he brings things to the side that we lack terribly IMO.

Was he playing tonight ??

Wouldn't mind Lyon/Matai/Stewart from cash-strapped Manly if we were to send Matt packing

You wish.

What did Penny do wrong defensively?

I'm sorry, I just don't get this.

Granted, Penny is a young kid still learning the game. His defence has improved greatly, which shows his attitude is first class as well. It's obviously something he's working hard at.

Take the penultimate try. Penny came in from his wing and made his tackle, the man turned to offload to Gidley and King was strolling around out of position, again!

Here we have the most exciting winger we've had since Dessie who's also showing a desire to improve his overall game, not just rely on his pace. It's apparent Lowes doesn't rate him - my worry is next week we'll have a King/Johnson left wing partnership

King's shortcomings are being exposed - we can only use the homesick excuse for so long

I wouldn't like to see Readon within 40m of a high ball

I really don't like saying this, and it'll never happen in a million years, King needs a spell playing with the 21's at wilderspool.

Maybe that'll wake his overpaid ass up.

i've not seen the game back yet but i've flicked over from soccer am to the repeat this morning and caught a gidley try, after the briers 'knock on'

penny did nowt wrong and stuck to the winger.

took more than 5 mins from the computer and ive not changed my mind...holiday maker get shut

I said exactly this on the page before, last night. Having woke up today, I wasn't sure if emotion had got the better of me, after watching it again, it hadn't.

When he's fit, I'd like to see Chris Bridge get an extended run at left centre. The way that Gilmour left Johnson for dead, and exposes his lack of mobility in a big way puts a big negative for himat centre for me. You need to be agile, quick on your feet as your defending against quick, nimble players, often the oppositions best players footwork wise, and King is left flat footed time after time. It doesn't help that his starting positions are absolutely dreadful.

Penny must watch the re-run (If he has SKY), look at himself and think, I was eyeballing my opposite number, so I'm not blame, surely ? So why did I end up on the bench looking dejected ?

This angered me more than anything all night. Penny actually put his oppsite number on his back, yet still got dragged off!

Well, maybe not dead. Just refused a Visa because of an assualt charge dating back to 2005 for an assualt at Lassitas, so as good as.

I can't believe one of my mates who is a Wire fan had the cheek to argue that Matt King is better than Matt Gidley.



He's been a huge disappointment.

The only thing more disappointing than Matt King right now, would be to go town tonight, get chatting to a bird who was a dead ringer for Kelly Brook, for her to whisper some pretty naughty stuff in your ear, to get home and discover that she had a very large willy*.

* To satisfy the moderators.

Had a what? Hopefully a contract for storm.

It was actually a hairy mole, shaped like a UK Weather Map just below her right ample sized breast.

Can I add to this.

What's happening to Penny is a total scandal - see EddieG's comments above + the fact that in attack we never use "dink" kicks behind his opposing wing/centre to keep them pushed back thus creating more time/attacking space once they realise they'll get burnt if they come up too quickly. In fact we don't use him full-stop.

AND NOW

What the hell is going on with our left side defence? People were strolling down there last season and it's started that way this.

Penny isn't to blame, it's everything that goes on inside him and I point the finger at both Louis and esp last night Briers (in fact he was gash all round - I'd get rid). Penny has to keep coming infield because either Brier's doesn't fancy it or Louis has gone on the rush (as usual). You see none of this down the right side so what's going on?

Well done Jimmy for taking him off after he was the only one who made a tackle on their last try - outstanding stuff.



Don't worry you wouldn't.

Maybe expectation on him to do something with the ball everytime he has it might be getting abit to him?
Its like Saints fans who expected everytime Jamie Lyon got the ball to beat 4 men and flick it out to Gardener.

Admittedly, getting put on yer backside by a 32 year old as he walked past you is very disappointing.

I wouldn't mind if he was slightly above average. At the minute, he isn't even that.