A pretty random thought but keen to see if anyone thinks similarly.
We have all been praying for many years for a "managing" halfback. One who can steer our team around the field and manage the game. There has been pretty widespread consensus that Hastings is that player. Personally I was encouraged when he first got here that he is exactly that and he does look that way..........but.
What exactly would be the tell tale signs of a good organising halfback?
IMO the signs of a good organising halfback would include:
1. Getting the ball to forwards at the ad line at full speed,
2. Arranging forwards and runners on sets.
3. Crisp attacking plays
4. Early ball to outside backs or putting the ball at an opening,
5. Consistently finishing sets with the last tackle play,
6. Running around yelling and pointing at things
Serious question. What are your KPI's for an "organising" halfback? What does it actually mean and do we actually see any evidence from Jackson Hastings that he is in fact a good organising halfback?
IMO Hastings looks like an organiser simply because he makes a big deal of running around yelling and pointing at things. I dont see any other evidence. How have our sets been finishing? I think its a show.
A pretty random thought but keen to see if anyone thinks similarly.
We have all been praying for many years for a "managing" halfback. One who can steer our team around the field and manage the game. There has been pretty widespread consensus that Hastings is that player. Personally I was encouraged when he first got here that he is exactly that and he does look that way..........but.
What exactly would be the tell tale signs of a good organising halfback?
IMO the signs of a good organising halfback would include:
1. Getting the ball to forwards at the ad line at full speed,
2. Arranging forwards and runners on sets.
3. Crisp attacking plays
4. Early ball to outside backs or putting the ball at an opening,
5. Consistently finishing sets with the last tackle play,
6. Running around yelling and pointing at things
Serious question. What are your KPI's for an "organising" halfback? What does it actually mean and do we actually see any evidence from Jackson Hastings that he is in fact a good organising halfback?
IMO Hastings looks like an organiser simply because he makes a big deal of running around yelling and pointing at things. I dont see any other evidence. How have our sets been finishing? I think its a show.
Good post. I don’t see any signs of him being a classic “organising halfback”. His kicking game, for a start, isn’t top notch and he doesn’t seem to be quick enough, deceptive enough and maybe even creative enough to be your main man. For us, lock is his go.
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A pretty random thought but keen to see if anyone thinks similarly.
We have all been praying for many years for a "managing" halfback. One who can steer our team around the field and manage the game. There has been pretty widespread consensus that Hastings is that player. Personally I was encouraged when he first got here that he is exactly that and he does look that way..........but.
What exactly would be the tell tale signs of a good organising halfback?
IMO the signs of a good organising halfback would include:
1. Getting the ball to forwards at the ad line at full speed,
2. Arranging forwards and runners on sets.
3. Crisp attacking plays
4. Early ball to outside backs or putting the ball at an opening,
5. Consistently finishing sets with the last tackle play,
6. Running around yelling and pointing at things
Serious question. What are your KPI's for an "organising" halfback? What does it actually mean and do we actually see any evidence from Jackson Hastings that he is in fact a good organising halfback?
IMO Hastings looks like an organiser simply because he makes a big deal of running around yelling and pointing at things. I dont see any other evidence. How have our sets been finishing? I think its a show.
Good post. I don’t see any signs of him being a classic “organising halfback”. His kicking game, for a start, isn’t top notch and he doesn’t seem to be quick enough, deceptive enough and maybe even creative enough to be your main man. For us, lock is his go.
Firstly,over the last few weeks Hastings has been hampered by injury.I think it highly unfair to accuse him of all show.Forget about meaningless corporate speak KPI’s to determine what constitutes an organising halfback.He’s a playmaker and an organiser every day of the week.Let’s just get it in context though.
What is more pertinent and pressing is we have a forward pack that at the present can’t attain field position nor assert dominance for meaningful or sustained periods.That factor alone will determine any halfback’s efficiency and execution.In our case whoever wears 7,don’t expect much flair and artistry.In NRL the defences are onto you in a flash,if you’re on the back foot you’re on a hiding to nothing.
We’ve dispensed with Luciano,Mikaele,and have lost Twal and Stefano for the season.We’re in virtual experimentation mode at the moment.We are now reliant on the young brigade to fill the breach.There are real positives there but for this season our expectations have to be realistic and so does the redundant criticism of Jackson Hastings.
1. Getting the ball to forwards at the ad line at full speed,
2. Arranging forwards and runners on sets.
3. Crisp attacking plays
4. Early ball to outside backs or putting the ball at an opening,
5. Consistently finishing sets with the last tackle play,
6. Running around yelling and pointing at things
Good grief.
1. Hooker's job
2. Can only be done effectively when the forwards are going forward. When they're driven back there's nothing a half can do.
3. When we've gone forward he's been the one to start them
4. See 3
5. I'd like to see him kick more but the coaches seem to think Brooks or AD should finish sets. Hastings may still be hobbled by his ankle.
6. That's disrespectful and doesn't deserve a reply. You want him to organise runners and plays without talking to players and telling them what lines to run?
He's a class act and the smartest player we have. He also has the best passing game in the team.
I'm not sure what people were expecting from the wooden spoon favourites but it needs more than one class player who's missed a couple of games with suspension and has been busted for several more. On Sunday we expected him to be top tackler, second top metre gainer AND playmaker whilst surrounded by a posse of tenderfoots.
Seriously...
I should also point out, 1 through 6 are not exclusive to Hastings.
The same applies for any combination of Madden, Brooks, AD, Nu Brown etc in the halves.
I should also point out, 1 through 6 are not exclusive to Hastings.
The same applies for any combination of Madden, Brooks, AD, Nu Brown etc in the halves.
Have to agree that what you have voiced is highly reasonable.
1. Getting the ball to forwards at the ad line at full speed,
2. Arranging forwards and runners on sets.
3. Crisp attacking plays
4. Early ball to outside backs or putting the ball at an opening,
5. Consistently finishing sets with the last tackle play,
6. Running around yelling and pointing at things
Good grief.
1. Hooker's job
2. Can only be done effectively when the forwards are going forward. When they're driven back there's nothing a half can do.
3. When we've gone forward he's been the one to start them
4. See 3
5. I'd like to see him kick more but the coaches seem to think Brooks or AD should finish sets. Hastings may still be hobbled by his ankle.
6. That's disrespectful and doesn't deserve a reply. You want him to organise runners and plays without talking to players and telling them what lines to run?
He's a class act and the smartest player we have. He also has the best passing game in the team.
I'm not sure what people were expecting from the wooden spoon favourites but it needs more than one class player who's missed a couple of games with suspension and has been busted for several more. On Sunday we expected him to be top tackler, second top metre gainer AND playmaker whilst surrounded by a posse of tenderfoots.
Seriously...
Living up to your name VoR. Good points made in rebuttal.
I have to say I actually didnt mean to be disrespectful. I do actually respect him as a good player. I wrote the post in a mildly provocative way to trigger discussion. Point 6 you raise as disrespectful, I should expand on what I mean. He has a presence on the field, in some ways he reminds me of Josh Reynolds....the "busy" guy. Its not a criticism, Ive played a similar position in teams (many many many levels lower) and for certain positions you do need to make a song and dance about what is happening to add energy to a team and I see HAstings is doing that. My point being that like with Josh Reynolds, at times people see the buzz and the yelling and pointing and equate that with "organising". It HAS to mean more than that is my point and you argue a good case for Hastings,
No way is Hastings all show. If you go back to the games we won against good opposition he was in his element with the forwards doing their job, and you can watch him organise most things on the field.
In one of those games for example, he orchestrated the field goal set up. Got Joe O to do the hit up for a quick play the ball, organised which forwards needed to be where to shield and exactly who was getting the pass for the kick. I happened to be watching Fox one night when Cronk replayed it and broke it down to explain how well Hastings organised this.
That he hasn't continued as effectively in this role is due to other influences (as others have outlined) because you just don't lose this ability overnight. And maybe the coach has directed some alternative to Hastings having to do everything?
My biggest concern with Hastings is that he could become over-bearing to some players, continually yelling at everyone. This can potentially wear thin and he has been unpopular to some degree at other clubs. No doubt DCE didn't like competing with Hasting's big presence on the field!
What is more pertinent and pressing is we have a forward pack that at the present can’t attain field position nor assert dominance for meaningful or sustained periods.That factor alone will determine any halfback’s efficiency and execution.In our case whoever wears 7
It's not only the forward pack, the current roster is a step or two below the better teams.
Let's consider Hastings getting Salford to the grand final from wooden spoon. He didn't do this by himself, not without a decent roster around him.
The best current analogy I can think of is the Broncos. They had good to great players throughout their team in 2021 and finished 15th - couldn't produce good performances. Enter Adam Reynolds, a quality organising half - not known as a speedster - but with the ability to control and steer the ship. This is the role I see for Hastings. Be assured if the Broncos had a poor roster they'd still be languishing with Reynolds at half.
We're heading the right way with Api and Papal'i but we need more. As an aside, Brooks has had the same issue. I don't think we've had a roster in the past 10 years equal to either the 2021 or 2022 Broncos side.
I'd very much like to see Hastings taking on more kicking. His short kicking game is exceptional - can put it where it needs to be and was consistently getting drop-outs when in the UK. I can't remember the last time we grubbered into the in-goal for a repeat set.
What is more pertinent and pressing is we have a forward pack that at the present can’t attain field position nor assert dominance for meaningful or sustained periods.That factor alone will determine any halfback’s efficiency and execution.In our case whoever wears 7
It's not only the forward pack, the current roster is a step or two below the better teams.
Let's consider Hastings getting Salford to the grand final from wooden spoon. He didn't do this by himself, not without a decent roster around him.
The best current analogy I can think of is the Broncos. They had good to great players throughout their team in 2021 and finished 15th - couldn't produce good performances. Enter Adam Reynolds, a quality organising half - not known as a speedster - but with the ability to control and steer the ship. This is the role I see for Hastings. Be assured if the Broncos had a poor roster they'd still be languishing with Reynolds at half.
We're heading the right way with Api and Papal'i but we need more. As an aside, Brooks has had the same issue. I don't think we've had a roster in the past 10 years equal to either the 2021 or 2022 Broncos side.
I'd very much like to see Hastings taking on more kicking. His short kicking game is exceptional - can put it where it needs to be and was consistently getting drop-outs when in the UK. I can't remember the last time we grubbered into the in-goal for a repeat set.
Good points VoR, particularly the Broncos analogy wrt the difference Reynolds has made. You make the correct point that Reynolds is not that fast, but he has so much pace around him, Cobbo, Herbie etc as well as a pack including Haas.
I’m reserving my judgment on Hasting at the moment. To me he seems to have a good footballers brain but has been inconsistent so far. This could be due to a few reasons ( injury, our off field issues, poor roster depth, etc). I like his passion, he can see gaps and speaks well to the media. On the other hand, he lacks a yard in pace and his general kicking game is not great. I would like to see him get into dummy half occasionally and kick from there late in the tackle count.
Having said that, I do see him as an organising 7 rather than a 13.
Surgeon for Hastings is happy with the result despite the ankle being far worse than first thought.
what does that mean mate ? Is his ankle shattered , or bone fragments left behind or something ?
It sounds real ominous , like Taniella the tank ominous .
Just an update on #JH31
Surgeon just called me & said Jacko is in recovery very groggy 🥴 The ankle was way worse then expected but he is more then satisfied with the operation 🩹Jacko asked before surgery if he could wake up in a boot & not plaster & this has happened
Thanks ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/UHtNe4zmFI— Meg Harrod (@Megsharrod) August 3, 2022
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
what does that mean mate ? Is his ankle shattered , or bone fragments left behind or something ?
It sounds real ominous , like Taniella the tank ominous .
Dunno. Guess we’ll have to wait and see what the recovery holds. Hopefully all good.
