#moses mbye

Adam Doueihi

Alex Twal

HAPPY ORIGIN DAY !!!!

Podcast: Fergo and The Freak - Episode 339 - Buzkashi! #RugbyLeague #NRL #RFL #SuperLeague #IntRL #Rugby #BBCRugby #Podcast #Radio #Sport

In this episode Andrew and Freaky discuss the move by the Dragons to swoop in and get their hands on Moses Mbye! We then chat about the Storm and their winning streak, James Maloney, we read a listener email out from Leigh, we talk about other weird sports we have seen and much, much more! Follow the boys on Twitter at AndrewRLP and LeagueFreak Visit The Rugby League Project for all your Rugby…

New Post has been published on http://www.sportsbanter.com.au/is-moses-mbye-the-future-of-the-dogs/

Is Moses Mbye the future of the Dogs?

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler faces a difficult decision with his troops moving forward. Does he rely on the former NSW and grand finalist pairing of Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson this season and into the future or does he turn to the next generation in Moses Mbye? Yesterday Hasler in part answered the question moving Reynolds to the bench to accommodate Mbye into the six jersey. Mbye who for his 20 game career thus far has been used as a utility filling in gaps, playing fullback, centre, in the halves and even hooker showed why his long term position should be in the halves. He was at the heart of everything, steering the Dogs, with the help of Reynolds to an impressive victory over the table topping Dragons. Whether this is a long term plan moving away from the erratic Reynolds to the more controlled Mbye only time will tell.

It was a brave move from Hasler moving Reynolds to the bench given that he was man of the match in the Bulldogs last performance against the Canberra Raiders. However, Andrew Voss summed up Mbye perfectly during his commentary at foxsports saying “This kid is good, this kid is special” moments after Mbye kicked the field goal to put the dogs up by one. Hasler obviously sees Mbye the same and knows that keeping him away from the first team will only encourage him to look for opportunities elsewhere.

View image | gettyimages.com

The Courier mail suggest that Moses Mbye could be on his way to the Gold Coast Titans since Maroons halfback Daly Cherry-Evans reneged on a four year deal to stay with the Sea Eagles. Mbye is currently contracted to the Bulldogs till the end of the 2016 season. However, every rugby league fan knows the value of a contract in today market and with Mbye family just a two hour drive away from the Gold Coast a move north could be on the cards.

Mbye’s rise up the ladder at the Bulldogs could potentially spell disaster for Hodkinson though. Despite having other options, the NSW halfback could be the man to make way for Mbye long term. The Australian reported that Mbye was the Dogs priority and they might struggle to retain the services of Hodkinson. Hasler showed who he rated higher out of the two playmakers today when in the final 20 minutes with the game on the line, it was Hodkinson and not Mbye that made way for Reynolds. This obviously shows how highly Hasler rates Mbye as he is willing to bench the current State of Origin halfback to keep Mbye on the field.

New Post has been published on http://www.sportsbanter.com.au/moses-parts-the-red-v-seals-hodkinsons-fate/

Moses parts the Red-V, seals Hodkinson's fate

The much vaunted defence of the high-flying St George Illawarra Dragons was on Monday afternoon frequently compromised by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their brilliant 29-16 victory, led by none other than exciting young half, Moses Mbye. The Noosa Pirates product was a late inclusion into the starting side for Josh Reynolds, yet it was the duo’s combination late in the game that saw the Bulldogs steamroll the Dragons in a scenario reminiscent of their 1995 Grand Final win.

It truly was an excellent victory for the blue-and-whites, and the events of the game only added fuel to the fire of contract speculation at Belmore.

Following on from Daly Cherry-Evans’ well-documented backflip on the Gold Coast Titans, speculation has been rife this week with news emerging that the Titans’ new number one target for 2016 is the under-contract Mbye. Given the outstanding form of the young half this year, and the comparatively paltry form of regular number 7 Trent Hodkinson, it has placed the Bulldogs in a precarious position.

Do the Bulldogs offload the incumbent New South Wales halfback, who only last year scored the try and kicked the goal to bring Queensland’s eight year State of Origin dynasty to an end? The man who, throughout his five year tenure at Canterbury, stole the hearts and minds of fans with a number of scintillating plays that ultimately led his side to an unexpected Grand Final appearance. The man who away from the field, took home the Ken Stephen Medal last year for his engagement with the community, bringing smiles to the faces of those who needed it most.

Should coach Des Hasler and CEO Raelene Castle abandon all that in order to lock-up the 21 year old Mbye, another exciting product of the Bulldogs system?

The last thing they would want to do is make the exact same mistake they made 11 years ago, when rather than securing a young Johnathan Thurston, the Bulldogs hierarchy opted to retain Braith Anasta and Brent Sherwin. Granted, it’s unlikely that Mbye will become the superstar Thurston is today, but is it really worth taking the risk?

View image | gettyimages.com

Based on Monday’s performance, the fact that Mbye and Reynolds are the club’s best halves is plain to see – to everyone with the exception of Des Hasler, it seems. Hodkinson has been stifling the Bulldogs’ attack all season long, and while his efforts in defence are nothing short of outstanding, it simply isn’t enough to warrant his selection at halfback ahead of Mbye. This was quite clearly seen on Monday when the moment Hodkinson was hooked from the field in favour of Reynolds in the 60th minute, the latter was able to inspire his side to turn their 6 point deficit at 16-10 into a sensational 29-16 victory – with Mbye slotting a late field-goal.

Combine this with the stupendous showing of Reynolds and Mbye against the Canberra Raiders, in which Reynolds managed two tries and a linebreak while his halves partner picked up a try of his own, a linebreak, as well as a try-assist. With Hodkinson away on Origin duty for that match, it shaped as the very first time the two halves had lined up alongside each other in first-grade.

The statistics speak for themselves.

There’s little doubt that Hodkinson has been a loyal and brave servant to the Bulldogs throughout his stay at Belmore – his perseverance in fighting through knee injury after knee injury is tremendous to stay the least. However, Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds are the future of the blue-and-whites, and Hasler must muster the courage to let the NSW incumbent go, and better still, demote him to reserve grade until such a time that he is required in the top grade side this season.

Without sounding too much like a eulogy, he will always be remembered as the Canterbury halfback who was called upon by New South Wales to make his interstate debut with his club halves partner in Reynolds to bring down the Maroon juggernaut – in my mind, at least.