Re: 2019 | Squad : Wed Oct 10, 2018 4:56 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

I'm not forgetting him, I just think that for the next year or two, he should be a bench player (getting lots of regular game time) so that he can develop in a managed way rather than thrown into a cauldron should next year not start well.

My son played against him plenty when they were kids, I know his potential.

And by doing that you lose that game management bit and don't develop it. Effectively you are using him like McDermott. This is fine if that is the long term route Furner wants. But if he wants game management, as discussed on this thread and good handling skills, then Smith should be at the forefront of his thoughts here, unless he has other options.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:03 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

And by doing that you lose that game management bit and don't develop it. Effectively you are using him like McDermott. This is fine if that is the long term route Furner wants. But if he wants game management, as discussed on this thread and good handling skills, then Smith should be at the forefront of his thoughts here, unless he has other options.

I'm not saying we should use him like McD did, I'm saying give him increasing game time and responsibility.

He's 19/20, there's plenty of time over the next 2 years to turn him into the player we both know he can be. It's too early to give him all that responsibility now, especially considering how the team have been in the last 3 years and the pressure that would come with it. What I'm saying is develop him over the next 2 years, by giving him more and more responsibility over that time, so we can see how he handles it and not dump on him by asking for the world from next February.

I do not want to see him developed as a biff and barge back (or front) rower, he's a lot better than that.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:39 am  

Gotcha wrote:

You are forgetting Smith here. He has been used entirely wrongly up to now, and it will be up to Furner how he goes going forward. But that lad has one hell of a rugby brain on him. Why it was coached out of him I will never know.

Time will tell with him - he was an elite player as a youngster but there are plenty of elite young players that simply cannot take that into the grown ups. A lot will depend if Furner wants to play an NRL style of structure/power game or something with more finesse.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:54 pm  

Is Smith really that good?

I've only watched him in the seniors and have been pretty meh about him. I've no idea of his background or ability at academy so maybe it is that mcd used him wrong in a team that was going backwards.

I honestly don't know, but do people really think he is a key cog for us in the future? Would he best with Stevie ward and the back 3 with a strong runner making us the third of them?

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:14 pm  

Fallon wrote:

Is Smith really that good?

I've only watched him in the seniors and have been pretty meh about him. I've no idea of his background or ability at academy so maybe it is that mcd used him wrong in a team that was going backwards.

I honestly don't know, but do people really think he is a key cog for us in the future? Would he best with Stevie ward and the back 3 with a strong runner making us the third of them?

If you go back on the thread, it might not need the question, because the issue of whether he is any good, or indeed whether you have seen that in how he has been used, have not been given the chance to show thus far. The lad as stated is a game manager, a good rugby brain, with excellent handling skills. He has been used as a bish and bash, hence the Meh.

Had he been used to utilise his talents, then we would know further as to whether he is the future. He certainly has it in him, but only if used in that capacity.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 5:10 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

You talk nonsense. Keinhorst and Runciman have been shown up for the level they are, both very poor. Remember we were in the bottomr four because of having to play the likes of Keinhorst, and others of similar ilk. Were you asleep this season?

Newman I agree with you you on, and even now looks way ahead of those other two.

You certainly do.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:29 pm  

I would give Runciman a chance.

Was the next big thing 5-6 years ago. Worth a punt.

Re: 2019 | Squad : Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:41 pm  

Fallon wrote: Is Smith really that good? I've only watched him in the seniors and have been pretty meh about him. I've no idea of his background or ability at academy so maybe it is that mcd used him wrong in a team that was going backwards. I honestly don't know, but do people really think he is a key cog for us in the future? Would he best with Stevie ward and the back 3 with a strong runner making us the third of them? If his try against Catalans and especially his break and pass for Luke Brisoce to score at Halifax are anything to go by I'm very hopeful he'll develop into an important 1st team member. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oLx5_-PgIQ https://www.therhinos.co.uk/video/halif ... ch-action/

Fallon wrote: Is Smith really that good? I've only watched him in the seniors and have been pretty meh about him. I've no idea of his background or ability at academy so maybe it is that mcd used him wrong in a team that was going backwards. I honestly don't know, but do people really think he is a key cog for us in the future? Would he best with Stevie ward and the back 3 with a strong runner making us the third of them? If his try against Catalans and especially his break and pass for Luke Brisoce to score at Halifax are anything to go by I'm very hopeful he'll develop into an important 1st team member. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oLx5_-PgIQ https://www.therhinos.co.uk/video/halif ... ch-action/

Re: 2019 | Squad : Fri Oct 12, 2018 4:20 am  

krisleeds wrote:

I would give Runciman a chance.

Was the next big thing 5-6 years ago. Worth a punt.

5/6yrs ago. What's he done in 5/6yr? Nothing

Re: 2019 | Squad : Fri Oct 12, 2018 6:55 am  

If we do sign 'project players' it needs to be made clear that they'll have to fight to earn a spot and stay. That means 1 year contracts maximum. If they go elsewhere sobeit, but we currently have a squad full of average players on contracts for longer than they should be, and we're struggling to get rid of some of them.

As for Smith, I don't mind ball handling etc, but like Cuthbertson any forward needs to be able to do the hard yards when required. Furner himself was a capable ball handler but also ran hard, tough lines and made his tackles. I doubt he'll be interested in anyone who can't muscle up when needed.