Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:22 am  

Hardaker has never played stand off in SL. There is no evidence that he could be a good one - certainly not enough to make him starting 6 for next year. Watkins should be one centre for next season IMO (assuming that's where he wants to play). Wing is probably the one position we don't need anyone for - even with other movements we have some combination of Hall, Watkins, BJB, Hardaker and Smith. That's far more quality than any other side. As for Hall, it should depend in part on where he wants to play. If he fancies a go in the centres he should start there now, not wait for next year. Same with BJB and Watkins when he's fit.

Agree re Chase and an attacking second row though.

Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:51 am  

Wheels wrote:

Was that you watching the Skepta vid earlier?

Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:28 am  

i'd like to sign Steve Matai from Manly

Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:54 am  

We seem to have a fair bit of talent in the backs at the moment. I still think Watkins is a centre, largely because of his handling skills. He needs some polishing, but if some of the rough edges (especially defensively) are ironed out he could be a very, very good centre. Hall is doing fine (better than fine) on the wing, and I see absolutely no sane reason to move him from there. The only reason anyone has given is that "he's quite big" as far as I can see. As if that's a bad thing for a winger. I mean, when did a big winger ever do anything worthwhile in SL?

Hardaker and BJB also look very much like back 3 players, so the trick will probably need to be to phase them in over next year with Webb reaching the end of his career now.

There does still therefore seem to be a vacancy at centre to fill. I'm not aware of anyone from the academy who's ready to fill that slot immediately, so perhaps we do need to recruit? If so, whether it's NRL or SL doesn't really worry me. If we can get a quality English centre that would be grand, but they're in short supply at the moment (see England Team, the).

Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:20 am  

So if there is a vacancy at centre while the club have an excess of wingers what is wrong with the suggestion of trying one of the wingers in the centre?

It could save having to find a centre externally and prevent one of the wingers missing out on a merited 1st grade opportunity at the club.

Hall, Watkins, Jones-Bishop and Smith are all basically wingers, I've excluded Hardaker on experience - he's enough on his plate already. I've seen what Smith and Watkins have to offer at centre (and to a lesser extent Jones-Bishop at Harlequins), I'd like to see what Hall could bring. Could be a disaster, then again it could be (like Meli at St Helens this season) a huge success.

What have the club got to lose this season by having a look?

There will of course be those who will talk about him not possessing the correct skill-set for the role but those people have been wrong before.

Re: New Centre : Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:40 am  

tvoc wrote:

So if there is a vacancy at centre while the club have an excess of wingers what is wrong with the suggestion of trying one of the wingers in the centre?

It could save having to find a centre externally and prevent one of the wingers missing out on a merited 1st grade opportunity at the club.

Hall, Watkins, Jones-Bishop and Smith are all basically wingers, I've excluded Hardaker on experience - he's enough on his plate already. I've seen what Smith and Watkins have to offer at centre (and to a lesser extent Jones-Bishop at Harlequins), I'd like to see what Hall could bring. Could be a disaster, then again it could be (like Meli at St Helens this season) a huge success.

What have the club got to lose this season by having a look?

There will of course be those who will talk about him not possessing the correct skill-set for the role but those people have been wrong before.

No problem in principle with trying it. My worry is that I'm not convinced that just saying "we have loads of wingers, but few centres" is actually the best basis for moving a player who is very successful on the wing to a position he's never played before. I'm always open to experimenting (ooh-err, matron) but I still think Watkins looks the more natural centre. I may, as you say, be wrong.

Also, Meli was a walking disaster as a winger at times, and most Saints fans would have had him out of the door before having him at wing again. I don't think the same is true of Hall.

If they are going to try it, it needs to be soon because if he's not going to be a centre, we may need to find another one from somewhere.

Re: New Centre : Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:55 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

No problem in principle with trying it. My worry is that I'm not convinced that just saying "we have loads of wingers, but few centres" is actually the best basis for moving a player who is very successful on the wing to a position he's never played before. I'm always open to experimenting (ooh-err, matron) but I still think Watkins looks the more natural centre. I may, as you say, be wrong.

Also, Meli was a walking disaster as a winger at times, and most Saints fans would have had him out of the door before having him at wing again. I don't think the same is true of Hall.

If they are going to try it, it needs to be soon because if he's not going to be a centre, we may need to find another one from somewhere.

Abolutely...this is the season to try these potential options. If Webb is to be considered the first choice continued holder of the FB shirt (and if he plays as he did in his last game then he has every right to remain the incumbent) then BJB should be tried at centre a la Cudjoe. Hall, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, could be the next Meli.

Watkins should be given every opportunity to claim the no.4 shirt, but if he ends up on the wing so be it. The club should experiment from now in all league mat ches if not the CC.

I repeat I also believe Hardaker shows enough promise to be a top class SO and he again should be given every opportunity this season to make the position his own for 2012.

Re: New Centre : Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:06 pm  

nantwichexile wrote:

Abolutely...this is the season to try these potential options. If Webb is to be considered the first choice continued holder of the FB shirt (and if he plays as he did in his last game then he has every right to remain the incumbent) then BJB should be tried at centre a la Cudjoe. Hall, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, could be the next Meli.

Watkins should be given every opportunity to claim the no.4 shirt, but if he ends up on the wing so be it. The club should experiment from now in all league mat ches if not the CC.

I repeat I also believe Hardaker shows enough promise to be a top class SO and he again should be given every opportunity this season to make the position his own for 2012.

BJB would be a more natural centre than Hall IMO as he is a more natural footballer with better handling skills.

Re: New Centre : Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:06 pm  

nantwichexile wrote:

A new Ali would be good.

(cough)

Weller

(cough - splutter)

Re: New Centre : Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:35 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

Why would we want to take the best British winger off his wing? Some people are crazy...

dint know briscoe played for u!!!