Our Youngsters in 2010 : Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:47 pm  

So, we've blooded a fair few youngster over the past couple of years, and given the boards apparent reluctance to sign many new experienced players, I wondered what everyone things their going to see next season from our whippersnappers.

I'm going to avoid talking about Eastmond, as he's well debated, and we don't want to put the cart before the horse what with all his contract stuff, but please give me your expectations of the following -

Clough (I know he a regular, but still has a lot of room to develop imo)

Wheeler

Lomax

Emmitt & Frodsham

Ashurst and Dixon

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:08 pm  

Cloughy will develop further into a top class second row/ prop
Wheels if he can stay fit will really rip SL up, hes brilliant
Lomax, unsure but needs game time to develop
Emmit, club man at best i'm afraid
Frodsham, 1 of two ways. Absolute star in the next 2 years or nothing
Ashurst and Dixon, solid clubmen

These are just my humble opinions

Re: Our Youngsters in 2010 : Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:11 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

So, we've blooded a fair few youngster over the past couple of years, and given the boards apparent reluctance to sign many new experienced players, I wondered what everyone things their going to see next season from our whippersnappers.

I'm going to avoid talking about Eastmond, as he's well debated, and we don't want to put the cart before the horse what with all his contract stuff, but please give me your expectations of the following -

Clough (I know he a regular, but still has a lot of room to develop imo)

Wheeler

Lomax

Emmitt & Frodsham

Ashurst and Dixon

Clough - An undersized prop or a backrower lacking in mobility and skill, take your pick. He is great defensively and makes the hard yards, helping our light front row. He's obviously a regular and will stay as such, but he's not going to make it at international level due to the reasons mentioned.

Wheeler - Looked good early last season. He looked like he could turn into an excellent player. However we've not seen anything like enough of him as he seems to be made from biscuit and spit. I'd like to see him given a season in the centres personally, he's not up to displacing Leon yet but if they think he'll make it, he needs to be playing regularly.

Lomax - Looked excellent against Wakey in his debut. Since then he's shown he is a one man knock-on-athon and I don't know if you can ever remove that from a player. But it's hardly unknown for Saints backs anyway and his speed would be more use in attack than Wello.

Emmitt - Looks big enough to make it as a SL prop. Seems to be lacking in skill and doesn't have the bite or aggression that suggests he'll be anything more than an average SL plodder.

Frodsham - Everytime I've seen him play he's been smashed about like a rag doll. I've seen absolutely nothing to suggest he'll make it at any level, despite how highly rated he seems to be. Too small and too weak.

Ashurst - Solid, dependable defensively and utterly anonymous in attack. Dixon - Ditto

Clough I wouldn't rate as a 'youngster' anymore, he's now a senior player. Of the others I can see only Wheeler and possibly at a push Lomax making it at Saints. One of Ashurst and Dixon will probably do a Bennett/Jonkers stint but ultimately be at Salford by 27.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:17 pm  

Clough - Big season for me, pushing for international honours at the end of the season. Can see his long term future at prop, but not this season.

Wheeler - First and foremost, hope he can stay injury free. In an ideal world, would like to see him used more at 6, but that would leave our halfbacks too inexperienced. I think he will go well at centre for us.

Lomax - I would like to see him playing fullback as often as possible as this is where I see his long term future. However, no doubt our coach will play wellens at fullback whenever fit, so I expect to see limited appearances for lomax on the wing.

Emmit - Not good enough imo. Will see him here and there when we have injuries.

Frodsham - A total enigma, rated by the saints coaches as one of the best youngsters we have had come through the ranks in terms of the complete package. Being skills, tenacity, work rate, willigness to learn and attitude. There is something holding him back, maybe heart. Would like to see more of him, but I feel it will be another hit and miss year for him.

Ashurst & Dixon - Too similar and typical of the type of second rowers, england are starting to produce, chicken legged and 10 stone wet. However, of the 2, Ashurst has impressed me most, but I dont expect either to hold down a regular place this year. Will both do a job when called upon.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:25 pm  

Eric_Cartman_is_a_saint wrote:

Frodsham - A total enigma, rated by the saints coaches as one of the best youngsters we have had come through the ranks in terms of the complete package. Being skills, tenacity, work rate, willigness to learn and attitude. There is something holding him back, maybe heart. Would like to see more of him, but I feel it will be another hit and miss year for him.

My view on Froddy is that he is a rangy build, with a lot of filling out to do.

His build makes him easier to tackle than a shorter, stockier player like Clough for example.

I will be very interested to see what shape he turns up in after pre-season, as I still think, after building up, he could be an excellent player for us.

I don't think Ashurst will amount to much, Dixon looks a better bet but still lacks the dynamism that, for example, some of the young Wigan back rowers have.

Maggennis was always tipped as the big back row bet, so here's hoping he can avoid injury for a year and get some games under his belt.

Lomax and Wheeler will be excellent players IMO.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:28 pm  

Not seen much of the lad but Shaun Magennis is a good prospect by all accounts, but has been unlucky with injury last year?

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:38 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Not seen much of the lad but Shaun Magennis is a good prospect by all accounts, but has been unlucky with injury last year?

Shaun was out for 16 months!!

Horrible injury with his knee. Said Pre Season training is going well.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:35 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Not seen much of the lad but Shaun Magennis is a good prospect by all accounts, but has been unlucky with injury last year?

From what i've heard, he is our best prospect at 2nd row, but that injury could have ruined him

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:57 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

From what i've heard, he is our best prospect at 2nd row, but that injury could have ruined him

Hopefully not - I believe he is a Loose Forward normally and from what I've seen/heard he is a great prospect and a very good ball player.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:06 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

My view on Froddy is that he is a rangy build, with a lot of filling out to do.

His build makes him easier to tackle than a shorter, stockier player like Clough for example.

I will be very interested to see what shape he turns up in after pre-season, as I still think, after building up, he could be an excellent player for us.

This is my veiw on the lad, tbh. Although if he wasn't so highly rated at junior level, I'd not think much of him at all tbh.
How old is he now? (quick check says he's coming up for 20 next month)
I know props develop later, but he really needs to show us something this season, really.