Paul Clough & the Front Row : Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:18 pm  

Cloughie was EXCEPTIONAL in Jammer's absense tonight. His usual eeking out of yards went a step further with man dragging drives, and sound defence.

Tony Puletua once again played in the way we should expect of him. Powerful and gracious with ball in hand, he is a joy to watch, and put in a tidy hit if memory and eyesight serves.

Emmitt is developing nicely too. Just needs composure close to the line to help him with the traditional Saints goal line hospital ball (something Jammer took nearly two years to get used to).

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:30 pm  

Ski wrote:

Cloughie was EXCEPTIONAL in Jammer's absense tonight. His usual eeking out of yards went a step further with man dragging drives, and sound defence.

Tony Puletua once again played in the way we should expect of him. Powerful and gracious with ball in hand, he is a joy to watch, and put in a tidy hit if memory and eyesight serves.

Emmitt is developing nicely too. Just needs composure close to the line to help him with the traditional Saints goal line hospital ball (something Jammer took nearly two years to get used to).

The big drive just before the last try really summed up his effort tonight

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:37 pm  

Cloughy is a fantastic young player, I always remember hearing KC saying years ago that of all the youngsters, Cloughy had the best chance of making it because you had to drag him out of the gym. He's gone from strength to strength and I hope he ultimately gets the recognition he deserves and hopefully gains international honours. I think he's more than worthy of it, but the competition is immense.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:41 pm  

(Saint) wrote:

Cloughy is a fantastic young player, I always remember hearing KC saying years ago that of all the youngsters, Cloughy had the best chance of making it because you had to drag him out of the gym. He's gone from strength to strength and I hope he ultimately gets the recognition he deserves and hopefully gains international honours. I think he's more than worthy of it, but the competition is immense.

Unless he develops considerably I doubt that will ever happen as there are far better players in his position available.... then again if Ben Westwood can make it I guess anything is possible.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:17 pm  

paul clough has been one of my standout players for the past 2 seasons now, im shocked he hasnt got into the england squad, as i rate him as one of the best players at saints

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:01 am  

I think we should also give special mention to Bryn Hargreaves last night, put in a good solid performance and took some sting out of the Giants pack early on.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:12 am  

No1 Saint wrote:

Unless he develops considerably I doubt that will ever happen as there are far better players in his position available.... then again if Ben Westwood can make it I guess anything is possible.

True - Cloughy is a better player than Westwood. People bang on about Westwood's defence but I bet he misses more tackles than Cloughy and he certainly makes less ground with the ball.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:35 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

True - Cloughy is a better player than Westwood. People bang on about Westwood's defence but I bet he misses more tackles than Cloughy and he certainly makes less ground with the ball.

Westwood also has the tendency to give away costly penalties whereas Cloughie does not. I think it's a shame he hasn't been given a chance at international level.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:14 am  

He's been fantastic all season for me, a huge talent for us and he'll be a key figure in our pack for years to come.

Re: Paul Clough & the Front Row : Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:20 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Westwood also has the tendency to give away costly penalties whereas Cloughie does not. I think it's a shame he hasn't been given a chance at international level.

Honestly think about it - would he cope against an agressive aussie pack? no imo. Cloughie at the moment is one of those players who goes out and gives 110% for the club and he is very solid but he is never international class. At England level you have Ellis, Burgess,O'Loughlin, Sinfield and Tomkins ahead of him in the back row all of whom would walk into the current Saints team. People spoke about Cloughie as a youngster having a different dimention to his game (i.e offload and passing ability) but that hasnt been apparent so far at SL level. If he was a bit bigger for me he would probably be our starting prop alongside Jammer.