Re: Sia Soliola : Sat May 28, 2011 10:56 pm  

No1 Saint wrote:

Sia will end up like Ruben Wiki ... in the front row. He's less likely to be exposed in defence there too.

I'd love him to be as good as wiki but it won't happen.

I can recall wiki when he was a winger

Re: Sia Soliola : Sat May 28, 2011 11:03 pm  

St pete wrote:

I'd love him to be as good as wiki but it won't happen.

I can recall wiki when he was a winger

Me too!

I dont think he'll be as good as Wiki but I think he's on the same positional path

Wiki went wing>centre>second row>prop and was world class in pretty much all of them. I'd settle for Sia just becoming a world class prop . His lack of mobility will always leave him exposed defending out wide , in the middle he could just be a big hitting battering ram (with a decent offload)

Re: Sia Soliola : Sun May 29, 2011 8:58 am  

St pete wrote:

Yes you have but I doubt youll leave it long before you replace him. Wigan had to good centres in gleeson and carmont which was very good partnership.

The problem for us is that Carmont is retiring at the end of the season, and he's been a fantastic signing for us, probably the best value for money overseas player we have had in the Superleague era. (Saints tried to sign him at the end of the 2009 season)

It's a major problem in the British game, there are very few decent centres around. I was at the Wigan v HKR U20 game yesterday and Craig Hall gave Stefan Marsh a torrid time, and Marsh is one of the next in line for the first team.

I'd love us to sign Tom Briscoe as I think he will move inside to centre, he's a player I have always rated very highly.

Re: Sia Soliola : Sun May 29, 2011 9:10 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

The problem for us is that Carmont is retiring at the end of the season, and he's been a fantastic signing for us, probably the best value for money overseas player we have had in the Superleague era. (Saints tried to sign him at the end of the 2009 season)

It's a major problem in the British game, there are very few decent centres around. I was at the Wigan v HKR U20 game yesterday and Craig Hall gave Stefan Marsh a torrid time, and Marsh is one of the next in line for the first team.

I'd love us to sign Tom Briscoe as I think he will move inside to centre, he's a player I have always rated very highly.

Tom briscoe without doubt move inside to centre. Saints are looking for a outside back and would love it to be briscoe but can't see it.

With the overseas being more strict now, the days of going out and bringing in a Aussie centre which is better for youth development but tough on clubs that can't produce anyone is that certain postion.

Re: Sia Soliola : Sun May 29, 2011 10:32 am  

St pete wrote:

Tom briscoe without doubt move inside to centre. Saints are looking for a outside back and would love it to be briscoe but can't see it.

With the overseas being more strict now, the days of going out and bringing in a Aussie centre which is better for youth development but tough on clubs that can't produce anyone is that certain postion.

I think this is why Wheeler or someone similar maybe a good long term bet at Centre. Over the coming seasons there is going to be a drop off in the quality of opposition centres. Now is the time to develop one. Take Saints we are missing a centre at present, but we are full on overseas players.

Therefore there are only 2 options, grow your own, or buy in. Buying in has 2 possibilities an overseas already in the UK not on the new federation quota, or a British player.

When you look who there is available it's very thin on the ground quality wise. We already have one England international centre and it's not likey we are going to be able to offer enough for a 2nd one as more and more clubs get closer and closer to paying the salary cap.

So growing your own is the only real option for me. Who ever starts first is most likely to receive the benefits, first.

Wheeler I would say is average to good in the whole pattern of Centres out there in SL. So why not. He's still a player that can be developed. Connelly played FB and switched to centre, we bought Wilkin as a hooker, who now plays 2nd row, loose and half back.

Even the great Jamie Lyon is a half back now after how many years at centre. So players can move around our own meli as shown that. finally finding a secure home at centre rather than the exposure of the wing. Soliola too. (do hope we change his shirt number next year.)

Re: Sia Soliola : Sun May 29, 2011 10:35 am  

Might be an idea to play Sia at loose forward in the current style of having a pseudo prop.

More freedom to put on the big hits without exposing the right flank.

Plenty of opportunity to run the ball without the limiting service to Shenton.

Re: Sia Soliola : Tue May 31, 2011 7:29 am  

No1 Saint wrote:

Sia will end up like Ruben Wiki ... in the front row. He's less likely to be exposed in defence there too.

Agreed. He's offered us alot with ball in hand, but its tended to be by driving for big yards in contact, rather than threatening slightly wider as the traditional running 2nd row does.
I like him, but he needs to iron those silly misses out of the game.

I thought he was one of our best players on Friday.