Re: McCloskey : Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:37 pm  

Both McCloskey and Cross were picked up during a development camp in Limerick last year for the Irish Wolfhounds. There were a number of clubs in attendance including Wigan and of course the Irish coach Mark Aston who also coaches Sheffield Eagles. These two lads were very appreciative of the opportunity they were getting from Saints and aware of the huge step up in standard they would be making. Watching these two last year as well as a number of other Union lads trying their hand at league really showed how different the two games are and what issues they face in trying to adapt. I really hope they have some success and Saints get some reward for taking them on.

Re: McCloskey : Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:25 pm  

WIld Goose wrote:

Both McCloskey and Cross were picked up during a development camp in Limerick last year for the Irish Wolfhounds. There were a number of clubs in attendance including Wigan and of course the Irish coach Mark Aston who also coaches Sheffield Eagles. These two lads were very appreciative of the opportunity they were getting from Saints and aware of the huge step up in standard they would be making. Watching these two last year as well as a number of other Union lads trying their hand at league really showed how different the two games are and what issues they face in trying to adapt. I really hope they have some success and Saints get some reward for taking them on.

Fassavalu took 3 yrs to start playing well for Saints:?: not even playing well just getting into the first team

Re: McCloskey : Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:26 pm  

I watched McCloskey score his try. He looks like a bloke who is conscious of his size. He would look much more comfortable in the first team but he won't yet be up to playing at that level. I think both McCloskey and Cross are on dual registration deals with North Wales Crusaders. Cross played in the Welsh derby and missed a couple of conversions (Jono Smith took over kicking duties at one point). McCloskey didn't play in that match. He's probably been brought back because of injuries to the forwards in the first team requiring some u20s players to be available for cover like Greenwood and Forster.

Given that these guys only started playing at pro level in the off season in France they must be doing quite well if they are now taking their place in the u20s team. Whether they will improve enough to ever play in the first team I don't know. If McCloskey has some aggression in him then with the right skills, confidence and experience he could be a real bonus at first team level.

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:28 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

I watched McCloskey score his try. He looks like a bloke who is conscious of his size.

What do you mean?

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:48 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

What do you mean?

I think he means because he went through and over the defenders rather than trying to step them

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:49 am  

RedVeeSte wrote:

I think he means because he went through and over the defenders rather than trying to step them

Right, the way I read it sounded negetive, as if he was not at home with his size.

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:35 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Right, the way I read it sounded negetive, as if he was not at home with his size.

I took it to mean that he feels daft playing against academy players as he's physically far bigger than the other players. Imagine yourself playing with a team full of kids, you would feel out of place.

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:14 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I took it to mean that he feels daft playing against academy players as he's physically far bigger than the other players. Imagine yourself playing with a team full of kids, you would feel out of place.

If that were true, he'd be ripping it up, wouldn't he? Given that Forster's the latest to get called up to the firsts, I'd guess he's not doing.

Re: McCloskey : Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:17 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I took it to mean that he feels daft playing against academy players as he's physically far bigger than the other players. Imagine yourself playing with a team full of kids, you would feel out of place.

Not so much daft, as awkward. However, it might simply have been that he didn't have to travel far to score and so didn't plough over them. But if he had have done, they would have been ironed into the ground, Tom & Jerry stylee.