The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:50 am  

Is that a tag we can associate with Wilkin? (not that there is a long list of challengers) I was impressed with him last night (again) , is he our Kevin Sinfield? He took us round the park , showed a strong kicking game and generally led the team well.

Our number 7 problem solved??

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:19 am  

Wilkin may not be in long's league when it comes to individual skills, but he certainly seems to be getting the team organised, and that is proba ly the single most important thing that a half back can do.

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:48 am  

I think Wilkin isnt any great shakes, however he is a big improvement compared to Lomax, Gaskell or Hohoia at 7, simply because he has what all scrum halfs need, and that is the ME factor.

eg Give the ball to ME, let ME pass it , Let ME kick it, you do what ME says. Hence he is providing the team with a bit of directional control.

The other really big factor is that by having Lomax at Fullback we now have someone who can set our backs free. With Wello at fullback moves just died a death while players waited for him to join the line.
Lomax is causing opposition defences to brick themselves. I also noticed last night the crowd visibly lifting in anticipation of something about to happen once Lomax touched the ball.

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:53 am  

You would have to say yes.

Eastmond was a runner.
Pryce was a runner
Lomax a runner
Lance???
Gaskell Can do it sometimes, other times he pulls a move and no-one seamed to be ready for it.

I'm not saying Wilkin is world class, but he has now faced up against 4 teams and only really had to struggle against Leeds. For the other 3 teams he's been the best half on the field.

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:55 am  

Wilkin is the best organiser we had since long but is not even close to the best half back lomax wheeler Gaskell are all better halfs back then him but nowhere near as good as organising the team than Wilkin

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:59 am  

Wilkin is doing a pretty good job under the circumstances, he,s doing OK on the short ball stuff like the one he created for LMS to score. His kicking game is a bit more consistent now giving the ball more depth and making the full back work into position and not getting a ball to run at from the full.
Like people have mentioned he has slotted into the organiser role quite well and seems to add a bit of composure in the back line, Lance looks a better player with Wilkin alongside him but that might change if we have a month of games with a Wilkin/Gaskell combination. Gaskell needs to see the opportunity thats approaching him if Roby is out until mid season.

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:35 pm  

I think once we have seen Wilkin at halfback for 20 games, we can then compare him to other halves. Whilst not a half by trade, he is certainly holding his own.

Also he has been consistant, putting in performances week after week.

Kevin Brown was not a half, but then suddenly gets big wraps after Brown moved him (did he get international call up?)

Scully was a loose forward, but played standoff.

Sinfield the same.

I'm not lining him up to be the best half in SL, but can't say that he has been shown up at 7 and has matched those he has played against with the exception of Leeds.

Re: The best since Longy : Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:22 pm  

Saints4eva2013 wrote:

Wilkin is the best organiser we had since long but is not even close to the best half back lomax wheeler Gaskell are all better halfs back then him but nowhere near as good as organising the team than Wilkin

So what do you think makes a halfback? A good 7 is the organiser of your team . Since Longy we've basically not had anyone to do that. The others you named are basically 6's who like to work off an organiser

Re: The best since Longy : Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:51 am  

No1 Saint wrote:

The others you named are basically 6's who like to work off an organiser

I disagree with this in Sculthorpe's case. Scully was the organiser at 6 and Longy was the running 7.

Re: The best since Longy : Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:26 pm  

foz_13 wrote:

I disagree with this in Sculthorpe's case. Scully was the organiser at 6 and Longy was the running 7.

Sorry I was referring to Saints4eva2013 saying other players in the squad are better halfbacks than Wilkin. He/she then named a list of stand offs but no organising type 7's (which is because we dont have one in the first team currently)

It's an interesting point about Scully and Longy though , they were both that good they could do either role so we really didnt have a balance issue with them, at the moment in the squad we seem to have alot of players who would prefer (or are only able) to play the more traditional role of a 6.

Wilkin has his limitations but if he can keep us ticking and get us around the park then he is exactly what we need at 7.