Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:22 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

I'd be very disappointed if we wasted money on Dowes.

We've obviously got nothing in the academy or they would have been used by now. He's an experienced and established player and whilst no Apolo or Fairleigh, would be a body. As mentioned by others you can get by with solid pros if the effort is there, look at Wigan's pack for example. Bar Hoffman and O'Loughlin there is no quality at all.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:25 am  

Saddened! wrote:

look at Wigan's pack for example. Bar Hoffman and O'Loughlin there is no quality at all.

Absolute nonsense.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:27 am  

Would rather move Hand up to the first team than waste valuable wage on very average first team players, especially seeing as we seemingly throw money at players.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:31 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Absolute nonsense.

Coley, Fielden, McIllorum, Farrell, Tuson, Prescott, Hansen. Hardly world class players and all thoroughly replaceable. Mossop looks a good prospect but isn't yet a top class prop and Lima is doing a decent job despite getting smashed about a bit but isn't as good as TP.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:34 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

I'd be very disappointed if we wasted money on Dowes.

It all depends on how much, though. If he came, he'd be 4th/5th choice prop, so couldn't command much of a wage and may be swayed by a final hurrah at a club at the right end of the table.
He may not be a star, but he's always solid when I see him and hit some great form for Hull around 2005/06 when they were good.
He's 30, so a decent age for a prop. I don't know much about his injury record, i must admit, but I'd certainly be happier with him in our squad at the moment.

There's players I'd rather have, but I'm afraid we need a couple more senior players that can do a job to bolster our squad.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:35 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Coley, Fielden, McIllorum, Farrell, Tuson, Prescott, Hansen. Hardly world class players and all thoroughly replaceable. Mossop looks a good prospect but isn't yet a top class prop and Lima is doing a decent job despite getting smashed about a bit but isn't as good as TP.

So you'd say that amongst Coley, Tomkins (who you decided not to mention but is an England back rower), Leuluai (who you also decided not to mention but is a world cup winning hooker), Lima, Hock (who you also decided not to mention), Prescott, Hansen, Mossop etc there is "no quality at all"?

Mossop IS a top class SL prop. Especially when mentioned in the same thread as Ewen Dowes! Don't be blinded by big names/reputation - Prescott and Mossop are quality forwards.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:03 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

Would rather move Hand up to the first team than waste valuable wage on very average first team players, especially seeing as we seemingly throw money at players.

I think Forster's infront of Hand in the pecking order.
I'd like to think one of them would be good enough, but I've been dissapointed with the effect that having more than one of Dixon/Ashurst/Magennis on the bech is having. Obviously, hindsight would have seen us hold on to Emmit and we'd be in a much better position, but hey-ho.
Hopefully one of Forster or Hand will be able to step up sooner rather than later. Forster allegedly weighs 110kg and is only 5'10" according to wiki (FWIW), so sounds like he shouldn't have a problem physically, but he's still injured for a couple of weeks and will need some time to get anywhere near 1st team fit.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:16 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

So you'd say that amongst Coley, Tomkins (who you decided not to mention but is an England back rower), Leuluai (who you also decided not to mention but is a world cup winning hooker), Lima, Hock (who you also decided not to mention), Prescott, Hansen, Mossop etc there is "no quality at all"?

Mossop IS a top class SL prop. Especially when mentioned in the same thread as Ewen Dowes! Don't be blinded by big names/reputation - Prescott and Mossop are quality forwards.

Stop being so pedantic. Do I need to put 'overall' or 'generally' before everything? Wigan are SL champs so clearly aren't all rubbish. But in terms of stand out individuals they are not that impressive. If you threw Dowes into their pack for example he would fit in fine. All the names mentioned are replaceable and their departures won't be a major hurdle for Wigan in the way Graham leaving Saints is for us.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:18 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Stop being so pedantic. Do I need to put 'overall' or 'generally' before everything? Wigan are SL champs so clearly aren't all rubbish. But in terms of stand out individuals they are not that impressive. If you threw Dowes into their pack for example he would fit in fine. All the names mentioned are replaceable and their departures won't be a major hurdle for Wigan in the way Graham leaving Saints is for us.

If you look on the SL stats site for most yards, the only forward that shows up is Lima, and he's pretty far down - yet WIgan are top of the pile. The Wigan forwards play as a collective like no other side.

Re: A prop : Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:21 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Stop being so pedantic. Do I need to put 'overall' or 'generally' before everything? Wigan are SL champs so clearly aren't all rubbish.

Then probably best not to say they have "no quality at all" in their forward squad bar 2 players and expect not to be called up on it - because it's gibberish.

It's not being pedantic - it's commenting on yet another of your nonsensical exaggerations.