Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:08 pm  

Tony D'Amato wrote:

Thought Dixon had a good game, excellent in defence, looked agressive.

I've got a feeling Royce will go with flannery and leave Dixon out of semi

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:13 pm  

Smurf wrote:

I think a lot of people forget how young Soliola is. He was still a youngster for a forward when we signed him (23) and he had already missed a a lot of rugby through injury. He is also relatively inexperienced as a second rower having played most of his career at centre. Whilst he does sometimes get too excited going in for big hits, I would much rather have him than not.

If you look at the likes of Ben Westwood five years ago as a comparison, he wasn't half the player he is now at 30. Sia is nowhere near the finished product and has the potential to be anything he wants to be.

Totally agree here, after next season if he continues to develop well he should be a shoe in for a new contract.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:18 pm  

Saint94 wrote:

:thumb: Totally agree here, after next season if he continues to develop well he should be a shoe in for a new contract.

I'd give sia a new deal no probs. He's a good tough forward who is a worker. He does have few flaws but he's still young and learning what it takes to be backrow as he's a ex centre.

I don't think saints use him in the right place in attack, he's big, strong and pretty fast for 2nd row. I'd like to see us having him running short balls outside as I think he'll bust tackles. He been used most if this year like a prop.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:21 pm  

St pete wrote:

I'd give sia a new deal no probs. He's a good tough forward who is a worker. He does have few flaws but he's still young and learning what it takes to be backrow as he's a ex centre.

I don't think saints use him in the right place in attack, he's big, strong and pretty fast for 2nd row. I'd like to see us having him running short balls outside as I think he'll bust tackles. He been used most if this year like a prop.

And this is only his first 'proper' season. And he's a great guy off the pitch as well

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:23 pm  

Saint94 wrote:

And this is only his first 'proper' season. And he's a great guy off the pitch as well

I've spoke to sia few times and he is cool guy. He's huge. His neck and shoulders are massive.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:27 pm  

St pete wrote:

I've got a feeling Royce will go with flannery and leave Dixon out of semi

Hope your wrong and Royce sticks with the team that got him to the semi's with perhaps Armstrong losing out to Pryce (if he's fit) - seen as he didn't get off the bench anyway.
Dixon played well, doesn't derserve to be dropped.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:27 pm  

St pete wrote:

I've spoke to sia few times and he is cool guy. He's huge. His neck and shoulders are massive.

I have a friend who lives near him and they talk regularly, so I went to get him to sign my shirt but he was insistent on taking it into training to get everyone to sign it

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:30 pm  

The boys did really well as a team. Hard to pick a poor player. Maybe Armstrong lazy so and so.

It was not a perfect game from us. Which is good and there is still room for improvement from the players who were out the. But I see no reason to play flannery. Dixon has not had as good a year as last year. But his current form is better than what flannery has produced this year so for me has earned his spot.

If we cut out mistakes Wigan would have been on a hiding. Makinson running into touch on first tackle. Wilkin dropping the ball along with sia. Moore. LMS suicide pass. Wigan may look at the game and say we can play better but so can we.

I thoght we looked tired at the end but the coach does not seam to see that an extra forward would help this. Just puts it down to the players trying to defend the last 15.

For me at the end sia clough and TP all looked like they needed a rest.

Amazing performances by all especially considering we are doing it all with one player out all season.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:53 pm  

Glad to see people coming around to my hate of having a back sat on the bench nearly all match while other players are out on their feet.

I called this after 3 rounds and got shot down for it.

Every team plays with 17 while we play with 16 and sometimes even 15 which means we must be at a disadvantage.

Re: Paul Clough & Sia Soliola : Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:56 pm  

Geoggy wrote:

still not sold on Soliola. he had at least 2 Meliesque brain trumps yesterday that could have cost us dear.

I agree! wonder sometimes if he is just clumsy and does not respond quickly at times. (I'm not saying he may be a genuine nice guy, and signs shirts)