Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:06 pm  

Cannot believe that we're going into a season with such a weak bench.

Back in the days when we won trophies we had Graham, Roby, Paul Anderson and Maurie on the bench as well as a far stronger first 13 than we have now.

It's no wonder we're no longer winning the silver pots.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:17 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Cannot believe that we're going into a season with such a weak bench.

Back in the days when we won trophies we had Graham, Roby, Paul Anderson and Maurie on the bench as well as a far stronger first 13 than we have now.

It's no wonder we're no longer winning the silver pots.

I would say the bench is weaker than it used to be, but I think we're as strong as anybody else.

Personally I'd like to see both Soliola and Puletua start on the bench to provide massive impact when opposition are tiring.

A pack of:

Perry
Roby
LMS
Flanagan
Wilkin
Laffrinchi

That would be a solid starting pack which would be very strong in defence, wait for the opposition to tire then throw on the big boys. A bench of Puletua, Soliola, Clough and Wheeler looks a lot better.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:25 pm  

For me this is a very strong squad but will be intresting to see how the kicking game goes if gaskell doesnt start and who will take that role

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:27 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

So every time Simmons has said he will play prop, he was just saying it for a laugh? I would expect Flanagan or Flannery to start at 13 with Laffranci, LMS, Clough and Perry rotating at prop. I think 2 of those will start with 2 on the bench.

Where a player is on the team sheet does not necessarily dictate what type of game he is expected to play.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:17 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

So every time Simmons has said he will play prop, he was just saying it for a laugh? I would expect Flanagan or Flannery to start at 13 with Laffranci, LMS, Clough and Perry rotating at prop. I think 2 of those will start with 2 on the bench.

Have you not watched saints play under Royce?

Royce favours the prop st 13 as do most nrl clubs. Tony p starts at 13 but plays effectively as a 3rd prop. The days of ball playing loose forwards is now a rare breed.

Unless we have injuries or for some other tactical reason, laffranchci/tony p will line up as a loose forward and play as a extra prop.

We've also played Paul clough in that role. It also gives royce his back on the bench as we still have 4 props in the team but three start.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:18 pm  

What's the score with shenton? Says he still has nerve damage in his shoulder, any clues how long he's out for? Nerve damage sounds long term trouble.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:20 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

What's the score with shenton? Says he still has nerve damage in his shoulder, any clues how long he's out for? Nerve damage sounds long term trouble.

He hopes to be fit for the Salford game.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:58 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

What's the score with shenton? Says he still has nerve damage in his shoulder, any clues how long he's out for? Nerve damage sounds long term trouble.

In the article on the Star's website it sounds like Shenton's injury has an open ended return time. Like Paul Clough last season, who had nerve trouble in his shoulder. It could be months before we see Shenton in the team again or it could be just a couple of weeks.

Knowing this about Shenton leads me to think that Makinson should step in as centre (given that he has played there and at fullback during his junior years) and put Hohaia as no.1 while Wello recovers. I'd prefer to see Makinson at fullback but we need a settled centre if Shenny is going to be gone for a while and Makinson is the best player to plug a long term gap as we found last season when he learned how to be a winger while on the job. Gaskell and Lomax would then line up in the halves.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:03 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

In the article on the Star's website it sounds like Shenton's injury has an open ended return time. Like Paul Clough last season, who had nerve trouble in his shoulder. It could be months before we see Shenton in the team again or it could be just a couple of weeks.

Knowing this about Shenton leads me to think that Makinson should step in as centre (given that he has played there and at fullback during his junior years) and put Hohaia as no.1 while Wello recovers. I'd prefer to see Makinson at fullback but we need a settled centre if Shenny is going to be gone for a while and Makinson is the best player to plug a long term gap as we found last season when he learned how to be a winger while on the job. Gaskell and Lomax would then line up in the halves.

I personally think it's a good chance for Wheeler to make a stab at it. This could be the last opportunity he gets to stake a real claim and he is more than capable providing he can stay fit, which I admit seems to be a major issue.

Re: Squad announced for Karalius Cup. : Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:12 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

I personally think it's a good chance for Wheeler to make a stab at it. This could be the last opportunity he gets to stake a real claim and he is more than capable providing he can stay fit, which I admit seems to be a major issue.

If wheeler can overcome his injury problems then he will be best no 6 that we have which will further cloud the hohaia gaskell lomax issue. Sadly one of them will sooner or later be forced to leave, either as excess up the clubs needs or to further their own careers.