Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:50 am  

I was not trying to bag Lockers. Just trying to explain to Saints fan that to get top quality sometimes you have to lets very good local talent go. I know Lockers for Newlove is not the same as dixon going for Manu, but it was the best example I could think of at the time.

It was a bit of an insult to Lockers, I used to think he was great, I started watching I think as he was off with that arm injury. But an inspiration for lots of us local lads from that area, from the St' Tersea's school of Rugby with no field. Same school as Wellens I think???

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:23 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I was not trying to bag Lockers. Just trying to explain to Saints fan that to get top quality sometimes you have to lets very good local talent go. I know Lockers for Newlove is not the same as dixon going for Manu, but it was the best example I could think of at the time.

You've said it yourself, it's not a fair comparison.

Northampton_Saint wrote:

SaintsFan is this board's Washington Generals at the end of the day. She's there just to prat about and look preposterous and stupid and give the rest of us something to laugh at and argue against. Boards need people like her to provide comedy value and avoid getting dull. Bless her.

I don't think there's any need for that kind of patronising sexism bro.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:58 pm  

McClennan wrote:

I don't think there's any need for that kind of patronising sexism bro.

I'm not entirely sure what you think was sexist about it bar the use of the words "she" and "her"... And as you well know I am simply incapable of patronising anyone...

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:12 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

From what I remember, we got Newlove, Bradford got Loughlin, Nickle and Dwyer plus £250k. And we got the best end of the deal, which just about sums up the difference between Newlove and Loughlin.

Bradford got an ageing Loughlin, an ageing dwyer and Sonny nickel who didn't want to go but knew he was coming back in 2 years. Newlove was entering his prime.

It's like comparing Wellens today to Tomkins and ignoring the player Wellens has been.

Loughlin in his prime was as good a 'CENTRE' as Newlove in his prime. Lockers kicked goals and Newy had a devastating sidestep and awareness.

They both played in the same position but offered different things to the team. Ask Ledger and Quirk how good a centre Loughlin was.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:32 pm  

Hang on a second here, Loughlin may have been a good wingers centre but I'm pretty sure that Newlove sent Sullivan in for many a try whilst here. The difference between him and Loughlin (besides goal kicking) was that often Newlove was good enough to score tries on his own. This is no slight on Loughlin (who did more in a GB shirt that Newlove did really) but Newlove helped us to win the league in 1996 with his try return. The only time I've seen Loughlin play as well as Newlove was during that purple patch he had from the JPS Final v Leeds through to that '88 tour and into the early year's of McClennan's reign, however even then he wasn't as consistently good as Newlove was e.g. Newlove wasted less ball that Loughlin.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:48 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Hang on a second here, Loughlin may have been a good wingers centre but I'm pretty sure that Newlove sent Sullivan in for many a try whilst here. The difference between him and Loughlin (besides goal kicking) was that often Newlove was good enough to score tries on his own. This is no slight on Loughlin (who did more in a GB shirt that Newlove did really) but Newlove helped us to win the league in 1996 with his try return. The only time I've seen Loughlin play as well as Newlove was during that purple patch he had from the JPS Final v Leeds through to that '88 tour and into the early year's of McClennan's reign, however even then he wasn't as consistently good as Newlove was e.g. Newlove wasted less ball that Loughlin.

Was it 4 for Sullivan on Newy's debut against Workington?
What a day. I remember Joynty with his arm round Newy, presenting him to the popular side as Sully was racing away for one of them.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:14 pm  

Newlove was a brilliant player. He pretty much won that league for us in 96. I don't think Sullivan saw as much of the ball as some might think though as Newlove was good enough to go all the way himself and often opted to do so.

Loughlin was excellent too, however ball in hand he was not in the same league as Newlove IMO. Loughlin was an excellent kicker though so they both contributed greatly in their time.

Gleeson was pretty good too, however none of these players were as good as Lyon. What an incredible player.

Anyway, Meninga's coming back soon, just you watch!

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:14 pm  

Maybe I'm just an old fogey wearing rose tinted specs when looking at the past then.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:16 pm  

DaveTwentyman wrote:

Newlove was a brilliant player. He pretty much won that league for us in 96. I don't think Sullivan saw as much of the ball as some might think though as Newlove was good enough to go all the way himself and often opted to do so.

Loughlin was excellent too, however ball in hand he was not in the same league as Newlove IMO. Loughlin was an excellent kicker though so they both contributed greatly in their time.

Gleeson was pretty good too, however none of these players were as good as Lyon. What an incredible player.

Anyway, Meninga's coming back soon, just you watch!

I wish they could invent human cloning so I could watch this man play rugby again.

Re: Willie Manu : Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:48 pm  

Well I did not mean to derail this thread so I'm moving it.