Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:35 pm  

I wish we'd play Laffranchi in the back row too. In Australia, he was making the national and NSW sides as a back rower. By moving him, it may leave us short in the prop department though.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:42 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

However, Friday's problem was about attitude, and Wilkin has no problems there imo.

And yet I'm sure it was him indulging in handbags within the 10m line while Hudds were legging it towards a score (and indeed did score shortly after). If that's not a bad attitude, I don't know what is.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:44 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

I wish we'd play Laffranchi in the back row too. In Australia, he was making the national and NSW sides as a back rower. By moving him, it may leave us short in the prop department though.

We would still have Perry, Puletua, LMS, Walmsley and Clough.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:48 pm  

foz_13 wrote:

We would still have Perry, Puletua, LMS, Walmsley and Clough.

I think we should give it a go then. Perry and Puletua starting at prop, with a back row of Laffranchi, Soliola and Manu.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:32 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

I think we should give it a go then. Perry and Puletua starting at prop, with a back row of Laffranchi, Soliola and Manu.

Im dam sure Nathan Brown wouldnt go down this route. Thats my personal preference that a front row of Perry, Roby, Puletua and a back row of Manu, Soliola and Laffranchi would give us a much need boost.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:46 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

And yet I'm sure it was him indulging in handbags within the 10m line while Hudds were legging it towards a score (and indeed did score shortly after). If that's not a bad attitude, I don't know what is.

Not the best, that's for sure, but at least he wasn't hiding like some others *cough*perry*cough*.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:23 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Not the best, that's for sure, but at least he wasn't hiding like some others *cough*perry*cough*.

Perry didnt go hiding he was third top tackler behind Wilkin and Roby with 31, not missing a single tackle or making a single error all game. He wasnt great in the yardage department but then no one bar Puletua came away with any credit in that area.

I am much more concerned about Willie Manus performance 10 tackles and 4 missed tackles along with 2 errors for a starting forward is appalling which ever way you look at it.
Soliola also came up with 4 defensive misses as well though at least he made 20 tackles.
Its clear for me that one of the issue is that playing Soliola and Manu turns our back row into defensive speed-bumps.

One of them needs to start on the bench. Otherwise we are over exposed.

Personally i would have Manu on the bench. His strength is offloading in offence. I therefore would be tempted to only bring him onto the field when defences are tiring. I would not risk him at any other time, not unless he sorts his defence and defensive attitude out.

FWIW Manu was dodgy in defence at Hull. His tackle completion rate barely hit 90%.
Backrowers should really be looking to hit the 95% mark or thereabouts.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:52 pm  

foz_13 wrote:

Yes I would drop Wilkin and put Laffranchi at 13. Correct me if Im mistaken but when Laffranchi was playing in the NRL he was a first rate back rower?? Its about time we started playing players in there correct positions and especially where the front row is concerned as its a crucial position. How many times can you honestly tell me Laffranchi got on top of a phyiscal pack last year playing in the front row?

Wilkin has been hit and miss for a number of seasons now and needs dropping. I agree with most people that his defence is very good other facets of his game have declined beyond belief and he is still considered a automatic pick. Manu and Soliola starting in the Second Row and Laffranchi at Loose would be a better backrow with Flanagan on the bench.....

Your correct, Laffranchi generally played as a back-rower in Australia. regarding the front row options, we don't really have anyone else who is experienced, or good enough to play there. We only have 5 props in the squad, Perry, Laffranchi, LMS, Walmsley, and Greenwood, the latter to being to young and inexperienced to play in such a crucial position.

Clough played there for the majority of last season, but I still see him as more of a back rower to be honest, and the only other option we have is TP, who isn't really hard working enough to play there, so we don't really have any other choice but to start with Perry and Laffranchi. I expect Walmsley and Greenwood to play some part this season, but I don't expect them to play in the so called "big games" (Wire, Wigan, Leeds etc..)

The decision to drop Wilkin altogether would be a hard one IMO, and I think he is still worthy a place in the team, just not as a loose forward. He was poor last season, and the switch from second-row to loose-forward hasn't helped him whatsoever. He was superb in 2011, playing as a left sided back rower, and with the lack of ability up front, having an extra workhorse at 13 could prove to be highly beneficial. I wouldn't mind seeing a back row of Wilkin, Manu and TP, with Sia providing an impact from the bench, just as he did in the playoffs last season. With this in mind, I would go for this 17 for Widnes on Sunday:

1. Paul Wellens
21. Tommy Makinson
3. Jordan Turner
19. Josh Jones
5. Francis Meli
20. Lee Gaskell
7. Jonny Lomax
8. Josh Perry
9. James Roby
14. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Willie Manu
11. Tony Puletua

4. Sia Soliola
6. Lance Hohaia
10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook
15. Mark Flanagan

Re: "Things can only get better" : Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:59 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Not the best, that's for sure, but at least he wasn't hiding like some others *cough*perry*cough*.

True. Although I don't get the impression Perry goes into hiding but rather he just doesn't 'have it' anymore. It is Puletua who goes into hiding, especially in defence. He is one lazy article.

Re: "Things can only get better" : Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:08 am  

I can't see Brown making any changes for the Widnes game to be honest, it was only one game, so I doubt he'd make drastic changes.