Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:09 am  

Laffranchi and Amor back in the pack will certainly stiffen the defensive line.

I can understand dropping Jones for this one. There is no point having Laffranchi as an unknown, throw him in against Leeds only to break down 5 minutes later.

We will only find out if he is up to it by testing him, if he breaks down part way through a Bradford game it is going to be far easier to handle given the nature of the opposition.

If we play Jones at Centre, does he remove Percival?? Do we not play Percival and just expect his defense to improve?

Does he replace Turner, I know Turner is a rightful target for critical comments this year, but he is also putting Makinson in for the most tries in SL this year. Jones is great at defense but going forwards the ball can get stuck in hands.

There is an arguement both ways, as always with this type of player they do get stuck between positions, but they are also a much needed player as they will always be in demand over the course of a season.

If he could play hooker and Centre then he would be on the team sheet every week as Roby has no stand in at all.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:43 am  

The Chair Maker wrote:

On the subject of team selection. I think there is an element of giving the youngsters like Percival game time to work on things like defence. Its all about getting them ready for the business end of the season.

The regular rounds are just really an extended pre season for the top teams now.
Its more a case of experimenting with defensive and offensive structures, giving kids run outs. Making players play outside of their comfort zones in unfamiliar roles. That to me is why I think we are seeing odd results, not just at Saints but at other sides as well.

Think a lot of people forget/dont realise that Jones is still only 21, a year older than Percival, and will also still be developing as a player...yet he seems to be dropped fairly often whilst Percival & Turner seem immune (even after such embarrassing "efforts" (using that term loosely) last week in defence.

I understand both are better with ball in hand than Jones, but its no good having a centre who can score/create 2 tries a game but will let in 3. Also think Swift has looked more vulnerable the past 2 games in defence compared to playing outside Jones, and I think that side is where we need to tighten up or face leaking a lot of points, especially against better attacking teams

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:06 pm  

St pete wrote:

I've never doubted his commitment or effort, he's just not good enough as a prop. We've asked him to do a job I feel he's not physically up to.

When the game is really physical, he just can't stand up, he'd not big enough for prop either. He's very much like LMS in he can't make meters but Boof puts the effort in.

Boof has been a average signing and nothing more. I've got a feeling the next few weeks are make or break with him as this nerve Injury was a bad one. I think we doing what we did with Perry after his pec injury, in just letting him have a go and see how it goes.

I hope for his sake, he ends his playing days on his terms.

He's never been a prop before coming here and I've been disappointed that he hasn't been allowed to play to his real strengths. If he played back row he'd be more of a threat with the ball than any other of our back-rowers bar Soliola. He's got a try every 4 games playing prop yet his playing weight is only 2kgs heavier than Wilkin who you wouldn't dream of putting there. I think he's done pretty well despite the unrealistic expectations of him, and he's certainly been missed in the middle since his injury.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:51 pm  

SFW wrote:

He's never been a prop before coming here and I've been disappointed that he hasn't been allowed to play to his real strengths. If he played back row he'd be more of a threat with the ball than any other of our back-rowers bar Soliola. He's got a try every 4 games playing prop yet his playing weight is only 2kgs heavier than Wilkin who you wouldn't dream of putting there. I think he's done pretty well despite the unrealistic expectations of him, and he's certainly been missed in the middle since his injury.

That's my point. He's been asked to play a position he's not good at or big enough for. That's been a problem with out pack in recent years, it's been to small and to weak.

I thought with the signing of Mose, Amor and Beuamont we'd see Boof playing on the front got but sadly Amor and Beaumont been injured with Boof and Mose is unpredictble with his performances.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:05 pm  

SFW wrote:

He's never been a prop before coming here and I've been disappointed that he hasn't been allowed to play to his real strengths.

I agree he is a far better back rower than a prop, but he has played quite a lot at prop for Wests & Gold Coast, including 2005 Grand Final victory if I'm not mistaken...

I would prefer him at second row/loose as I think he would be really effective there playing behind a front row of Amor/Walmsley/Masoe, but to say he has never been a prop before coming to us is wide of the mark

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:19 pm  

Not good enough. If he was English and cheap I'd keep him. But he's not so I wouldn't.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:35 pm  

I have to agree with saddo here.

Please shoot me.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:20 pm  

He's going home either way at the end of the year isn't he, so that's not an issue.

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:44 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

He's going home either way at the end of the year isn't he, so that's not an issue.

Who replaces him is the issue...

Re: Documentary on Anthony Laffranchi : Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:32 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Who replaces him is the issue...

Nobody will as in a like for like replacement. I think we will go with Mose, Lms, walmsley, Amor as our 4 props with Richards, Thompson, Beuamont and walker (if he doesn't accept a good offer) as back up.

Is like to think that those props would do a good job but after this year in not so sure they have the go forward we need. LMS and Mose are not very consistent. Big Alex has been good this but has suffered a little of 2nd season syndrome and Amor is a top prop.

I think we need one more prop.