Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:33 am  

I do think calling the team an embarrassment is sad indication of some posters. They are not an embarrassment, some people are either just here to stir or are living outside of the reality that we have no halfbacks.

It's like going into a test match with no fast bowlers, going into a football game with no mid-field. etc etc

It was a close game it's going to be chop and change in the halves until we can magic up some formula to give us some control of the game. It's not even about a kicking game, it sounded like we had plenty of field position, just not the brains to do anything once there.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:39 am  

Judder Man wrote:

We brought in Walshy to do that job with Lance operating as a running supporting 6. This has been a success this season.

Sorry but I don't agree.


We are well and truly lacking a 6. Far play to lance, he's done well and puts 100% in every week and often gets dumped on by Brown but he's not a 6. Anyone with half a brain can see that.

Let's look at the pies. If smith gets a broken leg, they have Blake Green that can steer the ship because both green and smith are halves.

What if Walsh went home after one month this year? We'd have been stuffed. We need a 6 and every man and his dog knows it.

Do you think saints are actively seeking out any 6 that might be available just for something to do? No, they are scouting the NRL and super league because we need one! Simple as that.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:46 am  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

He did well enough vs Leeds at LP. Leon Pryce wasn't a "genuine" halfback by the same arguments Hohaia isn't.

When people say "we need 2 halfbacks" what they actually mean is we need a 4th player who can play in the halves behind the 3 who we currently have who can play there competently... But that doesn't quite have the same affect.

Yes he did play like a 6 against Leeds and his kicking that day was very good. Name another when he played the "proper" 6 role well?

No we don't need cover for lance and Walsh, we need a 6 to play with Walsh and that can sail the ship if Walsh is off form or out injured like now.

IMO we need a 6 and lance playing the utility off the bench and can spell robes. Saints know this, Brown knows this and that's why we want a genuine 6.

What world you prefer -

6) Burns/Brown/Mullan/campase
7) Walsh
14) Lance (bench)

Or

6) lance
7) Walsh
14) tommy lee/GOB or another back up player.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:57 am  

Brown got rid of Gaskell, a homegrown player who had helped us get to a Grand Final. I hope he's not getting rid of Swift in the same way.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:00 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Brown got rid of Gaskell, a homegrown player who had helped us get to a Grand Final. I hope he's not getting rid of Swift in the same way.

It's defensive issues. I think swift offers so much more with the ball than Dawson that he has to play. We are going to struggle to put points on the board so we need our best attacking players out on the field.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:02 am  

Pretty much saw this result coming, but still doesn't make it any less depressing Going to be a real shame to end the season with such a whimper after showing such promise at times this year.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:02 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

I do think calling the team an embarrassment is sad indication of some posters. They are not an embarrassment, some people are either just here to stir or are living outside of the reality that we have no halfbacks.

Yeah I admit I was a bit bored waking up early on a sat morning. I don't actually believe they are an embarrassment, but it is frustrating.

From the comments I've seen from brown and on the hull board it seems like it was actually poor defence and the fact that hull won the middle that lost us the game, as opposed to missing halfbacks.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:17 am  

What I find frustrating is that, knowing from the outset that we've only got one proven halfback able to guide the team round the park, we've never looked to blood a youngster in parts of certain games to be an understudy for Walsh at 7. Instead, every time Walsh has been injured, or has need to be rested (sometimes within a game), we've put either a back rower (Wilkin) there, or used 'Mr Flatters to Deceive' Wheeler (when he's fit)

We were crying out for a ball-handling halfback last night, who can direct the play. Surely we have a scrum half in the juniors who has the bones of this ability - and, if not, why the frig not? Brown should have had the foresight to bring in a organising 7 to be understudy to Walsh, and it's a total neglect of duty not to have been working with Walsh to develop the skills of a junior scrum half who'd be able to do a job in stepping in when needed. They don't need to be the next GB 7 (although it'd be great if they could be!), but just able to do the organising/first pivot role.

I appreciate the lunatic decision to scrap the u-21's makes having understudies more difficult, but we should have the foresight to build for the future.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:25 am  

St pete wrote:

It's defensive issues. I think swift offers so much more with the ball than Dawson that he has to play. We are going to struggle to put points on the board so we need our best attacking players out on the field.

I can't believe it's defensive issues because we're no better defensively when Dawson is on the pitch.

Re: Hull FC Match Thread - Saints 12 v 19 Hull FC : Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:26 am  

Th'ump wrote:

What I find frustrating is that, knowing from the outset that we've only got one proven halfback able to guide the team round the park, we've never looked to blood a youngster in parts of certain games to be an understudy for Walsh at 7. Instead, every time Walsh has been injured, or has need to be rested (sometimes within a game), we've put either a back rower (Wilkin) there, or used 'Mr Flatters to Deceive' Wheeler (when he's fit)

We were crying out for a ball-handling halfback last night, who can direct the play. Surely we have a scrum half in the juniors who has the bones of this ability - and, if not, why the frig not? Brown should have had the foresight to bring in a organising 7 to be understudy to Walsh, and it's a total neglect of duty not to have been working with Walsh to develop the skills of a junior scrum half who'd be able to do a job in stepping in when needed. They don't need to be the next GB 7 (although it'd be great if they could be!), but just able to do the organising/first pivot role.

I appreciate the lunatic decision to scrap the u-21's makes having understudies more difficult, but we should have the foresight to build for the future.

I agree but why the hell go into the season with only one ball playing halfback in the first grade? It's bonkers.