Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:01 pm  

Having watched the Eng vs Aus game in central London, in fact just off Trafalgar Sq, the drinkers @ the pub I was in where loving the match. Some / most cheering on England who were all southern and a few sporting Australia. The guys supporting the Aussie where in fact Aussies lol. As I looked around the pub no one could take their eyes off the action on the screen. Then a unified 'ooooffff' when S.Burgess placed that high shot in. Also I saw most of the guys in the pub all getting excited when they saw the blood pouring out of Westwood and where amazed he was in making a tackle about 5 seconds after he got patched up. In all from what I saw in the pub they were loving it. We just need to get those people to attend a match, that’s the battle.

Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:12 pm  

Working with the team posted above
8. Anthony Laffranchi
9. James Roby
10. Alex Walmsley
11. Jon Wilkin
12. Willie Manu
13. LMS

14. Sia Solioa
15. Mose Masoe
16. Kyle Amor
17. A N Other

The following prop rotation template would work well I think
@15m - Soliola for Walmsley (switch LMS to Prop and Wilkin to LF)
@20m - Amor for Laffranchi
@25m - Masoe for LMS
@50m Walmsley for Masoe
@60m Laffranchi for Amor
@65m - LMS for Walmsley
@70m Masoe for Lafrranchi
You could switch Laffranchi and Amor around and tweak the timings about as required but that would give the following minutes on the field at prop
Lafranchi - 30 mins
Walmsley - 30 mins
LMS - 25mins (another 15 at LF)
Masoe - 35 mins
Amor - 40 mins

Working with 5 props you keep them as fresh as possible whilst keeping your bigger better units on the field for the most amount of time. The downside is that 7 interchanges are used.

Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:36 pm  

St. Etrigan wrote:

Working with the team posted above
8. Anthony Laffranchi
9. James Roby
10. Alex Walmsley
11. Jon Wilkin
12. Willie Manu
13. LMS

14. Sia Solioa
15. Mose Masoe
16. Kyle Amor
17. A N Other

The following prop rotation template would work well I think
@15m - Soliola for Walmsley (switch LMS to Prop and Wilkin to LF)
@20m - Amor for Laffranchi
@25m - Masoe for LMS
@50m Walmsley for Masoe
@60m Laffranchi for Amor
@65m - LMS for Walmsley
@70m Masoe for Lafrranchi
You could switch Laffranchi and Amor around and tweak the timings about as required but that would give the following minutes on the field at prop
Lafranchi - 30 mins
Walmsley - 30 mins
LMS - 25mins (another 15 at LF)
Masoe - 35 mins
Amor - 40 mins

Working with 5 props you keep them as fresh as possible whilst keeping your bigger better units on the field for the most amount of time. The downside is that 7 interchanges are used.

I think Amor is the perfect starting prop. If laffranchi is still with us, I think he'd also be best starting.

Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:56 pm  

theblondebomber wrote:

Having watched the Eng vs Aus game in central London, in fact just off Trafalgar Sq, the drinkers @ the pub I was in where loving the match. Some / most cheering on England who were all southern and a few sporting Australia. The guys supporting the Aussie where in fact Aussies lol. As I looked around the pub no one could take their eyes off the action on the screen. Then a unified 'ooooffff' when S.Burgess placed that high shot in. Also I saw most of the guys in the pub all getting excited when they saw the blood pouring out of Westwood and where amazed he was in making a tackle about 5 seconds after he got patched up. In all from what I saw in the pub they were loving it. We just need to get those people to attend a match, that’s the battle.

I do think there is something about live sport, certainly in the regular rounds that requires some effort. I remember going to watch my first Liverpool match live. After years of watching them on TV reaching finals etc. I went to watch I think it was Liverpool v QPR or maybe Crystal Palace. I was bored silly. I think the score was 3 - 1 or something.

But there was not the passion and excitement I had got from the TV coverage.

There are some dower RL games too and I'm not sure the current format supports competitive RL as too many players, coaches and fans use it as a lead into the end of the season.

Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:34 pm  

I would like to see LMS and Amor as starting props with Second rows Manu working the left hand side and Soliola working the right hand side.
This means Wilkin at loose forward providing a pivotal triangle with Walsh and Roby similar to our successful combination of Scully/Long/Cunningham.
Masoe, laffranchi, Walmsley to come off the bench against a tiring defence.

Re: rugby league world cup : Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:09 pm  

Judder Man wrote:

I would like to see LMS and Amor as starting props with Second rows Manu working the left hand side and Soliola working the right hand side.
This means Wilkin at loose forward providing a pivotal triangle with Walsh and Roby similar to our successful combination of Scully/Long/Cunningham.
Masoe, laffranchi, Walmsley to come off the bench against a tiring defence.

Spot on. That's exactly how I'd have it.

Amor
Roby
LMS
Soliola
Manu
Wilkin

Walmsley
Masoe
Laffranchi

And then either a utility such as Wheeler/Hohaia or another forward from the many that are left:

Flanagan, Beaumont, Clough, Walker, Thompson

Re: rugby league world cup : Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:24 am  

Judder Man wrote:

This means Wilkin at loose forward providing a pivotal triangle with Walsh and Roby similar to our successful combination of Scully/Long/Cunningham.

In a game where we now use the fullback as creative pivot, having a playmaking 13 is a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians, in my opinion. Your much better off with a bruiser.
In a perfect world you'd have a Scully or, to a lesser, extent an O'Loughlin, who have skills without giving up anything on the physicality. Aside from work rate, Wilkin doesn't offer enough on the physical side of the game to compete with our other forwards.
For me, he should be standoff or nothing and, given the salary I presume he's getting, I doubt he's giving us value for money. I'd have flogged him to Salford.

That's not to say I didn't appreciate his efforts this year, transforming himself into a halfback.

Re: rugby league world cup : Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:56 pm  

Laffranchi
Roby
Amor
Manu
Wilkin
LMS

Leaves Soliola, Walmsley and Masoe on the bench with Wheeler/Hohaia. Plenty of oomph on the bench there, which is what we've been missing for a while.

Re: rugby league world cup : Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:40 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

In a game where we now use the fullback as creative pivot, having a playmaking 13 is a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians, in my opinion. Your much better off with a bruiser.
In a perfect world you'd have a Scully or, to a lesser, extent an O'Loughlin, who have skills without giving up anything on the physicality. Aside from work rate, Wilkin doesn't offer enough on the physical side of the game to compete with our other forwards.
For me, he should be standoff or nothing and, given the salary I presume he's getting, I doubt he's giving us value for money. I'd have flogged him to Salford.

That's not to say I didn't appreciate his efforts this year, transforming himself into a halfback.

I'd imagine lomax will be third man (and attacking pivot) down the left and Wilkin playing the same role down the right - so there shouldn't be too many chiefs (in theory) - also in that way it means that in a mix up we have Wilkin who can kick on one side and and turner on the other

I am all for Wilkin at 6 but judging by what's been said it's not gonna happen - but he's still worth a place in the side for mine his work rate, loyalty and improved skills set from this year alone warrants that and should be an upgrade on wellens who play(s/ed) that role.

Also, assuming Manu and Soliola are our other first choice second rowers - Wilkin offers something different to those two who have a much more physical game

I agree with the pack above of:

Laffranchi
Roby
Amor
Wilkin
Manu
LMS

Hohioa
Soliola
Walmsley
Masoe

My only concern is we're a hooker short if they insist on playing lance at 6

Re: rugby league world cup : Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:51 pm  

Nosey Parker's linked us with McShane, so maybe we'll not be a hooker short...