Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:55 am  

BackrowSaint wrote:

I'm almost certain Tom Armstrong is going to Swinton. Unless Widnes have come in with a better offer since earlier this week.

Haven't heard any link with us at all tbh, though we do need some 'quick' cover in the centre / wing department... erm, why did we let Tyrer go again

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:57 am  

Saddened! wrote: Nah. At full pelt full of motivation he'd be on the fringe of playing for England. He's clearly got issues at Huddersfield. I struggle to understand your logic sometimes. You have Clough down as average and someone who we should only keep if he's cheap, but we should be going all out to sign Griffin? 2010 stats (Clough injured most of 2011 and Griffin unsettled most of 2011): http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Clough: Makes more metres with his carries Makes about twice as many busts from his carries Makes about twice as many offloads with his carries Makes far more tackles Misses half as many of his tackles Gives away half as many penalties I'm not saying Griffin is a bad player, he isn't and if we could sign him we should, but I think you often have a BIG dose of the grass always being greener elsewhere.

Saddened! wrote: Nah. At full pelt full of motivation he'd be on the fringe of playing for England. He's clearly got issues at Huddersfield. I struggle to understand your logic sometimes. You have Clough down as average and someone who we should only keep if he's cheap, but we should be going all out to sign Griffin? 2010 stats (Clough injured most of 2011 and Griffin unsettled most of 2011): http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Clough: Makes more metres with his carries Makes about twice as many busts from his carries Makes about twice as many offloads with his carries Makes far more tackles Misses half as many of his tackles Gives away half as many penalties I'm not saying Griffin is a bad player, he isn't and if we could sign him we should, but I think you often have a BIG dose of the grass always being greener elsewhere.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:01 pm  

FearTheVee wrote: I struggle to understand your logic sometimes. You have Clough down as average and someone who we should only keep if he's cheap, but we should be going all out to sign Griffin? 2010 stats (Clough injured most of 2011 and Griffin unsettled most of 2011): http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Clough: Makes more metres with his carries Makes about twice as many busts from his carries Makes about twice as many offloads with his carries Makes far more tackles Misses half as many of his tackles Gives away half as many penalties I'm not saying Griffin is a bad player, he isn't and if we could sign him we should, but I think you often have a BIG dose of the grass always being greener elsewhere. Not really. I've not said we should be moving houses to sign him, but he would add to the squad. With Perry being such a tampon, having another forward is a big priority. Any of the names mentioned in various threads on here would have sufficed.

FearTheVee wrote: I struggle to understand your logic sometimes. You have Clough down as average and someone who we should only keep if he's cheap, but we should be going all out to sign Griffin? 2010 stats (Clough injured most of 2011 and Griffin unsettled most of 2011): http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 Clough: Makes more metres with his carries Makes about twice as many busts from his carries Makes about twice as many offloads with his carries Makes far more tackles Misses half as many of his tackles Gives away half as many penalties I'm not saying Griffin is a bad player, he isn't and if we could sign him we should, but I think you often have a BIG dose of the grass always being greener elsewhere. Not really. I've not said we should be moving houses to sign him, but he would add to the squad. With Perry being such a tampon, having another forward is a big priority. Any of the names mentioned in various threads on here would have sufficed.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:11 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Not really. I've not said we should be moving houses to sign him, but he would add to the squad.

Agree 100%, hopefully we're in with a shout.

It's not that I'm saying you're shouting Griffin from the rooftops, it's that you criminally undervalue some of our own, in this instance Clough who you make out to be some average plodder only marginally worthy of our squad.

Anyway, with Griffin (or a similar signing) we'd have Perry/TP/LMS/Clough/Laffranchi/Griffin/Magennis who can all play prop (or a prop-like 13) which would be very good depth IMO.

If we add Griffin we'd have the best first choice pack and bench in the league if we played Lance as an impact hooker (with Robes going to 13 to spell another prop).

Perry
Roby
Puletua
Soliola
Wilkin
Laffranchi

LMS
Clough
Griffin
Lance

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:05 pm  

If he can stay fit I think Clough will stake a claim for an England shirt next season.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:18 pm  

Dux wrote:

If he can stay fit I think Clough will stake a claim for an England shirt next season.

He won't. He's too small and would be dominated at that level. Clough is the kind of player every club needs, but the likes of Puletua and Graham are a level above him.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:40 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

He won't. He's too small and would be dominated at that level. Clough is the kind of player every club needs, but the likes of Puletua and Graham are a level above him.

They certainly are at the moment, but they're probably also a level above some of the forwards that will make the England squad in 2011. I think with Graham gone and Clough getting more responsibility we'll see him step up a gear. His size for me isn't really an issue, as he always goes forward, even against tough packs when we're struggling, and he is a fantastic defender.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:55 pm  

This still the rumour thread?

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:15 pm  

Dux wrote:

They certainly are at the moment, but they're probably also a level above some of the forwards that will make the England squad in 2011. I think with Graham gone and Clough getting more responsibility we'll see him step up a gear. His size for me isn't really an issue, as he always goes forward, even against tough packs when we're struggling, and he is a fantastic defender.

I think he could well end up an Andy Lynch, always 5th choice for international. The more dramatic forwards like Crabtree and Carvell often get noted and pushed by the media more, but there's not that many british props I'd swap him for.
It will be interesting to see his stats next year. With Graham gone I think he'll take the workhorse role and be one of the top (front row) metre makers in the country. He'll only get stronger each season and will turn into a real club star imo.

Re: Rumours thread. : Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:53 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

He won't. He's too small and would be dominated at that level. Clough is the kind of player every club needs, but the likes of Puletua and Graham are a level above him.

Andy Platt wasnt huge but was a world class forward.

Sean O'Loughlin and Ben Westwood arent huge, but have shown an ability to compete against the best.

John Harrison was huge but i would never have picked him for GB