I am the hash browns of rlfans Re: 2014 - The year of the saints? : Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:00 pm
bewareshadows wrote:
Without reverting back to the centre debate, I agree start with Jones- especially for big games early on. He is a defensive rock. But expect to see more of Percival as the season goes on if he is to progress.
I have no issue with Walsh I think his quality is un-questioned and as we where hoping for Dobson at one point last year, I think the club have found a real gem. His kicking game will be a massive difference, but here is where I do have an issue. His kicking game will be amazing if we are employing 2 kickers. Because that way defense's will not be able to close him down.
If we are going to send every kick his way then good teams will close him down and negate his kicking entirely. So that means Wilkin has to start every game to give a second kick option. You can be one of the best kickers in the world, but without a realistic second option you are easily closed down.
When Long had a SCully, Martyn, Hooper, Lyon with him, his kicks were very effective. But once he lost that back up and we only had the occasional hoof from Pryce, he was more easly shut down by the best teams like Leeds. They just targeted him and the team could not get down field.
I'd have been much happier to move Lance to a replacement 9 and have a moderate 6 with a moderate kicking game, than this so far failed experiment to turn him into a 6. When we played Leeds in our last game. Lance had ball in great attacking positions and his feet stuck like glue at times, just unknowing of what to do and his lack of a kick will hurt us.
The pack is arguably the best in SL. Anyone who thinks we have not improved here is deluded. Apart from 9 we could effectively run 2 different packs each week and they would be a match for most teams apart from Warrington, Wigan and Leeds (on a good day).
Other teams have lost quality too so that cannot be lost. I just feel a Sammut would have made the complete set for us.
I'd say top 3 and a final of some sort, after that it's all in the laps of the gods as to whether we win anything.
I have no issue with Walsh I think his quality is un-questioned and as we where hoping for Dobson at one point last year, I think the club have found a real gem. His kicking game will be a massive difference, but here is where I do have an issue. His kicking game will be amazing if we are employing 2 kickers. Because that way defense's will not be able to close him down.
If we are going to send every kick his way then good teams will close him down and negate his kicking entirely. So that means Wilkin has to start every game to give a second kick option. You can be one of the best kickers in the world, but without a realistic second option you are easily closed down.
When Long had a SCully, Martyn, Hooper, Lyon with him, his kicks were very effective. But once he lost that back up and we only had the occasional hoof from Pryce, he was more easly shut down by the best teams like Leeds. They just targeted him and the team could not get down field.
I'd have been much happier to move Lance to a replacement 9 and have a moderate 6 with a moderate kicking game, than this so far failed experiment to turn him into a 6. When we played Leeds in our last game. Lance had ball in great attacking positions and his feet stuck like glue at times, just unknowing of what to do and his lack of a kick will hurt us.
The pack is arguably the best in SL. Anyone who thinks we have not improved here is deluded. Apart from 9 we could effectively run 2 different packs each week and they would be a match for most teams apart from Warrington, Wigan and Leeds (on a good day).
Other teams have lost quality too so that cannot be lost. I just feel a Sammut would have made the complete set for us.
I'd say top 3 and a final of some sort, after that it's all in the laps of the gods as to whether we win anything.
The with regards kicking, I think that one of the best things brown has brought is a much improved kicking game. Turner, and in particular Wilkin have improved drastically throughout the course of last season, and whilst neither are potentially good enough for the "kicker" tag, both make great back up options if Walsh is shut down. Also, I'd imagine they'll be playing on different sides of the pitch so there are options on both sides for the kick.
I'm all for lance to play as our replacement 9, unfortunately unless someone comes in sharpish (and this years transfers season seems to have gone on much longer than usual, and a few well placed loans could see someone else in - though who I don't know) well see lance at 6.
I'm surprised and happy to hear wheeler is training - though I'm slightly confused as to why at centre
