Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 2:34 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Hohaia's one of those backwards players that can do some hugely impressive and skillfull stuff (check the way he get's his offload round the Bradford player for walsh's try), but struggles with what should be basics.

Do you think he would have struggled with 'basics' had he been played alongside a 7 at 6 for the duration of his contract as presumably he thought he was going to be when he came over? Could it be that some of his problem is simply that he hasn't known what his role is?

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 4:18 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Do you think he would have struggled with 'basics' had he been played alongside a 7 at 6 for the duration of his contract as presumably he thought he was going to be when he came over? Could it be that some of his problem is simply that he hasn't known what his role is?

Yes,

but,

As I have said, I don't think you'll (especially at this stage of his career) totally get rid of his flaws as a 6, but we can improve them by good, consistent training work and paying the same role every week. So we could be ahead with his progress as a 6, although I don't know whether the likes of Eastmond or Smith would have had as good an effect on him as Walsh may.

It wasn't a great signing by a long stretch, but we've far from made the best of it. It would be nice if when a world cup winning kiwi international ends his days at Saints, we've got more good memories than bad.

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 8:17 pm  

Dux wrote:

I've been pretty dismissive of Hohaia in the halves since he joined, but I must admit he's been way better this year. He still has periods where he looks out of his depth at 6 (particularly when our pack isn't getting forward), but generally speaking he's been taking the line on much more, fixing defenders up and, importantly, seems to have brought his kicking game on in leaps and bounds. I'd still prefer us to get hold of a natural 6, but he's improved enough to make the position less of a problem than it might have been.

In think that my friend is down to confidence but the Brown keeps dopping him we are just setting back to square one.

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 9:31 pm  

Well I can't see Lance getting dropped now. We are halfway through and whilst Wheeler is the better 6 if he can't get on the pitch. Which he has not, I think the mood music is that he is going to be going elsewhere.

Sometimes it just does not work out as you hope it will.

Lance is my 6 now for the rest of the season and I've never given him an easy time. Credit to him for sticking with it. Despite the flaws

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 9:53 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Well I can't see Lance getting dropped now. We are halfway through and whilst Wheeler is the better 6 if he can't get on the pitch. Which he has not, I think the mood music is that he is going to be going elsewhere.

I'm curious. Why is Wheeler the better 6? He doesn't have any kind of kicking game so far as I can see. He has good positioning sense and a good step but what else has he offered us when on the pitch that Lance does not?

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 10:19 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I'm curious. Why is Wheeler the better 6? He doesn't have any kind of kicking game so far as I can see. He has good positioning sense and a good step but what else has he offered us when on the pitch that Lance does not?

I'd say wheeler is more creative than lance, and better able to "make something out of nothing" - which, given our structure in lomax Walsh and Roby is more needed by the team atm - lance is similar in style and struggles to force himself into the game sometimes. (So does wheeler, but I always got the impression that was more fitness/ scared of getting hurt)

(Yes, I know lance has made some good breaks in the last two games, but I don't feel like he could break down an organised defence, that i have seen wheeler do)

Re: Walsh Class : Tue May 13, 2014 11:05 pm  

Wheeler isn't worthy of debate. Get rid of the fat [insert naughty post-AUP name here] now.

Re: Walsh Class : Wed May 14, 2014 6:39 am  

I was going to discuss why Wheeler is not just a better 6, but a better rugby player, but what's the point. Saddo's hit the nail on the head and, if what people say about a lot of the problems stemming from his lack of professionalism/dedication, then he wants a bloody slap.

Re: Walsh Class : Wed May 14, 2014 6:45 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

I was going to discuss why Wheeler is not just a better 6, but a better rugby player, but what's the point. Saddo's hit the nail on the head and, if what people say about a lot of the problems stemming from his lack of professionalism/dedication, then he wants a bloody slap.

If its true, he's wasting a great talent and he'll regret it all very shortly

Re: Walsh Class : Wed May 14, 2014 7:52 am  

Saint Simon wrote:

If its true, he's wasting a great talent and he'll regret it all very shortly

It looks to me as if he has a job for life given that no matter how often he is out injured or allegedly not looking after himself he remains on contract and being offered new contracts.

I'm trying to think when I last saw Wheeler break down an organised defence. I saw him have fun with Warrington a couple of times but that defence was hardly organised! I'm not suggesting he doesn't do it; I just can't think of a time when he did.