Re: 2015 : Mon Nov 03, 2014 12:30 am  

I'm not as worried about the pack as some. In total we have :

Amor
Walmsley
Mose
Roby
Wilkin
Vea
Thompson
Richards
LMS
Greenwood
Flanagan
Savelio
Turner (as cover)
Wellens (as cover)
Hohaia (as Roby cover)
plus any other youngsters ready to step up.

That's a lot of forwards, and in terms of quality, in my view the strongest pack in the league. They can't all play, and they won't all get injured.

If we have a weakness, it's in the threequarters. I'm very positive about the halfback pairing, which seems to me to be the best we've had since Long/Pryce. But all the very best Saints teams have had a centre who strikes fear into the opposition and gives the halves confidence to go wide : Newlove, Iro, Gibbs, Lyon, Gidley.

Percival looked as if he was really coming on last year, with a bit of beef added, but I think he has to make it this year and start to become the go-to man. Turner isn't a strike centre on his performance so far. He's the Talau to Percival's Lyon : solid but unlikely to set pulses racing when receiving the ball.

Likewise, I like our wingers. Both good lads, nothing wrong with them at all, and can find their way to the line. But let's be honest, I'd take Joe Burgess or Ryan Hall if they were on offer.

I'm not saying our threequarters are bad, at all. But our pack is the best in the league, our halves may wel turn out to be the best in the league, but our threequarters aren't, yet. That's where I'd strengthen.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:02 pm  

I'm completely baffled by the opinion of many on the Saints pack. At full strength it steam-rollers any pack in SL (minus future additions) - not least because we possess an absolute beast of a front row which is right up there with the one Paul Anderson left.

Granted, the loss of Sia is a problem. But if Vea is half Sia's ability we'll do ok. And I haven't even mentioned several quality players (LMS and the kids) who can rotate into the 4th slot.

And if we can add another decent prop the Grand Final beckons.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:28 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I'm completely baffled by the opinion of many on the Saints pack. At full strength it steam-rollers any pack in SL (minus future additions) - not least because we possess an absolute beast of a front row which is right up there with the one Paul Anderson left.

Granted, the loss of Sia is a problem. But if Vea is half Sia's ability we'll do ok. And I haven't even mentioned several quality players (LMS and the kids) who can rotate into the 4th slot.

And if we can add another decent prop the Grand Final beckons.

You think we've got enough props that can put a good shift in? Mose and Alex need a rest after 15 mins which only leaves us with Amor who can do a good stint.

We are desperate for a prop that can do a 30 min shift and even longer if needed.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:30 pm  

Roy Haggerty wrote:

I'm not as worried about the pack as some. In total we have :

Amor
Walmsley
Mose
Roby
Wilkin
Vea
Thompson
Richards
LMS
Greenwood
Flanagan
Savelio
Turner (as cover)
Wellens (as cover)
Hohaia (as Roby cover)
plus any other youngsters ready to step up.

That's a lot of forwards, and in terms of quality, in my view the strongest pack in the league. They can't all play, and they won't all get injured.

If we have a weakness, it's in the threequarters. I'm very positive about the halfback pairing, which seems to me to be the best we've had since Long/Pryce. But all the very best Saints teams have had a centre who strikes fear into the opposition and gives the halves confidence to go wide : Newlove, Iro, Gibbs, Lyon, Gidley.

Percival looked as if he was really coming on last year, with a bit of beef added, but I think he has to make it this year and start to become the go-to man. Turner isn't a strike centre on his performance so far. He's the Talau to Percival's Lyon : solid but unlikely to set pulses racing when receiving the ball.

Likewise, I like our wingers. Both good lads, nothing wrong with them at all, and can find their way to the line. But let's be honest, I'd take Joe Burgess or Ryan Hall if they were on offer.

I'm not saying our threequarters are bad, at all. But our pack is the best in the league, our halves may wel turn out to be the best in the league, but our threequarters aren't, yet. That's where I'd strengthen.

I think this year will be the year that Percy steps up from petntial to a very good centre. We will have Burns and Walsh that will give us some width with their passing game meaning Percy will get the ball in good space.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:43 pm  

St pete wrote:

I think this year will be the year that Percy steps up from petntial to a very good centre. We will have Burns and Walsh that will give us some width with their passing game meaning Percy will get the ball in good space.

That's what I hope too - it's very hard to be a great centre if you don't get good ball from your halves.

Maybe we might see a little more from Turner too. In fact, with a relatively dominant forward pack creating space, and two proper halfbacks exploiting that space, we might even see the return of long-distance tries and exciting back-line moves. Well, we can hope anyway.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:48 pm  

Roy Haggerty wrote:

That's what I hope too - it's very hard to be a great centre if you don't get good ball from your halves.

Maybe we might see a little more from Turner too. In fact, with a relatively dominant forward pack creating space, and two proper halfbacks exploiting that space, we might even see the return of long-distance tries and exciting back-line moves. Well, we can hope anyway.

We scored a few long range tries at the start of the year when Walsh was on fire. Percy and Turner both have the speed to break the line if they get good ball.

I'd like to see Percy pin his ears back a little more when he makes a break. His first reaction is to look for the pass.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:56 pm  

The only difference between last years' front row (which dominated every pack in SL fully fit and committed) and 2015 is Soliola's occasional stints playing a split-role between prop and SR.

The kids we have coming through should be able to patch that hole between them. And I've not included the possibility that Vea can multi-task or Saints adding another prop to the roster.

It's ridiculous to be concerned that Amor is the only player capable of doing long stretches (I'm not convinced by this argument given the performances of some of the kids this year). I mean, it's not like players of his calibre and endurance grow on trees with every SL team fielding three. One Amor is good enough for SL!

How can anyone who witnessed the shellacking of the Catalans pack (followed by the complete nullification of Wigan's go forward) be getting jelly legs for 2015?

Crazy.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:57 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

The only difference between last years' front row (which dominated every pack in SL fully fit and committed) and 2015 is Soliola's occasional stints playing a split-role between prop and SR.

The kids we have coming through should be able to patch that hole between them. And I've not included the possibility that Vea can multi-task or Saints adding another prop to the roster.

It's ridiculous to be concerned that Amor is the only player capable of doing long stretches (I'm not convinced by this argument given the performances of some of the kids this year). I mean, it's not like players of his calibre and endurance grow on trees with every SL team fielding three. One Amor is good enough for SL!

How can anyone who witnessed the shellacking of the Catalans pack (followed by the complete nullification of Wigan's go forward) be getting jelly legs for 2015?

Crazy.

I don't want to get in another heated debate with yoû but if you think our pack was as dominate as you suggest then I want whatever your on.

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 6:23 pm  

Why is it every time I open a thread on this board you're marching around with a placard saying - "REPENT SINNERS: THE END IS NIGH!"?

Re: 2015 : Thu Nov 06, 2014 6:28 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Why is it every time I open a thread on this board you're marching around with a placard saying - "REPENT SINNERS: THE END IS NIGH!"?

I've never said that. You must have mistaken me for someone else who thinks your a utter clown.