Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:53 am  

Simmons says on the Saints site that both Wello and Robes were playing busted , so I would expect that means carrying an injury , he didnt look right when he was playing, but to suggest he is past it , is ridiculous

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:50 am  

St pete wrote:

It's interesting to see just how Jon wilkin is playing this year in the second row. He's made no secret of the fact he likes playing 13 but he's playing the best rugby he's played in years.

Jon wilkin IMO has been awesome over the last month or so. He's got that aggression back and seems to have found his attacking flair as he's making good clean breaks.

IMO he's the best backrow in super league at this present time.

It appears as though Wilkin is playing a loose forward role, whatever the numbers on the player's backs. At most scrums, Roby or Moore will be at the back of the scrum, yesterday TP was at hooker. For me, Wilkin should continue to play the #13 role, whatever the team sheet says.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:17 pm  

Gruntfuttock wrote:

Simmons says on the Saints site that both Wello and Robes were playing busted , so I would expect that means carrying an injury , he didnt look right when he was playing, but to suggest he is past it , is ridiculous

b

It isn't that ridiculous, look at his stats for the year. His game has always been based on solidity in defence rather than attack and the decent down that slippery slope that started a few years back is gathering pace.

Once he's as inconsistent as someone like Webb defensively, what does he offer? Our problem is when to get rid of him. Do we lose him a year early or a year late and what hurts the team more?

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:20 pm  

St pete wrote:

The days of ball playing 13s are looking to be a thing of the past now.

Do you think that is because the Aussies expect the 1 to be more of a focal point of attack?

Wellens has said that this year he's been expected to play more as a third half back than he has in the past. A good attacking full back can cause more havoc than a ball handling loose against increasingly tight defences.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:46 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

He's made a few uncharacteristic mistakes this season. I'm not suggesting we sell him to Widnes or anything, just maybe it would be good if we had a more pacy, dynamic player at fullback. SL is such a squad game that he'd still play every game, just not always at 1.

Work in leeds and they love their pacy dynamic full back (Brent Webb) and how he chimes into the line or makes a forty metre break. When i mention the fact that for many of the tries that Leeds concedes he is nowhere near the tryscorer but running to get there, they talk about football or cricket or what the had for dinner. Rugby league fullback is a defensive player and those attacking ones, while looking good are often poor in defence (see Richie Mathers, apart from CC Final last year).

Wello is not the player he was, but the number of missed catches in his CAREER can be counted on two hands. His pace was never lightning but he is usually in right place and on the occasions we do make a break, he is guaranteed to be in support.....something not always done by younger more dynamic, pacy players.

We will need a replacement one day...but not this season or probably next.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:41 pm  

Lance to 1. Keep Gaskell and Lomax at 6 & 7. Pryce into centres or Bradford.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:58 pm  

I really hope we keep Leon. Would be sad to not have him around IMO.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:30 pm  

Gruntfuttock wrote:

Simmons says on the Saints site that both Wello and Robes were playing busted , so I would expect that means carrying an injury , he didnt look right when he was playing, but to suggest he is past it , is ridiculous

Wello couldn't jump for the high ball in Bradfords first try, which would suggest he's still suffering from the dead leg, similarly Roby avoided heavy physical encounters and passed more to avoid any head tackles. Simmons took the risk because Ashe and Moore wasn't available. I should imagine half the team have played with injuries which is bound to effect individual form, we are still ticking over nicely and could win every game against Wigoon, Wire and Giants.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:35 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I really hope we keep Leon. Would be sad to not have him around IMO.

Listening to Leon Pryce commentating on last nights Bradford v Saints game on Wish FM whilst on my way back from Cas, I have a feeling he is not a big fan of Simmons style of play. He said that Saints were not as good an attacking side under Simmons.

Re: Priority requirement - A proper fullback : Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:38 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

He said that Saints were not as good an attacking side under Simmons.