Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:00 am  

roader wrote:

Never understood what some of our supporters on here saw in Burns. And I'm still baffled.

Agree! the club can so much better, half backs are supposed to have skills and speed, not be just "scrappers"

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:53 am  

jaybs wrote:

Agree! the club can so much better, half backs are supposed to have skills and speed, not be just "scrappers"

And supporters are supposed to do ... what?

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 7:58 am  

Mugwump wrote:

And supporters are supposed to do ... what?

Not sure your point? I was clear what I said, that I feel a half back needs ball skills, and speed, not just being a scrapper!

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:45 am  

I agree about a club like St Helens needing more than a scrapper at halfback. It's a bit like when we had Hooper...but we were ok then because we had other pivots like Long, Martyn, Sculthorpe etc

I think Burns is more than a scrapper, but for whatever reason it's not quite happening for him in the 'dazzling halfback' department. Maybe he's just past it in a sense I don't know but he never shy's away from graft, and he brings a real nasty streak that we lack elsewhere.

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 2:49 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

I agree about a club like St Helens needing more than a scrapper at halfback. It's a bit like when we had Hooper...but we were ok then because we had other pivots like Long, Martyn, Sculthorpe etc

I think Burns is more than a scrapper, but for whatever reason it's not quite happening for him in the 'dazzling halfback' department. Maybe he's just past it in a sense I don't know but he never shy's away from graft, and he brings a real nasty streak that we lack elsewhere.

Cooper was a bit of a scrapper as well, if you have a good scrum half with good ball skills and set plays then its not really necessary for the stand off to be the same. Burns has a pretty decent passing game, supports well, gets involved and doesn't go missing. He's doing a lot of running about and over doing it because him and Walshy haven't got there partnership and combinations going, its making him look ineffective.

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:08 pm  

I think consistency with Burns is an issue. There have been games this season where he has played well and has shown some nice touches. Ultimatly though, when you sign for a club who have aspirations for the Grand Final you need to play at that level consistently.

As others have said earlier, he is trying to adapt his game. He has, from what I've seen, been a running threat throughout his career. We've seen it this year where he has seen a gap but has had his ankles tapped or hasn't been able to push through it. He's trying to reinvent himself and as I and others have said, you can't fault his effort or his desire.

Many halves have to change their game as they lose pace. Long did it brilliantly for us. Burns is trying to do the same but his decision making can be hit and miss.

Another issue for Burns in some ways is the lack of a ball player at 1. A full fit Lomax was able to find the right play and deliver it when it mattered but we haven't really seen that side of Quinlan's game.

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:28 pm  

Also when longs legs went we brought pryce in to do all the running.

Its a bit like we have can't run won't run in the side.

But for effort he gives it his all. Not seen any of this bullying slander.

We are lacking some legs in the side. Probably our best runner at the moment is swift.

Next year will depend a lot on lomax's recovery. It's not like burns or walsh will get faster

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:42 pm  

If I was Saints I would do a reassessment on Lee Gaskell for 2017 seems to have matured a bit has got a good running and kicking game. Could be cheap as chips as well.

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:56 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

The problem is he's playing like a guy who USED TO have pace but has now lost it.

He's not adapted his game in the same way that Sean Long did when his legs went.

You mean apart from the title of your post?

Is he a waste of space whose legs have gone who shouldn't be near the team or is he a "scrapper" who the team can't do without.

For what its worth, my opinion is that when Walsh was out, he was pretty good, but we don't need them both in the team for attacking options now Wilkin is back. Perhaps we should play with an extra forward and have Wilko at SO?

Re: Wish everyone scrapped like Travis ... : Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:45 am  

saint at wire wrote:

For what its worth, my opinion is that when Walsh was out, he was pretty good, but we don't need them both in the team for attacking options now Wilkin is back. Perhaps we should play with an extra forward and have Wilko at SO?

I tend to agree with this. When Walsh was out, I thought he was doing a great job of pushing us around the pitch and looked like a very judicious organiser. When Walsh cam back, though, he then looked like he wondered what he was there for.