St pete wrote:
I like Walsh to be involved as much as possible but unfortunately that's not possible and we can't expect him to. Being the only real halfback we got is a problem as when he does have a rest or can't get into the game (it will happen, it happens to the best also) that's when having a Travis Burns or a Kev Brown would be valuable.
No doubt Walsh is to class but we expect to much of him. I notice it mainly as our attack goes awful when Walsh drops our for rest or gets hurt.
Like I've said in other threads, that Walsh and Lomax are massive for us in attack.
I disagree with you. I really don't think he 'drops off for a rest'! It is clear from all the club has said that he has been recruited as our organiser and primary kicker, a bit of a Kevin Sinfield role I suppose without the leadership element. I think we need to be careful not to criticise him for things he isn't being asked or paid to do.
Alas, neither of the players who play alongside him have any mongrel about them and so we can't offer a Travis Burns complement to him. But would we want to have to rely so heavily upon one player as it appears HKR are doing yet again with Burns? I wouldn't want us to. I'd like to think we can mix and match our attacking threats, that Walsh can bring more players into our attack rather than just having to do the work himself. But also he is quite clearly capable of stepping up and doing something to give us a chance in games where we are being beaten or where we are struggling in some way, as he has clearly done so already on more than one occasion.
I also love some of the skills he shows and now that the team is getting used to him a bit, we are scoring a greater variety of tries as a result. For instance, a couple of months ago I doubt Wilkin would have scored the try he did against Huddersfield when he ran on to Walsh's chip near the posts. But the players are reading him better just as he is learning about the limitations and skills of his team mates.
One area in which he is inconsistent is his defence. Sometimes he can pull off really great tackles and then other times he gets skinned with ease. I don't know whether he just has poor technique or doesn't fancy rolling around in the dirt! But even with that weakness in his game I'm really happy he is with us because I think he's made a massive and very positive difference to us. Long may that continue!
Speaking of Travis Burns, did anyone else see his interview on Boots n All this week? He's a very endearing character. Pity we couldn't have him as well. He'd knock seven bells out of anyone in his path.
