KC confirms signing (sorry if already posted) www.superleague.co.uk/article/32 ... et-to-sign

KC confirms signing (sorry if already posted) www.superleague.co.uk/article/32 ... et-to-sign

Quote Noel Cleal="Noel Cleal"KC confirms signing (sorry if already posted) www.superleague.co.uk/article/32 ... et-to-sign'" Will the VISA be an issue? Does he have to qualify for a work permit or anything?

Quote Noel Cleal="Noel Cleal"KC confirms signing (sorry if already posted) www.superleague.co.uk/article/32 ... et-to-sign'" Will the VISA be an issue? Does he have to qualify for a work permit or anything?

It remains to be seen whether this guy is any good. It is disappointing that we've not gone with one of the kids, tho.

If the coach thinks no-one is even close to breaking through at full-back with a few games of the season remaining then it seems very unlikely that anyone from the juniors is close to making the step up in six months when the new season starts.

Sometimes you've just got to think outside the box and try players in unusual positions. Wellens is a classic example of such thinking. I don't think ANYONE seriously believed he'd make a career at fullback when he first emerged into the first team.

Heaven forbid this guy gets a serious injury too. We'll end up in a farcical situation.

Not really as he's only signed to the end of the year on loan. The club could also have built a caveat into the loan that he would return if he received a season ending injury. Eels win as it gives him first grade experience and a chance for them to review his progress and also provides a shop window for him and the club if they choose they don't want him next year. Win, win if we've been prudent over the arrangements.

I would rather give a kid a go too. However it is hard to see which Junior could adapt to the role. Ricky Bailey is injured and had a dodgy start to his career against Hull at Easter. While no one else to mind fits the bill.

I suspect that if we had to made do we would use a player like Swift, Charnock or stick with Percy. Then get a young player like Ashworth or Fleming to cover in the back line. So you are weakening two positions and you are one more injury away from completely being up the creak without a paddle.

If the club have the space they should fill the gap and then if things get worse we can have a reshuffle.

Quinlan sounds like a useful player and from what I have heard will be good cover for 6,7 and 9 also.

I'd just play Charnock. Sure, Quinlan is a more experienced player. But any advantage in experience must be weighed against the experience someone like Charnock already possesses working with this bunch of players. Quinlan has all that to make up.

Most overseas recruits don't begin to show their worth until six-months-plus into their first season. Which means whatever talents Quinlan possesses we aren't likely to see them in full.

Charnock isn't a full back though. Yes he played there a but for the 19's but he's visibly bulked up now with a view to playing hooker long term.

Neither was Wellens. Neither was Paul Atcheson. Neither was Lomax. Looking at the size of Quinlan I'd say he was a half-back before anyone selected him as the last line of defence.

The truth is players tend to start their careers in other positions and then move toward full-back. This is why I don't have a problem selecting someone like Charnock.

I mean, given Percy's fly-paper hands, brick-wall defence and rugby brain I reckon he'd make a cracking full-back.

Of course he would, it's not the point though is it? Roby would probably make a good fist of it too but he's needed elsewhere.

If we want to take out the title I think it's important we have a threat in the centres on both sides of the pitch.

Percy in the centres and AQ at fb is the way to go IMO unless AQs line defence shows up as poorly as Percys did last weekend.

I'm very happy we've brought AQ over, after all were bound to pick up more injuries in the backs at some point.

Charnock is definitely not a full back. It doesn't matter if Wellens, Atcheson, Lomax weren't when they started, they have the build to play it and have always been backs. Charnock has bulked up to play hooker, you will not see him playing at full back again.

If anything, he started as a full back (I think) and moved into the pack as he's grown. He won't go back now, he's too big.

Maybe Charnock is a bit big. But Fleming isn't. And he's no worse under the high ball than any other youngster his age (barring freaks like Connolly).

Besides, you can't call Charnock on his build yet give a free pass to Quinlan who seems TINY.

Quinlan is pretty small, and the kind of player that a decade ago would have had a decent NRL career. But if he wants to stay in the outside backs he'll remain a NSW Cup player because he is just too small. Probably his best hope of a first grade NRL career now is halfback.

Agree with whoever talked about kicks. The crossfield kick is the new weapon of choice in the NRL, largely because if done well its really hard to defend against as the attacking winger generally gets a run up to attack the ball whilst the defender is often static (the ideal kick is to land it right where the defending winger is standing). The only rule change I could see which could help is to penalise any contact with the defender if they're trying to catch the ball. I hate it when wingers get blamed for dropping those kicks when they've basically been bowled over by an attacking player who has jumped right at them. In fact all the attacking winger has to do is wave their arms in the general direction of the ball and they have free reign to take out a defender.