Dux wrote:
It's an interesting one. He is a big lad and takes the ball in hard and direct. He looks to me to be destined to do a Ruben Wiki and go from centre to prop.
He has issues defensively, but I think they are more to do with positioning on the fringes than with his tackling, and as such wouldn't be so much of an issue if he were playing in the front row.
It's a signing I'd be willing to go along with, as long as there was an established quality front rower coming in as well - if Clubb was the only answer to our forward problems I'd be decidedly vexed.
He's big, scary and agreesive. If, indeed he has been playing front row with some effect, then OK. He's young for a forward, british and being around his old team mate LMS may be good for both of them.
However, we are desparately in need of no frills starting props. We've decided that LMS is better off the bench, i think. I also think Walsmley will be the same for a year or so yet. This will essentially leave us with Clubb and Paul Clough as starting props, which i do not think is heavy enough. Jordan Hand may come into the reckoning if his form at Whitehaven continues, but I don't want to rely on that.
So, if we sign Clubb, we still need an Experienced starting prop - if not two. That would leave us with 2 new players plus Walmsley, Clubb, LMS and Clough, meaning even if we play with a 3 prop system (which goes against the current 3 pivot system), we've got 1 of the guys above excluded from the 17. Marry that with youngsters like Walker and Thompson who are filling the "heavy 13 role" reletively cheaply, then the numbers don't add up to me.
So, in conclusion, if Clubb can realistically play as a starting prop, OK. If not, its a poor signing.
Given the last time I remember seeing Tony clubb on the pitch is when he scored 4 tries playing centre for England, I don't think I can comment on whether he can manage that. London are rarely on telly and our hmoe games that I have seen don't seem to stick in my mind (except for losing to them at the Stobart, as that was one of my worst experiences supporting Saints).
