Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:03 pm  

We won today 52-6 not sure of the scorers yet ? Anybody go ?

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:08 pm  

Match report online pal http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5167

Match report online pal http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/5167

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:27 pm  

Cheers mate Morgan Knowles wont be too far off a first team place if he carries on with this form. Very excited about Richardson, Grace and Wellington.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:39 pm  

Is there a limit on the number of kids Saints can promote from the juniors in one season? Next year it's going to be very difficult sorting out which kids are ready and which need an extra year or perhaps a spell on loan.

Also, is Manufokoa arriving next season? I kind of expected he'd come in with Levy but I haven't seen his name anywhere.

To be honest, we really do need a player like Knowles at the moment. I'm not knocking Greenwood because he has been absolutely immense for someone his age. Ditto Vea. But there's a difference between a back-row forward who runs wide and a natural loose forward who acts as an additional pivot.

Knowles' handling is something neither Vea nor Greenwood possess. And from what I've seen he's very intelligent, too.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:45 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Is there a limit on the number of kids Saints can promote from the juniors in one season? Next year it's going to be very difficult sorting out which kids are ready and which need an extra year or perhaps a spell on loan.

Also, is Manufokoa arriving next season? I kind of expected he'd come in with Levy but I haven't seen his name anywhere.

To be honest, we really do need a player like Knowles at the moment. I'm not knocking Greenwood because he has been absolutely immense for someone his age. Ditto Vea. But there's a difference between a back-row forward who runs wide and a natural loose forward who acts as an additional pivot.

Knowles' handling is something neither Vea nor Greenwood possess. And from what I've seen he's very intelligent, too.

I can't remember seeing Manuokafoa having an announcement about his signing anywhere but i'm sure there was one for Levy, may be mistaken on that though.

I think we'll see more of Knowles next year personally, I wouldn't run him in the super 8s unless we are guaranteed a home play off game before the last game.

The ones I want to know where they're at are the ones who are in their last year at u19. The likes of Hewitt (looks likely to be going), McCauley, Ryan, Davies, Fleming. Will they be kept on as back up or look elsewhere? There's only Davies and Fleming (expect to keep him) who's made their debut for the team.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:48 pm  

Manuokafoa decided to go back home to Australia instead. Levy signed a professional contract for next year.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 11:00 pm  

SecondRowSaint wrote:

I can't remember seeing Manuokafoa having an announcement about his signing anywhere but i'm sure there was one for Levy, may be mistaken on that though.

I think we'll see more of Knowles next year personally, I wouldn't run him in the super 8s unless we are guaranteed a home play off game before the last game.

The ones I want to know where they're at are the ones who are in their last year at u19. The likes of Hewitt (looks likely to be going), McCauley, Ryan, Davies, Fleming. Will they be kept on as back up or look elsewhere? There's only Davies and Fleming (expect to keep him) who's made their debut for the team.

Unless Hewitt pulls a rabbit out of the hat I can't see much future for him - especially as it seems Long has his eye on another. The later age group face being squeezed out by the following cohort. Saints can only offer terms to a limited number. That said, it would be foolish to cut any of these lads loose before they've at least had another year to flesh out. At one point I figured Ryan would be a likely mover up to first team. But from what I've seen and heard he's been treading water lately.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 11:12 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Unless Hewitt pulls a rabbit out of the hat I can't see much future for him - especially as it seems Long has his eye on another. The later age group face being squeezed out by the following cohort. Saints can only offer terms to a limited number. That said, it would be foolish to cut any of these lads loose before they've at least had another year to flesh out. At one point I figured Ryan would be a likely mover up to first team. But from what I've seen and heard he's been treading water lately.

Who's the other you're on about regarding Long? Richardson or someone not from the club?

Personally, I think keeping a few of the older group depends on whether a reserves is set up, if not I doubt we'll keep hold of many. Looking at the age above Hewitt and co is Sav, Richards, Thompson and Charnock. The only one who's not playing regularly is Charnock who seems content at being back up for now. I can't see us keeping many from Hewitt's lot.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 11:30 pm  

SecondRowSaint wrote:

Who's the other you're on about regarding Long? Richardson or someone not from the club?

Richardson.

Personally, I think keeping a few of the older group depends on whether a reserves is set up, if not I doubt we'll keep hold of many. Looking at the age above Hewitt and co is Sav, Richards, Thompson and Charnock. The only one who's not playing regularly is Charnock who seems content at being back up for now. I can't see us keeping many from Hewitt's lot.

I like Charnock. His front-on defence is positively brutal and his workrate seems pretty high, too. He doesn't seem particularly quick which means unless he's got some excellent handling skills I can't see any future for him at nine other than in some kind of McIlorum-type role. That's not necessarily a bad thing - especially when you need that extra bit of bite against some of the tougher packs. But I don't see him holding down the hooking role without some kind of rotation off the bench.

Re: Saints u19 vs Castleford : Sat Aug 01, 2015 11:52 pm  

The fullback issue is a real nightmare for next season. With two players out with career-threatening injuries it's impossible to make any kind of firm plans. Even if both come back fully fit we've kind of boxed ourselves into a corner over where either will play if the other gets the fullback slot. I think McDonnell can play on the wing quite comfortably. But whether we'd be getting the full benefit of his talents on the flanks I'm not sure.

It strikes me that McDonnell prefers to hunt down the centre of the field. His footwork and support play are a real help for us given that both Turner and Percival really are ploughing a lone furrow down their respective channels.

I can't see him ousting either Turner or Percy, not least because he's fairly lightweight and we're already as close to as light as we can be in that position.

If McDonnell gets the fullback role the only option for Lomax seems to be hooker. That is unless Walsh's leg is irrecoverable and he's forced back to the halves as a temporary measure.

And I've not even begun to think about the nightmare scenario of both failing to recover fully, breaking down in training or needing an extended period to regain confidence...