Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:49 pm  

I was thinking that after I put it

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:50 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

Just thought I'd get people's thoughts on Kirk Yeaman's chances of playing for England this year?

He's been really quiet since his GB debut season, but I really think he's back to his best form from that year. He's scoring tries for fun, steamrolling players left, right and centre and is just looking all round a much better player than he ever has done. He tackles very hard, and with Tom Briscoe likely to be on the wing for England, could be a good idea to have his club centre alongside him.

What are his major flaws? What are the strengths of the people up against him in this position (i.e. Bridge, Shenton, etc.).

He plays for your club?

Don't you know?

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:08 pm  

One of the things to consider is whether these guys play left or right centre as it is more difficult that most think to swap out of one centre position and move into another (particularly defensively) – especially if this is for an international where all the plays are executed that bit better and reading of the play defensively is paramount

Shenton and Bridge both play right centre as do some of the young guns in Arundel, Lawrence and Watkins

Of the left centres in the England squads, we have Atkins, Clubb and Welham – Welham is probably the most exciting prospect but is a little defensively weak at the moment and so Yeaman could do a job there (although I would go for the younger player with a view to 2012 World Cup)

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:19 pm  

I think he adds no more or no less than a younger player in Kris Welham. Welham has scored at will also, he has similar defensive frailties but has improved season on season which could bode well for future years. I think Welham is faster and has great ability catching high balls. His age will keep him ahead of Yeaman due to the building of a strong future squad rather than relying on older players to keep going on past their best.

I am not saying Welham deserves to be in the England team I am just saying he has similar abilities and will hopefully be around longer than Kirk. FWIW I do think this season Welham has been outstanding and deserves to show the England set up what he can do against the Exciles but then as a Rovers fan I would say that!

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:51 pm  

PHIPPS wrote:

He plays for your club?

Don't you know?

Gawd,and I thought only Rommel was a pain up the ass.

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:08 pm  

nick hkr wrote:

I think he adds no more or no less than a younger player in Kris Welham. Welham has scored at will also, he has similar defensive frailties but has improved season on season which could bode well for future years. I think Welham is faster and has great ability catching high balls. His age will keep him ahead of Yeaman due to the building of a strong future squad rather than relying on older players to keep going on past their best.

I am not saying Welham deserves to be in the England team I am just saying he has similar abilities and will hopefully be around longer than Kirk. FWIW I do think this season Welham has been outstanding and deserves to show the England set up what he can do against the Exciles but then as a Rovers fan I would say that!

He would be an even bigger turnstile than he already is vs. the Aussies, needs more time to build his defence.

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:31 pm  

Not skillful enough to be a top class centre and too small to be a quality S/R

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:58 am  

Welham seems a mixed bag for me. Sometime he looks good, sometime he makes me wonder if he's lacking. Obviously I don't see that much of him, though.

For me (a Saints supporter), Bridge is the best english centre, followed by Shenton. Gleeson - I'm a big fan of, but he brings other issues with him.

After those three, I wouldn't touch Atkins with a barge pole - his tendancy to let his opposite run past him before he deceides to tackle them has turned up too many times when I've seen him play.
Senior - Leeds fans say he's really starting to look past it.

So I'd say Yeaman is in with a good chance if he continues his current form, especially if one of Bridge or Shents gets and injury. He's always seems solid defensively and is a threat in attack. I'd like to have him at centre for Saints.

Who else will be in the running? Arundle? Cudjoe? Watkins? Ratchford? J Tomkins even?

At Saints, I hope that Gary Wheeler will turn into an excellent centre. He has a lot of skills and is a dangerous runner. He's generally a good defender, although he fell off a bad tackle against the crusaders t'other week. Unfortunatley, he's had yet another injury set back.

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:13 am  

Yeaman is in his best form since 06 when he had his awesome season! He doesn't seem to be jumping out of the line for the big tackle so much, making him much more solid defensively, and he looks to be putting him winger away far more than he ever used to.

I would say that Shenton and Bridge are better players, but Yeamans understanding with Briscoe and the others being right centres with him on the left give him a good shout at International honours this season.

Re: Kirk Yeaman : Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:58 am  

nick hkr wrote:

I think he adds no more or no less than a younger player in Kris Welham. Welham has scored at will also, he has similar defensive frailties but has improved season on season which could bode well for future years. I think Welham is faster and has great ability catching high balls. His age will keep him ahead of Yeaman due to the building of a strong future squad rather than relying on older players to keep going on past their best.

I am not saying Welham deserves to be in the England team I am just saying he has similar abilities and will hopefully be around longer than Kirk. FWIW I do think this season Welham has been outstanding and deserves to show the England set up what he can do against the Exciles but then as a Rovers fan I would say that!

That's pretty much how I feel on the subject too. If he does get thrown in against the Exiles then at least it will give him an idea of where he needs to be - far better for him to get a game than an already tried and failed centre (I don't include Shenton or Bridge in this category as they have shown glimpses of potential at that level).

Yeaman, well I don't see anything in his game that can trouble international teams - he's in a long queue of not quite good enough players who may get a call due to the lack of quality we have in the outside backs.