Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sat Feb 11, 2023 1:14 am  

How did the Saints players go for the Crusaders?

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:09 am  

Kevin Turvey wrote:

This is the part I'm a little surprised (and disappointed) about but we'll wait and see. Clean slate etc.

Not me.
I’m a big Thewlis fan and is ready for fullback now, but he’s no Dufty, so if Russell has shown more preseason than him, I’m all for him being made to give way.

I want Thewlis back in the team on merit, but there is no substitute for pace when on the wing.
Russell is in excellent shape, if I was that chiselled, I’d be walking through Market Gate in sandals and Speedos!

I think Thewlis will get game time to spelll Dufty against stuggling opponents and easy cup draws.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sat Feb 11, 2023 7:07 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

I want Thewlis back in the team on merit, but there is no substitute for pace when on the wing.

I can't really remember, but is Russell actually very fast?

I can remember his upper body strength near the line, and his strong kick returns. My big worry is his tackling and his defending kicks behind him. But that's based on 2014-2017, and I can't honestly say I paid much attention to him when he was at Toronto or Toulouse.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:50 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I can't really remember, but is Russell actually very fast?

I can remember his upper body strength near the line, and his strong kick returns. My big worry is his tackling and his defending kicks behind him. But that's based on 2014-2017, and I can't honestly say I paid much attention to him when he was at Toronto or Toulouse.

I remember his main failing to be his inability to catch a rugby ball from a high kick towards him when he played initially at fullback, and later when he was moved to the wing to play because of this issue.

He didn`t score that many tries either, which was a problem.

We will soon see if Matty has improved on these aspects of his game in the new season shortly.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:58 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Not me.
I’m a big Thewlis fan and is ready for fullback now, but he’s no Dufty, so if Russell has shown more preseason than him, I’m all for him being made to give way.

I want Thewlis back in the team on merit, but there is no substitute for pace when on the wing.
Russell is in excellent shape, if I was that chiselled, I’d be walking through Market Gate in sandals and Speedos!

I think Thewlis will get game time to spelll Dufty against stuggling opponents and easy cup draws.

Thewlis is significantly quicker than Russell although Russell is pretty explosive running the ball back when he keeps hold of it. Like others have said, there are flaws in his game so time will tell if he’s eradicated them enough to be a first choice. I’m not convinced but Powell sees them all week so will wait and see. I’d prefer to see Thewlis start but not my decision

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:50 pm  

Russell may have a sculptured body but unfortunately hnless his improved significantly under the high ball he'll be targetted all day long by the opposition. He was lost confidence after a few matches and it went downhill from there.
I am doubtful whether he'll have sorted that out, but only DP will know.
One thing though - Russell spoke about going into a dark place when he was with us, so hopefully his head will be in the right place a d we may see the best of him, but the high ball was an issue when he was coming through the Wigan ranks.

Bringing the ball out, Russell is very good - better than both our wingers, and thats down to his solid physique.

Im not sure if Thewlis is faster than him.
Thewlis isn't an out and out winger - unlike Ashton. I am concerned about Thewlis's size. There's only so many times you can get belted and walk away without effects.
Josh to full back material all day long. Presumably DP didnt think he was quite ready for a full season there, hence Duffy.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Mon Feb 13, 2023 1:48 pm  

fez1 wrote: One thing though - Russell spoke about going into a dark place when he was with us, so hopefully his head will be in the right place a d we may see the best of him I was amazed to read that and how his self-confessed alcohol problems didn't seem to prevent his inclusion in the team. Was Tony Smith not aware or turned a blind eye? Speaking of 2014 Russell said .. “Sometimes I would come in training a bit dusty" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ma ... -gambling/ We gave him a 3 year deal in 2014.

fez1 wrote: One thing though - Russell spoke about going into a dark place when he was with us, so hopefully his head will be in the right place a d we may see the best of him I was amazed to read that and how his self-confessed alcohol problems didn't seem to prevent his inclusion in the team. Was Tony Smith not aware or turned a blind eye? Speaking of 2014 Russell said .. “Sometimes I would come in training a bit dusty" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ma ... -gambling/ We gave him a 3 year deal in 2014.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:44 pm  

We all know Smith had his favourites for whatever reason. I remember when he (Smith) left he was quoted (or maybe mis-quoted) as saying developing individual players was more important to him than winning. Maybe Russell was a sort of pet project and Smith thought he could turn him into a world-beater. Unfortunately, without a really decent spine from 2014 onwards, he was never going to do that.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Mon Feb 13, 2023 3:14 pm  

When Smith got lazy/disheartened towards the end I think he saw Russell as pivotal to scooting for metres that made up the entirety of our attacking plan - we were absolutely horrible to watch then.

Re: Wire vs N Wales Crusaders : Mon Feb 13, 2023 3:52 pm  

fez1 wrote:

Russell may have a sculptured body but unfortunately hnless his improved significantly under the high ball he'll be targetted all day long by the opposition. He was lost confidence after a few matches and it went downhill from there.
I am doubtful whether he'll have sorted that out, but only DP will know.
One thing though - Russell spoke about going into a dark place when he was with us, so hopefully his head will be in the right place a d we may see the best of him, but the high ball was an issue when he was coming through the Wigan ranks.

Bringing the ball out, Russell is very good - better than both our wingers, and thats down to his solid physique.

Im not sure if Thewlis is faster than him.
Thewlis isn't an out and out winger - unlike Ashton. I am concerned about Thewlis's size. There's only so many times you can get belted and walk away without effects.
Josh to full back material all day long. Presumably DP didnt think he was quite ready for a full season there, hence Duffy.

I have no issues with Thewlis` physique bringing the ball out from defence and gain ground.

When you look at Wigan who have French on the wing and St Helens who have Ritson/Bennison competing for a wing berth, none of those players are any bigger than Thewlis.

Russell`s squat physique is a disadvantage when defending a high ball because even if he has learnt to catch a ball consistently, he is likely to be out-jumped by his opposing winger.

Rugby League seems to be moving away from the monster wingers, who are being replaced by lighter more skilful players.