: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:30 pm  

just_browny wrote:

JWP, what if we could get Solomona?

He can't be happy at the Bulls and, although his work-rate is below what you'd like, I was looking at him on Friday night and thinking "only one bloke in white is causing us any problems here, and it's him".

Thinking about the foundation of our back-row, it's Westwood and Harrison with - I would imagine - Mitchell, Blythe and McCarthy working their way into consistent first-team reckoning as this season goes on. So we're fine there.

As you say, then, we need a more explosive player to give us 25 minutes of quality and I see a consistent SL performer like, say, Solomona or Manu as that man. Hull Fc wouldn't let us near Manu though - they're too busy slogging him for 80 minutes each week.

Erm, not sure really. Strange one Solomona isn't he, whether it's him or not, it's that sort of individual that I think we now need. We've got the grafters, but just lack that backrower who can do something a bit special with an offload or a show'n'go etc. The only reason I'd say i'm not sure on him is because he's had a couple of nasty injuries in the past couple of years, add that to his age, you'd be a little worried I think.

Agree completely with your post though, exactly how I see it.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:10 pm  

Hock?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:12 pm  

3 more years for sure.......

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:18 pm  

The All New Chester Wire wrote:

Hock?

This may sound a bit of a generalisation but, for every good thing he does, he seems to do something really dumb.

PS

I hate generalisations.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:24 pm  

I think he probably does 3 good things for every bad one, but yes I know. How old is he?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:30 pm  

The All New Chester Wire wrote:

I think he probably does 3 good things for every bad one, but yes I know. How old is he?

26/27? Thinking on, I'm not sure his lifestlye suits that of a Smith type signing.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:32 pm  

Bit older than I thought. Think Sam Burgess looks like he needs a change.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:35 pm  

The All New Chester Wire wrote:

Bit older than I thought. Think Sam Burgess looks like he needs a change.

Definitely. As explosive as Rauhihi, but added endurance. Not the first time we have had a nibble at Burgess either.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:39 pm  

The All New Chester Wire wrote:

I think he probably does 3 good things for every bad one, but yes I know. How old is he?

Problem with Hock for me is that his work rate is very low. Comparable to Solomona's, and fo me as a 2nd rower that doesn't seem right. His average tackles per match for 2008 was really low, and his average carries was pretty average too.

His errors per carry stat is poor. He made a similar number of errors to Westwood, despite carrying the ball half as many times as him.

Looking at some stats from 2008, based on the 2nd rowers from the top 8, he was by far the most error prone player. He made an error every 9.6 carries, whereas the average for these players was 17.6. When you consider the fact that he doesn't at least make up for this with hard graft in the defensive department, then I don't think he is worth the risk.

We have had a good spell under Cullen where we played a risky style with plenty of mistakes, I am starting to feel more comfortable with more calculated risks, which I am not sure Hock is capable of.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:44 pm  

Can't really think of an obvious candidate. I suppose Louis might come good. With Westwood, Harrison, Mitchell you've got a good four there, plus McCarthy seeminlgy almost ready.