: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:25 pm  

Rictoria Catpiss wrote:

i'd happily have bridge at centre, i've advocated that for a while , i like his in out and away(one out of JWP's book).

Although, in a sort of perverse fashion i'd also quite like to shove matt king over to right centre, anything to get him away from penny, give him a go on the right and see if he's any good there.

Having re-read Mike Gregory's book the other week, I'm pretty sure Bridge played in the centres when England Academy beat the Australians (Mathers was stand off). That's a fair while ago though, and he's not played there since. Centre is a pretty specialist position, so it may take him a few games to get into it. However, should Gleeson be out for a longer spell, perhaps worth a go.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:31 pm  

Couch Potato wrote:

I'm pretty sure Bridge played in the centres when England Academy beat the Australians (Mathers was stand off). That's a fair while ago though, and he's not played there since.

Bridge has played centre for Warrington quite a few times including 20mins on Friday.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:36 pm  

Latchford Wolvesfan wrote:

Bridge has played centre for Warrington quite a few times including 20mins on Friday.

I stand corrected, the only one that comes readily to mind is the last time we played Salford on Good Friday, couple of years ago?.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:53 pm  

Couch Potato wrote:

Having re-read Mike Gregory's book the other week, I'm pretty sure Bridge played in the centres when England Academy beat the Australians (Mathers was stand off). That's a fair while ago though, and he's not played there since. Centre is a pretty specialist position, so it may take him a few games to get into it. However, should Gleeson be out for a longer spell, perhaps worth a go.

Correct. Bridge did play centre.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:57 pm  

Rugbychick™ wrote:

I really hope they don't drop Reily. He actually earned his place last night.

Doesn't he play for Huddersfield?

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:01 pm  

Dave T wrote:

I agree with most of this, I don't like the idea of Johnson in the three-quarters. He can cover there if needed, but not as one of our starting players.

I do think you are being slightly harsh on him getting skinned the other night, as Gilmour is no slouch.

...and PJ is on his way back after knee reconstruction.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:02 pm  

mark_m wrote:

Correct. Bridge did play centre.

I was under the impression Cullen played him there for a while as he desperatly wanted to try and fit him in somewhere.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:04 pm  

Foz wrote:

I was under the impression Cullen played him there for a while as he desperatly wanted to try and fit him in somewhere.

Possible. But Bridge played a lot of his youth rugby as a centre and played as centre when the team he was in beat the Australian schoolboys.

Therefore maybe his best position is in fact centre.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:06 pm  

Foz wrote:

I was under the impression Cullen played him there for a while as he desperatly wanted to try and fit him in somewhere.

No not at centre, Cullen played him on the wing because Nat Wood and Briers were the backs and then Sullivan, until Sullivan got moved to Hooker and then Bridge took his place, he played nearly all year on the wing i think.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:54 pm  

The overwhelming conclusion seems to be that, when fully fit, he is a talent that you try and get in the team somewhere (when he was in on the wing in 2005 I think Cullen said something along those lines).

The key for him is coming back, getting a run of games, match fitness and confidence under his belt. I think long term he is a six, but certainly talented enough to play anywhere in the back line.