Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 7:10 am  

It happens every year one or two of our "fans" just love to pick out a few players & love to dish out the dirt. Local lads are exempt for a couple of years. Probably makes 'em feel better. It is the sad bit of the forum. It is Drinkwater & Tai at the moment but the next cab on the rank can be seen in the distance.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:26 am  

The club must have seen something in Russell that could work in SL - I'm happy to trust Burgess and team on that, we are lacking some size in the back row. I suppose it's similar to taking a punt on someone from the Championship. As others have said, as long as he doesn't take up much space on the cap and, more importantly for me, doesn't take up a quota space I'll be interested to see how he goes.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:44 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

It happens every year one or two of our "fans" just love to pick out a few players & love to dish out the dirt. Local lads are exempt for a couple of years. Probably makes 'em feel better. It is the sad bit of the forum. It is Drinkwater & Tai at the moment but the next cab on the rank can be seen in the distance.

I'll bite. So discussing a players weakness with the ball in a crucial attacking position with a view to improving the side is "dishing the dirt"? Same as calling out a players weak defence that cost us a semi final?

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 9:05 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

It happens every year one or two of our "fans" just love to pick out a few players & love to dish out the dirt. Local lads are exempt for a couple of years. Probably makes 'em feel better. It is the sad bit of the forum. It is Drinkwater & Tai at the moment but the next cab on the rank can be seen in the distance.

Afraid I don’t agree Smiffy. Tai has a fundamental weakness when it comes to Centre play. He can’t put his winger away. Opposition know he will not pass until his position is hopeless which makes him very easy to defend against and must be extremely frustrating for his winger. I hope he can improve as he seems very likeable, but I think Lindop and Wrench are more natural centres .

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 9:34 am  

Captain Hook wrote:

Afraid I don’t agree Smiffy. Tai has a fundamental weakness when it comes to Centre play. He can’t put his winger away. Opposition know he will not pass until his position is hopeless which makes him very easy to defend against and must be extremely frustrating for his winger. I hope he can improve as he seems very likeable, but I think Lindop and Wrench are more natural centres .

You can't say that with Ofcom Smiffy in attendance, you "fan" you.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 9:54 am  

I can spot weaknesses too. I am absolutely certain that our coaching staff can see 'em. Lindop looks as if he will make a superb all round centre but maybe not ready yet & Wrench is unavailable at present & still has much to prove. I'd guess that the current view is that Lindop might struggle with the physical side of a semi-final game at present. Lindop is the future & it might be as soon as the start of next year. Despite his obvious weakness I would have picked Tai vs. HKR.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 10:22 am  

I'd say out of the 3 lindop looks the best option, wrench has footwork and pace but gets injured a lot and can't seem to defend.

Roddy doesn't have a proper rl apprenticeship, he's got power, can defend,

Lindop looks like he's got the best collection of all attributes, wrench's window might have come and gone

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 10:46 am  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

I'd say out of the 3 lindop looks the best option, wrench has footwork and pace but gets injured a lot and can't seem to defend.

Roddy doesn't have a proper rl apprenticeship, he's got power, can defend,

Lindop looks like he's got the best collection of all attributes, wrench's window might have come and gone

Wrench hasn’t had much luck to be fair, but I agree, Lindop with a full pre season has a good chance.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 10:49 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I can spot weaknesses too. I am absolutely certain that our coaching staff can see 'em. Lindop looks as if he will make a superb all round centre but maybe not ready yet & Wrench is unavailable at present & still has much to prove. I'd guess that the current view is that Lindop might struggle with the physical side of a semi-final game at present. Lindop is the future & it might be as soon as the start of next year. Despite his obvious weakness I would have picked Tai vs. HKR.

My point was more that the weakness is so obvious it hardly counts as scapegoating to point it out.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sun Oct 06, 2024 12:10 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

Afraid I don’t agree Smiffy. Tai has a fundamental weakness when it comes to Centre play. He can’t put his winger away. Opposition know he will not pass until his position is hopeless which makes him very easy to defend against and must be extremely frustrating for his winger. I hope he can improve as he seems very likeable, but I think Lindop and Wrench are more natural centres .

No doubt that Lindop is the future, it's just a case of whether he replaces King on the left or Tai on the right.

Wrench has shown his attacking class both from a solo point of view, and also his ability to put his winger away. The only question for me with Wrench is defensive positioning and decision-making. And of course his unfortunate injury record.

Tai is great in defence though.