: Mon May 18, 2009 12:06 pm  

Asgardian13 wrote:

Its alright coming up with an idealistic wish list, but player ability, transfer fees and salary cap will all interfere with that. Also, as sally cinnamon says, we should be working to bring players through the lower ranks. Bridge may not be as good as Gleeson ( at his best ) but he does look promising at No 3 ( and has done some good things already - so its not all for the future) and, we already have him, so let's leave him be.

I'd give Briers another year, but if Barrow offer him a 3 year deal on good money he'd be sensible to take it as he'll never get offered 3 more years here. As for King and Monaghan, NRL players going home early are few and far between so they'd probably still be here next year. Gasnier is probably earning more that we can pay in France owing to French RU's lack of salary cap.

As for other forwards, unless we can find a real star I'd keep bringing the youngsters through. Rah will definitely retire this year but we've plenty of good young props on the books.

I'd pretty much agree with all of that.

Rauhihi you'd think will retire, I think there's half a case for Cooper being in the side in his place now anyhow, not every week granted, but I did feel a little for Coopero n Saturday that he found himself out of the side having been excellent of late for me.

The Bridge thing for me, is simply, what doesn't he do that Gleeson did ? In the couple of quick glances i've had of him at right centre, he's tackled strongly, he's put Hicks in with a flick pass, he's drawn a winger and put Hicks in, he's stepped and gone himself, he's pretty much done everything that Gleeson did, so I'm not sure he's any sort of 'poor mans' version as I don't see what he can't do.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:09 pm  

Gasnier's deal was reported in the Press as one million dollars (Aus) per year. I appreciate the ridiculous speculation in the Press is usually way off the mark, but, the cash being thrown about in French RU is mind blowing. Just take a look at the players heading over there in their dozens, be it RL or RU players.

I can't see how we could remotely compete with them.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:12 pm  

JWP wrote:

I'd pretty much agree with all of that.

Rauhihi you'd think will retire, I think there's half a case for Cooper being in the side in his place now anyhow, not every week granted, but I did feel a little for Coopero n Saturday that he found himself out of the side having been excellent of late for me.

The Bridge thing for me, is simply, what doesn't he do that Gleeson did ? In the couple of quick glances i've had of him at right centre, he's tackled strongly, he's put Hicks in with a flick pass, he's drawn a winger and put Hicks in, he's stepped and gone himself, he's pretty much done everything that Gleeson did, so I'm not sure he's any sort of 'poor mans' version as I don't see what he can't do.

Effort commitment and drive to play for the Wire. Which in my eyes makes him a better player than Gleeson.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:23 pm  

Scrum Half - Orford / Myler
Stand Off - Craig Wing or similar
Prop - Fielden? (Will get shot down here but still think he has something)
Right Centre - Shenton (I know - he's currently playing left)
Loose Forward - Sinfield (If rumours are true)

In that order

: Mon May 18, 2009 1:18 pm  

Full back - we are fine here with Mathers. Hopefully he will continue to prove the doubters wrong. Riley and Hicks can provide backup.

Wing - An embarrasment of riches in this position, with Hicks, King (his best position), Riley plus Penny and Williams from the reserves.

Centre - I would give Bridge a new contract and play him at right centre, and sign a specialist left centre, ideally Michael Shenton. Grix should also get a new deal and along with King provide cover for this position.

Halves - If Briers and Monaghan leave we need two new halves. Myler / Orford for the SH, but a new stand off is a more difficult one. Ideally Briers will stay another year or two and play alongside our new scrum half. Have to wait and see what happens with Monas as he is contracted until 2011.

Hooker - Higham isn't bad as an impact hooker, but would prefer a different starting number 9 to Clarke. As he is tied up until 2011 though, I can't see any changes in this area at the end of the season.

Props - With Rauhihi set to leave, I reckon one more prop as a direct replacement, possibly from overseas. Pickersgill should go, and we should retain Mike Cooper as he is the better prospect.

Second Row - Honestly don't feel we need anyone in this position, with Mitchell, Blythe, Harrison, McCarthy to support the first choice pairing of Westwood and Louis Anderson. Paul Johnson should not be given another contract.

Loose Forward - A definate priority. I reckon Vinnie Anderson might go, and Harrison is more suited to the second row. Sinfield would be ideal, either that or a big offer should be tabled for Joe Westerman.

: Mon May 18, 2009 1:29 pm  

FireWire wrote:

Halves - Ideally Briers will stay another year or two and play alongside our new scrum half.

How is this ideal

Briers isn't fit to lace the boots of many Half-back's going round today, there are quality halves all around and if we want to progress we need one of them.

: Mon May 18, 2009 1:58 pm  

That might well be true LWF but yet again, we would not have won without him on Saturday night.

: Mon May 18, 2009 2:01 pm  

Latchford Wolvesfan wrote:

How is this ideal

Briers isn't fit to lace the boots of many Half-back's going round today, there are quality halves all around and if we want to progress we need one of them.

I think the word your looking for is continuity, Briers does have off days but he has at least another season in him yet. I firmly believe he has flourished under Smith. Look at the Bradford game which we won well and them look at the MM loss, where if Briers was fit we would have won without question. Come on, say something good about the lad.

: Mon May 18, 2009 2:50 pm  

Warrington Wolf wrote:

I think the word your looking for is continuity, Briers does have off days but he has at least another season in him yet. I firmly believe he has flourished under Smith. Look at the Bradford game which we won well and them look at the MM loss, where if Briers was fit we would have won without question. Come on, say something good about the lad.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of Briers but I do feel sorry for him.

When he plays well so do Warrington and when he has a bad game the team generally do too. Unfortunately he's rarely had a half pack partner to help him.

With the exception of Johns for a couple of games, the last decent scrum half he played with was Alan Langer. Since then he's had Nat Wood, who for all his qualities could not boss a team around a field, the Micheal Sullivan fiasco and now Monaghan.

We've never really had a quality Loose Forward either (in the style of Sinfield or Farrell) who can help out with the plays.

: Mon May 18, 2009 4:46 pm  

Latchford Wolvesfan wrote:

How is this ideal

Briers isn't fit to lace the boots of many Half-back's going round today, there are quality halves all around and if we want to progress we need one of them.

But none of them are British.