: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:44 am  

Lefty wrote:

You do know that Tony Smith picked him for international honours don't you? People seem to think that Smith doesn't rate him. I don't know where this comes from.

And I also know for a fact from first hand info that Smith rates Briers. This was 18 months ago, but still, I know that Briers HAS been one of the best players in SL and has been very highly rated by many people in RL with much more knowledge than the bigots on here. So I'm not arguing with them any more.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:44 am  

Geordie wrote:

Bobbins

Realistically in the past, homegrown players have been overlooked by those on the terraces in favour of big name aussies.

Either way the guy has given the best years of his life to our club and whether we think he was any good or noth should be thanked for that aspect alone.

He'll have you for that! I agree with you though. People genereally want proven names, then when they disappoint them they want young upcoming talent, then they berate them and demand proven names etc etc...The circle of Wire.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:49 am  

SEB wrote:

And I also know for a fact from first hand info that Smith rates Briers. This was 18 months ago, but still, I know that Briers HAS been one of the best players in SL and has been very highly rated by many people in RL with much more knowledge than the bigots on here. So I'm not arguing with them any more.

Apart from Van Dijk at Celtic, he's the worst half back in the League.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:51 am  

For the billionth time; clueless.

Where are these halfbacks who are actually ball players? I haven't seen a british one for years. If you are fast and slight, you can play at halfback, in fact, thinking about it, the only prospect knocking about who seems to have the skills is Myler, and even he seems to have a reliance on speed.

PS

The fact these people roam the streets unattended scares me half to death.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:01 am  

Carbon Glacier wrote:

He'll have you for that! I agree with you though. People generally want proven names, then when they disappoint them they want young upcoming talent, then they berate them and demand proven names etc etc...The circle of Wire.

If the people who come through our academy system are good enough they will get a SL contract if they are not and in the past we have not produced much from our own academy they will not get a contract.
Under John Bastian it seems as our academy may flourish similar to what he did at Leeds fingers crossed this will happen .
The fact is though at the moment we have not got the talent at the right stage of their development in our academy that is anywhere good enough to step up to Super League level ,we have a few forwards That are getting near it like Harrison and Blythe but we do not have any Backs and that is what we are short of!
I agree with the poster who says we have been guilty in the past of holding onto players and Cullen far to long due to there long standing with the club and when you reach a stage in your career when some one younger and quicker is needed we should let them go ,and yes I am talking about Briers and if we have no one in the academy ready to come through we should look for the best,our fault has been that we have repeatedly signed hookers from the NRL to play as half-backs we now have a coach that can tell the difference I hope and that won't happen again we need 2 Quality half-backs and 2 Quality centres and a Quality loose FWD for next season as a minimum ,And no I don't think Harrison is a loose fwd he will make a good 2nd row eventually or even a prop same with Blythe And I am not sure yet if Mitchell has what it takes but time will tell he certainly isn't ready or anywhere near ready yet !

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:06 am  

SPIRIT OF 74 wrote:

If the people who come through our academy system are good enough they will get a SL contract if they are not and in the past we have not produced much from our own academy they will not get a contract.
Under John Bastian it seems as our academy may flourish similar to what he did at Leeds fingers crossed this will happen .
The fact is though at the moment we have not got the talent at the right stage of their development in our academy that is anywhere good enough to step up to Super League level ,we have a few forwards That are getting near it like Harrison and Blythe but we do not have any Backs and that is what we are short of!

But for some people it doesn't matter if they're to standard or not, which is sort of the point I was making.

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:10 am  

i hate pies wrote:

We'll be nothing without him.

Because with him in the past 12 years the trophies have been endless, I heard they had to buy a new trophy cabinet from ikea

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:15 am  

wire_wooly wrote:

Because with him in the past 12 years the trophies have been endless, I heard they had to buy a new trophy cabinet from ikea

We haven't had a pot in 18 years, who should carry the can prior to that?

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:18 am  

hmm well we can't blame wolfie, erm there must be something in the water

: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:31 am  

Inside Knowledge wrote:

Apart from Van Dijk at Celtic, he's the worst half back in the League.

Pryce and Long
Maguire and Burrow
Brown and Robinson
Brough and Drew
Cooke and Dobson
Dorn and Orr
Bosc and Bird/Maguire
Tomkins and Leuluai
Chase and Sherwin
Smith and Myler
Thorman and Horne
Jeffries and Deacon

You really think those 24 players are better than Briers?