: Mon May 18, 2009 6:53 pm  

Prop - I wouldn't offer Rah a new deal unless there is no-one available on similar or lower money to be honest. If Rah takes a pay cut, and it allows us to bring in better player in another position then so be it. He has been solid and dependable as usual this year.

Centre - Personally, I'm quite happy with Bridge at RC if he continues to play well, he can offer us just as much in attack as Gleeson did. Hopefully him and Hicks can get their combo going again this year at some point. Left centre, I'd like a new one, unless King plays well in the second half of the season with Riley playing left wing. If not, then stick King on the left wing and purchase a good left centre (Shenton please).

Halves - Dunno what to make of Monaghan, at time he is playing really well and looks alot more confortable under Smith. However, he has had alot of skinkers in there as well. I'd like Myler instead but it depends on money and if Monaghan wants to stay or go....
Briers, alongside Myler next year would be ideal for me. (Myler please).

Loose Forward - Happy with Harrison there at the moment, although we could do with someone more experienced, with better hands and with good organisation, something we haven't had at 13 in like...ageees. (Sinfield please).

Johnson/Vanderson - To be honest both players are similar as they are coming towards the end of their careers and both have struggled with injuries throughout their time at the club. However, they provide great utility to the squad and provide good experience in a professional manner. Personally if both went I'd be happy, if one stayed and the other went I'd be happy, if both of them stayed I'd be a tad disappointed.

Ideal Squad next year would be:

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Shenton
King
Briers
Myler
Moz
Clarke
Carvell
Westwood
Harrison
Sinfield

Bench:
Higham, Wood, Rah/New prop, Grix/Landerson.

That would be nice.

: Mon May 18, 2009 7:08 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.

Not too sure about your MM comment.The reason we lost in Edinburgh was poor defence. I dont think Lee Briers in the defensive line would have improved things.

: Mon May 18, 2009 7:23 pm  

Ideal Squad next year would be:

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Clubb
King
Long
Myler
Moz
Monaghan
Carvell
Westwood
Harrison
Sinfield

Bench:
Higham, Wood, Scarsbrook, Grix/Landerson

: Tue May 19, 2009 9:42 am  

This is one possibility gone for the loose forward spot. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5333604,00.html

This is one possibility gone for the loose forward spot. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5333604,00.html

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:06 am  

Sporting Billy wrote:

Not too sure about your MM comment.The reason we lost in Edinburgh was poor defence. I dont think Lee Briers in the defensive line would have improved things.

He would have brought a better kicking game though. We had several chances to put in decent kicks - like he did against Hull - but we blew them. Also, the game was there for the taking when we were 16-6 up, but blew it with several daft errors. I just felt with Briers, we would have taken control of that game.

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:07 am  

Where does this obsession with Michael Shenton come from? With no promotion or relegation why on earth would Castleford let him go? Their gates are solid and their financial plan will still be on track as their new stadium plans are for some years down the line. This is the difference between Shenton and Myler, as, in the latter case, Salford must be hurting for cash with their tiny crowds and big delay to their new ground.

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:13 am  

Supreme Optimist wrote: This is one possibility gone for the loose forward spot. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5333604,00.html Would have been a good signing but hey lets not dwell on that!

Supreme Optimist wrote: This is one possibility gone for the loose forward spot. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5333604,00.html Would have been a good signing but hey lets not dwell on that!

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:20 am  

The Casual Des wrote:

Would have been a good signing but hey lets not dwell on that!

If the rumours are true, the loose forward position in 2010 has already been taken by kevin sinfield.

Re: So where do we need to strengthen for the future ? : Thu May 21, 2009 4:01 pm  

JWP wrote:

Rob, you don't remember it, because it didn't happen, they weren't behind Hicks, or King or anyone else.

Go to the magic weekend game against Hull KR and put the game on 59 mins, forget that Bridge was playing at stand off for this game because in this particular play he made a classic centre run where he had Chris Hicks on his outside with Briscoe left to beat, he tried pass to Chris Hicks but because he had held onto the ball for a second too long the pass wasn`t on and it ended up going behind Chris Hicks and straight into touch. By the time Chris Bridge had decided to let the ball go Chris Hicks had caught up with him which meant the pass wasn`t on, that was only on the 3rd tackle and we were close to their line.

The point here is that you are blinkered to any faults that Chris Bridge has, its like you don`t want to see them so that he remains Mr Perfect in your world. You said that Chris Bridge has never thrown a ball behind Chris Hicks or Matt King, i knew you were wrong, ive seen him do it on the left to Matt King as well. Don`t bother coming back with "he was at stand off that day" which i know you will try to do or Hicks over ran him etc, this particular play i`m referring too was a classic centre run and he held on to the ball for a second too long which meant when he decided to let the ball go the pass wasn`t on as Hicks had caught up with him.

I can post screen shots if you don`t have the game saved to prove the point, thats no problem at all. Its you fella that isn`t watching the games properly, Chris Bridge is a talented player when he is on his game and is interested but that isn`t the point here.

My original point is that we let Martin Gleeson go and if Chris Bridge is to become our right centre then we have not improved the right centre position with a player thats at least on a par with Gleeson or is of better quality, Chris Bridge is a talented player and a bit of an enigma but he isn`t a patch on Martin Gleeson and never will be, if you believe otherwise then your watching a different game.

Re: So where do we need to strengthen for the future ? : Thu May 21, 2009 4:16 pm  

Rob Wire wrote:

Go to the magic weekend game against Hull KR and put the game on 59 mins, forget that Bridge was playing at stand off for this game because in this particular play he made a classic centre run where he had Chris Hicks on his outside with Briscoe left to beat, he tried pass to Chris Hicks but because he had held onto the ball for a second too long the pass wasn`t on and it ended up going behind Chris Hicks and straight into touch. By the time Chris Bridge had decided to let the ball go Chris Hicks had caught up with him which meant the pass wasn`t on, that was only on the 3rd tackle and we were close to their line.

The point here is that you are blinkered to any faults that Chris Bridge has, its like you don`t want to see them so that he remains Mr Perfect in your world. You said that Chris Bridge has never thrown a ball behind Chris Hicks or Matt King, i knew you were wrong, ive seen him do it on the left to Matt King as well. Don`t bother coming back with "he was at stand off that day" which i know you will try to do or Hicks over ran him etc, this particular play i`m referring too was a classic centre run and he held on to the ball for a second too long which meant when he decided to let the ball go the pass wasn`t on as Hicks had caught him with him.

I can post screen shots if you don`t have the game saved to prove the point, thats no problem at all. Its you fella that isn`t watching the games properly, Chris Bridge is a talented player when he is on his game and is interested but that isn`t the point here.

My original point is that we let Martin Gleeson go and if Chris Bridge is to become our right centre then we have not improved the right centre position with a player thats at least on a par with Gleeson or is of better quality, Chris Bridge is a talented player and a bit of an enigma but he isn`t a patch on Martin Gleeson and never will be, if you believe otherwise then your watching a different game.

Are you going to acknowledge that the key moment in the game against Hull was the try saving tackle he made and stop looking at the negatives all the time?

No player is perfect.