: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:18 pm  

I am glad to hear! It is what all our 'experienced' players should be doing helping the younger members of the squad to develop alongside what the coaches are putting in.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:33 pm  

Glad we have a few good young lads in locals as well. But we still need our older players as with young teams it is sometimes hard to get consistency.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:45 pm  

leyther forever wrote:

To be honest Matt yes. I think there is a very fine line between being hard, physical and intimidating in the tackle and being a thug. I am not suggesting that Hobson is a thug for one minute but at times he has proven to have been a liability and a 'tad' ill-discilpined.

Agree completely. Hobson's the only forward that gives us steel and a bit of niggle. People are quick to jump on every penalty he gives away but don't realise how many we get back from opposition forwards he's wound up. Perfect example is the Salford game - OK Hobbo gave posession away a couple of times, but the amount of penalties we got back from Cashmere alone was more than worth it.

Obviously there's work to be done in channelling the aggression so as to avoid red/yellow cards etc, which do cost the team much dearer than a couple of ordinary penalties. And I don't think there's any excuse for ill-discipline in talking back to refs etc, which Hobbo was penalised for on Sunday. But we've had much worse offenders in the past who've been forgiven far more easily or even encouraged by the speccies but IMHO weren't half as effective in their position or role within the team.

At the end of the day he may not be a worldbeater but apart from occasional brainstorms he generally does his job and takes a lot of the more physical pressure off our younger forwards, which we really need. I'd much rather we work on his discipline and persevere than let a very young pack get bullied by other teams' "thugs" week in week out.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:50 pm  

leyther forever wrote:

I am glad to hear! It is what all our 'experienced' players should be doing helping the younger members of the squad to develop alongside what the coaches are putting in.

It’s certainly evident in training, I’m often down at East whilst they’re there and noticed that the experienced players are often one to one with a youngster to such an extent I’ve wondered if Kelly has allocated each of them a mentor.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:53 pm  

think we are a young enthusiastic team who seem to be playing for each other.

the test will come with injuries and how we fare away from home at the likes of whitehaven, barrow etc.
i like others worry that without hobson we could get bullied a bit in the forwards, espically the younger ones

but i am enjoying what i have seen so far

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:07 pm  

leyther1 wrote:

Agree completely. Hobson's the only forward that gives us steel and a bit of niggle. People are quick to jump on every penalty he gives away but don't realise how many we get back from opposition forwards he's wound up. Perfect example is the Salford game - OK Hobbo gave posession away a couple of times, but the amount of penalties we got back from Cashmere alone was more than worth it.

Obviously there's work to be done in channelling the aggression so as to avoid red/yellow cards etc, which do cost the team much dearer than a couple of ordinary penalties. And I don't think there's any excuse for ill-discipline in talking back to refs etc, which Hobbo was penalised for on Sunday. But we've had much worse offenders in the past who've been forgiven far more easily or even encouraged by the speccies but IMHO weren't half as effective in their position or role within the team.

At the end of the day he may not be a worldbeater but apart from occasional brainstorms he generally does his job and takes a lot of the more physical pressure off our younger forwards, which we really need. I'd much rather we work on his discipline and persevere than let a very young pack get bullied by other teams' "thugs" week in week out.

i agree

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:53 pm  

Mr Mad wrote:

sorry you feel like that but i would rather have a team of local talented (i believe anyway ) lads who will give their all for the club rather than an australian journey man who dosent give a dam about the club tkl being a good example for one, and dont forget to give them TIME

I agree with everything you have written.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:31 pm  

not all our overseas and big name signings have been a waste of money such as geoff clarke, adam bristow, heath cruckshank to name a few.

i agree with a local youth policy but i would still like to see overseas signings of the calibre of clarke and bristow. it is upto the club to try and ensure these are the right signings.
the balance needs to be right.

i dont need a leigh season ticket to watch committed young enthusiastic players giving 100 % every week i just need to go the east and miners.

i still desire to watch profeesional players with a high skill level and the young local talent could learn a great deal from them

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:43 pm  

soldiers field wrote:

not all our overseas and big name signings have been a waste of money such as geoff clarke, adam bristow, heath cruckshank to name a few.

i agree with a local youth policy but i would still like to see overseas signings of the calibre of clarke and bristow. it is upto the club to try and ensure these are the right signings.
the balance needs to be right.

i dont need a leigh season ticket to watch committed young enthusiastic players giving 100 % every week i just need to go the east and miners.

i still desire to watch profeesional players with a high skill level and the young local talent could learn a great deal from them

i totally agree but select ambitious players who still want to achieve something,and can compliment and add to what is happening at leigh there is no point in paying a over the hill player who really doesnt want to be at the club to sit in the treatment room no young player will learn owt from that

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:54 pm  

Some and I reiterate SOME overseas 'blood' in any team gives them strength in experience and ethos, we at Leigh have been lucky over the years in having perhaps more good overseas player (yes there have been mistakes) than most.