Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:39 pm  

Lovely from Brad O’Neill. He is a superb prospect for us.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:40 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Interesting selection isn't it.

Maybe done with one eye on Zak going to FB whilst French is away? Good to see options and reasons for guys to stake a claim. As mentioned before, Field has put his hand up so far.

He's got the "Dean Bell spin" off to a T

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:41 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Lovely from Brad O’Neill. He is a superb prospect for us.

Agreed. I also think Mago is fitter than you might think. Nearly a full half so far an as effective in the last minutes as he was in the first.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:45 pm  

Thoughts on Smithies at prop?

I know that last season he was played heavily at 13 (i.e. the extra prop), but for me he's not big enough to keep going down the middle.

With Havard being out and Partington missing most of pre season, is he being tested as a 4th prop option.

Ellis, Mago, Byrne + another?

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:47 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Thoughts on Smithies at prop?

I know that last season he was played heavily at 13 (i.e. the extra prop), but for me he's not big enough to keep going down the middle.

With Havard being out and Partington missing most of pre season, is he being tested as an option?

Doing well against Newcastle but then they're not a particularly big pack. Good leg drive though so would be interesting to see him against a bigger pack.

On Mago: Great offload in the 40th minute there...

Edit: You've missed Singleton out of your prop options.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:52 pm  

Entertaining rugby - praise the Lord. I remember watching the Salford friendly last year and being bored out of my mind so very promising signs from a team missing so many.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:52 pm  

Good first 40. Looked direct and inventive in attack and obviously nilled them in defence. Extra attacking option with Mago's offloads. 2 excellent ones, resulting in a try and a drop out. I liked KPP at centre and Miski looking strong. All the new guys have gone well and we certainly have some young talent coming through!

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:57 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Doing well against Newcastle but then they're not a particularly big pack. Good leg drive though so would be interesting to see him against a bigger pack.

On Mago: Great offload in the 40th minute there...

Edit: You've missed Singleton out of your prop options.

Yes I have. Thank you. I knew there was another one, but his name just wasn't coming into my head.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:58 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Undoubtedly and that's why I'm hoping/leaning towards him looking more goosed than he actually is. It was a good 15min stint.

excellent

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 4:00 pm  

Yes, pleasing stuff. KPP and Miski looking strong, some good combinations between O'Neill and Shorrocks, Mago hard to put down and with a decent offload, Smith looking lively. Field has been fine so far, but I do worry that he looks a bit weedy.