Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:04 am  

If you gave me a choice between a marquee 28 year old prop who can’t play and a 30 year old if never heard of who can I know which one I’d choose.

Burleigh’s own website describes them as a professional club, the Queensland cup is a strong competition so I wouldn’t worry about him getting up to speed. He is also listed as their captain which leads me to think he could be a good pack leader.

We have a lot of props on the books, not of them are still kids or very young for that position.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 12:27 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Seems to have gone a bit quiet on the Mitch Clark front and he's pictured in several pictures training with the squad. Could well be staying after all.

I saw a picture of him running yesterday with the other forwards. He looked well overweight and was lagging at the back. It may have been a poor angle in fairness to him but if he was alto stay here you’d hope he’ll have put in a massive amount of work in to his fitness.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 12:27 pm  

Pieman wrote:

Singleton is far more seasoned than Bullock

I think he's saying Singleton is seasoned but Bullock isn't. I'm still baffled how Bullock isn't seasoned but a bush league player is.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:43 pm  

Could always give Big Dave Taylor a shout! https://twitter.com/NRLBoomRookies/status/1358336775425433601?s=20

Could always give Big Dave Taylor a shout! https://twitter.com/NRLBoomRookies/status/1358336775425433601?s=20

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:44 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I think he's saying Singleton is seasoned but Bullock isn't. I'm still baffled how Bullock isn't seasoned but a bush league player is.

Due to the fact he has played all his career in that position at a high standard (all be it not NRL) including internationally.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:44 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Which of Singleton and Bullock are you not counting as seasoned? Plus obviously Isa who does pretty much the same job even if he may be named at LF. I'll ignore Clark as I'm guessing he'll go (although he's pictured training still).

Isa categorically does not do the same job as Singleton and Bullock.

He is a second rower.

The one person you could say does "the same job" as the Props would be Partington when he plays at 13. He is used as an extra Prop when he plays that position I would say.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:49 pm  

It’s hard to word this correctly without putting Bullock down but I do still see him as a work in progress type player. I think he’s a very good player but has so much more to give and he looks to be working hard to get there. He was very raw when he started out with us but his basics have come on.

In terms of seniority I’d place him behind Partington and that sort of sums up my feelings on him considering he’s 27/28 and Partington is 22. I think it’s his quiet demeanour that makes me think he lacks a bit of authority on the field. I sense he lacks a bit of confidence sometimes and needs reminding that he’s 6ft 4, built like a brick sh*thouse and has serious pace for a bloke of that size. I think if he finds that extra 5% upstairs he can be an international prop. I want to see him grab big games by the nuts. He was great in 95% of the games last season but in the Leeds semi and the Grand Final I felt they passed him by a little.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 2:28 pm  

jonh wrote: Due to the fact he has played all his career in that position at a high standard (all be it not NRL) including internationally. Bullock moved to prop in 2016. Nearly all of his 100 Championship games were at prop, as were all his 40 SL games. If we sign this guy I'll support him and want him to succeed, but claiming he is more seasoned than Bullock just isn't right. If he develops into a good prop (which is a big IF given that he's been playing at a low level and would be going through all the disruption of moving around the world) then he still retires in 3 years or so. Meanwhile our young lads have missed out on games which could have helped develop them. I'd be more for it if we didn't have much coming through in that position, but that's not where we are. It would go right against this interview as well. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/excitement-about-wigan-warriors-wing-options-3103736%3famp where we claim to have a philosophy of not blocking the paths of young players.

jonh wrote: Due to the fact he has played all his career in that position at a high standard (all be it not NRL) including internationally. Bullock moved to prop in 2016. Nearly all of his 100 Championship games were at prop, as were all his 40 SL games. If we sign this guy I'll support him and want him to succeed, but claiming he is more seasoned than Bullock just isn't right. If he develops into a good prop (which is a big IF given that he's been playing at a low level and would be going through all the disruption of moving around the world) then he still retires in 3 years or so. Meanwhile our young lads have missed out on games which could have helped develop them. I'd be more for it if we didn't have much coming through in that position, but that's not where we are. It would go right against this interview as well. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/excitement-about-wigan-warriors-wing-options-3103736%3famp where we claim to have a philosophy of not blocking the paths of young players.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 2:51 pm  

Grimmy wrote: Bullock moved to prop in 2016. Nearly all of his 100 Championship games were at prop, as were all his 40 SL games. If we sign this guy I'll support him and want him to succeed, but claiming he is more seasoned than Bullock just isn't right. If he develops into a good prop (which is a big IF given that he's been playing at a low level and would be going through all the disruption of moving around the world) then he still retires in 3 years or so. Meanwhile our young lads have missed out on games which could have helped develop them. I'd be more for it if we didn't have much coming through in that position, but that's not where we are. It would go right against this interview as well. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/excitement-about-wigan-warriors-wing-options-3103736%3famp where we claim to have a philosophy of not blocking the paths of young players. Prop is an area where it is very challenging to bring through multiple young props at the same time. I assume the article you quote is the one mentioning Halsall and Hanley as wing options. It’s a very different when it comes to Props. If he signs he will be a stop gap signing to ease the pressure on the younger lads. We need to be winning SL next year. From what I have seen of Page he would bring something to the squad that we lack and would benefit us, as I’ve mentioned before. Like I said there was a real buzz about him in the media after his performances in the Queensland Residents team 6 or 7 years ago which is when I first started to look out for him, then again it came back when he played in the World Cup. When PNG beat us last year he played a major part in that win with his go forward. He has recently been voted the best Prop in the Intrust Super Cup over the last 25 years. At no stage am I claiming he is the best Prop in the world but when you are likely to be carrying 5/6 middles in our 17 next year he would add and compliment what we have whilst still having opportunities for others to develop.

Grimmy wrote: Bullock moved to prop in 2016. Nearly all of his 100 Championship games were at prop, as were all his 40 SL games. If we sign this guy I'll support him and want him to succeed, but claiming he is more seasoned than Bullock just isn't right. If he develops into a good prop (which is a big IF given that he's been playing at a low level and would be going through all the disruption of moving around the world) then he still retires in 3 years or so. Meanwhile our young lads have missed out on games which could have helped develop them. I'd be more for it if we didn't have much coming through in that position, but that's not where we are. It would go right against this interview as well. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/excitement-about-wigan-warriors-wing-options-3103736%3famp where we claim to have a philosophy of not blocking the paths of young players. Prop is an area where it is very challenging to bring through multiple young props at the same time. I assume the article you quote is the one mentioning Halsall and Hanley as wing options. It’s a very different when it comes to Props. If he signs he will be a stop gap signing to ease the pressure on the younger lads. We need to be winning SL next year. From what I have seen of Page he would bring something to the squad that we lack and would benefit us, as I’ve mentioned before. Like I said there was a real buzz about him in the media after his performances in the Queensland Residents team 6 or 7 years ago which is when I first started to look out for him, then again it came back when he played in the World Cup. When PNG beat us last year he played a major part in that win with his go forward. He has recently been voted the best Prop in the Intrust Super Cup over the last 25 years. At no stage am I claiming he is the best Prop in the world but when you are likely to be carrying 5/6 middles in our 17 next year he would add and compliment what we have whilst still having opportunities for others to develop.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 08, 2021 3:00 pm  

Good shout Jonh. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2020/05/14/ ... -25-years/

Good shout Jonh. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2020/05/14/ ... -25-years/