Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 03, 2021 5:18 pm  

I actually think Williams could really thrive in our current environment. Lammy definitely seems to encourage players to play what they see and that’s where Williams is at his best. With Harry Smith’s long kicking game and Williams short kick it would be an excellent blend.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 03, 2021 5:54 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Brilliant

Oh deary me

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 04, 2021 1:07 am  

I always liked \George and was very sorry to see him go. He has done well in the NRL, but I think the suggestion that Ricky Stuart has completed him as a player is a bit wide of the mark. If you've watched the Raiders lately, frankly they've been terrible. Attention once again has focused on the axis between Hodgson, Williams, and Wighton, which has always looked a bit problematical. Although in the short term, that problem has gone away because Hodgson is injured anyway. I don't think too much of this is George's fault (maybe some of it), but in an unbalanced side, it's difficult to hit your best form. If George was ever going to master an effective long kicking game, he'd have done it by now. But he has all the other attributes of a top half.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 05, 2021 9:25 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

I actually think Williams could really thrive in our current environment. Lammy definitely seems to encourage players to play what they see and that’s where Williams is at his best. With Harry Smith’s long kicking game and Williams short kick it would be an excellent blend.

Still haven't seen this in all honesty in any games this year or last!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 7:39 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Still haven't seen this in all honesty in any games this year or last!

I agree mate but I think more to do with kicking responsibilities being taken by Hastings and Leuluai. Go back to reserve level and Smith was kicking teams to death! He’s definitely got the ability.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 8:14 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

I agree mate but I think more to do with kicking responsibilities being taken by Hastings and Leuluai. Go back to reserve level and Smith was kicking teams to death! He’s definitely got the ability.

Correct.

If you have watched him outside of first team where he has had main kicking duties he has shown he has a cracking kicking game.

He kicked the Aussie schoolboys to death.

I was however disappointed when he took the main kicking duties vs York I think it was or maybe it was our preseason friendly can’t recall but he did have an off day.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 8:21 am  

jonh wrote:

Correct.

If you have watched him outside of first team where he has had main kicking duties he has shown he has a cracking kicking game.

He kicked the Aussie schoolboys to death.

I was however disappointed when he took the main kicking duties vs York I think it was or maybe it was our preseason friendly can’t recall but he did have an off day.

Yes it was the friendly vs Salford. He stood out last year because of his kicking but he was really disappointing in the friendly and doesn't seem to have done much since.

His running has been the highlight so far this year, didn't know he had that threat with ball in hand.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 9:35 am  

Smith's long kicking game at the end of sets isn't being used as Hastings is doing it. Team tactics are for Jacko to belt it as high as he can so it drops on top of the opposition full back's head. He is then tackled either hard or very hard by three or four forwards which obviously takes the energy out of the player. I'm sure this will be used on Saturday as they will have a young lad at fb replacing Connor.

Smith is now an integral part of the team, squad and club for years to come.
How he is used tactically is purely down to the coach.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 11:45 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Smith's long kicking game at the end of sets isn't being used as Hastings is doing it. Team tactics are for Jacko to belt it as high as he can so it drops on top of the opposition full back's head. He is then tackled either hard or very hard by three or four forwards which obviously takes the energy out of the player. I'm sure this will be used on Saturday as they will have a young lad at fb replacing Connor.

Smith is now an integral part of the team, squad and club for years to come.
How he is used tactically is purely down to the coach.

I think as well Ted it's the senior players pulling a bit of rank.
Hastings is a great player but his kicking game in general is the weakest part of his game.
I'd love Smith to play a far bigger role in kicking if for nothing else it should give variety and add a bit of uncertainty in the opposition's defence.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu May 06, 2021 12:15 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I think as well Ted it's the senior players pulling a bit of rank.
Hastings is a great player but his kicking game in general is the weakest part of his game.
I'd love Smith to play a far bigger role in kicking if for nothing else it should give variety and add a bit of uncertainty in the opposition's defence.

Hastings on the last is straight out of the Tommy L handbook, up in the air and straight down the throat of the full back/wingers. May as well just hand it over to them.