Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:16 pm  

Only issue I see with Walsh and how he fits it to Saints is who will be playing at 6. There is a lack of direct attacking threat at 6 and 7. Lance Hohaia seemed to change from a strike half to a controlling half when he joined Saints if you can get him back as a direct runner you could have a good partnership.

Back on topic (almost) I genuinely see Mose Mosoa as a very risky signing. He looked to have piled on a couple of stone from when he left the NRL to playing in the World Cup. I think you Conditioning staff will really have to earn their money to keep him fit and effective.

I have no doubt he will become a fans favorite due to the big drive and eye catching hits, but I have a feeling a few coaches will relish the prospect of playing against him also.

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:36 pm  

Size doesnt matter, biggest isnt necessarily the best

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:09 pm  

jonh wrote:

Only issue I see with Walsh and how he fits it to Saints is who will be playing at 6. There is a lack of direct attacking threat at 6 and 7. Lance Hohaia seemed to change from a strike half to a controlling half when he joined Saints if you can get him back as a direct runner you could have a good partnership.

Back on topic (almost) I genuinely see Mose Mosoa as a very risky signing. He looked to have piled on a couple of stone from when he left the NRL to playing in the World Cup. I think you Conditioning staff will really have to earn their money to keep him fit and effective.

I have no doubt he will become a fans favorite due to the big drive and eye catching hits, but I have a feeling a few coaches will relish the prospect of playing against him also.

He was hardly a liability in the NRL so I'm fairly confident he won't be in SL. As long as we get him properly conditioned then he'll be fine. I genuinely don't think any coach will look forward to playing against him.

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:27 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

He was hardly a liability in the NRL so I'm fairly confident he won't be in SL. As long as we get him properly conditioned then he'll be fine. I genuinely don't think any coach will look forward to playing against him.

Not sure how much of the NRL you saw last year nut he played very short spells. As said he also looked to have put on significant bad wight in about 5 weeks from when his club commitments finished.

Impact Props are very rarely desired these days with successful teams.

His carry is without doubt immense and if you run at him you will come off second best, but I understand he already has a niggling injury requiring surgery which will keep him out of pre season.

If I were a Saints fan I would be concerned by this.

The NRL started to get rid of impact Props a good few years ago, probably the reason he was moved from the Roosters, and linked with the UK last year, if he was seen as an asset he would still be in the NRL.

I do not think the same applies to Walsh. I am sure he could have stayed in the NRL but I expect you have thrown massive money at him as you required a half back so badly.

Big men with niggling ankle injuries though is something I would be very worried about if he were at my club. I hope I am wrong because he is great to watch, and I hope he plays week in week out but I have my doubts about him, his condition deterioration in such a short space of time. From a conditioning point a view it becomes very difficult to stay on top of a players weight, without putting them through lots of aerobic long sessions, this could have a massive effect on his fatigue at the season runs on.

It will be very interesting to see how they handle him.

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:38 pm  

I watched quite a lot of the NRL. I don't think Saints will expect him to play massive minutes. We have Amor, LMS, Laffranchi, Soliola,Wilkin who will all play big minutes and the likes of Walmsley and Masoe will be impact players.

To say he has a niggling injury suggests it is something that has happened a few times and is becoming troublesome, it isn't. He has an injury and then he'll be back. That could have happened to literally anyone.

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:14 pm  

Saints pack is stronger and ours is built for the type of rugby played in the play offs and GF. Relentless power, quick ptb and the halves putting the opposition under pressure. with their quality kicking game. Hudds forwards look formidable again but a big question mark over Wire and Leeds packs.
Wire have lost Carvell, Cooper and biggest loss of all Morley who was their forward talisman and hardman. Leeds pack just seems to get older every year. Should anything happen to the exceptional Peacock they could end up in real trouble with the forwards left. Wire and Leeds both have great backs but if their forwards are not winning their battle they won't be that effective.

Re: Power Packs. : Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:10 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

I watched quite a lot of the NRL. I don't think Saints will expect him to play massive minutes. We have Amor, LMS, Laffranchi, Soliola,Wilkin who will all play big minutes and the likes of Walmsley and Masoe will be impact players.

To say he has a niggling injury suggests it is something that has happened a few times and is becoming troublesome, it isn't. He has an injury and then he'll be back. That could have happened to literally anyone.

Niggling injury for me is one that is not a major injury but will cause a player problems. Big men and ankle injuries are a concern, him not being able to put a full pre season is a concern.

He looked to be blowing in the World Cup, that is not going to improve anytime soon. He seems to be the stereotypical Islander, who really has to work on his conditioning. Him being unable to do that is a blow.

I am sure he will have some good days as his carry is so strong, but physically he looks a total different animal to what he did at the Roosters 2 years ago when he was most effective. He was significantly leaner then. Unless Saints are patient with him and really work with him whilst I am sure he will catch the eye, he will be a target for the smaller men in attack.

Time will tell.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:10 am  

Father Ted wrote:

a big question mark over Wire and Leeds packs.
Wire have lost Carvell, Cooper and biggest loss of all Morley who was their forward talisman and hardman. Leeds pack just seems to get older every year. Should anything happen to the exceptional Peacock they could end up in real trouble with the forwards left. Wire and Leeds both have great backs but if their forwards are not winning their battle they won't be that effective.

You could easily compare Warrington's "losses" with a squad losing Mossop, Harrison, Tuson, Lauaki and Powell (ok I admit the last two aren't really a loss).

The Warrington pack is still a very good unit: Hill, Higham, Asotasi, Waterhouse, Westwood, Grix with Wood, Monaghan, Harrison, Currie on the bench plus still in the squad from last season Dwyer, Riley and Laithwaite boosted further by the signing of Anthony England and the return from loan of Ben Evans.

I really struggle to see any question marks over that pack, where do you think it is weak? By the end of last season Morley and Carvell had been replaced as our frontline props by Hill and Wood.

For Saints I don't even see who would step-in at hooker if Roby suffers an injury again.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:42 am  

jonh wrote:

Niggling injury for me is one that is not a major injury but will cause a player problems. Big men and ankle injuries are a concern, him not being able to put a full pre season is a concern.

He looked to be blowing in the World Cup, that is not going to improve anytime soon. He seems to be the stereotypical Islander, who really has to work on his conditioning. Him being unable to do that is a blow.

I am sure he will have some good days as his carry is so strong, but physically he looks a total different animal to what he did at the Roosters 2 years ago when he was most effective. He was significantly leaner then. Unless Saints are patient with him and really work with him whilst I am sure he will catch the eye, he will be a target for the smaller men in attack.

Time will tell.

And what suggests that Saints won't work hard with him and be patient?

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:43 am  

Paul Youane wrote:

For Saints I don't even see who would step-in at hooker if Roby suffers an injury again.

Hohaia probably.