[DaveO]

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:32 pm  

Well I wasn't keen on signing Bowen simply because of his age and the knee reconstruction but I can't believe Bowen has been written off after one SL game and one WCC no doubt by some who had a go at me for suggesting it wasn't a good signing in the first place.

Give him a chance! He is here now and this has to be the fastest fall form grace I have ever seen on this message board since I have been coming on here.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:41 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Well I wasn't keen on signing Bowen simply because of his age and the knee reconstruction but I can't believe Bowen has been written off after one SL game and one WCC no doubt by some who had a go at me for suggesting it wasn't a good signing in the first place.

Give him a chance! He is here now and this has to be the fastest fall form grace I have ever seen on this message board since I have been coming on here.

I wonder when his family are coming over? That may help him to settle. As I posted on another thread, a friend rang me after Saturdays game predicting the anti Bowen tirade. He reminded me of how long it took Gene Miles to fit in and the stick he took. It's a good job t'internet wasn't around then.
Give him a couple of months before judging him.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:09 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Well I wasn't keen on signing Bowen simply because of his age and the knee reconstruction but I can't believe Bowen has been written off after one SL game and one WCC no doubt by some who had a go at me for suggesting it wasn't a good signing in the first place.

Give him a chance! He is here now and this has to be the fastest fall form grace I have ever seen on this message board since I have been coming on here.

I recall your reservations. And you were right. At the time we signed him I hadn't seen him play apart from once on TV. However when I saw him live I expressed my own reservations. At Saints he couldn't be bothered. Against Huddersfield he got wound up by Brough and nearly got himself sent off. Against the Roosters he brought no leadership to the team, which given his status we have a right to expect. He has been poor in every department except tackling. Even in his worst games Sam offered something in attack.

I'm afraid I hold my hands up here. I swallowed the hype and expected a world class player. Even when he is poor a world class player should offer something to the team. Bowen unfortunately has done nothing. It is early days of course but you only get one shot at the WCC and we blew it. Now I'm not blaming Bowen that would be stupid, but I think we expected so much better.

I hope he improves. But really, does he look like a man whose heart is in it? Compare and contrast with Ryan Hoffman and what he added from the word go. His attitude was spot on.

You often argue that you are entitled to say what you see - as you did after Andy Powell's debut. Surely people are only doing the same.

[DaveO]

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 7:29 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I wonder when his family are coming over? That may help him to settle. As I posted on another thread, a friend rang me after Saturdays game predicting the anti Bowen tirade. He reminded me of how long it took Gene Miles to fit in and the stick he took. It's a good job t'internet wasn't around then.
Give him a couple of months before judging him.

I have also thought of Gene Miles and how he went early on and that is why I won't write him off so quickly.

I think the start of our season has been very disruptive but even so I didn't think he looked a bad player v Hudds.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 7:36 pm  

DaveO wrote:

I have also thought of Gene Miles and how he went early on and that is why I won't write him off so quickly.

I think the start of our season has been very disruptive but even so I didn't think he looked a bad player v Hudds.

You don't have to go that far back, look at St Pat...

[DaveO]

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 7:38 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

I hope he improves. But really, does he look like a man whose heart is in it? Compare and contrast with Ryan Hoffman and what he added from the word go. His attitude was spot on.

You often argue that you are entitled to say what you see - as you did after Andy Powell's debut. Surely people are only doing the same.

You think the two situations are the same? Bowen has proved he can do it and in theory the risk to this signing was his knees (my main reservation as I did acknowledge his skills). The risk with Powell was not only his age being against him but the fact he had never played the game and it was going to take more effort than it was worth to turn him into a good player. Given younger RU players than him took a while to get to grip with the game in the past I don't think I was being unduly unfair to him whereas I think it is a bit quick to write Bowen off.

I also thought Clubb looked far worse v Hudds than Bowen and I'd rather have us still have Hansen in that slot but again despite my bias toward Hansen it would be unfair to write Clubb off also.

If we are wanting to get rid of Bowen after those two games then there are several other players who by the same token should be leaving with him. Dudson was dire in the WCC so what about him as well?

[DaveO]

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 7:54 pm  

Wigan Peer wrote:

You don't have to go that far back, look at St Pat...

He was played in the wrong position though under a dubious coach. Miles like Bowen was coming into a good set up and played in his rightful position. Still got the same kind of flak as Bowen.

I am hoping class is permanent and from temporary with Bowen as was the case with Miles.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 8:23 pm  

DaveO wrote:

You think the two situations are the same? Bowen has proved he can do it and in theory the risk to this signing was his knees (my main reservation as I did acknowledge his skills). The risk with Powell was not only his age being against him but the fact he had never played the game and it was going to take more effort than it was worth to turn him into a good player. Given younger RU players than him took a while to get to grip with the game in the past I don't think I was being unduly unfair to him whereas I think it is a bit quick to write Bowen off.

I also thought Clubb looked far worse v Hudds than Bowen and I'd rather have us still have Hansen in that slot but again despite my bias toward Hansen it would be unfair to write Clubb off also.

If we are wanting to get rid of Bowen after those two games then there are several other players who by the same token should be leaving with him. Dudson was dire in the WCC so what about him as well?

I wouldn't criticise anyone who is trying. Bowen hasn't so far given any indication that he wants to be here.

As a world class player surely we can expect more from him than the likes of Clubb and Dudson and therefore the criticism is justified. I was so looking forward to him playing for us and maybe that's why he has attracted so much flack. Maybe he can't live up to the hype.

Maybe my memory is playing tricks but I really don't remember Gene Miles being so poor. I do remember an unbelievable spear tackle at Saints (not sure who the victim was). And he certainly is one of the best centres I've ever seen. Here's hoping Bowen can prove me wrong and he really does want to play for us.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:43 pm  

It generally takes overseas players 4 to 6 weeks to bed into the team, the style of rugby in super league and to get acclimatised to the weather and lifestyle over here.

I agree he's not set the world on fire yet but surely we can cut him a bit of slack and actually give him some support, to hopefully speed up the settling in process. We all want to see great performances by our team but criticism after so few games won't help anybody.

If he's not showing any signs of improvement by May then maybe some tough decisions need to be made by the management.

Re: Wakefield on Sunday. : Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:05 am  

Pugsley Snr wrote:

It generally takes overseas players 4 to 6 weeks to bed into the team, the style of rugby in super league and to get acclimatised to the weather and lifestyle over here.

I agree he's not set the world on fire yet but surely we can cut him a bit of slack and actually give him some support, to hopefully speed up the settling in process. We all want to see great performances by our team but criticism after so few games won't help anybody.

If he's not showing any signs of improvement by May then maybe some tough decisions need to be made by the management.

Thing is it might take Bowen 4-6 weeks, but why invest the time in him when Hampshire could well be ready now? Give him a chance to prove himself v Wakey, it's the perfect match for him, if he plays well and looks better than Bowen keep him in.

Lets not lose sight of the future, Bowen was only brought over as a stop gap between Sam and Hampshire, at Bowen's age and with his injuries he was never meant to be here long term. If Hampshire is ready already then I'm sorry but Bowen needs to play second fiddle to him.

Our long term is Hampshire not Bowen, he's our prize asset, it's about developing him at his pace. I'm not in agreement with Bowen slowing down his development.