Re: Dream Team 2023 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 1:02 pm  

CJamesy wrote:

Top second rower for metres made, 2nd for tackles and tries scored, an average year for Farrell by his standards is still better than any second rower.

Actually I’m a very big fan of Farrell in fact I’d put him the top 3 most influential players we’ve had so far this century along with SOL and Sam Tomkins.
I rarely look at stats and my view is more than likely clouded by comparing this season versus previous seasons exceptionally high standards of performance.

As an aside the best player imo in the competition isn’t in the 13 and statistically probably isn’t the top in any category but he’d be the first player I’d pick for my starting 13 namely Harry Smith.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:30 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Actually I’m a very big fan of Farrell in fact I’d put him the top 3 most influential players we’ve had so far this century along with SOL and Sam Tomkins.
I rarely look at stats and my view is more than likely clouded by comparing this season versus previous seasons exceptionally high standards of performance.

As an aside the best player imo in the competition isn’t in the 13 and statistically probably isn’t the top in any category but he’d be the first player I’d pick for my starting 13 namely Harry Smith.

I'm interested to see how Smith goes in the pressure games - he's certainly had a cracking season but I've previously felt he has some jitters in him when the pressure is on.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:54 am  

Smith is still relatively young. He did come up with that brilliant kick which Marshall got on the end of to score the match winning try in last year's C Cup Final.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:13 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Smith is still relatively young. He did come up with that brilliant kick which Marshall got on the end of to score the match winning try in last year's C Cup Final.

Yup, he’s really kicked on and would be my England 7 alongside Williams at 6.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:23 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Yup, he’s really kicked on and would be my England 7 alongside Williams at 6.

Definitely needs to be England's number 7, but then when i think of it is there any other realistic choices? Dodd maybe but i don't think he has shown the form for it this season.

A player that seems to get mentioned a lot in this discussion as being somebody to pick instead of Smith is Mikey Lewis, but to me he is an out-and-out 6, and Williams is also at his best when playing the 6 role. To me Lewis and Williams are fighting for the same spot and i would choose Williams without a second thought, both of them together would create an imbalance and lack of leadership.

Plus Williams and Smith have both played for Wigan, so that makes them an automatic pick for Wane anyway

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:53 am  

I wonder what is going to happen with Smith when Farrimond comes through. This kid is a once in a generation talent and they both (to my knowledge) seem proper 7s as opposed to one of them playing 6.

It will be interesting to see how Wigan manage this.

We have a similar problem in that we have a couple of really good 7s in the system (Whitby and Roberts) but I think Dodd will end up in the NRL. Not saying he is good enough for the NRL but I think a club will take a chance on him, therefore we'll have space for a 7

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:56 am  

1. Welsby
6. Williams
7. Smith

Absolute no brainer. Welsby & Williams both superb attacking an edge, be that giving a money ball or taking the line on. Smith in the 1st or 2nd (if playing off a forward) pivot role given his decent long passing game and generally picking the right option, plus his kicking game is by far the best of any of our halves. He's the organiser for the most consistent team in Super League, who don't necessarily have the strongest pack - massively underrated.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:00 am  

Stu M wrote:

I wonder what is going to happen with Smith when Farrimond comes through. This kid is a once in a generation talent and they both (to my knowledge) seem proper 7s as opposed to one of them playing 6.

It will be interesting to see how Wigan manage this.

We have a similar problem in that we have a couple of really good 7s in the system (Whitby and Roberts) but I think Dodd will end up in the NRL. Not saying he is good enough for the NRL but I think a club will take a chance on him, therefore we'll have space for a 7

I too have wondered about this, albeit I haven't seen much of Farrimond but believe he's outstanding beyond the usual hype around anyone remotely standout-ish at academy level. Is there even a way to accommodate both?

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:16 am  

Can't quote again for some reason but the point about Smith and Farrimond is a very apt one and something I've thought about myself. They both look classical game managers to me and in time, Farrimond would be seen as somebody who would control his side and it's not the norm to have a player of that style at both 6 and 7. If those 2 can play together I'm not too sure but I think we'll find out. When I watch Farrimond, I think he has a bit more running threat than Harry Smith and he looks to have a great step, so he would likely be the 6, to Harry Smith's 7. It's very early days though and there is plenty of water to go under the bridge yet before we need to worry about it.

Re: Dream Team 2023 : Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:27 am  

Again I can’t quote but what a lovely problem to have with us having Smith and Farrimond.
The problem maybe keeping Farrimond happy in the short term but I’m sure Peet will be communicating with Farrimond and his parents on a regular basis as to the plans to play him.