: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:33 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Right so if we've signed Griffin and an NRL prop, some people are saying that Coley has been offered a new deal? What about Bailey too, surely we can't have signed 2 forwards and then renewed deals for Bailey and Coley? Wouldn't be fair on the likes of Mossop, Prescott and O'Carroll

If it's an NRL prop / second row and Griffin, then it's got to be the door for Bailey. The number of imports has to start coming down, not expanding.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:41 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

If it's an NRL prop / second row and Griffin, then it's got to be the door for Bailey. The number of imports has to start coming down, not expanding.

I agree there's nothing Bailey does that Joel, Hansen or Mossop can't do apart from be vocal on the field. So if we could replace his leadership there is no need for Bailey

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:08 pm  

Griffins stats for the last two seasons do not stand up overall to either Fielden (who was appalling for a large part of last season and has hardly been ripping up tree this) or Feka (who has generally better stats despite his limited game time).

If this is the level of signing we're making, we're actually going backward and shows the leadership of the club has accepted mediocrity as well as most of the fans.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:32 pm  

Griffin would only be a positive signing if he allowed us to replace a far more expensive player of equivalent quality, or a quota spot.
If he does neither of those, it is a poor signing. We already have 3 young front rowers who need game time, as well as Feka, Fielden and Coley.
If he comes, it can only be to release Coley or move him to 2nd row to release Bailey (which would leave us needing a new vice skipper/pack leader).

IF he comes, we could only truly judge once the squad is complete, and he had played a few games. At least they would be no 'acclimitising' period with him ! But it would not be a signing I would be overly impressed by.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:35 pm  

Wigan/Leeds Andy wrote:

Griffins stats for the last two seasons do not stand up overall to either Fielden (who was appalling for a large part of last season and has hardly been ripping up tree this) or Feka (who has generally better stats despite his limited game time).

If this is the level of signing we're making, we're actually going backward and shows the leadership of the club has accepted mediocrity as well as most of the fans.

I've think you've missed the point here.

No one is saying they want Griffin as our main prop signing but IF we sign a top Aussie prop AND Griffin it will be a good piece of Business as Griffin will only be playing as our 4th choice prop.

As far as I can see in the league there are very few fourth choice props who are better than him imo (Bailey at Leeds is gash as is Hargreaves etc).

I’d liken his signing to that of Fozzard at Saints as no one ever rated him but he’s a tough no nonsense guy who will rattle some feathers which is what we desperately need.

But then some fans will never be happy and think we can sign superstars in every position.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:46 pm  

thepriestman85 wrote:

I've think you've missed the point here.

No one is saying they want Griffin as our main prop signing but IF we sign a top Aussie prop AND Griffin it will be a good piece of Business as Griffin will only be playing as our 4th choice prop.

As far as I can see in the league there are very few fourth choice props who are better than him imo (Bailey at Leeds is gash as is Hargreaves etc).

but why we would we want him as a 4th prop when we have prescott, ocarroll and mossop ?

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:54 pm  

ShortArse wrote:

but why we would we want him as a 4th prop when we have prescott, ocarroll and mossop ?

He is big and aggressive, a pack containing Coley, Feka, Griffin, our potential NRL recruit would finally have some size yard making capability in it.

As i said earlier the lad has not really done it at Hudds but he has great potential and got an England cap on merit.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:57 pm  

ShortArse wrote:

but why we would we want him as a 4th prop when we have prescott, ocarroll and mossop ?

I think in the modern day game you need 5 props to cover injuries and loss of form etc

1-New Prop
2-Feka
3-Fielden
4-Griffin
5-Prescott

I don't think O’Carroll has a future at the club sadly as at one stage it's gonna have to be him or Prescott and i think Prescott is the better player. O’Carroll has been lucky in that he got injured when he did. Next season could already be a write off as he has to find fitness and then form. It’s a big ask for him to work his way into serious contention till anything like the end of next season. We can’t run short in the props again

Mossop MAY develop into a prop but at the moment he’s just a good youngster who plays 2nd row.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:10 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I believe he is - clearly not of the standard of the three you put forward but by 'best' I was referring to the top 7 or 8.

James Graham
Jamie Peacock
Adrian Morley
Tony Puletua
Sam Burgess
Andy Lynch
Jason Ryles
Jerome Guissett
David Ferriol
Gareth Carvell
Mick Vella

He doesn't come close.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:11 pm  

thepriestman85 wrote:

I think in the modern day game you need 5 props to cover injuries and loss of form etc

1-New Prop
2-Feka
3-Fielden
4-Griffin
5-Prescott

I don't think O’Carroll has a future at the club sadly as at one stage it's gonna have to be him or Prescott and i think Prescott is the better player. O’Carroll has been lucky in that he got injured when he did. Next season could already be a write off as he has to find fitness and then form. It’s a big ask for him to work his way into serious contention till anything like the end of next season. We can’t run short in the props again

Mossop MAY develop into a prop but at the moment he’s just a good youngster who plays 2nd row.

If we sign the NRL Prop he is also very comfortable in the secondrow, so we would have lots of options across the pack with some real genuine size and a pretty good set of backs.