Re: Hull KR : Sat Mar 07, 2020 11:28 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

One of the strongest and getting stronger. There’s potential for this set of props we have coming through to be absolutely outstanding in a couple of years.

Couldn’t disagree more in the short term
We haven’t got one prop who can do more than 15 minutes effectively
Clark was a sub today for the reserves
I want 2 60 minute props which eventually Bryne and Havard may deliver
15 minute props is still our Achilles heel
Longer term I’m quite happy with the prospects of our props but short term we still have too many props who can’t do plus 100 meters per game
Saints game will be a good indicator just how much we have or haven’t improved
Longer term I can see the shoots of improvement but this season it’s still an area where any game I wouldn’t be surprised if we got turned over

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 1:01 am  

Injuries excepted I think we’ll find out on Good Friday what Lam thinks his strongest side is.

Personally I’m happy to see the props rotated over the first 2/3rds of the season. If they are fresh and fit at the business end then hopefully we could see the benefit.

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:45 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Couldn’t disagree more in the short term
We haven’t got one prop who can do more than 15 minutes effectively
Clark was a sub today for the reserves
I want 2 60 minute props which eventually Bryne and Havard may deliver
15 minute props is still our Achilles heel
Longer term I’m quite happy with the prospects of our props but short term we still have too many props who can’t do plus 100 meters per game
Saints game will be a good indicator just how much we have or haven’t improved
Longer term I can see the shoots of improvement but this season it’s still an area where any game I wouldn’t be surprised if we got turned over

Surely rotation is our game plan rather than it being because the props can’t do longer than 15-20 mins at a time? In fairness we’ve also seen various props (not Clubb) do spells of 30 mins plus this season. I’m pretty sure Partington and Byrne have done longer spells and George Burgess seemed to do a reasonable first spell last week. It probably was optimistic to call it one of our strongest areas thinking again but I’m certainly far more positive about the prop situation then I have been for a number of years. It’s looking pretty good IMO and I see signs those young lads are learning and improving.

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:01 am  

Lam said in an interview on Wigan t.v. that he intends to rotate his props as much as possible in the early part of the season.
If you look at what he has at his disposal.
Clubb, Flower, Burgess, Byrne, Bullock, Havard, Partington and Clark. Then add Kilner and Wells.
There aren't enough reserves games to fit them all in ( a major problem IMO)

Bullock can probably count himself unlucky, but, that dropped ball from the kick off and the try conceded when he was one of the markers will have had an influence on Lams decision.

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:28 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Surely rotation is our game plan rather than it being because the props can’t do longer than 15-20 mins at a time? In fairness we’ve also seen various props (not Clubb) do spells of 30 mins plus this season. I’m pretty sure Partington and Byrne have done longer spells and George Burgess seemed to do a reasonable first spell last week. It probably was optimistic to call it one of our strongest areas thinking again but I’m certainly far more positive about the prop situation then I have been for a number of years. It’s looking pretty good IMO and I see signs those young lads are learning and improving.

I don't think it was optimistic at all NK. The emergence of Partington and Byrne as genuine starters and the addition of a still clearly destructive Burgess coupled with Clark and Bullock (with a full year and pre season behind him) who have both shown themselves to have good minutes and good go forward has transformed our front row options. That's before we get to Havard, Kilner and Wells. This time last year we were pretty much looking at Clubb and Flower with some raw inexperience to back them up. That is some difference! Notice I haven't mentioned Flower for this year and who was our first choice prop last year. This time around he has to prove himself in order to get in front of at least 5 others!

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:42 am  

Also it's a short turnaround so Lam will probably shuffle the pack around again on Friday at Salford.

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:46 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Saints game will be a good indicator just how much we have or haven’t improved
Longer term I can see the shoots of improvement but this season it’s still an area where any game I wouldn’t be surprised if we got turned over

We didn't win a single "big game" last season because we were bullied in the pack. I was hoping Burgess and Clark would fix that but I'm not convinced yet. As good as Hastings is/has been like all halves he will be useless behind an ineffective pack.

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 11:24 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Surely rotation is our game plan rather than it being because the props can’t do longer than 15-20 mins at a time? In fairness we’ve also seen various props (not Clubb) do spells of 30 mins plus this season. I’m pretty sure Partington and Byrne have done longer spells and George Burgess seemed to do a reasonable first spell last week. It probably was optimistic to call it one of our strongest areas thinking again but I’m certainly far more positive about the prop situation then I have been for a number of years. It’s looking pretty good IMO and I see signs those young lads are learning and improving.

I agree that we are improving on the prop front but are overly reliant at the moment on the young guys ie under 20/21 to do the big minutes and start the game
We have some cracking young lads coming through and if we can keep them together in 2 or 3 years we could have a serious pack
I hope Havard and Flower go well today and Flower as starting prop sounds far better than Clubb

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 11:29 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

We didn't win a single "big game" last season because we were bullied in the pack. I was hoping Burgess and Clark would fix that but I'm not convinced yet. As good as Hastings is/has been like all halves he will be useless behind an ineffective pack.

I’ve seen nothing from Clark to suggest he will become a regular first teamed and he is obviously behind the kids in Lam’s eyes
This year for me depends on how much of impact GB has on the pack if we are competitive in the big games

Re: Hull KR : Sun Mar 08, 2020 11:42 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I don't think it was optimistic at all NK. The emergence of Partington and Byrne as genuine starters and the addition of a still clearly destructive Burgess coupled with Clark and Bullock (with a full year and pre season behind him) who have both shown themselves to have good minutes and good go forward has transformed our front row options. That's before we get to Havard, Kilner and Wells. This time last year we were pretty much looking at Clubb and Flower with some raw inexperience to back them up. That is some difference! Notice I haven't mentioned Flower for this year and who was our first choice prop last year. This time around he has to prove himself in order to get in front of at least 5 others!

I think the right call would be to say it has the potential to be one of our strongest areas. I say that because I’m truth I’m looking all round the side at the minute and we look strong in most positions, especially when we’re at full strength. Good quality starting players and good quality back up in pretty much every area.