Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 12:20 pm  

exiled Warrior wrote:

I might agree with those points but I thought the French man of the match was a touch generous, he was good first half but didn't do much second half, I thought there were more deserving candidates , Smith , Bryne, Ellis and O'Neill were all in with a shout (surprised Miski didn't get it as usually anyone scoring 3 tries is a shoe-in for MOM regardless).

Still not sure of French at 6, but it is easier for him when the forwards get on top and he has space, just not sure of him in a tight game.

Still an excellent performance all round and shows what we can do - just need to keep it up for a few weeks and who knows what will happen - it is the inconsistency from week to week which could be our undoing.

Man of the Match is always going to be a matter of opinion. The point I was making is that he was in the mix and outplayed Tyrone May. You go on to say you're still not sure of French at 6 yet I'm guessing you'd be happy with May at 6? If so, how does that work?

I've even seen people suggesting that Keighran would be a preferable option there. Well we all saw them both perform last night. Does anyone still believe that?

That's the type of "Supercoach" rubbish that I was referring to.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 12:41 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Man of the Match is always going to be a matter of opinion. The point I was making is that he was in the mix and outplayed Tyrone May. You go on to say you're still not sure of French at 6 yet I'm guessing you'd be happy with May at 6? If so, how does that work?

I've even seen people suggesting that Keighran would be a preferable option there. Well we all saw them both perform last night. Does anyone still believe that?

That's the type of "Supercoach" rubbish that I was referring to.

I understand the point but hard to judge off the back of 1 performance especially when you consider how dominant our pack was.

I don’t think we’ve signed a dudd in Keighran just because he was outplayed by King yesterday.

FYI I’d love to keep King but I’m happy with Keighran as his replacement if that is not possible.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:49 pm  

jonh wrote:

I understand the point but hard to judge off the back of 1 performance especially when you consider how dominant our pack was.

I don’t think we’ve signed a dudd in Keighran just because he was outplayed by King yesterday.

FYI I’d love to keep King but I’m happy with Keighran as his replacement if that is not possible.

I don't think it is off the back of one performance Jon. He's been improving every game bar Hull, where everyone on both sides was poor, and not just in small increments but exponentially. Last night, after less than a dozen games in the position, he outplayed Tyrone May. I doubt anyone is suggesting "May is not a 6" but it seems fair game for the man who outperformed him! Do I think French is the finished article? No if course not! It would border on the miraculous if he was after so few games. Do I think he is showing he has the tools to succeed in the position? Absolutely in spades!

I'm not suggesting Keighran is a dud btw. Just rubbishing the idea that he would somehow be a better option than French at 6 as some have suggested. French has all the tools to be an exceptional 6 in this competition. All he lacks is the experience and he's even making that look like it isn't the hinderence it ought to be.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:56 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

I don't think it is off the back of one performance Jon. He's been improving every game bar Hull, where everyone on both sides was poor, and not just in small increments but exponentially. Last night, after less than a dozen games in the position, he outplayed Tyrone May. I doubt anyone is suggesting "May is not a 6" but it seems fair game for the man who outperformed him! Do I think French is the finished article? No if course not! It would border on the miraculous if he was after so few games. Do I think he is showing he has the tools to succeed in the position? Absolutely in spades!

I'm not suggesting Keighran is a dud btw. Just rubbishing the idea that he would somehow be a better option than French at 6 as some have suggested. French has all the tools to be an exceptional 6 in this competition. All he lacks is the experience and he's even making that look like it isn't the hinderence it ought to be.

I was in the French isn’t a half camp but I’m starting to be swayed.

I would prefer a specialist quality half but given the lack of them available I’m starting to go with him as a 6 option and as you say he is only going to get better for the experience.

I wouldn’t want May over him but then again I see him more as a utility than a speciality half, he had a stinker yesterday though it has to be said.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:13 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Man of the Match is always going to be a matter of opinion. The point I was making is that he was in the mix and outplayed Tyrone May. You go on to say you're still not sure of French at 6 yet I'm guessing you'd be happy with May at 6? If so, how does that work?

I've even seen people suggesting that Keighran would be a preferable option there. Well we all saw them both perform last night. Does anyone still believe that?

That's the type of "Supercoach" rubbish that I was referring to.

No I did not say that,I haven't seen enough of May to make that relevant nor Keighran who has been playing centre anyway, talk about putting words in peoples mouth - you really need to back off a bit sometimes, you come across as the very thing (supercoach/expert) you accuse other of.Opinions vary - that doesn't makes yours any more relevant or better than anyone elses.

I am not convinced by French as he is still learning and we have yet to see how he performs in the toughest games under pressure, will he make it as a 6? Possibly, but it is early days. He did a few eye catching things in the first half but faded quite a bit whereas Smith was gong all game - that 40/20 near the end was amazing . I hope he makes it as it would solve a lot of issues for us but he is far from a finished article as a 6 for now (and by his own admission he has little experience there) - can we rely on him in the play-offs or a GF?

There are areas of his game that show he is not a 6 by trade but he is learning but time will tell. That is my OPINION.

I would love us to sign a top quality 6 as it would improve us massively but that looks unlikely as there are few available - French may be the answer but there are still areas he can improve.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:39 pm  

exiled Warrior wrote:

No I did not say that,I haven't seen enough of May to make that relevant nor Keighran who has been playing centre anyway, talk about putting words in peoples mouth - you really need to back off a bit sometimes, you come across as the very thing (supercoach/expert) you accuse other of.Opinions vary - that doesn't makes yours any more relevant or better than anyone elses.

I am not convinced by French as he is still learning and we have yet to see how he performs in the toughest games under pressure, will he make it as a 6? Possibly, but it is early days. He did a few eye catching things in the first half but faded quite a bit whereas Smith was gong all game - that 40/20 near the end was amazing . I hope he makes it as it would solve a lot of issues for us but he is far from a finished article as a 6 for now (and by his own admission he has little experience there) - can we rely on him in the play-offs or a GF?

There are areas of his game that show he is not a 6 by trade but he is learning but time will tell. That is my OPINION.

I would love us to sign a top quality 6 as it would improve us massively but that looks unlikely as there are few available - French may be the answer but there are still areas he can improve.

I said "I'm guessing" and "if so" so I wasn't putting words in anyone's mouth. I also never mentioned Keighran in relation to you at all, unless you actually said you thought he was a better option there, which you're saying you didn't. How come I need to back off for giving an opinion but you don't for giving yours?

Anyway on to the actual thing we're discussing. You're entitled to your opinion. Of course you are. But equally it shouldn't be unmovable. If you're one of the ones saying French isn't a 6 (I don't know if you are) then could you tell me which areas of his game, experience excluded, where you feel he doesn't have the necessary tools to become a top 6?

Btw, didn't French move to full back in the 2nd half?

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:23 pm  

French has all the skills for a number 6,that little kick through for the try a number 6 would be proud of.
His willingness to learn and the talent he already has will make him a brilliant number 6 I have no doubts.

Only my opinion though.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:39 pm  

Mine too. He has the best feet in superleague, defends as well as any half (and better than most), has an excellent short kicking game and his passing ability, as his try assists attest, is top draw.

He needs to work on pass selection, although that has improved massively in relatively few games and needs to refine the balance between run and pass options which also has improved and was excellent last night. Both of those things are experience rather than ability related though so, as I say, I think with more games under his belt and after a full pre season we'll have a quality stand off next year.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 5:32 pm  

Jason65 wrote:

French has all the skills for a number 6,that little kick through for the try a number 6 would be proud of.
His willingness to learn and the talent he already has will make him a brilliant number 6 I have no doubts.

Only my opinion though.

He took on the line for his try also. I think he’ll do fine and hopefully in the pre season he’ll develop as a 6 and the partnership with him and Harry will grow.

Re: Catalans (a) : Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:13 pm  

jonh wrote:

I understand the point but hard to judge off the back of 1 performance especially when you consider how dominant our pack was.

I don’t think we’ve signed a dudd in Keighran just because he was outplayed by King yesterday.

FYI I’d love to keep King but I’m happy with Keighran as his replacement if that is not possible.

I saw a comment on the other forum saying he looked rubbish and they didn’t know why we’d bothered signing him. You can’t make it up sometimes! One iffy game doesn’t alter him having a very good season. I looked at combined try and assist stats for centres the other day and Keighran (on 18) was the only player above King and Wardle (both on 16 at the time but now on 17). He’ll be more Wardle in style than King but that’s fine, as long as what looks a better pack fires.