Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:05 am  

jonh wrote:

The frustrating thing is we are judging the form of our players from how they have performed in a system that doesn’t bring the best out of them. MM was average at best last year so you would say, on the face of that, let him go and free up cap space etc.

He has however looked a totally different player in the systems employed by Ireland at the World Cup, proving asking questions and showing some craft at 9, exactly the type of 9 we need.

Tommy again went from being a really controlling 7, providing a great foul for Johnson at NZ Warriors to a headless chicken offering very little direction and leadership.

You don’t become a poor/good player overnight. I think it is clear the system we have employed has let a lot of the players down also to the extent we have so few representing England.

We are being told the systems are likely to change and we may see the best of this team and individuals because of that, if we do MM suddenly becomes a big miss.

Thirded.

But I do also think we won’t miss him as much as we might think. I’ve long expected MM to be moved on in this off season so this doesn’t really come as a surprise - albeit I expected him to go to a SL side rather than an NRL side.

This now paves the way for Escare starting FB and Sam moving into the halves alongside Williams where he now belongs. It also frees up some more cap space enabling us to look at bringing in another prop, or even (dare I say it) Ben Currie - must say I don’t really believe this rumour.

Short term it’s a bit of a kick in the gonads but long term I do think it’s best all round.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 1:04 pm  

Rubbish to anyone that thinks that TL is better than MM.

Ship TL upstairs ASAP as he has been shocking since his return. MM is an absolute beast for us.

If he goes to the NRL i will be gutted as he is one of the most important cogs for us in both attack and defence.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 1:16 pm  

tugglesf78 wrote:

he is one of the most important cogs for us in both attack and defence.

What is he doing that makes you say that? Or do you mean in the general sense that he is playing in an important position? He is aggressive in defence, but Leuluai is clearly a bigger hitter. Can't ever remember him doing much special in attack even at his peak. Leuluai is off form, but at least we know he has the attacking prowess when in form. You must see something I don't in McIlorum. To me he is an experienced, fairly average SL hooker who plays for a top team.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 2:13 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Can't ever remember him doing much special in attack even at his peak.

This. MM is aggressive enough, but he's not a gamechanger and not dynamic enough in attack for me. Powell will give you 75% of what he can do. We need more pace and go forward at hooker imo. We swap hookers and it's like for like which just keeps us looking very predictable.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 2:30 pm  

NZ Warriors want Gelling to sign for them mmmmmmmmm

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 3:12 pm  

I fully understand the benefits of allowing MM to leave but I’m not convinced we have enough hooking options going forward. I do think it’s Tommy’s best position but he only has 1 year left on his playing contract. I don’t see Powell and Ganson being enough for 2019 after Leuluai retires. I accept Powell did a good job covering for McIlorum’s injury but I don’t see him as our long term 9.

It will force Wane’s hand with Tomkins and Escare and that might be a real blessing for us but a new, dynamic hooker would have to come in for 2019.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 4:33 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Or any other left centre available, including Gildart, Shenton etc.

Unfortunately, yes. I'd have liked to have seen either in the squad.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:37 pm  

How many of us genuinely feel we missed MM during the season he was out with his broken leg?
Powell did fine for us, IMO. He would do so again for me. It’s a shame pedestrian TL won’t retire and leave SP to it on his own at 9.

MM has been a great servant for us, all credit to him. I just don’t feel it’s as big a loss now as it may have been 3 or 5 years ago, say.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:40 pm  

Azul wrote:

How many of us genuinely feel we missed MM during the season he was out with his broken leg?
Powell did fine for us, IMO. He would do so again for me. It’s a shame pedestrian TL won’t retire and leave SP to it on his own at 9.

MM has been a great servant for us, all credit to him. I just don’t feel it’s as big a loss now as it may have been 3 or 5 years ago, say.

Powell offers nothing in attack and whilst he provides adequate cover for injury, he should never be our 1st choice 9.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 29, 2017 10:39 pm  

Our hookers will never be effective with our game plan. Cam Smith would look average!