Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 8:45 am  

Stu M wrote:

Interesting comments from Graham on NRL360
Said that Souths have made an illegal approach for Delaney and Saints are fuming.

I don't think Souths or any NRL club will be bothered. They will carry on approaching who they want as they don't respect anything over here.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:01 am  

Chan two week loan to Hull FC

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:23 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Chan coming on loan to Hull this week, can he play backrow, that probably where we are weakest right now?

He has played there for us but wasn't massively successful in the position. That said, a lot of us, myself included, think that's where he would be best to concentrate his efforts going forward. Whether that would be helpful to yourselves short term is debatable though. If you're short in the back row he may go better at 13. Whole hearted player who runs it in hard. He should do well for you.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:31 am  

It would be good for Wigan if he does get a go in the second row and plays well in the position. Our need there longer term is certainly greater than prop. I like the looks of him as a ball playing loose forward in the reserves mind and if we ever decide to move Ellis from loose forward, he would probably be my choice to go in there, over us just running an extra out and out prop in there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:41 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

It would be good for Wigan if he does get a go in the second row and plays well in the position. Our need there longer term is certainly greater than prop. I like the looks of him as a ball playing loose forward in the reserves mind and if we ever decide to move Ellis from loose forward, he would probably be my choice to go in there, over us just running an extra out and out prop in there.

He does look handy at 13 and could develop well there. As you say though, we could really do with him converting to a strong running 2nd row and I reckon he's got the tools to do that. Maybe that's behind the Hull loan, given their need there?

I like Mago at 13. He's got good hands and moves the ball well whilst still having the powerful running game that the extra prop option brings. He seems to have the fitness levels to play extended minutes now too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:44 am  

I was going to say about Mago; he has played 13 a bit, hasn't he? Can pick a pass as well as having an offload. It's another option, at least.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 10:51 am  

I'd move Mago to 13 this weekend if I thought he could do the minutes you need from somebody in that position. His handling ability is superb and comfortably better than what we've seen from Ellis so far. He's worked hard on his fitness and it's much better but you'd still need to get another stone or more off him if we wanted to use him as a starting 13 IMO. As things stand he's a good option to use there in shorter bursts for sure but probably not a starting option.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 11:02 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I'd move Mago to 13 this weekend if I thought he could do the minutes you need from somebody in that position. His handling ability is superb and comfortably better than what we've seen from Ellis so far. He's worked hard on his fitness and it's much better but you'd still need to get another stone or more off him if we wanted to use him as a starting 13 IMO. As things stand he's a good option to use there in shorter bursts for sure but probably not a starting option.

Do you not think the minutes thing is a hangover from his previous lack of fitness rather than anything we're seeing now? He's played longish minutes on occasion already this season and didn't seem to be struggling in any way? Ellis isn't playing long minutes there as a rule either.

Mago isn't the "tackling machine" 13 we're used to seeing there but he brings other things that, say Smithies, didn't. It's a trade off, for sure, but it's certainly one that gives that something extra in attack.

That said, I don't think Peet would go that way as he likes a tight defense, particularly in the opening stages of matches.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 11:14 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

He does look handy at 13 and could develop well there. As you say though, we could really do with him converting to a strong running 2nd row and I reckon he's got the tools to do that. Maybe that's behind the Hull loan, given their need there?

I like Mago at 13. He's got good hands and moves the ball well whilst still having the powerful running game that the extra prop option brings. He seems to have the fitness levels to play extended minutes now too.

Mago for me needs to come off the bench. He is best used as impact in my opinion either side of half time.

His fitness has obviously improved significantly but I still think he lacks a bit of mobility and can be targeted by fresh legs.

For me throw on the older heads early in the arm wrestle in Cooper and Thompson backed by Mr Consistent in Havard (who swear is morphing into Fielden) then rotate the 2 older lads for Dupree and Mago leaving Havard on for longer.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 07, 2024 11:23 am  

jonh wrote:

Mago for me needs to come off the bench. He is best used as impact in my opinion either side of half time.

His fitness has obviously improved significantly but I still think he lacks a bit of mobility and can be targeted by fresh legs.

For me throw on the older heads early in the arm wrestle in Cooper and Thompson backed by Mr Consistent in Havard (who swear is morphing into Fielden) then rotate the 2 older lads for Dupree and Mago leaving Havard on for longer.

Harvard is a freak in the best possible sense of that term. I've been watching the game a long time and I don't ever recall a player who could spend a protracted time on the sidelines and come back as though he hasn't missed a minute in the way he can! It's crazy just how good he could be if he could get an injury free couple of years.

I suppose that's my only concern and I hope he doesn't follow the path of Dom Manfredi. Dom could have been one of the best ever were it not for injuries.