Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:46 pm  

mwindass wrote:

If fit, I think we'll line up:

Walker
Tindall
Sutcliffe
Carlos
Mcintosh

Hoy
Brown

Ese'ese
Houghton
Sao
Okunbur
Scott
Cator

Pele
Ashworth
Lane
Smith

When Truman is back, Brown goes to 9 with Houghton/Balmforth and Smith fighting it out for a bench spot.

Maybe it's just me, the backline looks pretty blunt in terms of linbreaks. The front row is improved but the back row needs some work, Okunbur needs to hit the ground running.

That 17 won't improve our 10th place finish IMO, have to take some risks.

Walker
Mitch
Carlos
Sutcliffe
Tindall
Hoy
Brown
Sao
Houghton
Ese Ese
Ashworth
Okunbor
Fash

Pele
Brown
Scott
Balmforth

Mcintosh, Cator, Lane should not be in our strongest 17.

Be great if Balmforth goes well, so when Trueman is back we could use Brown at 9 or 13 depending how Houghton starts the season.

Hopefully Staverley and the French lad will challenge Fash and Jack Brown.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:47 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Big question and wish imo is can Trueman, hoy and walker stay fit ?

Definitely a concern, we do have a bit more depth this year with Litten, Harman, Medforth, Smith and Brown.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:50 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Houghton probably not.

Trueman and Walker definitely, both proved there worth last season, Walker was probably Rovers best players after the cup final and just look at our win ratio when Trueman played.

Trueman probably would as i rate him as was just a question

But walker struggling to see who he's better than?

Field, welsby, mourgue, dufty all definitely no

I rate brierley and obrien

Hiku is apparently playing full back for them which i dont understand as ive only ever seen him play centre but is still a new zealand international

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:03 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Trueman probably would as i rate him as was just a question

But walker struggling to see who he's better than?

Field, welsby, mourgue, dufty all definitely no

I rate brierley and obrien

Hiku is apparently playing full back for them which i dont understand as ive only ever seen him play centre but is still a new zealand international

Morgue still alot to prove, Walker is better than Obrien, also different type of player to the likes of Brierley.

Hiku is a poor signing IMO, looked like his legs have gone, he may have been a NZ international but was awful last year, huge gamble to play him FB, think Evalds will end up there and Hiku at centre.

If he can stay fit, Walker is an excellent signing, is strong, quick and very strong defensively. Just can he stay fit.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:12 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Morgue still alot to prove, Walker is better than Obrien, also different type of player to the likes of Brierley.

Hiku is a poor signing IMO, looked like his legs have gone, he may have been a NZ international but was awful last year, huge gamble to play him FB, think Evalds will end up there and Hiku at centre.

If he can stay fit, Walker is an excellent signing, is strong, quick and very strong defensively. Just can he stay fit.

Mourgue is a gunna be class was one of catalan biggest attacking threats

Obviously only reason he wasn't full back is cause of Tomkins been there

Really ? Obrien is massively under rated and has played well where ever he's been

Walker got released from a poor leeds team couldn't even get infront of Richie myler who has now been replaced by a nrl full back himself

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:19 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Mourgue is a gunna be class was one of catalan biggest attacking threats

Obviously only reason he wasn't full back is cause of Tomkins been there

Really ? Obrien is massively under rated and has played well where ever he's been

Walker got released from a poor leeds team couldn't even get infront of Richie myler who has now been replaced by a nrl full back himself

I always had the impression Walker was released from Leeds because he couldn't get on the pitch for any length of time and they couldn't justify the squad place any longer rather than any reflection on his ability. He's always been quite highly rated.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:20 pm  

Is it just me that doesn't rate Mitch? We had a great player in naulago and I feel like people are hoping it will be replicated in Mitch, but I've not seen it yet...maybe ok as a fringe player, but not a starting winger/centre for a top 6 team

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:23 pm  

[*]

Steve0 wrote:

Is it just me that doesn't rate Mitch? We had a great player in naulago and I feel like people are hoping it will be replicated in Mitch, but I've not seen it yet...maybe ok as a fringe player, but not a starting winger/centre for a top 6 team

It's a fair point, he certainly isn't in Ratus league, not many are, he has more potential than Mcintosh IMO quicker, stronger and a better defender. No world beater, but you dint Nedd that as a winger if you have better players in more key positions.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:26 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Mourgue is a gunna be class was one of catalan biggest attacking threats

Obviously only reason he wasn't full back is cause of Tomkins been there

Really ? Obrien is massively under rated and has played well where ever he's been

Walker got released from a poor leeds team couldn't even get infront of Richie myler who has now been replaced by a nrl full back himself

Tyler Dupree was released from Leeds, alot of other examples too, the main reason Walker was released was injuries, hard to belive he is only 24. Hopefully has a change of luck.

Last season he played a starring role for a team in the play offs, their fans were desperate for him to stay too.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:32 pm  

Mitch is 29. Personally I wouldn't have given him another contract.

I'm not sure how much improvement he's got in him at his age and coming off his injury