: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:03 pm  

vastman wrote:

Agreed, at SL level injuries etc permitting he will hold his own and be a useful squad member.

However to be in that top group of "f-ing good" you need a bit more.

James Graham plays for Saints which helps - but he is also

1: A very big man, about 3" taller and a stone heavier.

2: More athletic, faster and more agile. Also has an engine that allows him to play for 80 mins.

3: Proper hard as nails.

4: Clever footballer with that winners mentality.

None of the above can be matched by Huby and IMHO never will, same applies to Bibey and Feather for that matter.

You've not seen enough of him this season, Craig Huby is getting better all the time, he has put on weight but it's all muscle, he has a really good rugby brain, is no slouch across the park, is strong as an ox and really does take some tackling, as I'm sure Sheffuddersfield will testify to that, plus he's an excellent goal kicker to boot! The majority of props get better with age and that is true of Craig, but the best is still yet to come and I must add that he's as tough as any player in superleague.

Say what you want Vasty, but I would much rather have Huby than Graham in my side, have to accept what you say about Bibey, as not seen too much of him, but Feather is also finally realising his great potential.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:17 pm  

Dowes, Cusack, Moa, Thackary and Radford will bitch him on Friday night

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:28 pm  

Irregs #16 wrote:

Dowes, Cusack, Moa, Thackary and Radford will bitch him on Friday night

To be fair, if he can draw five onto him he probably won't mind getting 'bitched'.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:42 pm  

Disco wrote:

To be fair, if he can draw five onto him he probably won't mind getting 'bitched'.

In all honesty though, it will be good to see how he goes. Its been documented in the papers etc that our forwards are a lot "meaner" in defence this year, our forwards have won us every game so far, gang tackling - its been refreshing to watch!

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:36 pm  

danny boy1 wrote:

You've not seen enough of him this season, Craig Huby is getting better all the time, he has put on weight but it's all muscle, he has a really good rugby brain, is no slouch across the park, is strong as an ox and really does take some tackling, as I'm sure Sheffuddersfield will testify to that, plus he's an excellent goal kicker to boot! The majority of props get better with age and that is true of Craig, but the best is still yet to come and I must add that he's as tough as any player in superleague.

Say what you want Vasty, but I would much rather have Huby than Graham in my side, have to accept what you say about Bibey, as not seen too much of him, but Feather is also finally realising his great potential.

I accept your opinion but I have my reservations, I haven't seen Graham play this year but last year he was simply head and shoulders above any prop in SL. Given that if I were buying a team from scratch he would be the first prop I'd get by a mile.

Much as I admire all the packmen at Trinity none of them are as good as Graham although they have their moments. Same applies at Cas pack, don't confuse effort, teamwork, commitment and a general ability to do the job with genuine class - they are not the same. I've seen James Graham play a lot and feel I can judge, he is f-ing good. I've seen enough of Huby to know he isn't in that league - maybe one day in a Danny Nuttley fashion, but it's a big maybe.

I'm even more certain Chris Feather will never be that good, he simply lacks a ticker and that will always be his downfall. That doesn't mean he won't do you a job he will, but don't be taken in that killer instinct simply isn't there. I'm not convinced it can ever be added, you either have it or you don't.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:34 pm  

vastman wrote:

I accept your opinion but I have my reservations, I haven't seen Graham play this year but last year he was simply head and shoulders above any prop in SL. Given that if I were buying a team from scratch he would be the first prop I'd get by a mile.

Much as I admire all the packmen at Trinity none of them are as good as Graham although they have their moments. Same applies at Cas pack, don't confuse effort, teamwork, commitment and a general ability to do the job with genuine class - they are not the same. I've seen James Graham play a lot and feel I can judge, he is f-ing good. I've seen enough of Huby to know he isn't in that league - maybe one day in a Danny Nuttley fashion, but it's a big maybe.
I'm even more certain Chris Feather will never be that good, he simply lacks a ticker and that will always be his downfall. That doesn't mean he won't do you a job he will, but don't be taken in that killer instinct simply isn't there. I'm not convinced it can ever be added, you either have it or you don't.

If Huby one day will be as good as Nutley was for us in 2006 then by definition he will be better than Graham (which im not suggesting Huby will ever be FWIW) Nutley was by far the best prop standard wise iv ever seen play at Cas and not far off being the best SL has seen.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:56 pm  

nutley was super human in the season he spent with us.you could have taken 3 or players out that cas team and with nutley in it we still would have had same result.Nutley was immense opened my eyes to just how much you can actually get out of a prop forward.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:25 pm  

Cas Till I Die wrote:

If Huby one day will be as good as Nutley was for us in 2006 then by definition he will be better than Graham (which im not suggesting Huby will ever be FWIW) Nutley was by far the best prop standard wise iv ever seen play at Cas and not far off being the best SL has seen.

Not at all. I never said he was as good as Nutley I said in a Nutley kind of way. That means a player who was a decent plodder for most of his career but found a niche for himself towards the end where sheer effort and experience took over. He was a bit of a freak to be honest but I admire him for it, perserverance paid off. If Huby, Feather, Bibey or Bibb manage there version of the above I will be delighted.

However let's not get caught in the trap of mistaking the ability to do the job for actual ability. In which case Graham is the better player by some way, remember this lad is 23 and has more medals than you can poke a stick at. He is already a vital cog in arguably the best team of the SL era. Nutley never did that, he was OK at Warrington, had a swan song season in the NRL and a solid season at Cas. Graham is also rated by the Aussies which in itself is a big achivement.

This really is a silly argument as I can't really see how anybody can deny this lads ability, I don't and I'm no Saints fan. It's not based on opinion or potential it's real - end of.

Now have you got any spare props we can borrow as Bibey is now injured and we are a bit stuffed - ta

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:28 pm  

vastman wrote:

Not at all. I never said he was as good as Nutley I said in a Nutley kind of way. That means a player who was a decent plodder for most of his career but found a niche for himself towards the end where sheer effort and experience took over. He was a bit of a freak to be honest but I admire him for it, perserverance paid off. If Huby, Feather, Bibey or Bibb manage there version of the above I will be delighted.

However let's not get caught in the trap of mistaking the ability to do the job for actual ability. In which case Graham is the better player by some way, remember this lad is 23 and has more medals than you can poke a stick at. He is already a vital cog in arguably the best team of the SL era. Nutley never did that, he was OK at Warrington, had a swan song season in the NRL and a solid season at Cas. Graham is also rated by the Aussies which in itself is a big achivement.

This really is a silly argument as I can't really see how anybody can deny this lads ability, I don't and I'm no Saints fan. It's not based on opinion or potential it's real - end of.

Now have you got any spare props we can borrow as Bibey is now injured and we are a bit stuffed - ta

You can have Massey- on loan

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm  

I think Vasty has hit the nail on the head when he said that Huby is the sort of player the home fans rate: Tough, uncompromsing, unsung, committed, loyal and local. He's never going to be world class, which JG may well go on to be, but he's our Huby and I for one think he has been very good so far this year.
Each year all I ask from Huby is that he progresses as a player and I think he has delivered every time. Long may iy continue.