: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:21 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Nice praise from McClennan after a back rower plays a full game in the back row and receives some well deserved plaudits. I don't recall any such kind words from McClennan when Ablett has filled in at centre. Perhaps I missed it?

If I kept archives I'd dig through them.

Does Mclennan reserve all the praise for his players for the back pages of the YEP?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:40 pm  

G1 wrote:

Centres are irrelevant. The spine of the team 1,6, 7, 9, 13 are what brings success.

Missing the point G1. We have world class players in positions 1,6,7,9 & 13 so you suggesting we sit on our laurels and don't try to strengthen the rest of the squad?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:47 pm  

tigertot wrote:

He might be the same build but they must be 3 or 4" taller. I cannot think of any top quality centre who has been as short as Gibson. He will not be able to develop the power that is needed to go with his obvious skills. Not a dig at him, just as I see it. England & Leeds need a great centre to replace Senior, the best player of any position of the SL era IMO, it's not going to be Gibson I'm afraid.

How tall was Scott Gibbs? Or Inga Tuigamala?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:48 pm  

RoyFrancis wrote:

Missing the point G1. We have world class players in positions 1,6,7,9 & 13 so you suggesting we sit on our laurels and don't try to strengthen the rest of the squad?

Those positions have been filled by home-grown players this season.

We have the opportunity to develop another couple in Watkins and Gibson.

Or we could go out and sign a World Class centre like, say, erm, Matt King.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:11 am  

With Smiths alledged impending move to Saracens in June and Eastwoods visa problem will GH just go with what we have got or pull out another signing mid term ?

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:13 am  

G1 wrote:

Those positions have been filled by home-grown players this season.

We have the opportunity to develop another couple in Watkins and Gibson.

Or we could go out and sign a World Class centre like, say, erm, Matt King.

Good point G1 , Thing is IMO this years so called challengers are way behind Leeds / Saints at the moment and we may not need anyone anyway

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:37 am  

TDR wrote:

How tall was Scott Gibbs? Or Inga Tuigamala?

5'10" & 5'11" respectively according to wiki. Fantasy RL profile has Gibson as 5'7".

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:38 am  

DoubleAone wrote:

Isnt that what someone told Jason Robinson.....

This is a thread about centres, do try & keep up.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:12 am  

tigertot wrote:

This is a thread about centres, do try & keep up.

Its relevant..... to your suspect hypothesis that relative height as any bearing on skill and aptitude

do try harder

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:29 am  

G1 wrote:

If I kept archives I'd dig through them.

Does Mclennan reserve all the praise for his players for the back pages of the YEP?

All McClennan's YEP online quotes are catalogued and cross referenced to players. If he'd said it I'd be able to produce it. Perhaps the YEP was offline that night.

I'd say that was probably Ablett's best game so far for Leeds.

G1 wrote:

We have the opportunity to develop another couple in Watkins and Gibson.

Gibson offers very little and at 22 his time has passed to stand out for a leading club. Time to move on to the next big thing.

Develop Watkins yes, at 18 he has some real potential. Whether playing first team rugby week in, week out is going to be the best place to achieve that we'll have to wait and see.

Very loose against Wigan but it was only Wigan so perhaps we'll have to wait for when the tough games come round to see if his understandable inexperience costs Leeds.

Watched an 18 year old playing for Canterbury yesterday, I wish they made them like that in Leeds. How many more like him are there over there. It might be a chance for them to experience a different culture before they run up a string of convictions that prevent them coming over later on.

Not sure what potential there is coming through the Reserve at present if the results are anything to go by.