Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:43 pm  

RAPIDO wrote:

Yes there is and Ash Handley quoted last week that "this squad are capable of something special " you can't fault his belief but don't quite understand where he is coming from.

He's right though. They are. The issue has been any sort of consistency. For every Wigan away and Hudds at home there have been far too many Cas and Wakeys.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:46 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Newman is verging on having chronic hamstring issues. We actually have some pretty good centres coming through as well as players like MacDonald.

Losing him wouldn’t be ideal in light of losing Walters to Wigan too but if he doesn’t want to be at Leeds what can you do?

I agree he's in the got potential bracket no more and as you alluded to sadly the lad is walking sick note, the only player I'd be miffed about leaving would be Holroyd kind of sums up the calibre of players we have.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:06 am  

Not one of our players would get in a top four side. SIMPLES.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:30 am  

To have any chance of competing with the top 4, we need the following:
A controlling 7
A 6 with some pace and x-factor
A dynamic 9
An outside back / full back with serious pace
A blockbuster prop

Obviously, not all that is going to happen, but that's what we need to replace Walters, Leeming, Tetevano, Sezer & Austin.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:24 am  

While the spine needs serious investment, we have the basis of a decent side in the rest of the squad.

Outside the spine, another quality prop and specialist cover at centre would be my priorities. IMO we've only really seen the best of this team when our ageing spine is fit, i.e. Myler, Austin and Sezer.

A fit Newman would definitely get into any SL team. If the long-term prognosis isn't good Leeds might be tempted to cash in, but given the huge gaps in our roster (until we hear otherwise!) doing so could leave us even more exposed. I'd still like Leeds to try Newman at full-back as a potential longer term option.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:34 am  

Agree on trying Newman at full back as he is a great broken field runner.
He is not a centre, as not creative in that position as cannot deliver a class centres pass, or will not pass and often runs away from his winger.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:38 am  

surely a full back is just like a 3rd half back. if he can't pass at centre he'll never make a full back.
leave him where he is

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:43 am  

Just keep him on the field would be a start.
He is still young and plenty of skills to be learnt, a great prospect though

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:52 am  

tad rhino wrote:

surely a full back is just like a 3rd half back. if he can't pass at centre he'll never make a full back.
leave him where he is

Depends on the style you wish to play I suppose. It used to be that halves were getting pushed to fullback to be that extra pivot like you say. In the NRL it seems to have changed a bit recently where they’re trying to get their best athlete to play there. (Some of this is no doubt lead by players as fullbacks command more money than centres or wingers). It’s why there’s been talk of Crichton playing there for the bulldogs next year even tho he’s never a fullback for my money.

While I can see some sense in that argument for Newman, great athlete in space, the extra running might not exactly be good for someone as fragile as he has been so far. Different injuries but inglis moved back to the centres once he couldn’t keep up at fullback anymore, and injuries are well documented for the likes of Mitchell and Tom Trbojovic (spelling) in the fullback role.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 17, 2023 10:25 am  

While you say the extra running from FB you don't have the continual up and back of being in the defensive line. For what it's worth, ever since I saw him in u11/12s I was always interested to see how he'd go at FB. In an amateur side that also included the innes twins I'm not sure Harry's passing game was encouraged enough.