Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:18 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

When Kevin Penny came through at Warrington a lot of people were complaining that we had signed Chris Hicks, saying why would we need to bring him in when we had a better player coming through the ranks, but now Penny has gone through a sticky patch I'm glad we've got Hicks, it takes the pressure off so now Tony Smith can work with him behind the scenes and bring him back into the side at the right pace rather than exposing him every week.

With the greatest of respect there is nothing Warrington can teach us about assembling a squad.

Your point looks valid in the context of last night but Leeds will have to beat better sides than Wigan, if they get a couple of injuries in the outside backs and have fresh Academy lads in there then Saints beat you with Gidley and Gardner doing damage, people will come right back on saying we need to sign another NRL outside back.

Not many better sides. Last year Wigan were 3rd. Last year we beat Saints in the GF with the threequarters currently at our disposal. What has changed in the threequarters in the league to make us panic now?

Not trying to argue against the Leeds approach to bringing talent through, which is a shining beacon for English sport never mind Super League, but it wouldn't do any harm to get one quality NRL back in...Joel Monaghan, Justin Hodges etc.

Like you did with Matt King? That calibre of player?

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:45 pm  

G1 wrote:

You didn;t think I would let tonight's game given the result and the line-ups go without it having any bearing on our discussion?

If this mystery signing we must make doesn;t come from the NRL where will he come from then?

Gibson and Watkins will most likely face their sternest test next week against a Saints threequarter line with at least 3 of their players fro their Academy.

If our forwards, halves and hookers (or stand in hookers) play like they did tonight then you could throw Mal Menninga and Gene Miles at us and it wouldn't matter.

Gibson and Watkins play down the right hand side dont they?

That would mean them facing Gilmour and Armstrong. In all honesty, I dont see that being much of a test for your youngsters.

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:48 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Gibson and Watkins play down the right hand side dont they?

That would mean them facing Gilmour and Armstrong. In all honesty, I dont see that being much of a test for your youngsters.

No mate gibson right watkins left
Expect to see senior back though to wrap up gidley

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:49 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Gibson and Watkins play down the right hand side dont they?

Only if the centres double team, like in union, so no not really.

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:50 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Only if the centres double team, like in union, so no not really.

So Gibson and Watkins are going to be Leeds' centres next week?

I highly doubt that, Senior will come back to face Gidley and then someone will face Gilmour down the left.

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:15 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

So Gibson and Watkins are going to be Leeds' centres next week?

Well they have been in the last two matches.

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Senior will come back to face Gidley and then someone will face Gilmour down the left.

You may be right, we'll have to wait and see with Senior. I think Leeds are wrapping him in cotton wool and saving him for the tough games, so it depends if St Helens away in the SL Regular Rds falls into that category.

On the evidence of the last two seasons, probably not.

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:26 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

That would mean them facing Gilmour and Armstrong. In all honesty, I dont see that being much of a test for your youngsters.

Hold the phone.

If Saints and Wigan aren't going to provide a test for our young centres than I am now even more confused as to why our speccies are clamouring for us to sign a centre from the NRL 9or elsewhere).

Re: So, remind me again, why must we sign.......... : Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:33 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

Because rugby league is a squad game and Leeds could benefit from the extra depth. Watkins is still only 17 and it wouldn't do any harm to have him as a squad player for a couple of seasons, he would still get a lot of games.

When Kevin Penny came through at Warrington a lot of people were complaining that we had signed Chris Hicks, saying why would we need to bring him in when we had a better player coming through the ranks, but now Penny has gone through a sticky patch I'm glad we've got Hicks, it takes the pressure off so now Tony Smith can work with him behind the scenes and bring him back into the side at the right pace rather than exposing him every week.

Your point looks valid in the context of last night but Leeds will have to beat better sides than Wigan, if they get a couple of injuries in the outside backs and have fresh Academy lads in there then Saints beat you with Gidley and Gardner doing damage, people will come right back on saying we need to sign another NRL outside back.

Not trying to argue against the Leeds approach to bringing talent through, which is a shining beacon for English sport never mind Super League, but it wouldn't do any harm to get one quality NRL back in...Joel Monaghan, Justin Hodges etc.

well said sally. lovely this common sense stuff ain't it.

Likewise to lowes, got put in the seat too early. Now he has a chance to do what Brian McDermott did and learn from a very good coach in Smith.

Development is key stage in any early career and to rush it when you don't have to is needless.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:51 pm  

Can anyone remember a Leeds team attacking as deep as they did last night in recent times? To me this is why Burrow and McGuire played so well because they had more room to operate in.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:58 pm  

Hollywood Harrigan wrote:

Can anyone remember a Leeds team attacking as deep as they did last night in recent times? To me this is why Burrow and McGuire played so well because they had more room to operate in.

Noticed that myself.

Leeds are attacking slightly different to previous years. Evidently coming from much, much deeper.