: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:32 am  

Ancient Provocateur wrote:

I thought monkeys liked bananas?

In that case it all makes sense.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:31 am  

childofthenorthern wrote:

Or the coaching staff feel that Crookes can make the grade. I know stranger things have happened but maybe they have confidence in him

I think its exactly that, coupled with him being; available, demanding a relatively low level of cap space, wanting to be here, versatile, decent on attack, quota positives, back up kicker etc. Im pretty certain that we went into this season with 3 centres in the coaches mind, Nero, Sykes, Crookes, with Menzies able to cover it if needed as a 4th. It will be the same plan next year. Sykes and Nero, whilst not perfect is not terrible, and hopefully Crookes steps up the competition and they improve as a whole.

IMO Centre was never our priority for next season, it would have been nice to sign a world class strike Centre obviously, but its far far more important to sort out the 6/7/9 issue first. If we dont get real improvement at 6/7/9 (9 assuming Newton is off or stays and contiues to slow up) then it wont matter who is standing at 3 and 4 we'll still be terrible.

If this means we are focusing our recruitment and improvement in the halfs then its a good resigning in terms of cap space spent. If we resign the likes of Sykes but still go with a variation of Deacon/BJ and a player worse than Newton with Godwin as rotating 9 then its not good business overall. So I'll wait and see the whole recruitment picture before I pass final judgement on this I reckon.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:40 am  

Duckman wrote:

IMO Centre was never our priority for next season, it would have been nice to sign a world class strike Centre obviously, but its far far more important to sort out the 6/7/9 issue first. If we dont get real improvement at 6/7/9 (9 assuming Newton is off or stays and contiues to slow up) then it wont matter who is standing at 3 and 4 we'll still be terrible.

Although I agree with what you're saying, I don't think we needed a world class centre. We just needed someone who was decent enough to not let every single player who goes anywhere near him, go past him.

We don't need a world class centre. We need a good enough one. Sykes isn't imo.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:48 am  

Duckman wrote:

snip

Our backs need improving in a number of areas.

Halley - improving but still raw.
Sheriffe - not very good at all.
Nero - Solid enough.
Sykes - defensively useless
Semi - our most potent strike player but erratic at times
Deacon - slow and a "has-been"
Jeffries - good on his day but lacks consistency.

I agree that 6,7 and 9 are very important but we needed a centre at the start of this season and therefore it is more important for next IMO.

Obviously though, there is the Crookes factor. The poor lad missing most of the season is a big blow for him and IF he fits the bill then we may well be able to take our chances in the Centre area, especially as Menzies (assuming he re-signs) could be used in this area if needs be.

As much as some people may want to argue (and it is all about opinions and this is just mine) but we are now at the stage when Semi Tadulala is perhaps our best back and that is worrying when you consider the likes of those who have graced our backs in the last few seasons. As hard as Semi tries, he may have been picked to clean big Les' or TV's boots but he would certainly never have filled them.

A major rebuilding is needed.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:52 am  

DILLIGAF wrote:

Although I agree with what you're saying, I don't think we needed a world class centre. We just needed someone who was decent enough to not let every single player who goes anywhere near him, go past him.

We don't need a world class centre. We need a good enough one. Sykes isn't imo.

I know where your coming from and I partly agree, I probably wouldn't have resigned him if a better alternative was available - I might even have gone and got someone like Evens back for one year and put all my effort into making sure Crookes or another youth product is ready to step up to a starting role by the end of next year.

I'm just trying to judge the signing in the bigger context of our other needs and guessing why the club think its good business. I hope its because we have two class half backs lined up so we need the cap space for that big announcement.....

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:57 am  

Duckman wrote:

I know where your coming from and I partly agree, I probably wouldn't have resigned him if a better alternative was available - I might even have gone and got someone like Evens back for one year and put all my effort into making sure Crookes or another youth product is ready to step up to a starting role by the end of next year.

I'm just trying to judge the signing in the bigger context of our other needs and guessing why the club think its good business. I hope its because we have two class half backs lined up so we need the cap space for that big announcement..... :PRAY:

With Solo off, Newton looking like a possible departure and also perhaps Morrison and maybe even, if the rumours are true, Burgess to Manly then we will be freeing up a lot of cap space so we will just have to see how it is going to be used.

We can also factor in the money we had set aside for Greg Bird.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:02 am  

Duckman wrote:

I know where your coming from and I partly agree, I probably wouldn't have resigned him if a better alternative was available - I might even have gone and got someone like Evens back for one year and put all my effort into making sure Crookes or another youth product is ready to step up to a starting role by the end of next year.

I'm just trying to judge the signing in the bigger context of our other needs and guessing why the club think its good business. I hope its because we have two class half backs lined up so we need the cap space for that big announcement.....

There's no doubt that it is a matter of "there's no one else available". I have to believe that's true, or I will get very depressed at the state of our club. The fact he's only got 1 year also suggests that he's only there until something better comes available.

The biggest problem I have is that I can't think of many centres in all of Super League, or even that many in the Co-Op Championship that have worse defence than Sykes does. There must have been SOMEONE that was a bit better.

The only hope I'm holding out for now is that Sykes has been kept on as a backup for centre, fullback and halves. As essentially a squad player, with either Crookes or Menzies lined up as our first choice centre, along with Nero, next year.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:25 am  

mystic eddie wrote:

Our backs need improving in a number of areas.

Halley - improving but still raw.
Sheriffe - not very good at all.
Nero - Solid enough.
Sykes - defensively useless
Semi - our most potent strike player but erratic at times
Deacon - slow and a "has-been"
Jeffries - good on his day but lacks consistency.

...

A major rebuilding is needed.

I'd agree with all that ME. I guess its just a matter of prioritising it for me, and if its Centre OR 6/7 then it has to be 6/7 which is the point I'm making. If we can afford Centre AND 6/7/9 then yes, go for it, but I doubt thats the case, even with some potential money being freed up. Hall wont be cheap for one, and we've improved Lynch and Halleys deals and I'll bet we're worried about a drop in income from season ticket sales next season as well as any effect/money needed for the OSV.

On that list Im only really happy with Halley and Nero for next season, the rest either I have no hope for (Deacon) or I have serious doubts about some important aspects of their play (Sykes/BJ/Sheriffe) or as much as I like him we might start to see deminishing returns from him from here on in (Semi)

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:52 am  

THe sad thing is that there are now so many areas that need rebuilding. No matter where you improve one of the other areas will let you down.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:06 am  

The title of that rticle/thread should be "Bulls show no ambition for next season". We will continue to be poor with Sykes/Sheriffe and we really needed a top quality centre. Our only hope is that Sykes is being used for cover next season, but I can't see it. I am really disappointed with this.