Re: Leigh : Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:44 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Maybe the points deduction has a bigger effect on the players than we might think. Look at our example, and now Salford.

London are a decent enough team, erratic like us, but not a major surprise for them to beat Salford especially if Salford thought it was a bye

Potentially the points deduction did have a mental effect, true. But I still think the bigger mental effect causing Salford problems is their nutjob of a chairman and his constant "will I or won't I stay" putting the players and fans in a position of not knowing where they stand.

paulwalker71 wrote:

The James Clare to Leigh rumour was shot down by Rohan Smith on Bulls Banter Facebook last night

O'Brien? Why would he sign a new deal towards the end of the season and then decide to jump ship?

I thought it became fairly clear last season that Rohan didn't rate O'Brien. Perhaps his opinion changed, but he didn't seem to want to play him (and dropped him entirely for Fev as we all know). Since he'll have signed a reasonable deal for this level and it was before Rohan came in, I actually wouldn't be surprised to see him move on. With Higham surely in his last season and Beswick having left, Leigh would seem to be a reasonable fit.

Re: Leigh : Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:07 am  

I don't think it's "clear" Smith didn't rate AOB - after two years of being absolutely flogged to death by Lowes, I think Smith was simply trying out more efficient ways of using him - as is the prerogative of any new coach.

The Fev game, yes a massive error and I can see the logic of trying to match Fev with some grunt - on paper at least. Perhaps there are better suited players than AOB to take out of the squad to accommodate that though. Smith admitted immediately after the game that dropping O'Brien was an error, something I don't think he'd have done so easily if he didn't rate him. Plus AOB has taken a much more major role in the squad again since then - albeit in a much more minor competition.

Re: Leigh : Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:29 am  

I totally get he needed spelling, and I think that makes him more effective when he's on the field.

I was a bit OTT when I said it was clear. Rather I got the impression that he doesn't rate him. I can't pinpoint now why I got that impression, but it's certainly something I'd thought a few times since Smith took over.

[Bulliac]

Re: Leigh : Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:51 am  

You're not the only one HamsterChops, I also got 'a bit of a feeling', and I'll put it no higher than that - that Rohan wasn't quite as keen on Adam as the Jimmy had been. Mind, Jimmy nearly burnt him out in just over a season, so maybe it's no bad thing.

Re: Leigh : Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:53 pm  

If Rohan Smith doesn't rate AOB then he is a blithering idiot with no clue whatsoever about RL. AOB is potentially a GB stalwart, he's that good, and even drunk and concussed no coach worthy of the name could not rate AOB.

Re: Leigh : Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:11 am  

AOB doesn't rate AOB. That's why he tried to go part-time with Halifax.