Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 10:01 am  

Tai is improving. He is as hard as nails, but agree about him making the wrong choice even though he scores. Got the monkey of his back though.
King is putting in a decent shift.
Wrench needs a sustained run to really develop.

I'd argue none of them - and centres in general these days - are at the same standard as Matt King, Chris Bridge, Toa, Jiffy or Ryan Atkins - and that's just off the top of my head from Warrington (let alone Lyon, Meninga, Connelly etc).

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 10:20 am  

fez1 wrote:

Tai is improving. He is as hard as nails, but agree about him making the wrong choice even though he scores. Got the monkey of his back though.
King is putting in a decent shift.
Wrench needs a sustained run to really develop.

I'd argue none of them - and centres in general these days - are at the same standard as Matt King, Chris Bridge, Toa, Jiffy or Ryan Atkins - and that's just off the top of my head from Warrington (let alone Lyon, Meninga, Connelly etc).

Gleeson was elite IMO

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 10:24 am  

I think our centres are solid and reasonable. As others have said, Wrench could turn into a top class strike centre but he isn't there yet by any means. Tai and King have flaws but are working hard. Are there better centres in the league? Yes there certainly are. I don't think there's many better wingers, full backs, stand offs and back rowers in SL than we have in our squad though so centre is an area we can definitely improve on.

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 12:18 pm  

Kevin Turvey wrote:

I think our centres are solid and reasonable. As others have said, Wrench could turn into a top class strike centre but he isn't there yet by any means. Tai and King have flaws but are working hard. Are there better centres in the league? Yes there certainly are. I don't think there's many better wingers, full backs, stand offs and back rowers in SL than we have in our squad though so centre is an area we can definitely improve on.

Agree 100% with this, I was talking about the centre position and from watching Giants I liked the look of Masters, problem is he is an ageing centre but as done well to get a good deal at Salford now. Not sure how much longer Ratchford is going to be around and don’t know who is coming through the academy but I do think we need someone to come in.

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 12:24 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Agree 100% with this, I was talking about the centre position and from watching Giants I liked the look of Masters, problem is he is an ageing centre but as done well to get a good deal at Salford now. Not sure how much longer Ratchford is going to be around and don’t know who is coming through the academy but I do think we need someone to come in.

Aaron Lindop is a centre.

He has only played wing in the 1st team as cover and to ease him into Superleague.

For his age, he is one of most promising centres in England.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 12:49 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Agree 100% with this, I was talking about the centre position and from watching Giants I liked the look of Masters, problem is he is an ageing centre but as done well to get a good deal at Salford now. Not sure how much longer Ratchford is going to be around and don’t know who is coming through the academy but I do think we need someone to come in.

Wasn't aware about Marsters to Salford and agree he looks handy, do you know how/if this affects Macdonald and Lafai?

Not that I'm massively panicking from our POV

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 1:04 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

Wasn't aware about Marsters to Salford and agree he looks handy, do you know how/if this affects Macdonald and Lafai?

Not that I'm massively panicking from our POV

lafai is being linked to hull fc

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 2:36 pm  

Up until Huddersfield, I’d had said Wrench over Tai.
Wrench is solid pacey, but Tai has become a footballer and solidified our right hand side that was leaking points.

I’m not point the finger at Wrench, but since he got injured, Richie Marshall has worked a wonder.

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 2:42 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

lafai is being linked to hull fc

My initial reaction was 'great signing for Hull FC if they get him', but he will be 34 next May, so it's very short-term. Then again, from a Hull FC perspective, they just need something to get excited about right now, whether it's short-term or not.

Re: How do we rate our centres? : Tue May 28, 2024 2:51 pm  

Happy about our centres as others have said.
King solid both sides of the ball, has a very good offload and can be a threat in the air.
Tai really come on like a young Olam, really doing his job defensively, and his carries out from defence had made me wince, I certainly would not try to stop him
Wrench is awesome when he's on it I'd say hes third quickest in the team good step and swerve, if he improves his defence he will be great rather than good.

Ratch now should only be there as cover when all of the other three are unavailable, he will do a job but attacks stop with him there at centre, he is definitely doing a job and will be great to have in the squad, (im sure he is partly behind JTs improved kicking)but not starting before any of the others