Levrier wrote:
We seriously need a right sided forward to balance out our side. Not being able to play Greenwood and Faz at the same time in their favoured positions meant that we were always light weight. Do we have an option to move any of the young lads further out where they might do more damage than down the middle?
I’d be interested to see what Smithies could do in the second row and Partington at loose forward. It’s an easier grounding for a youngster to play a little wider and I’d hate to think we’d burn Smithies out early doors. When it comes to Partington he’s a little older and his strong suits are his defence and his hands close to the line. He could certainly play with a little more freedom at loose rather then being expected to be an out and out metre maker at prop.
One left field suggestion for right second row that I saw mentioned on the other site and I’ve mentioned on here before is Dom Manfredi to be tried at right second row ala Aaron Murphy. Some people are dead set against players moving positions but I can’t help but look at some of the best players I’ve seen and they moved through positions over time due to varying factors. Dom Manfredi is unbelievably strong, brave, puts his head in where it hurts and he causes so many problems. I do wonder if a move in to the pack would help his knees, not having to jump for high balls, not having to keep twisting and turning as much and so on. Maybe bulking up would do his knees no favours but I’m no physio and it could be the complete opposite.