Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:34 am  

I think moving forward we will now see the side that started against Samoa with Bateman in for McMeeken.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 8:39 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Suggesting Sneyd on the bench? What a waste of a spot that would be.

What value would that add?

I'd have Ackers personally but Sneyd could be used to spell Mickey with Williams going to 9 for a bit. If there was an injury in the backs your could shift Welsby to cover and use Sneyd in the halves.
His kicking could turn a tight game, it gives us a different option if the (very similar style) pairing of Williams and Welsby are struggling to break down the tougher defences.
I don't think it's that daft.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 9:54 am  

I'd like to se Batchelor in the 17. I think he brings that extra bite and intensity in defence and kick chase that makes a big difference in tight games.


Assuming Radley will play 13 then personally McMeeken misses out for Bateman and my preference would be Batchelor replacing Knowles on the bench.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:28 am  

Big Steve wrote:

I'd like to se Batchelor in the 17. I think he brings that extra bite and intensity in defence and kick chase that makes a big difference in tight games.


Assuming Radley will play 13 then personally McMeeken misses out for Bateman and my preference would be Batchelor replacing Knowles on the bench.

To be fair, Knowles provides a higher intensity in defence and kick pressure chase than Batchelor. I know it was only against Greece but both Brown and Graham commented on his efforts in these areas highlighting one example of kick pressure at 74 mins with the game out of sight. I woudl argue his qualities are better than Batchelors in a high intensity tight game.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:22 am  

Stu M wrote:

To be fair, Knowles provides a higher intensity in defence and kick pressure chase than Batchelor. I know it was only against Greece but both Brown and Graham commented on his efforts in these areas highlighting one example of kick pressure at 74 mins with the game out of sight. I woudl argue his qualities are better than Batchelors in a high intensity tight game.

That's all good and well, and I understand where you're coming from Stu, but Knowles simply doesn't create enough at this level. The difference between him and Radley in this area has been stark.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:27 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

That's all good and well, and I understand where you're coming from Stu, but Knowles simply doesn't create enough at this level. The difference between him and Radley in this area has been stark.

I'm not saying instead of or in front of Radley, I'm saying instead of Batchelor as a bench option

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:40 am  

Stu M wrote:

To be fair, Knowles provides a higher intensity in defence and kick pressure chase than Batchelor. I know it was only against Greece but both Brown and Graham commented on his efforts in these areas highlighting one example of kick pressure at 74 mins with the game out of sight. I woudl argue his qualities are better than Batchelors in a high intensity tight game.

thats where i've really enjoyed some of the commentary / post match analysis. In all the games i've watched, the former players have spoken about the little things that as fans we may not see week in week out. Just a subtle little shepherd of a player putting kick chase pressure on, getting back in the defensive line to put pressure on a kicker after 74 mins in a dead game etc. i think the majority of the commentary and post match has been excellent with Vossy, Jammer, Amor, Peacock, Brown, Henderson etc. I know Sky arent covering the world cup, but surely they can see with C4 coverage and the BBC coverage of the world cup, how amateur / poor some of their current team are

onto the little, things, they are the things that they reckon will win us the world cup (if we go onto win it)

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:56 am  

The pieman wrote:

thats where i've really enjoyed some of the commentary / post match analysis. In all the games i've watched, the former players have spoken about the little things that as fans we may not see week in week out. Just a subtle little shepherd of a player putting kick chase pressure on, getting back in the defensive line to put pressure on a kicker after 74 mins in a dead game etc. i think the majority of the commentary and post match has been excellent with Vossy, Jammer, Amor, Peacock, Brown, Henderson etc. I know Sky arent covering the world cup, but surely they can see with C4 coverage and the BBC coverage of the world cup, how amateur / poor some of their current team are

onto the little, things, they are the things that they reckon will win us the world cup (if we go onto win it)

Agreed. Vossy is brilliant. The way he engages with fans on Twitter is outstanding. He loves our comp and the UK in general and doesn't denigrate either like most Aussies do.

His food ratings and food videos throughout have been superb and very entertaining. I've lived in Wigan for 21 years and love living here. Indeed I only go back to St Helens for the games now so I get quite defensive if outsiders criticise Wigan as a town. Seeing Vossy talking about Galloways pies was brilliant and then to see him engage with their official account too was even better.

Sky could certainly learn a lot from BBC and C4 and hopefully we will see Vossy commentate on SL at some point as he has admitted that "it is an itch that he needs to scratch"

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 12:28 pm  

Stu M wrote:

I'm not saying instead of or in front of Radley, I'm saying instead of Batchelor as a bench option

Yeah i think i am in favour of that. Im not a huge fan of Batchelor but his improvement this season has been huge there is no doubt about that but i do worry about his errors in a high intensity game. I think Knowles is more assured in that area and bring much more intensity into the collision. Knowles on the bench for me too.

Re: Mr Predictable : Sun Oct 30, 2022 12:35 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Agreed. Vossy is brilliant. The way he engages with fans on Twitter is outstanding. He loves our comp and the UK in general and doesn't denigrate either like most Aussies do.

His food ratings and food videos throughout have been superb and very entertaining. I've lived in Wigan for 21 years and love living here. Indeed I only go back to St Helens for the games now so I get quite defensive if outsiders criticise Wigan as a town. Seeing Vossy talking about Galloways pies was brilliant and then to see him engage with their official account too was even better.

Sky could certainly learn a lot from BBC and C4 and hopefully we will see Vossy commentate on SL at some point as he has admitted that "it is an itch that he needs to scratch"

Vossy is a breath of fresh air. Dave Woods is good though i think too as is Davies and Amor. I can't tolerate Noble too much, i think he talks too much nonsense and Kevin Brown is very articulate too. Graham has been very good also. Wilkin, i don't know why but he always seems to come across 10x better on the BBC than he dos on Sky.

I do have one big bug bear with all of them though (except Voss and Woods) and that is calling players by their nicknames, Mickey Mac, Tommy (Makinson) etc. We are trying to engage a wider audience outside of the usual RL speccies so a bit more professionalism is required in areas like this for me. The Sky commentary team are dreadful for things like this.