Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:34 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

I said all along I'd be more than happy with Smith coming in as long as either Finch stayed or we brought in a top quality 6 for him to play alongside. From that list Chase is the massive stand out, regardless of what people think about his attitude or whatever. Next you'd say maybe Green (not seen a lot of him but I think he's pretty inconsistent), Gaskill (can't get in the Saints team), Holdsworth (not convinced) and possibly Sarginson (we have our own youngsters coming through who he'd take a spot from).

Any of that list with the exception of Chase is going to leave us with a massive reduction in quality from the halves IMO.

Pretty much my thoughts

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:16 am  

Kernel wrote:

Sarginson would be a cracking signing, but not at standoff. I think he could go great guns at centre.

He's too poor defensively. Thornley is a much better option.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:10 am  

Of those available Holdsworth looks very decent to me.
He's 28 and has been playing well in a Salford back division that has improved this year under Longy's coaching.
He would improve further at Wigan under Wane and Harris.
Holdsworth has a good passing game and can kick well too. Both field and place kicking.
A fee would be required but Salford may be persuaded if their financial position doesn't improve.
His link up again with Smith would be useful to say the least.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:18 am  

cant believe we're going to go from Tommy and Finch to Salfords half backs, shows how the NRL salary cap and the lack of options over here are really going to bite. The number of times Dobson got showed up in defence last night is a testament to why he wasnt concidered.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:53 pm  

Would you actually complain about having Smith and Gaskell though because i wouldn't. As stated out of what's available i would say they are pretty much the future. Plus if two St. Helens lad's did well here it would constitute in about a decade of hammering the scum with it. I like Chase but am very undecided on him. £450,000 is just too much to spend. I would rather have Smith and Gaskell in the halves, I think you now have to leave Sam at FB, Maybe he would be better elsewhere but his try scoring and all around play suggest he is the best for the job there. I would let Gelling move on and spend decent money on a top centre, But who? If we are staying British who would you have or promote. I would like to see us splash out on Yeaman but Hull don't need the money and look as though they are building something quite big there. Atkins would be out of the question which is a shame.

Just out of curiosity, If Sam did end up in the halves who would you sign for FB position. For me it would be Greenshields, Couple of solid years at FB then see what options are available. Seems to be a pretty weak position in SL this season.

Although i say that. The logical thing to do would to put Pat at FB and leave Thornley out on the wing. Pat cant keep getting injured and trying to bomb down the wing at his age. Good strong upper body and safe hands at FB. But taking Sam out of there you eliminate all those breaks and tries he has scored.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:10 pm  

We have two young full backs in the squad in Matty Russell and Jack murphy. I cant see sam staying beyond 2 more years and thus one of these two will probably be the long term replacment for sam.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:16 pm  

Richards would be a terrible option at fullback. There's just no attacking threat whatsoever. Sam has already shown just how important it is to have a good attacking fullback so going for anything other than that just wouldn't make sense.

As Tricky says, Russell and Murphy would do just fine, we wouldn't need another fullback. Not that Sam is going to move from that position any time soon.

If Wane and Lenegan are looking for another halfback it would make sense to look for an experienced player because we've already got three good young halfbacks who will hopefully be given opportunities over the next year or two.

I don't see the point in signing Gaskell when we've got Powell who is a similar age. If we're going to pair Smith with a young inexperienced halfback then we might as well pair him with one of our own.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:23 pm  

I'd love to see Sam move back to #6 and for us to bring a short term signing at FB as well.

If we bring in a guy like Patten we can spell his game time with either Murphy or Russell and get the best of both worlds.

Greenshields, Patten & Webb are all OOC and I'd prefer to see them than Green or Holdsworth.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:26 pm  

Cherry.Pie wrote:

Richards would be a terrible option at fullback. There's just no attacking threat whatsoever. Sam has already shown just how important it is to have a good attacking fullback so going for anything other than that just wouldn't make sense.

As Tricky says, Russell and Murphy would do just fine, we wouldn't need another fullback. Not that Sam is going to move from that position any time soon.

If Wane and Lenegan are looking for another halfback it would make sense to look for an experienced player because we've already got three good young halfbacks who will hopefully be given opportunities over the next year or two.

I don't see the point in signing Gaskell when we've got Powell who is a similar age. If we're going to pair Smith with a young inexperienced halfback then we might as well pair him with one of our own.

i do agree but i would like to see them blooded rather than thrust into the starting 13. For me Russell is the 'no brainer' choice. He has so much ability and it will be frightening when it is all unleashed. Gaskell maybe being signed mid-season like Smith would have gone a long way to aiding his development with Tommy and Finch still here.

[Pemps]

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:50 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Greenshields, Patten & Webb are all OOC...

And 2 of them are retiring