[Pemps]

New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 5:13 pm  

Probably deserves a thread of it's own really, rather than derailing the Lockers one...

For me there isn't a ready made replacement for Lockers so I'd go with a more mobile forward there. Someone who's happy to tackle all day. Isa or Partington.

Farrell and Bateman are both very dangerous runners out wide so i think it would be an error to move either of those to the middle.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 5:20 pm  

I’d agree, I like the idea of starting with a forward such as Partington/Harvard and then bringing on TL to play at loose.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:03 pm  

I think Isa is a decent shout, he's been excellent this season.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:10 pm  

I think Isa will keep a starting shirt, so it’s just if he’s at 11 or Bateman and then the other will drop in at 13. Willie Isa resurrected his career at Widnes playing in the middle and it’s something we’ve missed a trick on here IMO. Circumstances have probably meant we’ve not had many opportunities to do it but we should do now. I say all that, I really like Partington in there as well and then we’ve got Smithies, so there are plenty of options.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:17 pm  

I think Isa is better in the middle. Just let him put his head down, carry the ball and hit people.

He's not the threat on the edges that Bateman, Farrell and Greenwood are and you don't get the best out of them in the middle.

Partington, Havard and Smithies are the other candidates but I'd be happy to stick with the most experienced Isa and rotate these guys with props.

I'm interested to see what they do with the 13 shirt given it's only been worn by two players in 25 years. Do they want to try and keep the prestige or just give it to Isa for example.

Also is there an obvious new captain?

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:24 pm  

Captain, Bateman or Powell for me. Farrell would be a lot of peoples choice but I don't see him as being vocal enough.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:33 pm  

I wonder if they’ll really go in to a new era with a bang and give Bateman the 13 shirt and the captaincy. The only thing making me think Bateman may not be in the running for captaincy is that he’s yet to work under Lam. If it isn’t Bateman that it’s Sam Powell all day for me. I think it’ll take his game on another notch or two.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 6:37 pm  

Sam Powell captained England Knights and would be an obvious candidate for me, but it depends what we see TLs role as. If he's a starter then he's probably captain.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 7:40 pm  

Wonder if Greenwood will still be with us next year? Obviously on the outer before lockdown but he’s been steady off the bench since. Saints couldn’t handle him.

I’d give Bateman the captaincy and the number 13 shirt. But I’d play him at right second row.

Isa will do a job at loose. Him and Powell in the middle of the field will give us bags of energy in defence.

Isa, Oli P, Smithies, Havard, Farrell (with JG backrow), Bateman, even Joe Sharrocks who I have been really impressed with this year.

We’re not short of options and someone will take the opportunity I am sure.

Re: New 13 : Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:26 pm  

Agree about Shorrocks he's still young but long term could be a good option at 13 good ball skills and good all round game