Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 8:44 am  

Have to agree, alegend...hopefully Powell and Co. can get him up to the next level

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 9:20 am  

Name me one player who has improved under Watson? Russell was a England knights player so must have some real ability

[PopTart]

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 10:06 am  

alegend wrote:

Huddersfield forum saying they will lose no sleep over him joining us .From what I have seen of him no better than what we got ,and not a player who can take us into the top seven of S L .But now he is a Wakefield player the rose tinted glasses will go on

Just the same as the brown tinted when he leaves Giants.
We haven't just signed Wally Lewis but we have just signed someone with proven skills and lots of potential.
Let's see what he can do under Powell.

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:28 am  

financialtimes wrote:

One thing Lino isn't is an organising 7, he's a running 1/2 always has been, when he's left to organising he looks like a fish out of water

In general I agree, but as he showed at Bradford in the second half on one leg he ran the game. So he can do it but for whatever reason he doesn't do it often enough.

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 11:35 am  

poplar cats alive wrote:

In general I agree, but as he showed at Bradford in the second half on one leg he ran the game. So he can do it but for whatever reason he doesn't do it often enough.

Agreed.

He’s a master of neither the strike or organising game but he’s suited better to an organiser but in my opinion he’s stuck in the middle between both styles and not overly great at either, or maybe not consistent enough at either.

He’s not a starting half for us next year if we have ambitions of a top 8 finish for me.

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 12:53 pm  

jonh wrote:

Agreed.

He’s a master of neither the strike or organising game but he’s suited better to an organiser but in my opinion he’s stuck in the middle between both styles and not overly great at either, or maybe not consistent enough at either.

He’s not a starting half for us next year if we have ambitions of a top 8 finish for me.

I agree though I think he edges towards more of a running half.

That said I think he will be here for 2025 and probably the starting half until a long term solution at 6 can be found.

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 1:15 pm  

PopTart wrote:

Just the same as the brown tinted when he leaves Giants.
We haven't just signed Wally Lewis but we have just signed someone with proven skills and lots of potential.
Let's see what he can do under Powell.

That’s the key IMO
Powell will look to play Russell in a different way to how Watson plays him, I’m pretty sure he’ll get regular game time too instead of being in one week and out the next.

Again just my opinion but Lino isn’t a SL quality Half and we should be looking to move him on if possible.
I’d happily settle for Mitch Moses as Russell’s Half back partner

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 1:48 pm  

I like the signing but I am a little surprised at the length of the contract.

[PopTart]

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 2:03 pm  

Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:

I like the signing but I am a little surprised at the length of the contract.

They are trying to build a team over the next 4 years.
Tom and McMeekan are the same.
Same as coaching staff.

Re: Olly Russell 4 year deal : Sat Jun 29, 2024 2:14 pm  

jonh wrote:

Russell, Lino and Lawford are all organising 7s.

We struggled last year and for many years before with lack of balance in the halves, we don’t have balance this year either as Gale is also an organiser but we are levels above our opposition this year so we can get away with it.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lino leave, pending agreement due to his contract, and someone come in with more of a running threat.

Lino is an organising half?! I've heard it all now.

Tbf though, I have heard Lino has already signed with Cas for next year...