Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:14 am  

Pat Bateman wrote:

Wasn’t Kay a halfback pretty much all his academy life. He’s a very good Hooker, better than Hood for that matter, we have missed Kay immensely.

Yes. The story goes that he volunteered to play wing for us as it was an emergency and did rather well. He was on peanuts with us and Leigh offered him a huge deal but to play on the wing. He admits he just couldn't turn it down and Kay the winger was born. Didn't help that he was prolific on the wing so that's what all the experts judge him as.

I knew of Liams story ages ago (I don't know him but I know someone who does) and its a waste of a real talent. Liam's biggest problem as a youngster was that he was a talented HB and he knew it and wasn't afraid to give his opinion. That's OK if you have an Aussie accent or once played a reserve game for Wigan but not if you're a skinny Trinity/Bradford Academy boy. In fact the reason he ended up with us is because Bradfords coaching staff at the time thought he had an attitude, forgetting the rule that all good HB's have those.

I can't say for sure that Kay could have made it all the way as a HB, what I do know is like so many young English players he was binned far too soon. Now in his twilight years it would be nice if people (Poching clearly has) recognised his talent and supported him for it.

Sadly some minds are closed.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:15 am  

Pat Bateman wrote:

Tbf I totally agree and that’s an unfair statement to Hood, he lays the platform for Kay to come on against tired defences and cause more damage.

I'm sure that was the idea, just hasn't happened due to injuries,

Pochings mistake or bad luck was that he didn't/couldn't bring in cover for Kay the moment he was out.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:28 am  

vastman wrote:

No you need to stop pretending he isn’t.

He’s an excellent hooker open your eyes.

I don’t know how many times this needs to be said but Kay started as a HB and was expected to be a top SL player in that position. A position that easily transfers to hooker!!!

In his podcast interview he virtually admits he took the easier option on the wing for money and wishes he hadn’t.

The question isn’t whether Kay should play at 9 but why he wasn’t doing so years ago.

Probably because to many coaches share your myopic attitude.

yes a good its reason why folk still label players to positions when played there, most players are adaptable to many positions but obviously bias to which side best to play and size of player determines this

saying that we have played players in different positions and it showed up badly

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:42 am  

Salford -the team that keeps on giving ,us yet another lifeline, now it’s up to the players to get ripped into saints this aft and show us fans that they really can play rugby and not just go through the motions .For me this will be an acid test today ,as no one including their dog gives us a cat in hells chance , these were exactly the games we could tip the form book on its head in days gone by , let’s see if these lads can muster the spirit of the old teams that have gone before and bring home a win, well I’m hoping anyway !!!!

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 9:43 am  

Last night's result could be telling, but that's if we can take advantage. Looking after today, the next 2 for them are seemingly more winnable than ours.' Are we capable of beating Cas, Catalans or Saints? They have Hull & HKR is it? Time to stand up and be counted, as we've seen with Leeds and more so Salford, they have pulled out crucial wins in recent weeks with a number of players missing, something we seem incapable of doing, so far anyway.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 10:50 am  

Wildcatnomore wrote:

Last night's result could be telling, but that's if we can take advantage. Looking after today, the next 2 for them are seemingly more winnable than ours.' Are we capable of beating Cas, Catalans or Saints? They have Hull & HKR is it? Time to stand up and be counted, as we've seen with Leeds and more so Salford, they have pulled out crucial wins in recent weeks with a number of players missing, something we seem incapable of doing, so far anyway.

Cant see us beating Cas, who are going well at the moment, Saints, not a chance but, Catalan do have some off days and we live in hope, which is all we have right now.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 10:58 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Cant see us beating Cas, who are going well at the moment, Saints, not a chance but, Catalan do have some off days and we live in hope, which is all we have right now.

Its the hope that kills you.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:12 am  

vastman wrote:

No you need to stop pretending he isn’t.

He’s an excellent hooker open your eyes.

I don’t know how many times this needs to be said but Kay started as a HB and was expected to be a top SL player in that position. A position that easily transfers to hooker!!!

In his podcast interview he virtually admits he took the easier option on the wing for money and wishes he hadn’t.

The question isn’t whether Kay should play at 9 but why he wasn’t doing so years ago.

Probably because to many coaches share your myopic attitude.

Tell me another club in Super League where he'd get a game at hooker? It's part of the reason we're bottom of the pile.

James Graham started as a half back, playing there as 16 year old has no relevance to where they'll end up. Kay was told quite early on by Agar he didn't think he'd make in the halves.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:30 am  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

Tell me another club in Super League where he'd get a game at hooker? It's part of the reason we're bottom of the pile.

What a ridiculous proposition.

He's only started playing at hooker since he joined us so there could only be one.

Liam requested the chance to play at 9, I assume had he been elsewhere he'd have done the same. Whether he'd have got it who knows but I suspect he might have.

I also have to laugh at your other argument regarding tried and trusted hookers who have played in that role since leaving the womb. Josh Wood was one of those and that worked out well didn't it! I reckon I wouldn't have to dig very deep to find a few others if I trawled back a bit.

You judge a player on what he does on the pitch, not what his Wiki page states he is.

Fifita - started life as a centre
Lyne - A F/B
Batchelor - never had a defined position until he joined us.
Finally and most telling of all Woody was an Academy H/B, ding dong.

All just off the top of my head.

Re: Saints up next : Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:40 am  

No one seems to have mentioned the Elephant in the room regarding not having trinity fans on the East Terrace, and the away fans on the West terrace. How are we able to call away teams for “Forward Pass”.The trinity fans at North and South ends are hardly in a position to call, but to be fair the officials we get ignore our calls anyway.