Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:06 am  

You can't compare previous Aussie imports to Williams. Greg Bird came initially because he was banned from the NRL, not through choice, and returned when his ban was lifted. He's come now because he's at the end of his career. The others came because there were financial advantages to it and went to title-winning clubs. We'll never see anyone the calibre of Trent Barrett in the Super League because the financial picture has changed. For tax reasons, and for salary cap reasons. To expect Williams to be a great half-back is expecting too much, so perhaps we should give him more time to find his feet.

As for Jowitt, he had an awful game. Was nowhere near Brown when he trotted over, didn't get under the ball when Hill barged over, and his attempt on Atkins was very poor for a full back. And from his expression when he came over to say hello to family at the end, I think he knew it too.

He reminded me of Blaymire, in that the extent of his game is always being able to catch the ball. I hope he shows that there is much more to him than that. Morgan Escare and Zak Hardaker show us that a full back is a hell of a lot more than that.

Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:18 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

Morgan Escare and Zak Hardaker show us that a full back is a hell of a lot more than that.

So does Scott Grix...

I guess it highlights the danger of overhyping a young player who is still learning his trade; Jowitt had a stinker on Saturday and Johnstone made a key fumble - perfectly normal for young lads who are not yet the finished article - and the key is often in how they react and bounce back. But as fans and pundits, we are consistently guilty of proclaiming young players as the next big thing - which can only put pressure on them and throw their inevitable errors into sharp focus.

Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:41 am  

bren2k wrote:

So does Scott Grix...

I guess it highlights the danger of overhyping a young player who is still learning his trade; Jowitt had a stinker on Saturday and Johnstone made a key fumble - perfectly normal for young lads who are not yet the finished article - and the key is often in how they react and bounce back. But as fans and pundits, we are consistently guilty of proclaiming young players as the next big thing - which can only put pressure on them and throw their inevitable errors into sharp focus.

I agree.

Last year my view of Jowitt was that he was "solid", which is impressive in someone young, and when you're a team worrying about relegation is reassuring. As we are now looking higher, perhaps we are wanting more.

It might just have been a bad game. His first one back in the top flight for many months and if he's got what it takes at the top flight, it will make him stronger.

Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:04 pm  

Ive said when all the hype was being thrown about jowitt last season that the kids positional play and tackling was poor the positional part of his game can be coached but when it comes to tackling you either can or cant. As far as blaymires concerned slugger he was as slow as a crab but he could tackle and mostly got himself in a position to make it ,cant remember him missing tackles on players who had broke the line and had only him to beat

Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:46 pm  

I'm not a coach but it is obvious that players, particularly full backs are coached to tackle high to cover the ball. This is what Jowitt tried to do and it was against a much stronger person who was able to brush him off easily.

Even though it is against the coaching rule book if I was Jowitt in that moment I would have gone 100% for the legs. That would have stopped Atkins running. Okay Atkins might have got a pass out left to Lineham but there is a risk the pass would have failed, or more likely Johnstone was catching up quickly and could maybe have prevented Lineham scoring.

As for Williams, I've still to see enough to convince me but there is still time to prove himself. Having said all that I've haven't been overly convinced by Wood since his return yet I thought we were significantly better last Saturday when he was on the field. Wood was probably my man of the match.

Re: Sam Williams : Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:19 pm  

I should say wildshot that lots of team particular theforwards are told to cover the ball the exception being the full back the last line of defence , heis faced with different circumstances and has to make i agree difficult decisions, but it was a no brainer that in the atkins situation he had to go for the legs to halt the man with the ball and his weak effort led to my remark about you either can tackle or not no one could have blamed him if he had made the tackle andthe centre released the ball for the winger to score ,but the look on atkins face told there was only one thing on his mind

Re: Sam Williams : Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:01 pm  

Just heard a rumour in the north stand that hes gone home

Re: Sam Williams : Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:48 pm  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

Just heard a rumour in the north stand that hes gone home

He was at the game,

Re: Sam Williams : Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:50 pm  

vastman wrote:

He was at the game,

You've just burst his bubble

Re: Sam Williams : Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:05 pm  

Like I say, it was only what I heard on the terraces.

Strange though him being in the 19 man squad and then replaced by someone who wasnt.