Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 3:55 am  

As we found out at the tail end of last season barring a hiccup, the players seem to want to play for poaching and he seems to have connected with the players which is always a good start . Carry on from where we left off I say and we’ll certainly raise a few eyebrows with our style of play .Miller and Lino are going to be a force to be reckoned with if we can keep them both on the field .Thought we always went well with two quality hookers on the field ,so be interesting to see how Willie plays hood ,and who will partner him if anyone . For me Willie has breathed some fresh air into the squad/club which had gone stale the last year or so ,and whilst Chester had done an admirable job on a tight budget IMO he overstayed his welcome ,and it’s great to have some fresh impetus and ideas in the coaching department . We are solid up front ,got a great back line ,I feel we are in a good place player wise as long as we can keep the majority of them on the field ,we are good to go and up for the fight ,mid table everyday of the week for me .

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:39 am  

Kettykat wrote:

As we found out at the tail end of last season barring a hiccup, the players seem to want to play for poaching and he seems to have connected with the players which is always a good start . Carry on from where we left off I say and we’ll certainly raise a few eyebrows with our style of play .Miller and Lino are going to be a force to be reckoned with if we can keep them both on the field .Thought we always went well with two quality hookers on the field ,so be interesting to see how Willie plays hood ,and who will partner him if anyone . For me Willie has breathed some fresh air into the squad/club which had gone stale the last year or so ,and whilst Chester had done an admirable job on a tight budget IMO he overstayed his welcome ,and it’s great to have some fresh impetus and ideas in the coaching department . We are solid up front ,got a great back line ,I feel we are in a good place player wise as long as we can keep the majority of them on the field ,we are good to go and up for the fight ,mid table everyday of the week for me .

Even without injuries, hooker is the position that concerns me most. Hood is obviously first choice, personally I think Walker is the best interchange option.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:44 am  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

Even without injuries, hooker is the position that concerns me most. Hood is obviously first choice, personally I think Walker is the best interchange option.

Apparently, Liam Kay has been coached all pre-season in this role.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:02 am  

Last to be picked wrote:

Apparently, Liam Kay has been coached all pre-season in this role.

Thought Bowes was the star of the youngsters, he could easily do a few stints.

Personally think Kay is better than Walker and is a hooker all day long.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:07 am  

vastman wrote:

Thought Bowes was the star of the youngsters, he could easily do a few stints.

Personally think Kay is better than Walker and is a hooker all day long.

I agree. I think we are well stocked at 9.

Hood
Kaye
Walker/Bowes
Poching (in emergency)

To me seems like good depth. Bowes stood up well on Boxing Day and all though he’s not ready to start he proved he can come off the bench and do a decent job of needed imo.

I’m more worried about halfbacks.

Lino and miller I think will be great but other than Gaskell there’s not much quality back up. Suppose if needed some young lad would get their shot.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:01 am  

Trojan Horse wrote:

I agree. I think we are well stocked at 9.

Hood
Kaye
Walker/Bowes
Poching (in emergency)

To me seems like good depth. Bowes stood up well on Boxing Day and all though he’s not ready to start he proved he can come off the bench and do a decent job of needed imo.

I’m more worried about halfbacks.

Lino and miller I think will be great but other than Gaskell there’s not much quality back up. Suppose if needed some young lad would get their shot.

Not much quality anywhere in that position. I really don’t know what’s gone wrong, I can’t even think of a championship HB worth a punt at the moment.

There may be some talent available on loan from one of the top clubs I don’t know.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 4:48 pm  

vastman wrote:

Not much quality anywhere in that position. I really don’t know what’s gone wrong, I can’t even think of a championship HB worth a punt at the moment.

There may be some talent available on loan from one of the top clubs I don’t know.

Wigan seem to have a lot of options on the halves and I can’t see all 4 front line halves being able to be kept happy for too long unless they pick up an injury.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Harry Smith become available (who had a stinker of a year last year in truth, but there is a very talented lad there).

I think Leeds may be looking to give Sinfield some game time too but think he may end up at Bradford.

In fairness we would have to be unlucky to have 2 out of 3 front line halves pull up at the same time for any length of time and I think Hood and Walker could fill in there for the odd week before we had to seriously look at bringing in another specialist half.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 5:59 pm  

jonh wrote:

Wigan seem to have a lot of options on the halves and I can’t see all 4 front line halves being able to be kept happy for too long unless they pick up an injury.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Harry Smith become available (who had a stinker of a year last year in truth, but there is a very talented lad there).

I think Leeds may be looking to give Sinfield some game time too but think he may end up at Bradford.

In fairness we would have to be unlucky to have 2 out of 3 front line halves pull up at the same time for any length of time and I think Hood and Walker could fill in there for the odd week before we had to seriously look at bringing in another specialist half.

Crazy isn’t it, Harry Smith was seen as the new George Williams. Potentially too much pressure on him at Wigan? Who knows but class is permanent and the lad can certainly play.

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 6:21 pm  

jonh wrote:

Wigan seem to have a lot of options on the halves and I can’t see all 4 front line halves being able to be kept happy for too long unless they pick up an injury.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Harry Smith become available (who had a stinker of a year last year in truth, but there is a very talented lad there).

I think Leeds may be looking to give Sinfield some game time too but think he may end up at Bradford.

In fairness we would have to be unlucky to have 2 out of 3 front line halves pull up at the same time for any length of time and I think Hood and Walker could fill in there for the odd week before we had to seriously look at bringing in another specialist half.

Who’s our U19 HB’s? I know Abrahams plays six and looks classy but he doesn’t look like an out and out playmaker. Thought Butterworth was a HB but I’m not sure?

Re: A season for real optimism : Thu Dec 30, 2021 7:06 pm  

vastman wrote:

Who’s our U19 HB’s? I know Abrahams plays six and looks classy but he doesn’t look like an out and out playmaker. Thought Butterworth was a HB but I’m not sure?

Robbie Butterworth played fullback for us on Boxing Day and has been at 7 in the 19’s. Charlie Abraham is in the reserves next year and hopefully will get a full time contract, got a lot of potential.