Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:21 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

8th and 9th. Hate to think where we would have finished without Connor.

I like to think in 6 years we may have developed a game plan that invlolved playing as a team, rather than just "give it to Connor". Currently he's about our only player that can create a try, and that's a major problem. Especially when it seems he can only do it from fullback - where all of his weaknesses are exposed defensively. I love watching him play and I'd rather not lose him. I can't discount the possibility that we won't progress as a team with him in it though. We've given Smith control of rugby matters, and it's imperative we get behind whatever those decisions are. If we follow the current formula - we finish 9th or 10th next season.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:23 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

Since Connor signed we've finished 3rd, 6th, 6th, 6th, 8th then 9th. There's a very clear direction that we're heading. Tony Smith can get rid of the lot of them if his way will start heading us back in the right direction.

This is a bit misleading - it suggests that we have finished in a worse league position year in year because of Connor, and that’s obviously not the case. The facts show he’s been by far our best player and he has shown he can do this at the top level when coached in a proper system, with quality players around him - thinking England vs NZ and even All Stars last year with 2 assists and a try?

It would be a massive loss if he goes, and would need a big replacement. Wardle won’t cut it for me. That said, if he doesn’t want to be here and we can cash in now then it makes sense. But I can’t help but feel we’ve let a real rare, quality player go when we could/should have been able to us him better in a proper system, and nurture him properly as a player. Gutting.

In Tony we trust, I guess…

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:36 pm  

UllFC wrote:

This season he's mainly only turned up against bottom 6 opposition we'd have beaten anyway. The trick passes against Toulouse are good fun to watch but I expect the clubs highest earners to make a difference in big games that matter and for me he hasnt done that for a while now.

The trick passes won him man of match awards in the wins against Leeds and Salford. Both are now in the semi-finals.

Not forgetting we are a bottom 6 team. 9th in fact.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:52 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

I like to think in 6 years we may have developed a game plan that invlolved playing as a team, rather than just "give it to Connor". Currently he's about our only player that can create a try, and that's a major problem. Especially when it seems he can only do it from fullback - where all of his weaknesses are exposed defensively. I love watching him play and I'd rather not lose him. I can't discount the possibility that we won't progress as a team with him in it though. We've given Smith control of rugby matters, and it's imperative we get behind whatever those decisions are. If we follow the current formula - we finish 9th or 10th next season.

Fair points. If Connor wants to leave there's no point in keeping him. I'm disappointed as Smith was singing his praises yesterday so I was looking forward to how he planned to use him.

If Smith was told that one or two big earners like Connor need to go to finance the changes he wants then so be it.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:01 pm  

Irregs#16 wrote:

Would be an odd swap (Connor for Wardle) but if Connor is going, it's a great player to be getting from Hudds. Not sure how we can fit 3 centres in the 13, but Hodgson managed 8 hookers!

We don't need any more centres. We need a second row. Josh Jones?

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:20 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

The trick passes won him man of match awards in the wins against Leeds and Salford. Both are now in the semi-finals.

Not forgetting we are a bottom 6 team. 9th in fact.

Both of those teams got off to slow starts, and the games were in Feb and March, was he on holiday for April-September?

He's one of the most talented players we've ever had but his attitude and fitness holds him back. Its clear to see why England don't pick him.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 10:34 pm  

I'd be sorry to see Jake leave but the team needs shaking up so Ill support Smith on this . Hope we can still offload some other players soon .

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:11 pm  

If we could get Wardle and bring in a halfback (depending on who), it's a decent deal as we would lose him for nothing the year after.

I've said before that Carlos has the skillset to play in the backrow.

Abdul at 7, giving us a quota spot too.

Certainly interesting times.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:00 am  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

We don't need any more centres. We need a second row. Josh Jones?

If we sign him he'll only be available for games in West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Re: Shopping List 2023 : Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:09 am  

On the plus side it'll be funny reading jools' sudden conversion to being a Connor fan again after six years of moaning about him.