Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:12 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Saints again showing the way, they see a pivotal player in Roby coming to the end of his career and sign someone to replace him long term. Also allows them to play two hookers so Roby isnt flogged to death like Houghton has been.

Top, top signing for Saints.

Probably means you can have Aaron Smith (for a fee )

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:19 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Probably means you can have Aaron Smith (for a fee )

What type of hooker is Smith please?

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:20 pm  

GrahamBray wrote:

Not sure Ash Taylor is the answer but Peachey would be a great signing, he can cover all the pivot roles and is aggressive too, with a great skillset, like Shane McMenemy but with more pace.
The frustration for me is that we had all the ingredients required to be successful, as shown in our cup wins , but Radford's brand of rugby became obsolete with the COVID rule changes and we failed to cover the loss of Watts, which was hugely detrimental to our pack and chances thereafter. It has all the echoes of 2006, when we should have pushed on to consistent success, but failed miserably and lost our star player, Cooke, who we then tried to replace with players like Head and even Sam Obst!!
I applaud Adam saying what he has, but I am afraid some of us have heard ducks fart in water before. Too often.

As the great Eric Morecambe said to Andre Previn, “I’m playing all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order”.

We can’t fault our owners willingness to bankroll our side, AP has been excellent, it’s the selection of available players which seems to be the problem.

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:22 pm  

GrahamBray wrote:

Not sure Ash Taylor is the answer but Peachey would be a great signing, he can cover all the pivot roles and is aggressive too, with a great skillset, like Shane McMenemy but with more pace.
The frustration for me is that we had all the ingredients required to be successful, as shown in our cup wins , but Radford's brand of rugby became obsolete with the COVID rule changes and we failed to cover the loss of Watts, which was hugely detrimental to our pack and chances thereafter. It has all the echoes of 2006, when we should have pushed on to consistent success, but failed miserably and lost our star player, Cooke, who we then tried to replace with players like Head and even Sam Obst!!
I applaud Adam saying what he has, but I am afraid some of us have heard ducks fart in water before. Too often.

Peachey would be a fantastic replacement for Fonua, could play centre, stand off, backrow or LF.

so still think the priority should be a hooker with our one quota spot, unless we can get an English hooker.

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:43 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Peachey would be a fantastic replacement for Fonua, could play centre, stand off, backrow or LF.

so still think the priority should be a hooker with our one quota spot, unless we can get an English hooker.

If you can sign someone like Aaron Smith, it definitely leaves that quota spot up for good use.

Anyone have a good review of Aaron Smith? Is he good enough, good attacking game and organising skills?

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:45 pm  

Saints recruitment and retention is spot on. One to aspire to.
If players like Coote we’re at Hull, they’d be getting new two year deals.

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:59 pm  

Irregular Hoops wrote:

Saints recruitment and retention is spot on. One to aspire to.
If players like Coote we’re at Hull, they’d be getting new two year deals.

Agreed, it's the refreshing of the squad to stop complacency creeping in and knowing each players value like Saints and Wigan do with Coote, Long etc and not being held ransom by certain players. We tend to keep players because of sentiment or because we're scared of other teams having them. For example if we knew Jake Connor was going to be fullback this year, did we need to re-sign Jamie Shaul last year? Or did we re-sign him due to his long term injury and his heroics in the past? If we were ruthless, we'd have released Shaul and had Wynne as a backup fullback, allowing the cap to be used for a prop. It doesn't make sense having 3 good quality fullbacks and trying to keep them all happy. Similarly with Bowden, Taylor, Houghton...we just keep them because they're from Hull and Pearson's big vision a few years ago was club Hull. In Rob Burrow's biography, he says Sinfield, Burrow, McGuire etc all knew they could earn more elsewhere, however they all decided to stay at Leeds as it is worth winning trophies with your best mates rather than following the money. That's the sort of culture we need to build at Hull.

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:09 pm  

Irregular Hoops wrote: Ash Taylor and Peachey been released by Gold Coast. Would be very good pick ups for a SL team. Canberra bound maybe?? https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaki ... 0aa517cb3c List of NRL players off contract.. https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/ ... qxmdr5zv1b

Irregular Hoops wrote: Ash Taylor and Peachey been released by Gold Coast. Would be very good pick ups for a SL team. Canberra bound maybe?? https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaki ... 0aa517cb3c List of NRL players off contract.. https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/ ... qxmdr5zv1b

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:23 pm  

I'd have Ash Taylor - only 26. Good half back, think he would go well over here.

Re: What now? : Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:29 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

What type of hooker is Smith please?

Rocknrolla69er wrote:

If you can sign someone like Aaron Smith, it definitely leaves that quota spot up for good use.

Anyone have a good review of Aaron Smith? Is he good enough, good attacking game and organising skills?

Hes a player whose too good to play in the reserves more than Super League next year. In a lot of ways he has been collateral to Saints production line, losing his spot to Welsby first and then Dodd for no other reason than they needed game time (and the rewards of that are for all to see). Couple that with Pemberton in our academy seen by the club as the next successor (likely to get the 14 shirt in 2023) you can see how Smith may be squeezed out.

There have been plenty of times where Smith has really looked the part as Roby's successor. His biggest problem is he isnt the strongest in defence, but is brave, which leads to him getting his head in the wrong place repeatedly (I believe the club have spent alot of time with him on this this year though). Always seems to get himself in good positions in attack, and very effective running at the line. Passing can occasionally be a bit iffy, but 9 games out of 10 you wouldn't notice an issue. Hes not the most vocal so not sure on organising but at Saints its our halfbacks who dictate the play, so I am sure he could be effective, given the chance.

I did say my original comment somewhat tongue in cheek, but Smith has another year on his contract and needs to be playing at the top level. It could make a lot of sense for someone to pick him up