Re: Pre-season. : Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:28 am  

Roll on that Bradford friendly

Re: Pre-season. : Sat Dec 30, 2023 11:44 am  

Chris71 wrote:

Or conversely imagine if we hadn’t had Houghton we may not have achieved what we did in 16 & 17?

Your continuation of stating that Houghton not getting a GB call up whilst that is true it doesn’t prove he wasn’t good enough and you trying to claim this as a fact is tiresome and repetitive.

We all know the politics in picking England/GB teams for one thing & that it’s rarely a level playing field. Yes Roby was ahead of Houghton as his all round game was better but he came through very good St’s teams. We were also well stocked in quality 9’s in the British game at that period too.

Of course had Roby been at 9 for us we could possibly have achieved more as he’d have improved us but he’d have improved any team he went too (including NRL) so it’s a pretty moot point.

I think we have overused Houghton over the years due to him been not only very dependable in his role but also his fitness.

I’ve been one to criticise him at times but he has been an important and integral part of the clubs success which you seem unwilling to see or accept.

I was at Scott Taylor's testimonial event recently when Sam Burgess was a guest. Someone asked the panel why Houghton never had any international recognition and Burgess said sometimes it's just down the coaches personal preference. Some players get picked regardless of form, the coach just prefers them or they suit the coach's style of play,

Tommy Martyn and Lee Briers as a couple of examples had very modest international recognition despite both having great club careers.

Re: Pre-season. : Sat Dec 30, 2023 12:58 pm  

ComeOnYouUll wrote:

I was at Scott Taylor's testimonial event recently when Sam Burgess was a guest. Someone asked the panel why Houghton never had any international recognition and Burgess said sometimes it's just down the coaches personal preference. Some players get picked regardless of form, the coach just prefers them or they suit the coach's style of play,

Tommy Martyn and Lee Briers as a couple of examples had very modest international recognition despite both having great club careers.

Look at Wane at the last World Cup…he picked Mcllorum,who is on par with Houghton imo,not great rd the ruck but good defense and tbh Houghton had 3 good hookes ahead of him during his career and Ackers has come through who is very very underrated.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:57 am  

The games afoot wrote:

He is bloody obsessed with Houghton….il admit to not being Houghtons biggest fan and yes he does lack the spark of a Roby,Clarke and Hodgson but I think he has been flogged to death and that’s took its toll.Hodgson improved massively down under.As a side note…What coach got rid of Hodgson.

Houghton is a good lad

The flogged to bit is just a myth even when he gets spelled he only does the same thing just tackle and the odd 10 meter scoot when opposition on the back foot

When in reality a lot of the time a 9 with pace would be a try

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:01 am  

ComeOnYouUll wrote:

I was at Scott Taylor's testimonial event recently when Sam Burgess was a guest. Someone asked the panel why Houghton never had any international recognition and Burgess said sometimes it's just down the coaches personal preference. Some players get picked regardless of form, the coach just prefers them or they suit the coach's style of play,

Tommy Martyn and Lee Briers as a couple of examples had very modest international recognition despite both having great club careers.

Martyn and Briers were good but likes of Sculthorpe at 6 were better options

Sculthorpe was world class
Martyn and Briers very good but not world class

[Chris71]

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 01, 2024 10:14 am  

Thetalentboy wrote:

ComeOnYouUll wrote:

I was at Scott Taylor's testimonial event recently when Sam Burgess was a guest. Someone asked the panel why Houghton never had any international recognition and Burgess said sometimes it's just down the coaches personal preference. Some players get picked regardless of form, the coach just prefers them or they suit the coach's style of play,

Tommy Martyn and Lee Briers as a couple of examples had very modest international recognition despite both having great club careers.

Martyn and Briers were good but likes of Sculthorpe at 6 were better options

Sculthorpe was world class
Martyn and Briers very good but not world class

Whilst I agree with your point that Sculthorpe was a world class player the rest of your post is questionable.

Sculthorpe was one of the best LF to have played the game and whilst he could play stand off to say he was better than the likes of Martyn & Briers in that position is very questionable.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 01, 2024 2:22 pm  

The post is nonsense, both Martym and Briers were better halfbacks, Sculthorpe was a fantastic 13 though.

Re: Pre-season. : Tue Jan 02, 2024 8:51 pm  

Been realistic. What league position do you all think we can achieve next season ? I think we could have a big improvement in the forwards. I'm a little worried in the backs. No out and out 7 and I don't think Hoy's hamstrings are going to last long enough.

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:37 am  

Dave K. wrote:

The post is nonsense, both Martym and Briers were better halfbacks, Sculthorpe was a fantastic 13 though.

He couldn't play loose forward as we had a guy called Andy farrell playing aswell

Tommy martyn and briers isn't getting infront of

6. Sculthorpe
7. Long
13. Farrell

They didn't point proven

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:33 am  

2ndrower wrote:

Been realistic. What league position do you all think we can achieve next season ? I think we could have a big improvement in the forwards. I'm a little worried in the backs. No out and out 7 and I don't think Hoy's hamstrings are going to last long enough.

6th, last year we were awful, recruitment has been ok but not brilliant, other clubs have recruited well and will also improve on last season