Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 7:25 am  

Am I being a bit thick here but why didn't we give Burrell a try in the front row? 19st sat on the bench when we needed some beef.

What's the worst that could have happened?

Thoughts?

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 7:42 am  

He will get shagged out faster than sita and the opposition will tear him a new one as he's lay on the groubs gasping

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 7:53 am  

He'd have been gassed faster than sita. In the future maybe, I'm interested to see what Burrell is like after a full pre season and with the new less Conservative e rugby that Steve price is definitely going to deliver next season.

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 9:21 am  

A RU centre is all about big strong lads running onto ball in a bit of space and blitzing the defensive line. In between they pop over to the dug out, have a cup and tea and do the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. Its no surprise that Burrell is a bit puffed after a few minutes playing RL and he will not get the space he is used to either. Perhaps he will surprise us and get sufficiently fit and elusive to play centre, but I would have thought he was more likely to end up in the second row. Prop ? no, I think that's unlikely.

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 9:43 am  

Winslade's Offload wrote:

A RU centre is all about big strong lads running onto ball in a bit of space and blitzing the defensive line. In between they pop over to the dug out, have a cup and tea and do the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. Its no surprise that Burrell is a bit puffed after a few minutes playing RL and he will not get the space he is used to either. Perhaps he will surprise us and get sufficiently fit and elusive to play centre, but I would have thought he was more likely to end up in the second row. Prop ? no, I think that's unlikely.

I can't see him as a backrower either W/O.
I'd have been tempted to play him as a winger like Lineham in a couple of games? He can run the ball in as a forward but also get some width he requires in expanse.

He's like the RL version of Burgess in Union...square peg in a triangular hole.

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:41 am  

Burgess would have been great if England had picked him at 6. He was one of England’s better players 4 years ago against Wales.
Burgess is a world leading talent. Burrell was a bog standard prem rugby union centre. Hopefully a full pre season will sort him out.

On paper I still think second row is his most likely position.

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 11:12 am  

Do we have a front row? ... watching the NRL GF it would be dream to have enforcer type prop like Papalii or JWH

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 1:01 pm  

The next 5 months are the key to his next 3 or 4 years. If he doesn't "hit the ground running", come March April May, he might as well go back to rah rah.
He's been with the side for 3 months or so, and he looks no more a RL player than an Olympic swimmer does. If he doesn't buck his ideas up, he'll be the biggest flop since Dick Fosbury

From what I've seen of the fella, he looks lost, almost like a YTS lad on his first day at his new job (has someone sent him out for a long stand, yet?).
He's a centre, that's where it begins and ends. He doesn't look the type to be a 60+ minute second rower. Prop? No chance.. "Ball player?" We'll wait and see.

I want the fella to do very well, but from what I've seen, I ain't holding my breath

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 1:14 pm  

If the service, or rather distinct lack of service, our threequarters get is evidence of the amount of time they get with coaches or the coaches view of their roles, I'm not suprised he is struggling.

Given our more experienced backs look likey they've never played the game half the time I'm amazed Burrell doesn't think passing to his winger is illegal.

Get on the phone to Allan Bateman and give him four months - King & Gelling would learn plenty too.

Re: Front row : Sun Oct 06, 2019 1:22 pm  

Bateman was a polar opposite to the modern RL centre. He was a stepper, a good pair of hands, and, for his weight, a tremendous defender.

I'm not sure what he could say to the modern centre, bar 'are you sure second row isnt your position?'.....