Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:32 am  

vastman wrote:

There is no doubt Smith could play and as you say he had an outstanding RL brain but there was clearly an issue with the players temperament.

Ask yourself this, what was such a talented player doing in SL let alone at its least fashionable club? Imho it’s because he couldn’t handle expectations and the pressure that went with it. Exemplified by his alcoholic fuelled exit from the club.

Brough had his demons and he too could occasionally choke in big games but compared to Smith he was Mr Consistent. He was an all round far better player imo but what I feel is less up for debate is who had the heart and who didn’t.

Truth is imho that if anything Broughy was too headstrong and too gutsy too the point where teams that could really challenge steered clear of a player who would almost certainly clash with other star players. Loved to have seen how he’d have gone at a big club but in truth it probably wouldn’t have worked.

For Smith it definitely didn’t.

Completely agree. But those personality traits that somethimes got Brough into trouble are also what helped make him the player he was. Best half back in my time watching Wakefield.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:00 pm  

Although he didn't stay for long, perhaps our best prop forward in the SL era was Shan Tronc.
He disappeared at the same time as Brough went to Huddersfield, never to return.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:11 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Although he didn't stay for long, perhaps our best prop forward in the SL era was Shan Tronc.
He disappeared at the same time as Brough went to Huddersfield, never to return.

2010 was going well until Brough, Tronc and Newton all left for various reasons.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:05 pm  

Willzay wrote:

2010 was going well until Brough, Tronc and Newton all left for various reasons.

Indeed, cash was becoming a HUGE problem, hence parting with Brough.
Tronc looked like an ordinary kind of prop forward, maybe even a little light but, he certainly went forwards very, very effectively

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:39 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Indeed, cash was becoming a HUGE problem, hence parting with Brough.
Tronc looked like an ordinary kind of prop forward, maybe even a little light but, he certainly went forwards very, very effectively

Not strictly correct in Brough's case. For once we didn't actively try to sell Brough and matched Hudds all the way. However, Brough had other issues and Hudds agreed to make those go away shall we say. We couldn't compete with that. Have to say it was probably the best bit of money uncle Ken ever spent. Nothing illegal by the way, just an act of generosity we couldn't and to be fair wouldn't match.

If you don't believe me I can accept that but on this occasion, I know the whole story.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:48 pm  

vastman wrote:

Not strictly correct in Brough's case. For once we didn't actively try to sell Brough and matched Hudds all the way. However, Brough had other issues and Hudds agreed to make those go away shall we say. We couldn't compete with that. Have to say it was probably the best bit of money uncle Ken ever spent. Nothing illegal by the way, just an act of generosity we couldn't and to be fair wouldn't match.

If you don't believe me I can accept that but on this occasion, I know the whole story.

I heard the same with Brough, without going into detail I believe Hudds dug him out of a bit of a hole.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:00 pm  

vastman wrote:

Not strictly correct in Brough's case. For once we didn't actively try to sell Brough and matched Hudds all the way. However, Brough had other issues and Hudds agreed to make those go away shall we say. We couldn't compete with that. Have to say it was probably the best bit of money uncle Ken ever spent. Nothing illegal by the way, just an act of generosity we couldn't and to be fair wouldn't match.

If you don't believe me I can accept that but on this occasion, I know the whole story.

Yes, I remember some of the rumours.
Mind you, we went into admin in 2011 so, there will have been plenty going on.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 5:02 pm  

Willzay wrote:

2010 was going well until Brough, Tronc and Newton all left for various reasons.

Yeah that was a shame as I felt that season we had the makings of an excellent team which should’ve made a good impression in the play offs.

Has any mentioned Stosic yet, good prop.

[PopTart]

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Thu Feb 25, 2021 5:21 pm  

Schunter wrote:

Considering his rep I thought he was pretty underwhelming at best and he nearly screwed us over with that ridiculous sending off.
Not for me

I considered Mathers. I have to say our defence was strongest when he was at the back. Not because he was a good defender but because he could organise the defence in front of him. Grix was the same. I really hope Jowitt learns that part of the game. It will make him a superb player. Same for Hampshire to be honest.

FB role has changed during the time of Super League. Its no longer a defender or even a try scorer. Having someone like Coote or Hodgson (Hull Coach) who can manage the team is far more important now. You have to be fit too. Probably covers more ground than any other player, both on and off the ball.

Its a bit like the scenario in football. Its exciting to have a shot stopper, but its better to have a dominant character that marshals his back 4 to be able to defend well enough that he doesn't need to make as many saves.

Re: All Time Superleague 13 : Sat Feb 27, 2021 9:44 am  

PopTart wrote:

I considered Mathers. I have to say our defence was strongest when he was at the back. Not because he was a good defender but because he could organise the defence in front of him. Grix was the same. I really hope Jowitt learns that part of the game. It will make him a superb player. Same for Hampshire to be honest.

FB role has changed during the time of Super League. Its no longer a defender or even a try scorer. Having someone like Coote or Hodgson (Hull Coach) who can manage the team is far more important now. You have to be fit too. Probably covers more ground than any other player, both on and off the ball.

Its a bit like the scenario in football. Its exciting to have a shot stopper, but its better to have a dominant character that marshals his back 4 to be able to defend well enough that he doesn't need to make as many saves.

I’m not sure I can agree on this one PopTart. I think we were on the end of some high scoring games in 2012 when Mathers was at the back and conceded less points in 2013 when Mathers missed a bit of the season and L.Smith played at FB. That’s not to say Mathers wasn’t good for us. I think his link up play with T.Smith and Sykes in attack was great. 2009 was statistically our best defensive season and it was Blaymire at the back then. I always felt most confident defensively when Blaymire was at the back. I’ve been watching some old games recently and you forget how good that 2009 team were.