48756c6c20 524c4643 wrote:Not saying Houghton is no good but we've brought about a bit of complacency IMO by handing out longer contracts for players that wouldn't get a gig elsewhere or for same money. Whichever way you see regards DH v JJ, Houghton isn't the future and we need to be looking forward regards what we do interchange wise. Flogging Houghton for 80 minutes has not, IMO benefited him, team results/the club, we need to be looking within the ranks for a future DH replacement to combine with Johnstone if he is to be the starting hooker. Handing out longer contracts for players toward the end of their careers or in scenarios were everyone/team is underperforming, is a sentiment we cannot afford, clubs like Wigan rarely ever do this, nor should we. This isn't just about DH, it's about how we sign off contracts full stop.
I think Danny Houghton showed us later last season that he still has a role to play and in my opinion is still the clubs number one at 9. I like Johnstone but he doesnt run enough and he lacks that speed from acting half which is so important now. Still think Shaul would make a real impact at nine with his pace from acting half
Am happy to have Houghton around. Gives us cover and gives us a option of the bench. But atm I believe Johnston is our starting hooker. He isn't no slouch and IMO has a better rugby brain. Also wouldn't have Houghton as capt. Sneyd for capt
once a black and white always a black and white COYH
bonaire wrote:I think Danny Houghton showed us later last season that he still has a role to play and in my opinion is still the clubs number one at 9. I like Johnstone but he doesnt run enough and he lacks that speed from acting half which is so important now. Still think Shaul would make a real impact at nine with his pace from acting half
I did put that up as a potential role for Shaul but it's rather limiting, if Reynolds adds to our attack overall along with BH game plan, then we absolutely need a FB that can follow up his breaks, that isn't Connor, but Shaul and indeed Wynne is more likely to be the types to follow up breaks that we hope Reynolds has been making in NRL
It would have been interesting to see how Shaul might have gone under BH as he's basically had a premature intro to first team due to SM injury and subsequent departure and then had 6.5 years under Radford who has not adjusted Shaul's play in any way shape or form. I don't mind Shaul as a FB, his on the goal line defence is a bit weak and his ability in the line when attacking in the 20 is also limited but the rest I'm okay with. Time with BH to give Shaul a chance to change some habits/be a better player from pre season I would have liked to see, but then we have a FB already in Wynne, yes he's not the finished article, neither was Shaul when he got his chance, but Hodgson was a top FB himself and he's been acknowledged by others as being able to improve their game, so why not give Wynne the chance? But the whole Connor, Fonua, Griffin, Carlos situation is forcing matters as to who plays where as it has done for a while now.
Rocknrolla69er wrote:All il say is 7 assists in 2 games from Connor at Fullback, and fans are nit picking lol
Who is nit picking? We are discussing where we see players being used to benefit the team most, we don't all agree on that and that is fine, that's what discussion forums are about! Connor is a weaker defensive FB compared to Shaul IMO, offers less in terms of backing up breaks, being able to scoot from dummy half/open field. I don't dislike Connor, i just want to see him in a position were we get the most benefit, with a more expansive team that could have been at centre where we've seen him be brilliant. Shaul's long term injury has dictated things to a degree for this season but so has the fact we've four front line centres on our books, it created, a situation of squeezing Connor on the bench - in favour of another forward, because we had Griffin/Carlos at centre and last season with the reintroduction of Fonua, Griffin being used as a pseudo forward. We lost Kelly for significant portions so Connor played at 6 but he's not and never has been a 6, much like Carlos is not a 6 either. It's fitting square pegs into round holes
Will Connor at FB bring us more tries in the 20, possibly, but we lose something at centre and also I think we have a weaker defensive FB that what we had. I just want what's best like everyone else who supports the club, hope things pan out but converting centres to FB and second row respectively because we've too many players in the same position isn't ideal by any stretch. it might work out fine, more than fine but we should never have been in that situation in the first place.
Last edited by 48756c6c20 524c4643 on Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
RFL stats are wrong. its the RFL they couldn't count with an abacus
I'm aware it's a forum I feel people are nit picking with Connor, two huge performances in two huge games at fullback produced 7 assists, that shows the class of the guy in the correct pivot role, he'l improve further under Hodgson.
With it being a forum and we post opinions I think some on here have got Connors best position wrong. If your going to point out defending, and mention Shaul. Defending is one of Shauls major flaws, if you go back to the Warrington game where they hammered us last season I think it was the game we sacked Radford, I have it recorded, then watch it back and don't watch the ball for Warringtons tries, watch Shaul, you l see all his defensive flaws. Doesn't come over in the Ingoal area to cover actually just jogs or walks. Makes bad decisions coming into the defensive line when teammates are there .
Sorry but Connors a better all around fullback, doesn't have Shauls speed but makes up for that in other ways, superior reading of the game, positioning
Just my opinion , I think itl prove correct next season ..........
Rocknrolla69er wrote:RFL stats are wrong. its the RFL they couldn't count with an abacus
I'm aware it's a forum I feel people are nit picking with Connor, two huge performances in two huge games at fullback produced 7 assists, that shows the class of the guy in the correct pivot role, he'l improve further under Hodgson.
"A huge performance" against the bottom club with the worst defensive record in the league, a slight exaggeration I think.
You then single out Shaul in one of the worst team performances in a long time. We'll miss him this coming season.
Is Hodgson the new Griffin, or is it all about pace?
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum