Joined: Jul 06 2009 Posts: 9680 Location: Somewhere under the salary cap
Seen some talk about 'deficiencies' in the front row'...
we haven't been short of props this year.. we invested in that position and have had a decent number of them available....we even had people gloating in the 'packs win games thread'. We even got one in the dream team. (yes a few of them have been rubbish)
for me... its been centre AND second row.... Both positions have been terrible all season. That's 2 players stood next to each other, on both sides of the pitch.
Attacks often break down there... breaks have been often made in the gaps between them.
I don't know this for a fact, but I'd suggest "Attacks often break down there... breaks have been often made in the gaps between them." is true of most teams.
Methinks Currie will be the 2024 scapegoat, taking the mantle from Ma'atautia this year. Justified or not, once the bandwagon starts against one player it's difficult to stop. Dudson had a go this year but I'd suggest overall PM was in the crosshairs for the majority of knockers.
Joined: Jul 06 2009 Posts: 9680 Location: Somewhere under the salary cap
Douglas Black wrote:I don't know this for a fact, but I'd suggest "Attacks often break down there... breaks have been often made in the gaps between them." is true of most teams.
hmmm... that doesn't fit my narrative... stop being factual please.
CEO and Coach have been our weakest positions. Seriously though, no strike centres has been a concern this year, but we have a bigger choice next year so hopefully will find the right fit. And Scrum half hasn't been great, although i hope he gets moved back over to the left next year. Williams is fine on the left and right but drinkwater isn't. The 2-3 Games he played on the left when Williams was injured were by far the best games he's had for us.
Fullback: Weak. For the pace he has, Dufty doesn't impact games in the way he should or in the way Field or French do. Awful and disinterested defensively too and seemed to be very badly affected by the McGuire fallout. He's one I wanted Saints to sign and thought would terrorise Super League, but whilst his stats will look okay, he's not killing it like I thought he might. Wing: Very strong. Ashton already one of the best in SL with loads of potential to improve still, Russell whilst limited brings the ball out very well. Both would get in Saints team (Not at the same time), Thewlis has potential. Centre: Weak: Don't rate King, don't think Ratchford is a positive for you, his body language and temperament seem shocking. The new guy from PNG is an unknown but could be very good in SL, Wrench has potential, but will he be watching the other three? Halves: Mixed. Williams have been hot and cold at Warrington. Plenty of talent there, but no one to pair him with and still an awkward vibe about him, like he isn't 100% certain he wants to be there. Hayes/Dean aren't trusted for whatever reason and Drinkwater just hasn't worked, despite his performances at Catalans. Props: Mixed: Vaughan seems to have been a big hit with the fans and the statisticians, but another one I'm not sure is impacting games. He just hasn't performed in the big games at all. Could be that he's easy to target due to the lack of support and the lack of size in the backrow. Harrison is a player I really like, a workhorse that every side needs. Philbin a useful bench player, Kasiano massively underperforming and Dudson was always a poor signing. Bullock looks your next best after Vaughan but was bizarrely dropped for Dudson quite a few times. Backrow: Mixed. Nicholson undoubtedly has potential, but he's played way too much rugby consecutively this year. He isn't a first choice 13 player yet, as his stats from the Saints game show. There is a danger he'll turn into a typical Wigan forward, overworked having played too many games without a break, tackles well but does nothing with the ball. Currie used to terrify me, but isn't performing anywhere near his old level, perhaps injuries have taken their toll there. Crowther I like, thought he'd work out well for you and he seems to have. Good enough to be a squad player anywhere, but that's his level, again he's not a starting player for a Championship winning side. I think Fitzgibbon will be an excellent signing, I'm not sure why he's coming to Super League at all, 29 and an NRL regular and I'm sure he could have got another contract over there easily.
Joined: Jul 17 2015 Posts: 4668 Location: Sitting on the naughty step
Saddened! wrote:My opinion on Warrington:
Fullback: Weak. For the pace he has, Dufty doesn't impact games in the way he should or in the way Field or French do. Awful and disinterested defensively too and seemed to be very badly affected by the McGuire fallout. He's one I wanted Saints to sign and thought would terrorise Super League, but whilst his stats will look okay, he's not killing it like I thought he might. Wing: Very strong. Ashton already one of the best in SL with loads of potential to improve still, Russell whilst limited brings the ball out very well. Both would get in Saints team (Not at the same time), Thewlis has potential. Centre: Weak: Don't rate King, don't think Ratchford is a positive for you, his body language and temperament seem shocking. The new guy from PNG is an unknown but could be very good in SL, Wrench has potential, but will he be watching the other three? Halves: Mixed. Williams have been hot and cold at Warrington. Plenty of talent there, but no one to pair him with and still an awkward vibe about him, like he isn't 100% certain he wants to be there. Hayes/Dean aren't trusted for whatever reason and Drinkwater just hasn't worked, despite his performances at Catalans. Props: Mixed: Vaughan seems to have been a big hit with the fans and the statisticians, but another one I'm not sure is impacting games. He just hasn't performed in the big games at all. Could be that he's easy to target due to the lack of support and the lack of size in the backrow. Harrison is a player I really like, a workhorse that every side needs. Philbin a useful bench player, Kasiano massively underperforming and Dudson was always a poor signing. Bullock looks your next best after Vaughan but was bizarrely dropped for Dudson quite a few times. Backrow: Mixed. Nicholson undoubtedly has potential, but he's played way too much rugby consecutively this year. He isn't a first choice 13 player yet, as his stats from the Saints game show. There is a danger he'll turn into a typical Wigan forward, overworked having played too many games without a break, tackles well but does nothing with the ball. Currie used to terrify me, but isn't performing anywhere near his old level, perhaps injuries have taken their toll there. Crowther I like, thought he'd work out well for you and he seems to have. Good enough to be a squad player anywhere, but that's his level, again he's not a starting player for a Championship winning side. I think Fitzgibbon will be an excellent signing, I'm not sure why he's coming to Super League at all, 29 and an NRL regular and I'm sure he could have got another contract over there easily.
SUMMARY Ashton is ok everyone else rubbish.
Just my opinions unless it's a FACT, in which case it's a fact.
Joined: Oct 06 2005 Posts: 2832 Location: Warrington
Welsby - deformed and rubbish Makinson - dirty, should have much longer bans than he gets Percival - wears a shellsuit, sells meat in flat roof pubs on a Friday - brittle Hurrell - fat turnstile Bennison - woeful Ritson - Championship material Lomax - past it Dodd - most overrated player in SL Roby - see Lomax Walmsley - see Lomax/Roby Lees - can't tackle with his arms - should be permanently banned Matautia - by association (familial) is declared rubbish Sironen - not bad I suppose Knowles - overrated and permanently offside. LMS - odious creature Hopoate - makes Ronnie Kettlewell look fast Mbye - a player we'd have signed in the early 2000s - dreadful
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