Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:26 pm  

We are having a discussion on the Saints board re Shenton.

Do you think he is "wingers centre" ?

Re: Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:50 pm  

He's not one for slipping the late ball but is by no means selfish when he has a man outside. He does like the winger to come inside and play the switch ball rather than hug the line.
However, if I had to describe him I'd say he's a 'defensive' centre - his attacking form for Cas this year has been more-or-less non-existant. At the beginning of the season I thought it was essential that we retained him, but after his form this season I'm not too sure.

Re: Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:53 pm  

His style may change under another coach

Re: Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:55 pm  

I'd imagine he will improve dramatically with good coaching and a team geared to striking out wide. Unfortunately, he probably realises this too!

Re: Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:17 pm  

shenton is a defencive centre and no more,the very fact that we have barely used him has a strike centre over the past 5-6 seasons means their must be very little confidence in his attacking play.

im not saying this because he is leaving us but for me shenton has never quite lived up to his promise and he`s not what id consider a international centre more a case of we are very poor in this position and he`s one of the best of a very mediocre bunch of british centres,even looking back to last night the best attacking centre was a un-tried 18 year old in joe arundel.maybe st helens can get more out of him but even in his 5-6 international games he`s played he hasnt broken any pots and three of those games were against france.

Re: Wingers centre : Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:38 pm  

However, often teams play with a 'devensive' centre on one side and an 'attacking' centre on the other and channel their play down the more attacking side in the knowledge that the 'defensive' centre can nullify the threat of the other team's 'attacking' centre!
However, as the previous poster has pointed out, he is nowhere near 'world class'.

Re: Wingers centre : Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:01 am  

I think under the right coach he could become world class. Certainly has the potential, it is just not used under TM

Re: Wingers centre : Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:23 am  

I dont know how peole on this thread have decided shenton is not an attacking centre, last year he scored more tries than any other centre in the league, does that mean there were no attacking centres in sl last year?

I've noticed one thing about rangi chase, he usually passes the opposite way to shenton and when he does pass that way his passing is poorer and takes a split second longer. For all sherwin may have been injury prone he passed both ways and shenton scored plenty of tries from it. I'm not saying thats the sole reason why shenton hasnt been as good this year (though he has been far from poor) but its alot easier to score tries when you have some promising ball in a good position.

Re: Wingers centre : Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:11 am  

Shenton is a very good defender (apart from Tuesday when he fell over letting a try in). With the ball he always seems to make the first man miss him when he cuts back inside. He's not been much of an attacking threat this year but I think that's due to Cas lacking a scrum half pushing the ball his way.

If he joins Saint Helens that he will be a very good signing for you and I wish Michael all the best for his career and will always cheer him on when he plays except against us obviously.