Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 9:58 am  

Time will tell, but I think Bentley is better retention than Fusitua.
Young, English, plenty to learn and develop. But absolutely has the right attitude.
Fusitua is a big risk.
Good player, but we can't afford an OQ spot sat in the stands for 50% of the games.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:06 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

Time will tell, but I think Bentley is better retention than Fusitua.
Young, English, plenty to learn and develop. But absolutely has the right attitude.
Fusitua is a big risk.
Good player, but we can't afford an OQ spot sat in the stands for 50% of the games.

Thing is mate we have Martin, Goudemand, McDonnell, Gannon, Donaldson already here in the second row and Bentley adds what to that list?

Fusitu’a by contrast is our best winger. We have him, Handley, then we’re into awfulpherts ir academy lads pretty much next year. On the basis that he is our best player in position and we have much less depth there, he is a far better retention than Bentley.

How many games has Bentley played this year compared to Fus? I don’t know but with injuries and bans wouldn’t surprise me if Fus has played the same ish.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:09 am  

Yes so season so far Fus has played 14 and Bentley 13 with a few games to play.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:28 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

Yes so season so far Fus has played 14 and Bentley 13 with a few games to play.

Fair point, but Fusitua has proved season after season that he is injury prone.
I agree, he's our best winger, but given his injury record, we need a better back up than Olpherts.
Especially now McDonald has gone.

Maybe the retention of Bentley suggests that Martin might move to the centre.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:53 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

Thing is mate we have Martin, Goudemand, McDonnell, Gannon, Donaldson already here in the second row and Bentley adds what to that list?

Fusitu’a by contrast is our best winger. We have him, Handley, then we’re into awfulpherts ir academy lads pretty much next year. On the basis that he is our best player in position and we have much less depth there, he is a far better retention than Bentley.

How many games has Bentley played this year compared to Fus? I don’t know but with injuries and bans wouldn’t surprise me if Fus has played the same ish.

Goudemand ays prop or 13 for catalans doesn’t he?

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:53 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

Fair point, but Fusitua has proved season after season that he is injury prone.
I agree, he's our best winger, but given his injury record, we need a better back up than Olpherts.
Especially now McDonald has gone.

Maybe the retention of Bentley suggests that Martin might move to the centre.

Even last year Bentley played 7 more games than Fus and looks like Fus will play more than Bentley this year… I do get your point though, playing 50% ish of games for 2 years isn’t great and he does have precious form for injuries through his career.

My problem is with what you said, back up bc awfulpherts just makes me angry. Fus is a risk but ok on 1 year while the young kids develop - we have a few wingers at the club who are good prospects behind Tindall (Tchambe, Frater, Webster, Turner). Another year or two we might well have at least one of those make the grade.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:54 am  

christopher wrote:

Goudemand ays prop or 13 for catalans doesn’t he?

He isn’t a prop according to KaeruJim’s rugby league dictionary.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:01 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

He isn’t a prop according to KaeruJim’s rugby league dictionary.

Either way Id say hes a direct (and better) replacement for Tetevano, tough, doesn’t make errors, hard working and can score trys.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:06 am  

christopher wrote:

Either way Id say hes a direct (and better) replacement for Tetevano, tough, doesn’t make errors, hard working and can score trys.

I like his skill level from the little I’ve seen; seems solid but not star quality.

Still looks more back row than front row.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:25 am  

christopher wrote:

Either way Id say hes a direct (and better) replacement for Tetevano, tough, doesn’t make errors, hard working and can score trys.

Goudemand is 5' 10" and 15st 6lbs, that looks a fair height for prop but at least a stone underpowered to me. He's a back rower (any of the three) to me in terms of size. Whenever I've seen him play he's looked steady and competent, not many mistakes, but also doesn't seem to break the line much either.

I'd describe him as squad filler material and I suspect that's what he will be, a first or second interchange.