Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:54 am  

Bentley has had a stop start time while at Leeds but was excellent in the run in last season. He has contributed more in the last two seasons than Fusitua. I would have had both Handley and Macdonald on the wing before Fusitua this season. He is good at taking the high kick over the tryline, and has come up with a couple of tries from that play. Pity it's taken our halfbacks 2 years to realise that it's his strength.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sat Sep 09, 2023 1:01 pm  

And I would say Bentley is good at scrapping and competing in the middle and has great commitment, but is also good at giving silly penalties away and making mistakes at times.

Sorry I just disagree I’d pick three other of our back rowers over Bentley but probably pick Fus as first choice wing.

Handley not been on top form this year for some reason - probably not helped by inconsistent halves and centres.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sun Sep 10, 2023 1:36 pm  

Isn't it likely that Bentley will be on less than his current deal? He was signed as an up and coming star, but aside from a few games at the end of last season hasn't lived up to that. Based on the fact he was apparently sounding out offers elsewhere but stayed we might have been the only half-decent offer going.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:10 pm  

I read somewhere he was one of the better paid players - if he still is we need to give our heads a wobble.

He is marginally first grade starting quality in the second row and James McDonnell is the better player.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:02 am  

Bentley looked good in a dominant Saints side - not the same player in a weak Rhinos side. Take it he didn't get any offers from the NRL?

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:21 pm  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

Bentley looked good in a dominant Saints side - not the same player in a weak Rhinos side. Take it he didn't get any offers from the NRL?

No, course not. You need to be really good to get NRL….

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Tue Sep 12, 2023 5:58 am  

Shabino wrote:

No, course not. You need to be really good to get NRL….

Yeh, like Leeming and Gildart

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:40 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

Yeh, like Leeming and Gildart

And don`t forget Bateman.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:21 pm  

Good to hear Bentley is trying to turn the corner and has now gone 100 days sober.
He talks about the demons of drink and how he now has a purpose in life.
I`m sure we will see a better player this year.
"When I look back now, I was just pressing a self-destruct button," Bentley continued. "The hardest part has been admitting and accepting that I had a problem making me feel weak, but I now realise how strong it is to do that.

"It's not been an easy road. There have been some pretty testing and difficult times, but since stopping, I feel I've grown so much as a person. I'm enjoying life so much more; my confidence is through the roof; I feel I'm better to be around; I'm enjoying training so much more; and I've lost over a stone. Relationships with friends and family are so much better. I'm growing my own business away from rugby. It's given me so much more time to do things that are way more productive and rewarding.

Re: EXTENSION | James Bentley - Expires: 2025 : Fri Jan 05, 2024 4:45 pm  

Brilliant and good on him. Might see a rejuvenated player this season