Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 28, 2023 4:18 pm  

Olpherts is a bit of a conundrum: he scored 36 tries in 65 appearances for Cas, and his other stats and performances were evidently good enough for Leeds to take a punt on him. I didn't like the way some of our fans took against him instantaneously, but for some reason he couldn't stop making unforced errors for Leeds. Seems to be a mental/confidence problem if anything - he has the physical attributes and you don't score that many tries in SL without some skill (it's not like he was playing for a top side who were walloping teams often, and therefore getting loads of walk-in scores).

By contrast, Liam Tindall scored 2 tries in 21 appearances for Leeds. He has a bit of heart, but IMO has never looked like a SL standard player, and rarely looked like scoring a try. He has youth on his side but that's not enough reason to keep him. We've let younger backs go more recently (e.g. Jack Broadbent) who showed far more promise.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 28, 2023 4:23 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

He looked nice and controlled on the whole.

Was just thinking again I think Leeds next year are gonna look alright. First choice team at least.

The good thing about Harry wanting to have a crack in the NRL is he has to have a good year next year for any chance of that happening

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 28, 2023 6:08 pm  

Must admit I thought Burgess was immense today. He’s not the fastest but he just keeps on going and he’s just massive and hard to handle.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 28, 2023 6:13 pm  

I was also impressed with McMeekin who has settled into the front row all season.
Mikey Lewis again looking good and it would be a shame to leave him out for Williams next week.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 28, 2023 6:29 pm  

Lewis was really good getting under the skin of the Tongans. Williams the better player overall but I’d probably keep Lewis for continuity.

Would probably bring Makinson back in if he’s fit. To be fair, that Tonga side is full of decent quality NRL players they’re no mugs.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:31 am  

Put Williams, Farnworth and Young into that back line and we win both games by 20+ points.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:50 am  

Jack Burton wrote:

Put Williams, Farnworth and Young into that back line and we win both games by 20+ points.

Yeah agreed

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:51 am  

Jack Burton wrote:

Put Williams, Farnworth and Young into that back line and we win both games by 20+ points.

Yeah agreed

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:24 am  

Yeh Newman did OK yesterday, without trying too much.
Showed he can actually do a centres job and put his winger in at the corner.
But for me, he is way off NRL standard.
Their 3/4's are all bigger, stronger and more athletic.
Fair play if he wants a crack, but like many backs before him, he won't make it.

And agree with Jim on Burgess.
He's just so big and strong, really difficult to handle.

I still worry about our pack next year if we don't have any more incomings.
On paper, the pack is weaker than this year and we got rolled in the majority of games.
Not much the new backs are going to be able to do about that.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:21 am  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Olpherts is a bit of a conundrum: he scored 36 tries in 65 appearances for Cas, and his other stats and performances were evidently good enough for Leeds to take a punt on him. I didn't like the way some of our fans took against him instantaneously, but for some reason he couldn't stop making unforced errors for Leeds. Seems to be a mental/confidence problem if anything - he has the physical attributes and you don't score that many tries in SL without some skill (it's not like he was playing for a top side who were walloping teams often, and therefore getting loads of walk-in scores).

By contrast, Liam Tindall scored 2 tries in 21 appearances for Leeds. He has a bit of heart, but IMO has never looked like a SL standard player, and rarely looked like scoring a try. He has youth on his side but that's not enough reason to keep him. We've let younger backs go more recently (e.g. Jack Broadbent) who showed far more promise.

I have a mate who's a Cas fan and he told when we signed him that Olpherts is partially sighted in one eye and should never play on the left. I think we played him there pretty much exclusively. However, that doesn't excuse the litany of basic mistakes: dropping the ball cold; dropping it in contact; running 40 meters sideways rather than 5 forward etc. I watched him a couple of times for the reserves and he was equally bad. Best thing for all concerned if he were to move on and we were to use the cap to get a prop.