Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:43 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

Half decent team would have torn Wigan to strips tonight.

Pretty sure Widnes hammered Warrington last time they played at Widnes.

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:55 am  

Given that Wigan put about 100 points on Widnes last time they played, its fair to say that missing players were noticed.

What Wigan have in place tha we don't is a) replacement halfbacks, rather than a past it full back and a second row and b) a clear game plan and attacking structure for these guys to slip into (one would have thought it would be all the same moves coached to the under19s).
Add to that the confidence of a team playing well and you have a much better result than the one we're getting.

All the above is blindingly obvious, so we don't need a thread essentially inviting the pie eaters on here to gloat about how green their grass is.

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:21 am  

To be honest it's not a fair comparison. We played a pair on young half backs in 2 games, one we won comfortably, one we just about won. If Wigan had all those players out for the next 7 or 8 games I've no doubt we'll be struggling. It's far easier for any young player to come into a winning, confident side playing the same structures as they are used to.

At the same time you have had a new coach, presumably introducing new structures.

One of the points I think the OP was trying to make is an interesting one. Is it better to move experienced players into a half back role or blood youngsters in their natural position when covering long term injuries? For a game or 2 it's probably fine to chuck a pair of kids in but if covering long term absence to expect 2 kids to cover for a large number of games is too much.

For all the doom merchants on here remember what Leeds have done over the past 2 seasons. At times they didn't look like making the play offs. If you have your players back rested and fit at the business end you may well surprise a few.

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:30 am  

Eastbourne Warrior wrote:

To be honest it's not a fair comparison. We played a pair on young half backs in 2 games, one we won comfortably, one we just about won. If Wigan had all those players out for the next 7 or 8 games I've no doubt we'll be struggling. It's far easier for any young player to come into a winning, confident side playing the same structures as they are used to.

At the same time you have had a new coach, presumably introducing new structures.

One of the points I think the OP was trying to make is an interesting one. Is it better to move experienced players into a half back role or blood youngsters in their natural position when covering long term injuries? For a game or 2 it's probably fine to chuck a pair of kids in but if covering long term absence to expect 2 kids to cover for a large number of games is too much.

For all the doom merchants on here remember what Leeds have done over the past 2 seasons. At times they didn't look like making the play offs. If you have your players back rested and fit at the business end you may well surprise a few.

Being out of Billinge for such a long time has certainly mellowed you.

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:56 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Given that Wigan put about 100 points on Widnes last time they played, its fair to say that missing players were noticed.

What Wigan have in place tha we don't is a) replacement halfbacks, rather than a past it full back and a second row and b) a clear game plan and attacking structure for these guys to slip into (one would have thought it would be all the same moves coached to the under19s).
Add to that the confidence of a team playing well and you have a much better result than the one we're getting.

All the above is blindingly obvious, so we don't need a thread essentially inviting the pie eaters on here to gloat about how green their grass is.

Gareth Hock likes this.

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:10 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Being out of Billinge for such a long time has certainly mellowed you.

15 years now, I spend most of my time arguing with Union fans to get my kicks

Re: Let's see just how vital first choice half-backs are... : Sat Jun 08, 2013 12:52 pm  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Not a fair comparison - we've been without our first choice everything of late, not just halves... Let's see how the pies would do without both halves, Tomkins, half their 3/4s and most of their pack and then we could compare notes.

Well you did, and I don’t think they did so bad, or is there some else you can bring now?