Re: Joe Wardle : Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:22 pm  

Maximus007 wrote:

Agree mate, sign Wardle up and phase Smith out, when you compare him to some of the other 7s in the league (Sned, Gayle etc) he is miles behind. Richardson deserves a run in the team but we need a world class 7 for next season for me.

With the competition we have in the backs now, it would be absolutely crazy to bring in any more backs, world class or not. Short of Smith going, the halfback situation will remain the same next season. If Smith does go, we will have a real challenge to replace him with better (and thats not meant as a compliment to Smith, with the exception of Gale, pretty much every half back this year has been bang average). Leave Richardson and Smith fighting it out. Both should improve for it.

The same level of competition for places is needed in the forwards, and thats what our recruitment this year should try and do! Wardle would be the start of that.

Re: Joe Wardle : Mon Jul 24, 2017 2:53 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

With the competition we have in the backs now, it would be absolutely crazy to bring in any more backs, world class or not. Short of Smith going, the halfback situation will remain the same next season. If Smith does go, we will have a real challenge to replace him with better (and thats not meant as a compliment to Smith, with the exception of Gale, pretty much every half back this year has been bang average). Leave Richardson and Smith fighting it out. Both should improve for it.

The same level of competition for places is needed in the forwards, and thats what our recruitment this year should try and do! Wardle would be the start of that.

Id take Sned over Smith any day. Yeah keep hold of Richardson to battle for places.

We also need another good big prop next to Big Al and better second rowers for me

Re: Joe Wardle : Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:54 pm  

Maximus007 wrote:

Id take Sned over Smith any day. Yeah keep hold of Richardson to battle for places.

We also need another good big prop next to Big Al and better second rowers for me

And yet theres a thread on the Hull board questioning whether he should be in their first choice halfbacks with Kelly, or if it should be Connor. Interestingly he has almost the identical complaints as we have on here about Smith (not taking on the defence, holding players up etc).

If we can get Bentley and Wardle that would be enough in the back row to go with what we already have. We have been lucky at prop with Thompson stepping up, but I agree another prop should be necessary. Bousquet at Catalans is the only name in the ooc list that jumps out though.

Re: Joe Wardle : Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:32 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

And yet theres a thread on the Hull board questioning whether he should be in their first choice halfbacks with Kelly, or if it should be Connor. Interestingly he has almost the identical complaints as we have on here about Smith (not taking on the defence, holding players up etc).

If we can get Bentley and Wardle that would be enough in the back row to go with what we already have. We have been lucky at prop with Thompson stepping up, but I agree another prop should be necessary. Bousquet at Catalans is the only name in the ooc list that jumps out though.

He has come on alot has Bousquet this season at Cat, not a bad shout for prop

Re: Joe Wardle : Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:36 pm  

Leeds fans seem certain Bentleys signed for them. League express reckon it's Saints who are signing him.

Re: Joe Wardle : Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:36 pm  

Mick (I can't spake) Morgan was dropping very heavy hints after Cas's last home game that Wardle was a done deal for us.
Whilst I do rate him very highly we seem very well off for both centres and back rowers so if we have got him we would realistically have to let a contracted player go.