Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:51 am  

Clark said: “I injured my wrist in training at the beginning of December and have had an operation on it.

“I’ll hopefully be back in time for round four or thereabouts but it’s a three-month process after surgery.

Oh well at least our surgeons are getting plenty of money in pre-season

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:23 am  

They always say they'll come back stronger....

If there's any decent evidence for this, it might be worthwhile sending everyone for an operation pre-season!

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:32 am  

That's a shame for the lad, but given the squad depth for his position there's no need to rush him back early. He can be rotated back into the team slowly.

Personally I'd be much happier getting any major injuries out of the way at this point than August/September

[Bullseye]

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:53 am  

At least he'll still be able to maintain fitness if it's just a wrist injury.

I'm hopeful he'll provide a bit of impact off the bench for us. He's a strong runner and has a bit of nastiness/toughness our backrow lacked last year.

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:59 am  

Bullseye wrote:

He's a strong runner and has a bit of nastiness/toughness our backrow lacked last year.

That certainly seems to be a theme of the forwards we've signed this season. Which is a welcome addition rather than the powder puff likes of Walshaw and Fleming.

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:06 am  

HamsterChops wrote:

That certainly seems to be a theme of the forwards we've signed this season. Which is a welcome addition rather than the powder puff likes of Walshaw and Fleming.

Bit harsh on Walshaw IMO too much as and when it suited jimmy for me. I think a decent run in the side and he would show to be a good player

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:13 am  

thepimp007 wrote:

Bit harsh on Walshaw IMO too much as and when it suited jimmy for me. I think a decent run in the side and he would show to be a good player

Fully Agreed. Never understood Walker getting picked ahead of Walshaw. As you say, a decent run in the side and he could be great for us. We certainly have more size in the pack this year and some nastiness. Disappointing for Clark but as Roofaldo says, i would rather it be now and he only misses a few games, rather than it being in the Middle 8's.

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:36 am  

Can't say I saw anything in Walshaw that suggested he would warrant a place in our 17. Sure, Walker wasn't much better, but Walshaw would never get ahead of Pitts, Addy, Fergie, Olbi, Blythe, Mellor or Haggerty for me.

[Bulliac]

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:54 am  

thepimp007 wrote:

Bit harsh on Walshaw IMO too much as and when it suited jimmy for me. I think a decent run in the side and he would show to be a good player

yeah, agree with that.

I'm not suggesting Walshaw would have been in my starting 13 but he was the kind of player who put himself about a bit and could have been used more, imo.

[Bullseye]

Re: Mitch Clark out for first 4 weeks : Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:18 pm  

Last season we had too many lightweight or mild mannered forwards who were incapable of bending or breaking the line or dominating in the tackle when we played the better sides.

The additions of Clark, Haggerty and Walker should hopefully address that.

Pitts is a workaholic and is best paired with Ferguson. Olbi really improved last year but didn't have as much impact in the 8s I do wonder if he's SL quality. Blythe is decent cover for a few positions but not a first choice in any. Mellor may well develop into a SL quality player but it's too early to judge.

Addy for me is like an old fashioned loose forward. I'm not sure he's reliable in defence to be an 80 minute backrower. He's too slow and inconsistent to be a regular halfback. Good cover for both I suppose. If he'd have been playing in the 80s he'd have been a good loose forward.

On Walshaw he seems to be out of favour. I thought he did well in the draw vs Leigh at Odsal but seems to be in then out for ages. Good size but doesn't run his weight.