: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:30 pm  

phillgee wrote:

When did we sign Abi Ekoku as a player?

1997 season

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:35 pm  

phillgee wrote:

When did we sign Abi Ekoku as a player?

I'd managed to forget that

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:24 am  

Anderson was also signed during the 97 season, like Forshaw. And I forgot Glen Tomlinson who was signed in 95-96. Christie was signed by Peter Fox at the start of the last full winter season 94-95, as well as Donohue and Ireland!

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:07 pm  

Back to topic, I don't necessarily think it's the style of play that causes the problems. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Leeds and Saints have the kind of team that is a bit lighter and quicker than those uber-successful Bulls sides of the SL era, but the Bulls had a huge pack that would steamroll downfield, and close to the line the backs, with various personnel, were all but unstoppable. I think that style could still be successful, but I you need the right players when you get into attacking areas. The likes of Lowes, the Pauls, Vainikolo, Vaikona, Hape etc have moved on, and the players that have replaced them simply aren't of the same quality. I don't rate McBanana much, but with the best coaching in the world, the playing staff just isn't what it was, in my book. I also don't think it's time to write off Lowes as a coach yet, or Noble for that matter.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:35 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

Back to topic, I don't necessarily think it's the style of play that causes the problems. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Leeds and Saints have the kind of team that is a bit lighter and quicker ...

Bear in mind that in pretty short order the HKR team that snatched a draw at Odsal beat said St. Helens away, and by all accounts should've beaten Leeds too. In the early season, KR seem to have perfected cat-skinning better than most so-called top teams. At any rate, on the evidence of 2009 so far, the theory doesn't hold any water, we did better against HKR than Saints did.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:19 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Bear in mind that in pretty short order the HKR team that snatched a draw at Odsal beat said St. Helens away, and by all accounts should've beaten Leeds too. In the early season, KR seem to have perfected cat-skinning better than most so-called top teams. At any rate, on the evidence of 2009 so far, the theory doesn't hold any water, we did better against HKR than Saints did.

That may be. However, given the way last season turned out, I will consider my theory debunked if Bradford challenge seriously for the title this year. I don't see it though.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:42 am  

El Diablo wrote:

That may be. However, given the way last season turned out, I will consider my theory debunked if Bradford challenge seriously for the title this year. I don't see it though.

I think that most of the non-NT would be amazed if Bradford, who are in a rebuilding phase, were genuine title challengers this year. Building a squad capable of challenging for the title is a long process and few teams achieve it. If they do, it takes years not weeks.

But then I am not amongst those who consider anything short of world domination "failure".

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:59 pm  

El Diablo wrote: .... I also don't think it's time to write off Lowes as a coach yet, or Noble for that matter. Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy?

El Diablo wrote: .... I also don't think it's time to write off Lowes as a coach yet, or Noble for that matter. Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy?

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:49 pm  

Duckman wrote: Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy? Yes, it was too soon for him. I expect him to take a similar role to McNamara during the WC, doing some colouring in while Smith gets on with the real business

Duckman wrote: Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy? Yes, it was too soon for him. I expect him to take a similar role to McNamara during the WC, doing some colouring in while Smith gets on with the real business

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:56 pm  

Duckman wrote: Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy? I reckon so. I still think Leeds gave Daryl Powell the head coach job too early and it did his career a lot of damage. I hope Wire are moving in time to stop the same from happening to Lowes.

Duckman wrote: Smith to Wire Jimmy to be first team coach under Tony Smith, good move by wire IMO. The appointment to head coach clearly too soon for Jimmy? I reckon so. I still think Leeds gave Daryl Powell the head coach job too early and it did his career a lot of damage. I hope Wire are moving in time to stop the same from happening to Lowes.