Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:47 pm  

I don't think we can drop Sammut. OK he's can be inconsistent, but he has scored 21 tries in 23 appearances this year. As a team we have scored 101 tries this year, so if we take someone who has scored 1/5 of our tries this year, how are we going to improve?

I was more interested in the younger players performances yesterday. The performances of the more senior players didn't really concern me as we were playing against such a weakend team. Yes Addy ran like a man possessed yesterday and was very strong all game, thats not been his problem this year, his problem has been his defence. Gale showed some nice touches, but again most fans know he can show nice touches, his problem has been consistency and not having the ability to close a game down.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:48 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

We already know that Sammut can be a real match winner and when he is on fire he is as good as ANY stand off in SL. Getting him to perform to that level consistently or at least at a level where he isn't a liability is what stops he being a really top quality player. I'm certainly not knocking the guy because without him in the squad this year we would probably have lost a few games this year.

But if Gaskell slots in well and plays pretty consistently and to the plan that FC has asked then Sammut might have a fight on his hands. Great news for us if players are willing to fight for a spot though, it's what we have lacked this year.

Super League try-scorers 2013
1. Josh Charnley (Wigan) 30
2. Joel Monaghan (Warrington) 23
3. Sam Tomkins (Wigan) 23
4. Jarrod Sammut (Bradford) 22

Drop him? Nah.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:09 pm  

On a side note I thought it was interesting that the Giants fielded such a changed side, if I was an away supporter paying £20 and travelling to the game...

I'm sure Ken paid for all 5 of them...

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:32 pm  

I remember Northern getting fined heavily for fielding a weakened side prior to a Cup match.
Huddersfield's selections no different,bringing the game into disrepute IMO.

Re Sammut,good when he's not under pressure,but could he pull a game out of the hat against a Leeds or St Helens?Not sure.

If you take out the 4 he scored last night against a B Team and the 4 he scored against a poor London side and the fact that he didn't score any tries against Leeds,St Helens,Catalans or Warrington,then you get a bit closer to what he's actually achieved against tougher opposition.
Not saying he hasn't got ability,but I would like to see him do it when his life depends on it against Quality opposition.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:40 pm  

Sky Sports commentators mentioned last night that the club has started talks to extend Luke Gale's contract. I think he already has 2 years left, but they are looking at providing a 'long term' deal.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:00 pm  

daveyz999 wrote:

Sky Sports commentators mentioned last night that the club has started talks to extend Luke Gale's contract. I think he already has 2 years left, but they are looking at providing a 'long term' deal.

Good. If the club has any sense they will be looking to do the same with other key positions in our side. Gale might have his critics, but SL is seriously lacking in the creative halves department right now. Gale may not be the best around, but he's still young, British and shows enough (for me) to warrant an extension to his contract.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:06 pm  

I'm not Gales biggest fan but he has had some very good games. I think him settling into a partnership with sammut is key, because since they've both been brought in neither have actually played that much ball together. Addy again showed just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands, and lets be honest, he has really done it all season. His versatility is very nice to have in the side, but he is clearly a back row forward. I can't see him being called upon much to play 6 or 7 next season unless absolutely necessary, which will also be good for him. The backrow we have for next season is certainly pretty potent, with a nice mixture of athleticism, aggression and skill. I'd go for 11 Ferguson, 12 Bateman and 13 Addy. Scruton, Heath and Carvell and IMHO, that's the best pack we have had for a few seasons.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:33 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Super League try-scorers 2013
1. Josh Charnley (Wigan) 30
2. Joel Monaghan (Warrington) 23
3. Sam Tomkins (Wigan) 23
4. Jarrod Sammut (Bradford) 22

Drop him? Nah.

Yep a great achievement and as I said he has won matches for us this year but he will have to fight for his spot like anyone else. Gaskell hasn't done so bad this year either in really poor side he's scored 11 tries and put in 5 MoM performances. But you cannot compare who will be the best option for the team on try scoring alone.

To say Sammut is above being dropped is ridiculous. Hopefully the addition of Gaskell will focus Sammut into an even better season and perhaps on a more consistent basis.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:49 pm  

I think Gaskell might end up playing in the centres more than he does in the halves. Unless we announce a new signing who is an out and out centre.

Re: The Future. : Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:26 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

Yep a great achievement and as I said he has won matches for us this year but he will have to fight for his spot like anyone else. Gaskell hasn't done so bad this year either in really poor side he's scored 11 tries and put in 5 MoM performances. But you cannot compare who will be the best option for the team on try scoring alone.

To say Sammut is above being dropped is ridiculous. Hopefully the addition of Gaskell will focus Sammut into an even better season and perhaps on a more consistent basis.

To clarify I didn't say he is "above" being dropped, that's ridiculous, nobody is. In fact he was dropped just the other week, I had no issue with it. What I am saying is you can't drop him when he's on this form. He deserves to be the starter next year.

Had to laugh at picking fault - yes he might be about second top scorer in the comp, in a poor side, but he scored a lot against duffers! Aye, and Charnley scored all his against Warrington and Hudds didn't he!