Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 7:22 am  

If Gaskell is back, I'd go with him and Chisholm as starting halves, with Charnock starting at 9 instead of Howarth. Howarth's loan is likely up soon anyway unless it gets extended and Charnock is a perfectly capable hooker. Howarth hasn't done a lot for me to justify a place if everyone is fit. Then bring O'Brien off the bench to change the game, as he often does.

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 7:42 am  

I'm not a huge fan of Howarth, never have been, but I actually thought he had a decent game yesterday and had a hand in a number of tries. His cross field kick to Caro for one of his tries was absolutely pin-point, any halfback would have been chuffed to bits with that.
I'm not sure if we'll offer him a deal once his loan is up, but I'll be amazed if Rohan starts shuffling everyone around for the Fev game. We need a settled side, the only changes I would make are in the props if we can get Clough & Clark back.

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 8:04 am  

Not impressed with Howarth at all. He did some decent stuff away from the ruck, but I struggle to recall ever seeing a hooker with such slow hands. It takes him an age to clear the ruck, by which point any momentum from a quick ptb is lost! OB made a huge difference yesterday. Christ, i dare say Danny Addy has played better games at 9!

Credit to him for the kick and some of his work in open play, and he also got an assist for Philbin's try (Though it would have been hard not to see that pass given the crash line he was running - dead impressed with philbin!). But the crux of it for me is he's not quick enough and it would cost us.
If Lumb isnt fit, i'd sooner OB play 60minutes and spell Addy between 9 & 13

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 8:47 am  

I think Howarth was always intended to be a short term solution – with AOB and Lumb having recently signed deals I’d be surprised if he came long term. I have no issues with the bloke, he’s been asked to do a job and has quietly got on with it. If the coach was that passionate about dropping him (which I doubt), I’d rather AOB do the full 80 than have someone who isn’t a specialist hooker, especially poor old Addy!

Wouldn’t risk Gaskell in this one either, and certainly not out of position. Our current halves have more than earned their place, and Gaskell takes far too long to get up to speed after an injury, especially a spell so long away as this one – see also the MPG last year. The squad to face Fev should be broadly similar to that we’ve put out over the last couple of weeks and I think adding Gaskell into the mix may be a bit of a disruption.

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 8:50 am  

Didn't Smith say he was considering the hooker that Leeds have just released. It probably all comes down to where we finish in the league and what we can then afford. He probably has a list of players but can't sign any till we know what our budget is for next year.

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 9:16 am  

Bulls4Champs wrote:

Is Charnock strong enough down the middle though?, how do we play him going forward?

For me yes. He's solid in defence. I bet he's one of our highest tackle busters as well. Seems to have an ability to bounce off opponents.

Gaskells one of our best players and I'm sure We'd see the best out of him now he has a proper 7 and 1 to play alongside.

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 10:24 am  

I like Howarth a lot. Reads play very well.

[Bullseye]

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 11:01 am  

Howarth backs up well and defends well IMO. His pass may be bit slow but it's accurate. The longer you play OB the less effective he is so you've got to spell him. Howarth had a decent game yesterday and I would expect him to keep his place. OB is better coming on when forwards start to tire and he can make ground.

[Bulliac]

Re: Oldham at home : Mon Jul 18, 2016 11:29 am  

Can't fault Smithy's logic on that one.

Who would have guessed it, a coach who looks at what is the best way to utilise a player rather than thinking back to what he would have wanted when he was a player..